Chapter 6
Fall 1970
"Mother?"
A voice from the doorway made Mary turn and then smile. This was a surprise. George wasn't supposed to be by until their family dinner this weekend. It was a special weekly event they had held since the children were younger. There had been weeks, of course, when not everyone could attend, but those who could, did. It was their way of keeping in touch with their children and grandchildren. Mary always looked forward to it.
George stepped inside and Mary marveled at how much he looked like Matthew. He had the light hair and blue eyes. It always made her heart skip a beat, thankful that he had inherited both that and Matthew's kind nature. Sure, there were elements of Mary in there, but he was mostly Matthew and Mary was always grateful for that fact.
"I wasn't expecting you," Mary said, her smile growing. George kissed her cheek, before looping their arms and walking with his mother outside to the back porch. The weather had been too lovely lately not to spend most of the time outside.
"Both Johnny and Jack called me," George then told her. "I think they are worried about the strain this has caused you."
Mary pursed her lips and then waved her hand, as though it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.
"I am fine," she assured her son. "I am a strong woman, George. I am capable of caring for Anna."
"We all know that," George replied, tightening his hold of Mary's arm. "No one doubts your strength, Mother. But we do worry about you. We know how difficult this is for all of us to see Aunt Anna losing herself, but you know her best. You two have had one another for a very long time now. We just don't want you overwhelmed. We've been speaking and we think….well, Johnny and I believe you should hire a full time nurse. You only have one a couple hours a day."
Mary pulled away from George's arm and turned to look at the garden. Anna was upstairs taking a nap, as she did most days now.
"We have plenty of help," Mary indignity stated. "We have a butler, a chef, and maids. I take care of Anna."
She could see George from the corner of her eye while he sighed and then took his place next to her.
"I remember running around these gardens," George said. "You would chase me. We had such a grand time."
"We did," Mary agreed.
"You can't do it all," George then stated. "She's getting further and further away from us every day. If she has an outburst when a nurse isn't here, then what would you do?"
"She has had them and I've handled them well enough. You all insisted we get a nurse and I hired one. Two hours a day is plenty to make sure Anna is getting what she needs. I can handle the rest."
"Whomever we hire won't get in your way, Mother," George promised. "You can fire anyone who tries to overstep you. It's just….you can't continue on like this."
Mary let out a low sound, tears building in her eyes. She never believed their story would end like this. In all the two of them had been through: death, secrets, losses, pain, and more, didn't the two of them deserve a happy ending?
"Alright," Mary finally agreed. "But I get to interview the nurses and I will fire anyone who gets in my way."
George laughed. "I don't doubt it."
1920- America
"Matthew?" Mary was struck in awe, her jaw agape. This was a dream. It had to be a dream. She stepped forward slightly, reaching out her hand, nearly touching him, sure this was some sort of mirage. She had been out in the sun too long today and her mind wasn't working clearly, obviously.
However, when Matthew's hand met hers halfway, she felt as though she might cry out in relief. He was here; Matthew was really here.
"I'll give you two as long as you need," her grandmama told the two of them, disappearing behind the door.
The moment they were alone, Mary found that she didn't know what to say. She was still in shock, a small bubble of laughter came up her throat.
"I…. You're here."
"Let's sit," Matthew insisted, guiding Mary over to the small settee. She did as he asked and she could feel her heart fluttering in her chest. Matthew had come all of this way, all across the ocean, for her. If that wasn't a romantic gesture, then she didn't know what was.
"I can't believe it," Mary breathed, now able to reach out and just touch his cheek with the tips of her fingers. Matthew's hand covered hers and he brought it down to rest against his chest. She could feel his heart racing.
"Believe it, darling. I've come to bring you home," Matthew then said, his free hand coming up to brush a stray hair out of her face. Her eyes closed, thrilled at his touch.
"Home?" She stated, jerking her eyes opened. As though the words had just hit her that he said. "But…you…." She took in a deep, shuddering breath, remembering now why she had left. Matthew wouldn't want anything to do with her when he knew. She sat back slightly.
"Yes, home," Matthew replied with a warm, loving smile. "I know everything, Mary."
She furrowed her brows. "Ev..everything? You can't possibly know everything and then still decide to come here, to America, just for me."
"I do," Matthew assured her. "I know every gritty detail from Pamuk coming into your bedroom to the trek you, your mother, and Anna made with his dead body. I know it and I don't care, Mary. I choose you. I want to be with you."
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
"Will you come back to Downton with me? Be my bride?"
Feeling happily overwhelmed, Mary's hand came up to cover her lips and she blinked several times.
"You want to marry me?"
"Of course I do, Mary. I'm quite sure I have wanted to for a very long time now."
"Then you must ask properly," Mary told him, dropping her hand and giving him a playful, pointed look. Matthew immediately obliged, falling to his knee in front of her and grasping her hands within his own.
"Mary Josephine Crawley, will you marry me?"
Mary couldn't believe this was happening right now, that everything had shifted and changed so quickly. She nodded, pulling Matthew up so they were nearly eye to eye.
"Yes," she breathed, happily astounded. "Yes, Matthew, yes."
Matthew's hands glided over her cheeks, before he pulled her into a simple, but beautiful kiss.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Anna didn't feel like she belonged downstairs here in America. She didn't know the staff all that well and she was the outsider from England. They were all kind to her, of course, but it wasn't the same as it was at Downton. Though, Anna assumed she really wouldn't belong there anymore either. She really didn't belong anywhere now.
John was gone; she was pregnant. Anna wondered how long all of this would last. While she enjoyed her days with Mary, she wasn't foolish. She knew that eventually Mary would get over this rebellious phase and go back to being Lady Mary Crawley. And yes, Mary might have said she would care for her and this child in her belly, Anna couldn't rely solely on the Crawley family. One day, they might change their mind. She needed a plan.
Before John's death, the two of them had spoken money. John had some from his mother's passing and she owned a home. If the Crawley family did tire of her and the baby, she could maybe move there. At least she'd have somewhere to live. It wasn't that she doubted Mary's intentions with her, but she wasn't sure Mary knew what she was signing up for. A maid with a baby just would not be feasible. Eventually she would learn that and Anna needed to be prepared.
"Did you hear?" One of the maids beside her chatted with the other maid. "Isn't it romantic?"
Anna's ears perked up. Even though she lost the love of her life, it didn't mean that she was closed off from hearing of others' happiness. In fact, she enjoyed it. It let her know that the world would move forward and that maybe she would be alright. She didn't think she'd ever fall in love again. No, John had been her one and only. However, it did give her hope for her child in her belly, that he would have a happy life.
"So romantic. He came all this way for Lady Mary!"
"Who came all this way?" Anna asked, breaking into the conversation.
"Mr. Matthew!" The two younger girls giggled. "I hear he's the heir to Downton Abbey and that he loves Lady Mary so much that he came to see her! Isn't that romantic?"
Anna's hand paused it's scraping of potatoes onto her plate and she sat there stunned. Matthew had come across the ocean for Mary. He was going to propose; Anna just knew it. One didn't make such a romantic gesture without some reasoning behind it.
"Might I have the potatoes?" A footman asked from across the table. Anna shook herself out of her shock and handed it over. Then she settled back in her chair.
A sudden sadness hit her. It was one that she struggled to explain. She should be pleased for Mary; she was pleased for Mary. There was nothing she wanted more for Lady Mary than for her to be happy and to be with the man she loved. Anna knew how much Mary loved and cherished Matthew. She had been there beside Mary as she fretted over Matthew while he was off to war. Anna knew she loved him, much like she loved John. This should make her very happy.
Yet, she was sad. She gathered that it was because despite the ache in her heart, these crazy days with Mary had been such a welcomed change. It had helped her not just sit around in her grief. She had even seen a different side of her Lady. But even she had known that must come to an end and what better way for it to do so.
Finally, she forced her lips to curl up into a smile.
"Oh, Lady Mary will be so thrilled."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Mary couldn't stop smiling. Her hands were clasped with Matthew's as the two of them walked around the gardens in the back of her grandmama's home. She was to be wed to Matthew. All of the worries and concerns were gone. He didn't care. He loved her just the same.
"I rather guess you'll want Anna has your proper lady's maid?" Matthew questioned, pulling Mary from her thoughts. She paused her footsteps, her brows furrowing.
"Anna!" She nearly gasped. "I had nearly forgotten about Anna." How, she wasn't sure. The two of them had spent much time together lately. She couldn't wait to go and find her later this evening and give her all the details.
Matthew chuckled, pleased. "Well, she's still here, darling. We haven't left her behind. She'll come back to Downton with us and then be your lady's maid. How is she doing? I fear I haven't asked after her since my arrival."
"She's…she's coping," Mary landed on. The two began their stride again, but this time it was slower. Many thoughts were swirling around in Mary's head. She paused once more, this time tugging on Matthew's arm to keep him from moving forward.
"What is it?"
"We have to take care of her," Mary stated, leaving no room for arguments. "She's lost her husband and is now with child. We will keep her under our care and make sure her child has everything he or she could ever need."
Matthew eyed her curiously for a moment and Mary worried he would state how unpractical she was being, that certainly they couldn't have Anna as a lady's maid and also care for her child. However, her fears were unfounded and his lips curled up into a smile.
"Of course we will," he agreed. "She can be your lady's maid. We'll hire a nanny to help with the child when she's working, but lower her hours. Find a good room for her and the child and when the child is older, he or she can move to the nursery with hopefully our future children. We at the very least owe her that."
Mary breathed a sigh of relief and nodded her head.
"We do," Mary said, smiling and grateful.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Mary found Anna sitting outside all alone later that evening. She was in a chair, staring up at the stars. Not wanting to spook her, Mary quietly said hey and Anna looked up. She then stood.
"Oh, my lady, I am so happy for you."
"Thank you," Mary simply replied, though her bright smiled showed just how ecstatic she truly was.
"I've been thinking, m'lady, and I should probably stay behind," Anna looked ahead, not quite meeting Mary's eyes.
"Stay behind?"
"Yes, find a position here. Perhaps, I could find a job as a nanny or governess, one where I'm allowed to keep my son. It wouldn't be right to go back and work at Downton. Not now. My child would only be a burden. And I'm not sure…." Anna's words faded, but Mary knew what she was going to say. Anna wasn't sure she was ready to face everyone again. The last time they saw her was right before John's execution.
"No, you and your child would not be a burden," Mary disagreed. "Matthew and I have already discussed it. You will be my lady's maid. We will figure out the details of your child when the baby arrives."
"But a lady's maid…surely…."
"I won't discuss this further, Anna. And honestly, do you want your child to be an American? Would Bates?" This made Anna laugh.
"No," she giggled.
"See. Now, enough of all that. You will come back to Downton Abbey with Matthew and me. You will be my lady's maid. You don't need to worry about any of it. You are very valued at Downton. I have no doubt that anyone will want to help you, and well, if they don't….they'll have to answer to me."
To be continued...
Thank you all for reading :)
