I expected to find you asleep. You did say you were dead tired."
"I was, Mary, but as you can see, I have been resurrected. That has happened before, you know." he said in a playful tone and winked at her.
She nodded and broke into a wide smile, and it remained in place as she moved her hand from Matthew's head to his heart and rested it there.
"Oh, Mary, I do love you so," he said, placing his hand over hers.
Then he bent his head and kissed her.
She tasted like peppermint, as she often did due to her penchant for Altloids, and as he deepened the kiss, his tongue began to tingle.
Mary threw herself into the kiss with a fervor that matched his own and he revelled in her passionate response, but the feel of satin pressed against his skin reminded him that that there were obstacles to his ultimate gratification that needed to be removed
Toward that end, he reluctantly broke the embrace, took a small step back from Mary, and deftly popped the top button of her blouse out of the slit.
Her face flushed and chest heaving, she looked down at her exposed décolletage, then back to him and flashed him a wicked smile as her hands moved to the next button in the row.
Matthew pushed them away and said, "Allow me," with dramatic flair.
She did.
Then under her watchful eye, he proceeded to strip away her clothes until she stood naked before him.
His eyes lingered on her full breasts until she cleared her throat and he snapped to attention.
"Matthew, the time," she said, her voice husky with desire.
That could work in your favor, his inner voice told him. Perhaps all good things don't have to come to an end so soon.
He eyed the shower curtains as if they were the gates of heaven, then took a firm grip on Mary's hand and tugged her forward.
"Don't worry, darling, we won't be late. I've found a way to kill two birds with one stone."
XX
Chapter XII
Matthew was adjusting the knot in his tie and Mary placing a final pin in her upswept hair when the sound of someone tapping on the door made him pause.
He smiled at his wife's reflection in the vanity mirror and said, "Perfect timing." Then he turned on his heel and crossed the room to open the door, expecting Bridget, the maid Rose had told him would be coming to guide them to the drawing room.
Upon opening it, he was proven correct and smiled at the young woman standing before him.
"Hello Bridget. I expect you're here to fetch us?"
The maid nodded, "I hope I haven't come too soon, Mr. Crawley. Lady Rose asked me to make it clear that should you and your wife require more time, that is fine. She does not want either of you to feel rushed. "
Mary rose from the Chippendale vanity stool and replied on her husband's behalf. "That is very kind of her, Bridget., but as you can see, we are ready to go down…and we didn't feel at all rushed. In fact, Mr. Crawley and I had more than ample time to address our needs. Didn't we, dear?"
Looking over his shoulder, he flashed her a sly smile and replied "Oh, yes...to be sure."
Then, bringing his attention back to the maid, his expression changed to one of confusion as he found her bent back with her hands wriggling behind her.
"Is something wrong, Bridget?
She stopped fidgeting immediately and replied, "'Excuse me, Mr. Crawley. I'm having a bit of difficulty getting my apron tied. You see, young master Daniel has a habit of tugging on the bow when my attention is elsewhere and I just realized it has come undone.
"Our son George would do the same thing to my lady's maid when he was a toddler," Mary said, moving to Matthew's side. "It would have driven me mad if I were in her shoes, but she took it in stride."
"How could I not?" rang from the hallway. "One look into those big blue eyes and any mischief he got into was instantly forgotten," Anna said as she reached for the dangling apron strings and offered her assistance.
Bridget, appearing thoroughly perplexed, looked behind her and spouted, "You're Lady Mary's maid? But I thought…,"
Anna explained that she, along with her husband, had been employees of the Crawley family for many years, she as a lady's maid and he, a valet to the Earl that owned the estate.
"We both left service some years ago and bought a small hotel in Yorkshire, which we still own and manage," she added, giving the apron bow a hard tug on both ends.
"I see. You were lucky then, as I am now, to be employed by someone who encouraged you to better your circumstances in life. Mr. Aldridge and Lady Rose allow me time off to attend classes so that I can obtain my high school diploma. Once I have it, he has promised me a job at his bank."
That came as no surprise to Matthew as he was aware that Rose and Atticus were deeply concerned for the welfare of those less fortunate than them.
Smiling in the direction of her erstwhile maid, Mary said, "We were the lucky ones. Anna always went above and beyond her duties while in our employ…so much so that she and I formed a friendship that I have valued for over two decades."
The look on Anna's face made it clear to Matthew that she was touched by his wife's proclamation and he saw her tip her head in Mary's direction before returning to the apron bow.
"There now, I think that should do it. Master Daniel won't be able pull this open quite so easily. "
At that, Bridget flashed Anna a bright smile and thanked her for her help. Then she turned to him and Mary and said, "If you would be so kind to follow me, I'll take you down."
"Yes..Yes…please lead the way," Matthew said, motioning for his wife to go first. "We all have been looking forward to meeting the Aldridge children.
Mary crossed in front of him and addressed Anna. "Speaking of children, do you know the whereabouts of ours?"
She nodded and replied that they were in the drawing room. "When I left, Victoria was teaching Vickie how to work her yo-yo and George sifting through a pile of board games with JR."
"Well, at least Victoria hasn't enlisted Atticus as one of her pupils," Matthew said, following Mary into the hallway.
Looking over her shoulder, Mary quipped, "Bite your tongue, darling. The night is young."
XX
Matthew found the scene before him one that depicted domestic bliss. Atticus was down on one knee teaching his son how to tie his shoelace, Rose was expertly flipping Victoria's red yo-yo to the delight of her audience, and George and JR sat cross-legged on the Persian carpet in front of one of the windows, happily engaged in what appeared to be a game of Monopoly.
His eyes fixed on the boys, he quipped, "I wonder if Atticus is always the banker."
At that, Mary began to chuckle and all heads turned their way.
The scene changed rapidly, then, as Rose and Atticus rushed forward to greet them with their offspring and Victoria in tow.
"Mother, Father…did you see what Cousin Rose can do with my yo-yo? She can make it do more tricks than Uncle Tom,' she squealed.
"Yes, we did, sweetheart and your mother and I are quite impressed."
In response to the accolades, Rose made a dramatic bow, her display prompting the two girls to erupt into giggles. Then she righted herself and gathered her eldest and middle child in front of her and her husband.
"Would you like to make the introductions, Atticus, or should I?"
Gazing at their two children with pride, he replied, "Go ahead, darling."
Rose launched into the presentations with a smile, and upon introducing Vickie, she nudged her forward.
A miniature version of her mother, the little girl took hold of the edges of her pink calico dress and dipped into a perfect curtsy.
"I'm very happy to meet you… and thank you for bringing cousin Victoria to play with me. She has taught me how to keep her yo-yo going up and down for a full minute," she said with excitement.
"We are very happy to meet you, too," Matthew said.
"That is quite a feat for someone who has just been taught how to use it, Vickie. You are a quick learner," Mary piped in.
Smiling from ear to ear, the child turned to Rose and said, "That is what you always tell me, Mama."
"That is because it is the truth, Vickie. I dare say, Cousin Matthew and Mary would be quite impressed by how well you read and spell, too. Your father and I are both very proud of you."
At that moment, he knew that Rose's children would not suffer the low self-esteem and anxiety that had plagued her most of her life due to her mother's constant criticism. That realization led to a lump forming in his throat and he covered his mouth and coughed to hide his emotion.
"And this little chap is our Daniel," she said, placing her hand atop a mass of wavy brown locks. "He turned four last week."
"We had chocolate cake and ice cream. Didn't we, Danny?
The little boy nodded and smiled at his sister. Then he leaned back into his father, his hands gripping the hem of his jacket.
"Daniel is a bit shy when he meets people for the first time, but once he gets to know them, he is quite affable," Atticus said.
"He is a delightful child", rang out from across the room in what Matthew easily recognized to be Mr. Haversmith's voice.
"Ahh…There you are, Smitty…" Rose cried out. "I was beginning to wonder what was keeping you, but I see now it was a she."
Turning, Matthew witnessed another slice of family life as the man Rose said she and her husband could not do without raised their six-month old daughter over his head and cooed up at her.
The baby kicked her feet and flailed her arms with excitement while a gob of drool ran down her chin, nearly landing in her Godfather's eye.
Haversmith didn't flinch.
"Hope needed a nappy change before she could make her debut," he said, lowering the infant and planting a kiss on her forehead.
Matthew stood rooted in amazement.
He loves that child as much as if she were his own.
The thought made his stomach clench and he focused his attention on Hope's face.
She favored her father, her eyes and mouth a mirror image of Atticus's, and as his abdomen muscles relaxed, he felt a mixture of relief and shame.
XX
To the end of Prohibition," Rose exclaimed, hoisting her wine glass high in the air.
Smiling from ear to ear, Atticus followed suit and bellowed, "Hear…hear."
Matthew was happy to see the couple in such good spirits and grateful, too, that the spirits that they had been served at the dining table were no longer illegal to consume.
The passing of the Volstead Act, which banned the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, had boggled his mind in 1920 and continued to do so the following 13 years that it remained the law of the land in America.
It wasn't that he doubted those who enacted the law did so with good intentions. After all, drunkards were a blight on society, their disreputable behavior leading them and their families into poverty and to an increase in crime in their communities.
Yet early on, he had his doubts that prohibiting every American from purchasing or consuming alcohol was the solution to the problem.
A great many Americans had agreed with him, refusing to join the ranks of the teetotallers, and the demand for alcohol did not go unnoticed. Nefarious characters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano smuggled "bootleg liquor" into the country across the northern and southern borders, the majority being delivered to underground cafes called speakeasies.
The front page of newspapers soon was rife with images of those who met a gruesome demise due to gangsters competing for business as well as those who lost their lives in gun fights with law enforcement officers. It was at that point that Matthew realized Prohibition was creating worse problems than those it was meant to solve and, for the life of him, he could not fathom why the law had been allowed to remain in force.
Thankfully, the Yanks did eventually come to their senses, Matthew thought, as he caught sight of Mary setting her wine glass down in his peripheral vision.
She looked lovely in the simple peach-colored dress she had chosen to wear, and the style of her hair, which she had managed without Anna's assistance, was quite becoming,
"I never have given it much thought until now, but would imagine not being able to have a cocktail whenever you fancied one for eight years must have grated on your nerves, Rose. I know it would mine," Mary said.
"I have no doubt that it did for those who had no choice but to abide by the dreadful edict, but Atticus and I, like many of our friends, found ways to get around it. It wasn't as though the authorities were going into people's homes to make certain they weren't having a glass of wine with dinner…and there was an abundance of hidden spots for you to choose from that served alcohol should you desire a night on the town. More often than not, the police turned a blind eye to them," she replied.
"That is because the owners of the establishments paid them handsomely to do so, Rose," Atticus said bluntly.
Rose sighed. "It always come down to money, doesn't it?"
Matthew thought of how different life would have been for the Crawley family if not for Cora's fortune and his inheritance from Mr. Swire, and he nodded his head in agreement.
"Speaking of which, how is the banking industry fairing, Atticus? Hopefully, the regulations that were put in place by President Roosevelt last year have restored consumer confidence and the public at large no longer storing their money under their mattresses," Mary said.
Atticus appeared surprised by the question, but then his face relaxed. "For the briefest of moments, it slipped my mind that you are the co-owner and manager of a vast estate, and as such, keep abreast of this sort of thing, Mary. I have no doubt Matthew appreciates your keen mind and business acumen."
"Among other things," Matthew said, raising his glass in her direction "I'm quite a lucky man."
She tipped her head his way before returning her attention to Atticus.
"Getting back to your question, Mary, it appears the crisis is behind us. There have been no further runs on the banks. In fact, $1 billion has been deposited back into them. It appears that the four-day bank holiday, Emergency Banking Act and President Roosevelt's fireside chats have turned the tide."
"I would imagine the elimination of the gold standard helped, too. It did when England abandoned it two years ago," Matthew piped in.
"Without a doubt…as did Congress's resolution that prevented creditors from demanding payment in gold when withdrawing from their accounts."
At that, Mr. Haversmith contributed to the conversation by opining that it was not practical to tie the value of currency to the price of gold as it would prevent the Federal Reserve from expanding the money supply needed to stimulate the economy when it was needed.
"And it was definitely needed with 30 million Americans unemployed," he exclaimed, lifting his wine glass and draining it.
Matthew agreed and was about to say so when he caught sight of the wearied expression on Rose's face and addressed her instead.
"Are you quite alright, Rose?" he asked.
She blinked, clearly taken aback by his question, and then smiled at him before she replied, "I'm fine, Matthew, and apologize if my expression said otherwise. "Unfortunately, it appears whatever I am thinking shows plainly on my face."
"That is one of things I love best about you, Rose. Your ineptitude in the art of deception does you credit, my dear, and I can appreciate your boredom with the topic at hand. I, for one, would be happy to change the conversation to one we can all appreciate."
Matthew nodded his head in agreement and in the next moment, Mary did just that by informing her hosts that Victoria and George had thoroughly enjoyed their dinner.
"As did, JR," Anna piped in.
"In fact, they've asked me if hot dogs will be served in Newport." Mary said and chuckled.
He did, too, but after giving it some thought, concluded it was not beyond the realm of possibility. After all, it had been Martha Levinson who had orchestrated an indoor picnic for the dinner guests at Downton when the oven had failed
Back to her bubbly self, Rose exclaimed, "Your children were so kind to grant Daniel's request that they have their dinner earlier with him…and as for the hot dogs, you all must try one. Atticus doesn't find them appetizing, but I think they are delicious…and so does Smitty. Don't you?"
"I like them well enough here, but find they taste much better at the ball park," Haversmith replied.
"The ball park?" Matthew said.
That set Rose off like a lit firecracker.
"Oh, Mathew. I wish you could see the Yankees play in their stadium. It is so exciting…The team has the best line-up in baseball with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. They knock in runs as though it were child's play," she gushed and paused to take a breath before she continued. "The team has won fourteen American League championships and four World Series to date…and no doubt Smitty will agree with my prediction that they will win many more…You do think so, don't you?" she said, setting her sights on him.
"Absolutely," Haversmith exclaimed, shaking salt on the slice of beef on his plate. "In fact, based on the season opener, I think they might take the title again this year."
A wide smile spread across Rose's face. "That would be wonderful. If the tabloid rumors are true that Babe wants to stop playing and go into management, I think it would be fitting that he would end his career on a winning note."
"Well, if Red Ruffing can keep striking out batters the way he did on the Opener and Heffner, Lazzeri and Rolfe continue to work their magic in the infield, he just might."
Matthew felt as though he were watching a foreign film without subtitles, and judging from the look on Mary's face, she did, too.
Likely taking note of their bewildered expressions, Atticus put an end to Rose and Haversmith's exchange.
"Now I think it incumbent upon me to change the subject again, darling, since neither Matthew or Mary have the slightest notion of what you and Smitty are talking about," Atticus said.
Rose's eyes widened and she immediately apologized, as did Mr. Havesmith, who took full responsibility for the conversation going into uncharted territory.
"It is all my fault, Atticus. I'm afraid I've become a bit obsessed by the game. I hope you will forgive me for boring your guests."
Atticus waved his hand in the air, "Nonsense. I'm happy to hear you and Rose are having such a wonderful time at the games. I'm quite jealous, actually..."
As well you should be, Matthew's inner voice cried out, but he managed to keep his inner turmoil under wraps and took a sip of wine.
"...I'm afraid my devotion to cricket has made it impossible for me to embrace America's version of the game, assuming that is what baseball is." Atticus continued. "Truth be told, I find it mind boggling…The bowler is called the pitcher and the pitch isn't part of the field, but instead the bowler's...I mean pitcher's throw to the batter…There are different types of pitches, too…fast ball, knuckleball, sinker, change-up and one that seems an optical illusion called a curveball. You must see it as it is inexplainable. There are no wickets and nine batsmen…batters…who remain in the game until it ends, which only takes a couple of hours unless the score is tied and it goes into extra innings… and….well, let's just say that I'm glad Smitty stepped up to the plate," he quipped, smiling broadly at him.
Matthew didn't have to turn his head to know that Mary was nodding hers and smiling, the latter manufactured entirely for Rose's benefit. If Atticus saw nothing wrong with her cousin spending so much time alone with his handsome employee, she would be the last person to point that out to him.
Neither would he, no matter how many alarm bells were going off in his head.
XX
Although the evening had been wonderful, Matthew let out a sigh of relief as his body sank into the plush mattress.
He patted his full stomach, and feeling it bulge, he was reminded that he had put on a good bit of weight in the last week. That made him frown since he had always taken pride in the fact that his suit size had not changed since he and Mary first met.
Granted, it still fit now. However, he could not deny that his trousers were a bit snug at his waist and in the rear. They would have to be let out soon if his weight kept rising.
"You would think I was the one hoarding food in my pockets," he muttered under his breath.
His expanding middle had troubled him so much that he had spoken to Mary about it, but she had downplayed his concern by telling him that everyone who spends a week on a luxury cruise gains weight.
That had soothed him until he saw her in the buff and discovered that she had not.
It hadn't helped matters any that the Aldridge's cook had prepared one of his favorite meals for dinner. The roasted beef had been served medium rare, just the way he liked it and he found the Potatoes Chateau and Green Beans Almondine irresistible.
Dessert, a baked apple pudding served with vanilla ice cream, proved to be too delicious to eat in moderation, too. Remembering his sweet tooth, Rose had encouraged him to taste the special treat that had been prepared especially for the children, and once he did, his battle was lost.
He admonished himself for his lack of willpower and vowed he would do better in the future lest he become one of those gentlemen of a certain age whose bloated physique lent them to ridicule when they entered a room with a beautiful woman on their arm.
Then he caught sight of the one that graced his for the last two decades as Mary swept into the room in a pale blue dressing gown with a plunging neckline that drew his eyes to her décolletage.
Reluctantly changing his line of vision to determine the hour, he squinted, then called out, "What time is it, darling? I can't see the clock face from this distance without my spectacles." he said and let out a long yawn.
Taking a quick look at the mantle as she made her way to the bed, Mary replied, "It is nearly 12:30, Math…thew, and covered her gaping mouth with her hand
Pulling back the coverlet and sheet on the empty side of the bed, Matthew said, "I've held it to be true and am proven right yet again…Yawns are contagious. Once one person does it, anyone within hearing distance follows suit."
He saw Mary nod in agreement as she slipped off her silk wrap and laid it down at the foot of the bed. Then she positioned herself on the edge of the mattress, reached for the jar of hand cream that sat on the nightstand and proceeded with the nightly ritual that he compared to Mrs. Bird basting a turkey on Christmas morning in Manchester
"Wasn't the roof garden lovely? Mary said, rubbing the rubbing the white viscous substance between her palms. "When it grew dark and Rose turned on the fairy lights, I did feel like I was in a magical place. I'm so glad Victoria was able to keep her eyes open long enough to see them. I'll never forget the look on her face."
Matthew nodded and smiled. He would not forget it either. Their daughter had appeared magical, too, with the fairy lights glimmering in her wide eyes. A fairy princess in an enchanted realm.
"Havesmith hadn't exaggerated when he called it Rose's masterpiece," he replied. "Bordering the perimeter of the roof with cedar troughs filled with flowers was ingenious...visually stunning while the wood an effective insect repellent...and the placement of the benches and café tables amidst the potted plants reminded me of that bistro on the Rue Meynadier in Cannes that we frequented on our honeymoon. That is, when we finally ventured out of our hotel room," he said with a saucy grin.
Her hands still in motion, Mary looked over her shoulder and said, "Considering the years of pent up lust that we needed to sate, I'm surprised that we left the room at all." Then she placed the jar back on the nightstand and turned off the lamp.
At that, Matthew chortled, hooked her waist with his right arm and pulled.
"What the….," she exclaimed as she was flipped onto her side and drawn toward him.
She was close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his face and see the flecks of gold in her brown eyes.
"My desire for you has not waned one bit since then, Mary."
"Neither has mine," she whispered, moving her index finger to his lips and tracing the outline.
His body was exhausted, and considering the paces he had put it through earlier in the shower, he wasn't certain he could rise to the occasion should Mary want him to back up his words with action. Still, he would give it a valiant try if it came down to that.
As if she were reading his mind, Mary removed her finger and planted a kiss in its place.
"Goodnight, Matthew It has been a long day. Let's get some sleep," she said and slid her body down until her head rested on his shoulder. Then she draped her arm over his chest and let out a long sigh.
"Goodnight, darling," he replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before he closed his eyes.
Though the afternoon and early evening had been warm, Rose had warned them that the air temperature dropped significantly as the night progressed. Her warning proved accurate when a gust of cool wind whipped through the half open window, jolting him back from the brink of sleep.
Instinctively, he gripped the edge of the coverlet and pulled it up to Mary's chin.
She mumbled something incoherent and pulled at the blanket until it covered his shoulder that she wasn't utilizing as a pillow.
Then they yawned in unison and promptly fell asleep in each other's arms.
XX
Matthew learned at breakfast that Rose would fill in as their tour guide for the day as Mr. Havesmith was needed at the bank. He would, however, be back in time to attend the Broadway play that evening and for cocktails and dancing at the Stork Club afterward. Waving the slice of toast that she held in her hand, she reminded him and Mary that they would be joined by the special guest she had alluded to in the car the day before.
"Would you at least give us a hint as to whom that might be?" Mary had pleaded.
To his wife's dismay, Rose stood her ground and refused to divulge any information.
Knowing Mary didn't give up easily when she wanted something, he felt compelled to ward her off, and toward that end, he reminded her of how much her cousin loved surprises.
'I know that you wouldn't want to spoil this for her," he said, reaching for a croissant and then reluctantly bringing his hand back as he was reminded of his resolution to lose weight.
Mary glared at him for a moment but then nodded her head and smiled at her cousin as she passed her the marmalade.
The children had come pouring into the room then, the two girls jabbering about the park while George and JR helped Daniel into a chair near his mother.
Once he was was settled, Rose passed him her toast and he began happily chomping on it.
Then they all hurriedly cleaned their plates.
He wasn't sure if it was hunger or the pleading look on the children's faces that prompted the lot of them to make such quick work of their breakfast, but no sooner had he placed his napkin down on the table, the dishes were cleared by Bridget and Rose was calling for the Nanny to get baby Hope ready for their excursion to the park.
Rising from his seat, Matthew enumerated the activities Rose had planned for the day and he began to think that losing weight might not prove to be so difficult, after all.
His thoughts were interrupted then by a loud thump overhead and he looked up.
"Mama…Mama…come quick. Danny tied his shoelaces together and has fallen over."
Not hearing any accompanying wailing, he smiled.
XX
AN: This chapter is chock full historical facts so I hope you will learn something about New York that you didn't know before. I know I did.
No doubt many of you are wondering about the exact nature of Rose and Atticus's relationship, and i promise it will be explained in the next chapter. I meant to do so in this one, but the story took on a life of its own and before I knew it, it was 12,000 words long. Knowing how difficult it was on my eyes to edit, I thought it best that I spare my readers. That is why I decided to divide XII and expanded upon it in Chapter XIII, which should be out in a couple of weeks. It is being polished right now.
There is more of New York in the next chapter, including Rose's mystery guest and some other surprises. Then it is on to Newport and Martha Levinson.
Hope you will come along for the ride!
As always, a review would make my day.
Hope you enjoyed this diversion from reality when we all need it most and stay well and safe!