DISCLAIMER: All characters and locations in this story belong to Julian Fellowes except from my OC Florence Crawley. This story has been created for entertainment only.
When May arrived in Downton, so too did the village fair. The village had still been in mourning from the Titanic when the fair was there last year so everyone was quite excited for the fair this year.
One afternoon, Florence found herself reading in the library. Her Papa was sat at his desk doing some form of work. Her Papa didn't mind her sitting in the library when he was working as long as she didn't disturb him. She was sat peacefully reading her favourite book, Much Ado About Nothing. When she reached the part where Benedick and Beatrice were admitting their love for one another, Florence couldn't help but think of Matthew. She had not seen him in a while. They always seemed to just miss each other.
They were both disturbed by Carson as he walked into the Library from the door directly in front of the couch that she was sat on. Carson paused just inside of the room and said, "You wanted to see the new chauffeur, M'lord."
"Yes, indeed. Please send him in." Robert replied, not even turning to look.
Florence was curious about the new chauffeur so she looked over her book to see as the man nervously walked in. As his eyes met hers, she smiled welcomingly. He nodded respectively at her before turning to focus his entire attention to her father.
"Come in, come in. Good to see you again. Branson, isn't it?" Robert asked turning in his chair to face Branson.
"That's right, Your Lordship." Branson replied, with an Irish accent.
"I hope they've shown you where everything is? And we've delivered whatever we promised at the interview?" Robert asked kindly.
"Certainly, M'lord." Branson replied.
"Won't you miss Ireland?" Robert asked curiously standing from his seat and approaching the young chauffer.
"Ireland, yes, but not the job. The mistress was a nice lady, but she only had one car and she wouldn't let me drive it over 20 miles an hour. So it was a bit…" Branson replied honestly, pausing slightly.
"Boring?" Florence suggested from her seat.
Both men looked over to her. Robert had obviously forgotten that she was there.
Branson smiled and nodded, "Yes, M'lady, boring, so to speak."
Robert chuckled and Florence smiled in amusement.
"You've got a wonderful library." Branson commented to the surprise of both Robert and Florence. It was rare that any of the staff showed an interest in the library.
"You're very welcome to borrow books, if you wish." Robert offered.
"Really, m'lord?" Branson asked in surprise.
"There's a ledger over there that I make everyone use, even my daughters." Robert said, nodding over to Florence.
"That is true. My name fills an entire page." Florence added with a smile.
"Carson and Mrs. Hughes sometimes take a novel or two. What are your interests?" Robert asked curiously.
"History and politics, mainly." Branson answered truthfully again.
Both Robert and Florence nodded in surprise. Branson was turning into one big surprise. Robert couldn't keep his surprise silent, "Heavens."
The door opened then and Carson entered again.
"Carson, Branson is going to borrow some books. He has my permission." Robert told Carson.
Florence could see the surprise on Carson's face too.
Carson nodded. "Very good, m'lord."
"Is that all, m'lord?" Branson asked.
"It is" Robert replied with a smile. "Off you go and good luck."
Branson bowed his head to Robert and went to leave when Florence added, "And welcome to Downton."
"Thank you M'lady." Branson said to Florence before leaving the room.
Carson shut the door after Branson had left. Florence turned her attention back to her book but she could still hear her father and Carson speaking.
"He seems a bright spark after poor old Taylor. And to think Taylor's gone off to run a tea shop. I cannot feel it will make for a very restful retirement, can you?" Robert asked Carson.
"I would rather be put to death, m'lord." Carson replied seriously.
Robert turned around in surprise and even Florence looked up in surprise.
"Quite so." Robert agreed half amused and half shocked. "Thank you, Carson."
Carson nodded and left the room.
"Branson seemed nice." Florence commented from her seat before her father could return to his work.
"Yes. I'm sure he'll do well." Robert replied before returning to his work.
Later that day, Florence went for a walk down to the fair just as the sun was about to set. There was still some light in the sky but it was dark enough for the little lights and lamps to be lit up around the fair. She was quite surprised when she saw Matthew at the fair, throwing balls at coconuts rather ferociously.
Matthew saw her as she approached him. "I thought I'd have a go before I went home. How about you?"
Mathew motioned for two more sets of ball and paid. The man running the stall took the money and gave three balls to Florence. The man then turned and picked up three further balls to give to Matthew.
"I should warn you I have a terrible throw." Florence warned with a smile.
"I am sure it is far better than you think" Matthew replied as Florence lined up her first throw.
She threw her first ball underarm and it was far too low to potentially hit a coconut.
"Do you know if your father's doing anything this evening?" Matthew suddenly asked her as she prepared to throw again.
"He's not coming to the fair." Florence replied with a large amused smile.
"Seriously." Matthew commented rather sternly.
Florence's smile dropped at his tone. She cleared her throat before answering. "Having dinner I suppose."
Florence threw her second ball. It was a much better result the second time around but she still didn't hit or go near the coconut.
"Could I look in afterwards?" Matthew asked, throwing his own ball at a coconut.
"May I ask why?" Florence asked curiously.
"Your grandmother paid me a visit this afternoon, and I… well, never mind, but I would like to see him." Matthew commented, pausing and hesitating halfway through. He threw his second ball at the end of his sentence.
"Granny came to see you? Is it all part of the Great Matter?" Florence asked seriously for the first part and with a lighter tone for the second. 'The Great Matter' had become the name of anything relating to the inheritance of Downton. She threw her last ball which hit cup that was holding a coconut but not the coconut itself. She counted it as a win though because it was definitely an improvement over her other throws.
Matthew didn't answer but threw his large ball aggressively and stalked over to where he'd propped his bike against a tree. Florence frowned rather upset. It was clear that Matthew was in a bad mood but she had never seen him act in this way before. In the past, he had always been a perfect gentleman.
Florence stepped forward so she could stand beside him and walked with him as he pushed his bike along.
"I haven't seen you in a while." Florence commented. "How have you been?"
"Fairly well. I've been fairly busy at work." Matthew replied. "And you?"
"Well, I've been rather boring. Reading, painting, volunteering at the hospital. The usual. We welcomed a new chauffeur who seems nice." Florence commented. "I was actually reading Much Ado About Nothing earlier."
Matthew nodded without responding. Though after a few silent moments he finally said, "Sorry, I'm afraid I am not very good company at the moment."
"Because of Granny? She's said something, hasn't she?" Florence asked.
Matthew didn't reply at first but eventually said, "I don't really want to talk about it."
"Very well. I'll speak to Papa and let him know that you plan to visit after dinner." Florence said, expecting that to be the end of the conversation. She sped up but Matthew sped up to stay beside her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't… I mean… Your grandmother just…" Matthew began.
Florence stopped walking and turned to face him, forcing him to stop as well. "You can say it Matthew. I love Granny very much but I know that Granny has a skill of rubbing people the wrong way. She often sticks her nose in places where it doesn't belong and offends people. It doesn't surprise me that she's offended you in some way."
"Your Grandmother asked me to look into the law around challenging the entail." Matthew told her honestly.
Florence looked shocked. "Really? That's putting you in a very difficult position. You're doomed if you do and doomed if you don't. Or at least in her eyes."
"Of that I am very aware." Matthew agreed.
"Then you are doing the right thing of speaking to Papa. He won't be happy that she has asked that of you. He'll speak to her." Florence replied as she started them walking again.
"So, you don't think she should challenge the entail?" Matthew asked curiously.
"Well, I've never really had much of an opinion on the entail itself as it doesn't really affect me either way. I wouldn't inherit. Before I met you, I would have said we should be challenging it because it's Mary and you were a stranger. But you are no longer a stranger. You are a good man Matthew." Florence replied honestly. "And Granny has no right to come and ask that of you. It is very unfair of her."
"I understand her persistence on the matter." Matthew admitted. "To her, it should all go to Mary. Mary is the oldest daughter and I am a distant cousin. I understand, but it does not make it any easier."
"I know. Just remember that you have people that have accepted you into this family and will stand with you. My father and I included." Florence reminded him with a smile.
"Thank you." Matthew replied simply.
They had reached the other end of the fair where they would have to go in separate directions to get to their respective homes.
"Well, I will see you tonight." Florence said.
Matthew nodded. "Thank you and I am sorry about my attitude earlier."
Florence smile slightly, "Don't worry about it. Everyone is very aware of the affect Granny can have. Just try not to let her bother you."
Matthew gave her a smile and a nod before they separated to walk in different directions.
Later that evening, just before dinner, Florence managed to catch her father as he walked down the stairs.
"I ran into Matthew in the village." Florence said to her father. "He wanted to call on you after dinner. Apparently, Granny's been to see him."
"Did you tell him that she's coming here this evening?" Robert asked.
"No. I wasn't aware that she was" Florence replied.
"When he arrives, do your best to keep her in the drawing room." Robert instructs.
Florence smiles as she acknowledges the difficulty of that task, "I'll try but making Granny do anything is like trying to move a mountain out of the way of a little stream."
Robert chuckles at the very thought. It would not be an easy task.
And it wasn't. Florence was hyper aware of Violet for the whole meal and grew even more so as the women of the house left the dining room to head to the drawing room. She somehow ended up walking at the back of the group of women but the other conversations were still filtering through her ears.
"Don't stay too long. Let them have an early night." Cora said to Robert as they left. She was referring to the staff, especially as they were aware of Anna being ill and Mrs Hughes being off duty.
"Sybil, Sybil, darling, why would you want to go to a real school?" Violet asked as she walked out of the room with Sybil. "You're not a doctor's daughter."
"But nobody learns anything from a governess. Apart from French and how to curtsey." Sybil argues.
Edith and Mary were walking silently in front of Florence as she trailed behind the other women.
"What else do you need?" Violet asked in confusion.
"Well there's…" Sybil began but Violet interrupted her.
"Or are you thinking of a career in banking?" Violet asked sternly.
As Florence walked she felt like somebody was watching her. She turned around and saw Matthew stood on the other side of the glass doors. She raised a hand to warn him to wait and turned to watch the other women to make sure that Violet didn't turn around to see him.
"No, but it is a noble profession." Sybil continued arguing with Violet.
"Things are different in America." Cora added.
"I know. They live in wigwams." Violet replied dismissively.
"And when they come out of them, they go to school." Cora continued as she became the last person to enter the drawing room.
Florence quickly turned back to Matthew and opened the glass door. She whispered urgently to Matthew, "If you wait in the Library, I'll tell Papa you are here. I'll try and keep Granny in the drawing room for as long as I can."
"Thank you" Matthew whispered back with a grateful smile on his face. He slowly backed away, before giving one last smile and turning around completely.
Florence shut the door quietly and turned to go back into the dining room. Florence poked her head around the door. Robert was still sat in his seat from dinner, a glass of some form of alcohol in his hand, most likely port.
"Papa, Matthew is waiting in the library. I'll go and try and keep Granny in the drawing room." Florence told him.
Robert stood from his seat. "Thank you, Flo dear."
Florence smiled and turned back to head to the drawing room, already trying to think of things that would keep Granny distracted and away from her father and Matthew.
Things were going well until Carson entered the room.
"Would you like me to ask Branson to bring the car around M'lady?" Carson asked Violet.
"Where's Robert?" Violet asked in response. "He can't have been drinking port since we left. He'd be under the table by now."
"His Lordship's in the library." Carson replied.
"All alone. Oh, how sad." Violet commented.
"No, he's…" Carson went to inform her about Matthew but Florence quickly butted in.
"We can say goodbye to Papa for you, Granny." Florence said to the confusion of everybody else in the room.
Violet, however, ignored what Florence had said and turned to Carson. She wanted to hear the rest of what he was going to say. "He's what?"
Carson looked to Florence who looked pleadingly at him. But in the end he replied honestly. "He's with Mr. Crawley, M'lady."
"Oh, is he?" Violet asked standing from her chair. "Well, I think I shall go and see him."
Florence stood up quickly and stepped forward. "No, Granny, I think you should leave them be."
"You knew he was here" Violet accused before striding out of the room.
Florence quickly hurried after her. "Wait, Granny…"
Violet did not wait, but instead kept walking towards the Library. They could both hear what was being said as they approached the door.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I can handle her." Robert said reassuringly to Matthew unaware that Violet had entered through the door.
"Really?" Violet asked straight. "Well, if you can you must have learned to very recently."
Florence stepped inside as well, looking very apologetic.
Robert sits Violet down and asks Matthew to explain what he had found. He explained it in as much detail as possible. It was official there would be no way to break the entail but Violet was still refusing to belief that the cause was lost. Robert called for Branson to bring the motor round and escorted Violet out. Florence remained in the library with Matthew.
"I'm afraid you will gain more contention from Granny yet but know that both Papa and I stand beside you." Florence told Matthew.
"Thank you" Matthew replied, "I don't think I have ever thanked you for the support and kindness that you have shown my mother and I. I wouldn't want to you to believe that we are not grateful."
Florence waved Mathews thanks away. "I was simply being a decent human being who, frankly, had absolutely nothing to lose with you being here. Who inherits on Papa's death will not affect me. If it wasn't you, it still wouldn't be me."
Matthew stepped forwards towards. "Is that the only reason?"
"Does there need to be another reason?" Florence asked in response, too nervous to put her feeling's forward in the way that she wants to.
"I guess not. But I was rather hoping that it would be more by now." Matthew commented honestly before glancing around, "Perhaps it's time I should be going.
Florence smiled, slightly emboldened by his statement. "I never said that it remained that way. That is what it was at the beginning. Now, I show you kindness because I care a great deal about you Matthew Crawley and for your mother, and I show kindness to everybody that I lo… care about. Unfortunately, that doesn't help me explain to Mary about what you have found, so I'm afraid you'll have to explain parts of it to me again. Though I shall call for Carson to fetch Papa to say goodbye."
Matthew smiled but nodded, "Of course. What parts do you need explaining again?"
"You said that to break the entail, we'd need a private bill in Parliament?" Florence asked, for clarifications purposes, as she moved to the bell pull and pulled on it.
"Yes. But even then, it would only be passed if the estate were in danger, which it's not." Matthew clarified.
"Well, I'll try my best to explain that to Mary but I imagine she will protest it the same as Granny." Florence commented, a little defeated.
"You know, I do not blame you sister for her dislike of me and my presence. It is rotten that her home and her mother's money should come to me rather than her." Matthew told Florence gently.
"I wish she was as understanding of your part as you are of hers." Florence replied. "Mary has been unnecessarily cruel to you."
"Well there are worse things to be compared to than a sea monster from Greek mythology." Matthew joked with a reassuring smile to Florence. "Mary loses a lot with my presence in your lives and perhaps one day she will accept me as you and your father have done or maybe she won't. Only time will tell. Though I doubt she will ever reach the level of acceptance that you have shown me."
"Well, like I said before, I've got nothing loose and nothing to gain whichever way it goes." Florence repeated.
"Well, what if you did?" Matthew asked suddenly.
Florence looked to him in confusion. "Pardon"
"You know I think about that evening a few weeks ago, when we recited those lines to each other and there was something that I wanted to do then but I couldn't." Matthew said, rather strangely.
Florence looked to him very confused.
"Do you not love me?" Matthew said, beginning to recite Benedick's lines from the scenes from memory.
Florence looked at him slightly funny, trying to work out why he was reciting the lines again and what he wanted to do that he couldn't before. She recites the lines without asking. "Why, no, no more than reason."
"Why then your uncle and the Prince and Claudio have been deceived. They swore you did." Mathew continued his words quieter than before. His recital of the words were less vibrant. Before he played into the words, this time it was quieter, more reserved, more… gentle.
"Do you not love me?" Florence replied with an equally quiet voice.
"Throth, no, no more than reason." Matthew said, stepping forward towards her.
"Why then my cousin, Margaret and Ursula are much deceived, for they did swear you did." Florence replied, not stepping forward, but not stepping back either.
"They swore that you were almost sick for me." Mathew said, taking another step towards Florence.
"They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me." Florence was almost speaking in a whisper but as Matthew took another step forward, he was close enough to hear her.
"'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?" Matthew continued.
"No, truly, but in friendly recompense." Florence finished, her voice still whispering.
"A miracle! Here's our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will have thee, but, by this light. I will take thee for pity." Matthew continued, skipping the lines of the other characters and reciting Benedick's next line just as he had done before.
"I would not deny you, but by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption." Florence recited Beatrice's reply.
"Peace, I will stop your mouth." Matthew said, his hands reaching up and cupping her face gently.
He leaned forward slowly, slow enough that it would give her time to pull away if she desired. But she didn't. So he gently pressed his lips against hers in a loving way. He pulled back slightly and leaned his forehead against hers tenderly.
"What if you had something to lose and something to gain?" Matthew asked gently.
"What are you asking me, Matthew?" Florence asked in return, needing the clarification.
"I'm asking you to be my wife," Matthew answered with a smile towards her.
Florence looked to him in shock, completely surprised by the question. Her shock was mistaken as hesitation. Matthew cleared his throat and stepped away.
"Well, of course, you'll have to… um think about it" Matthew stuttered nervously.
Carson entered the room at that moment, "You rang, M'lady?"
Florence was still rather shocked so her response came out rather monotonous. "Um, yes, Carson. Mr Crawley was just leaving. Do you know where His Lordship is?"
"Gone to bed, M'lady." Carson replied. "He felt tired after he put Lady Grantham into the car."
Some emotion leaked into Florence's voice as the shock began to face, "I bet he did. Thank you Carson."
Carson left the room and Matthew followed after him. Florence was left looking after the pair of them. Her mind still buzzing from what Matthew had asked. She wondered why she was in such a tizzy about it. Because it was a surprise? Because she was still in shock from the kiss? Or because she realised that he returned her feelings? She loved him and he wanted to marry her. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to marry her. And she hadn't answered when she knows the answer. She knows what her answer is.
Florence rushed out of the room. She had no idea how long she was actually stood thinking. There was a good chance that Matthew had already left but she must at least try to catch him. She reached him just as he was stepping out of the door. She opened the inner glass door and called for him, "Matthew."
Matthew turned to face her. Carson looked to her as well. Florence moved slightly slower now that she had their attention. Matthew took a step back inside and Carson closed the door to keep the chill of the May evening air out of the house.
"Yes." Florence said.
Both Matthew and Carson looked confused.
"Yes?" Matthew asked, in need of clarification.
"Yes. My answer to your question. My answer is yes." Florence told him, a large smile on her face.
A large smile bloomed on his face. He stepped forward. "Really, yes? Have you thought about it? It's a yes?"
"Yes and I don't need to think on it any more than I have, Matthew. I am certain. It is a yes." Florence told him. "But we must tell Papa and the others. But Papa and your mother first. It is late now. We can speak with Papa tomorrow."
"I will be here in the afternoon to go to the cottages. I can speak to him then." Matthew offered, his large smile still in place.
Florence nodded. "Yes. Now I must say good night."
Matthew took one of Florence's hands and brought it up to his lips. "Goodnight, goodnight. Parting is such a sweet sorrow, that I should say good night till it be morrow."
"Isn't that supposed to be my line?" Florence asked her eyes brightening as she recognised the line.
Matthew merely grinned to her. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Juliet." Florence replied cheekily.
Matthew chuckled before turning and finally departing out of the house. Carson turned to Florence who was stood with the largest grin still upon her face.
"A happy end of the evening, M'lady?" Carson asked with a small smile on his face.
"The best ending, Carson." Florence replied, turning and walking deeper in the house and up the stairs towards her bedroom. She felt like she was floating on air.
Carson watched as she left. A smile upon his face. It hadn't been hard for him to figure what Matthew and Florence had been discussing even if they had not come out and said it. Perhaps Downton would be staying with in the direct Crawley family after all, just not through the daughter that they were all expecting.
The next morning, Florence was still floating on air. She breezed through her morning routine and down to breakfast. She was usually one of the first down to breakfast but that day she had been so full of happiness that she had spent quite a while just dancing around her room and humming in joy. She practically floating into the dining room where her father and three sisters were sat in their usual places. She was still humming too as she moved to the breakfast pots and dished herself a lovely breakfast.
Florence placed her bowl on the table and sat down, a content look on her face. She was completely oblivious to the bemused looked that she was getting from her father and sisters.
"You are in a good mood today, Flossy" Mary said.
Florence hummed and agreement. "Yes. It's a good day."
"And there is clearly something going on. You would normally have bitten my head off for calling you Flossy." Mary commented, looking half amused and half confused.
"You could call me whatever you like today and it would not bring me down." Florence replied with a large smile.
"Anything?" Sybil asked with a mischievous smile on her face.
Florence pointed to Sybil, "Within reason."
"So not anything?" Sybil clarified teasingly.
"Okay, not anything, but most things." Florence relented, but her smile did not move off of her face.
"So, what is it?" Edith asked, "What is it that has made you so happy?"
"It's just a good day." Florence repeated again. The topic was dropped.
Matthew Crawley was in an equally good mood that morning, though he was beginning to get a bit nervous about speaking to Robert about it. Perhaps he should have asked first before he proposed. He hoped that Robert would want him as a son-in-law.
Matthew headed to Downton in the afternoon to meet with Robert. However, it was Florence that saw to him first after Carson had shown him into the Library.
"Hello." Florence said with a large smile.
"Good afternoon." Matthew replied.
"Are you ready to tell Papa?" Florence asked, "This is your last chance to chance your mind before you tell him."
"I have not changed my mind, as long as you haven't changed yours." Matthew commented.
"I don't think my mind will ever change, Matthew Crawley." Florence responded. "Now, I doubt Papa will let me come on the walk to the cottages while you talk business, so when would you like to tell him? Before or after."
"Actually, I was rather hoping you would let me tell him during. I have a very important question to ask him that I really should have asked him before I proposed. It was rather wrong to ask you without his blessing especially when he has been so kind to me. I need to make that right first." Matthew requested.
Florence smiled and nodded understandingly, "Of course. While you are out, I'll share the news with Mama, if that's okay with you."
"Of course. I told my mother last night. She was very happy. She really likes you." Matthew agreed, stepping forward and pressing a kiss to her lips before quickly stepping away again before anybody could catch them. They would like people to find out properly and not by walking into a room and catching them unawares.
Robert came in just as Matthew was stepping away, completely oblivious to what he would have been walking in on if he'd arrived a few seconds earlier, "Ah Matthew. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. I am." Matthew said.
"Oh, Papa." Florence called to her father. "Have you seen Mama?"
"Yes, I believe she's in the drawing room. Why?" Robert asked curiously.
"No reason, Papa. I just wished to speak with her." Florence replied a smile before she floated out of the room.
Robert glanced over to Matthew. "She's been in a funny mood all day. I've never seen her so happy. Anyway, to the cottages."
Robert lead him straight to the cottages that were being done up on his suggestion. Two workers were working on the cottages, when Robert and Matthew arrived.
"I hope Cousin Violet has recovered from last night." Matthew said kindly.
"Whatever she says, my mother is as strong as an ox, and it's high time she let go of her scheme for upsetting everything. Time we all did." Robert replied honestly.
"I can't deny I'm pleased to hear it." Matthew said with a smile.
"Are you beginning to see a future here, then?" Robert asked hopefully.
"In a way, this business has forced me to recognize that I do want Downton to be my future." Matthew admitted, wondering whether this was the right moment to mention his proposal to Florence.
"I'm glad." Robert replied simply.
"You must have thought me an awful prig when I first arrived." Matthew commented with a laugh. He knew this to be somewhat true. Even Florence had an issue when he first arrived and treated Molesley so horribly.
"Not a prig. Just a man thrust into something he neither wanted nor envisaged." Robert replied as he began the move closer to the buildings.
"I could only see the absurdity of the whole thing. I'm sorry." Matthew said.
"Well, there are absurdities involved, as I know well enough." Robert replied genuinely.
"Possibilities, too, and I was blind to them. I was determined not to let it change me. It was absurd. If you don't change, you die." Matthew responded positively, stepping forward to the house doorway while Robert stayed where he was on the driveway.
"Do you think so?" Robert questioned. "I'm not sure. Sometimes I think I hate change."
"Well, at least we can comfort ourselves that this will still be here. Because we saved it." Mathew said, moving back to Roberts side as they admired the cottages.
There was a quiet moment before Matthew spoke up again, "There was something I wished to discuss with you. I must admit I've rather done this in the wrong order which was rather ungentlemanly of me."
"What is it?" Robert asked curiously.
"Last night while I was talking to Florence in the library. I asked her to marry me. I had planned to ask you first but there she was and while it wasn't a perfect moment, it was a natural one, so I asked the question. And now I guess I am asking you for permission to marry her." Matthew told Robert, sounding far more confident than what he was feeling.
"Yes. Of course. What did she say?" Robert asked eagerly, a wide grin on her face.
"She said yes. You are the first one we've told, well apart from my mother. We wanted you to be the first from her family. And everyone else can know after." Matthew replied. "In fact, I believe she is telling her mother now."
While Robert and Matthew were out by the cottages, Florence tracked down Cora. Cora was in fact in the drawing room and completing some needle work. Florence entered and took a seat on the chair next to her mother.
"Good afternoon Mama." Florence greeted.
"Hello, Flo dear. I see you are still in a good mood." Cora replied, looking up from her needlework with a smile.
"Yes. I have something I'd like to tell you." Florence began.
"Yes dear?" Cora prompted.
"Well, last night, after Granny and Papa had finished speaking with Matthew. I was speaking with Matthew and he asked me a question that at first I couldn't actually believe he asked." Florence continued.
Cora moved her needlework aside as her mind was buzzing with the possibilities of what question Matthew had asked her. "What was it? What was the question?"
"He proposed." Florence answered.
Cora gasped, a smile coming to her face. "And what did you say? How did you answer?"
"I said yes." Florence said with a large smile on her face.
Cora gasped happily again, reaching out and pulling Florence into a hug. "Oh, my dear. This is very exciting. We must speak with your father and share the news with your sisters and your grandmother. And then announce it to the staff."
"Matthew is currently speaking to Papa. He said he wanted to asked Papa for his blessing. Matthew said that he should have asked before proposing and he wanted to set that right." Florence told her. "Mama, there is one thing that concerns me however."
Cora's face grew serious, "What is it?"
"Mary. Or at least, Mary's reaction." Florence admitted.
Cora sighed and nodded. The worry did encroach into her mind as well. "Leave Mary to me. Don't you worry about a thing and enjoy your engagement. We never know, we may be doing Mary a great disservice. She is your sister after all."
Florence nodded. She wasn't hopeful on that but she did accept it.
"Perhaps I should go and tell her myself, one-to-one. Before we tell the others." Florence suggested. "Give her time before she has to see anyone to decide what she thinks about it."
"Yes. Why don't you go and find her?" Cora suggested with a smile.
Florence nodded and smiled. She stood and went to leave. She was stopped just as she reached the door.
"Florence, dear." Cora called.
Florence turned back to face Cora.
"I am very happy for you." Cora said with a smile.
Florence grinned, nodded and left the room.
Florence search through the house and couldn't find Mary. Eventually, she did find her walking outside. Florence rushed over to her calling her name. "Mary."
Mary came to a stop and waited for Florence to catch up before beginning to walk again. "What on earth has gotten you into such a good mood?"
Florence smiled, "Well, that's actually I want to talk to you about. I wanted to talk to you one-to-one. Edith and Sybil will find out later but I wanted you to hear it from me."
"What is it?" Mary asked curiously.
"Matthew proposed to me." Florence replied.
Mary stopped in her spot and looked to Florence. "And I assume you said yes."
Florence nodded.
"That's great new, Flo." Mary said with a smile, though Flo could see that the smile didn't reach her eyes. "I knew that you liked him."
"Are you okay with this?" Florence asked.
"Why wouldn't I be? I never wanted to marry him. I'm happy for you." Mary replied, with a smile.
Florence looked to her critically. "Mary, I know you better than that. You can tell me."
Mary's smile dimmed a little. "I wouldn't want to upset you when you are so happy, Flo darling."
"Mary." Florence protested. "I promise to still be happy about marrying Matthew if you tell me what's wrong."
Mary sighed, "I suppose that with you marrying Matthew they will stop trying to break the entail. And where does that leave me?"
"They may not stop trying, Mary. After all, you are the oldest, not me. If anything the inheritance should be yours." Florence argued, though she knew that Mary was probably right. If Florence married Matthew, the estate would not be going to a stranger but to a son-in-law.
"Flo, dear. I appreciate you trying to comfort me but you and I both know that Mama and Granny's only objection was that the estate would leave the immediate family. If you marry Matthew, it will not. They will not try to fight the entail now." Mary said. "I will try to accept that gracefully for you. You are my sister after all but I will need time."
"Of course. I'm going to head back inside. Take all the time you need. I understand Mary." Florence replied.
Mary gave Florence a sad smile in response which Florence returned before heading back towards the house. She ended up heading to the front door just as Robert and Matthew arrived back.
"Perfect timing." Florence commented.
Robert approached Florence and pulled her into a hug. "Congratulation, my darling Flo. Have you spoken to your mother?"
Florence nodded. "I also spoke to Mary. It's only Sybil and Edith that don't know."
"Well, we shouldn't leave them out. We need to celebrate. Matthew will you stay for dinner. We can send for Mrs Crawley to come also?" Robert asked.
"I think the celebration for all of us should be better left for another day." Florence commented giving them a significant look that told them that she had a good reason for holding off the celebrations. "Friday maybe."
"Friday is good for me and mother." Matthew confirmed.
"Friday it is. I'll have Mrs Patmore make something special for the celebration." Robert declared.
"I better go and find Edith and Sybil so I can tell them." Florence said, pressing a kiss to Matthew's cheek and heading inside.
Both Sybil and Edith's reactions to the news was predictable. Sybil was overjoyed while Edith had a composed happy face but the smile didn't quite ring true. Florence told them both that they would all celebrate on Friday.
That evening, Sybil and Florence were in Edith's room for once. Anna was in there with them, putting Edith's necklace on for her. Florence and Sybil were both stood as it was almost time to go down for dinner. Sybil was walking backwards and forwards.
"Golly, my corset's tight. Anna, when you've done that, would you be an angel and loosen it a bit?" Sybil asked.
Anna nodded.
"Mmmm. The start of the slippery slope." Edith commented.
"I'm not putting on weight." Sybil protested as she stepped back so she could see herself in Edith's mirror.
"It didn't shrink in the drawer." Edith replied.
"You look wonderful as always Sybil. Don't worry about it." Florence said, stepping up beside Sybil.
Sybil gave Florence a thankful glance.
The door to the bedroom opened and Mary stepped in, already dressed and ready. "Are you coming down?"
"I don't know why we bother with corsets." Sybil said as Anna moved behind her to start loosening her corset a bit. "Men don't wear them and they look perfectly normal in the clothes."
"Not all of them." Mary argued.
"Hear hear." Florence agreed thinking back to some of the men that they had met and their awful fashion choice or their unfortunate lack of grace in their clothing.
"She's just showing off. She'll be on about the vote in a minute." Edith commented, with a quick glance over to Sybil.
"If you mean do I think women should have the vote, of course I do." Sybil replied, looking down at Edith.
"I hope you won't chain yourself to the railings and end up being force-fed semolina." Edith said with disgust.
"What do you think, Anna?" Mary questioned.
"I think those women are very brave." Anna responded honestly.
"Hear, hear." Sybil agreed, repeating Florence's agreement from earlier.
"Except all they are actually achieving is giving the men another excuse to say we are too irresponsible to be able to vote. I agree that women should have the vote but that is not how we prove that we are capable of making those sort of decisions." Florence argued, pointing out her opinion.
Dinner was a rather cordial affair. Mary and Edith did not argue for once. There was no discussion about the Great Matter. Everyone was in a fairly good mood, except for Mary.
"How did you get on with your dressmaker?" Robert asked Sybil when he had joined the women in the withdrawing room. "Find anything?"
"I did, and she says she can have it done by Friday." Sybil replied with a smile on her face.
Florence drank her tea and used the cup to hide her smile. Sybil had told her all about her dress. Sybil was so proud of its design and could not wait to show it off. Sybil had also told her about the discussion that she had had with the new chauffer, Branson. Florence had obviously known that Branson was political and she thought it was sweet of him to have thought of Sybil and her interests when he was picking up pamphlets.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come, but I didn't want to put Matthew off." Robert said with a quick glance sent over to Florence.
Florence smiled into her cup. She knew that they wanted to speak about her engagement but she had managed to wrestle a promise from all of them to not speak of it until Friday. Florence wanted to give Mary the time to accept it before it was practically shoved down her throat.
"Were you pleased with the work on the cottages?" Sybil asked.
"I think they're making a very good job of them." Robert replied. "You must all go and see."
"You'll restore a few every year from now on?" Cora asked.
"It was Matthew's idea. Old Cripps was rather reluctant, but I'm pleased we went forward." Robert replied.
Florence spotted Mary's expression. She was upset and she seemed to flinch every time Robert mentioned Matthew. Florence sighed. She knew it would be hard on Mary. That was the reason why she had wanted to put off celebrating the engagement.
"I suppose it's worth it?" Edith asked.
"Of course it is, because of the people who'll live in them." Sybil replied.
Robert turned to Florence as he said, "You'll be glad to hear that Matthew's conscience is much more energetic than mine."
Robert had barely finished his sentence when Mary said, "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed. I've rather a headache."
Robert stood and so did Cora. Florence couldn't help but look to the ground.
"Of course. Should I bring you something for…" Cora began to ask but Mary interrupted.
"No, I'll be perfectly fine if I can just lie down." Mary replied already heading out of the door.
She vanished quickly and Cora went after her calling, "Mary."
Florence gave Mary her space for the rest of the week. She knew that she was the last person Mary wanted to see while she was trying to work through whatever was going on in her head, so apart from mealtimes, Florence stayed clear unless Mary specifically sought her out, which she did on Friday afternoon.
Florence had been sat in the library, using one of the spare desks they had. She was filling a book full of things that she would like for the wedding if it was her dream wedding, such as possible menu choices, a draft invitations list, sketches of wedding dresses. She would take the book to discuss with Cora and Isobel when they began wedding preparations so they could decide things. The only thing she had yet to add was the flowers. She wanted to wait until after the flower show to put in some flower ideas. She had kept her book rather secretive from anybody at that point. Anytime anybody entered the library the book would be slammed shut. It was kept with her at all times and was put under her pillow when she was sleeping.
Mary walked into the library and Florence immediately shut the book. Florence winced slightly. Mary was the only one that hadn't come across Florence and her book before. The rest of the family and staff had gotten used to Florence slamming the book closed when they entered the room but Mary hadn't. Florence didn't want her to think that it was exclusively because of her.
"Good afternoon Mary." Florence said as she stood.
"You don't have to leave Flo. In fact, I'd rather you didn't. I would like to speak with you." Mary told her.
Florence paused and looked to Mary. She nodded.
"Well, to start, I wanted to thank you for giving me space and time even when I was being unreasonable. I should have no reason to have a problem with your engagement to Matthew." Mary began.
"Mary…" Florence protested, not agreeing with what Mary was saying. But she stopped when Mary raised a hand.
"Please, let me talk." Mary pleaded.
Florence nodded.
"Nobody in this house is at fault for the estate passing over me, not Papa or Mama, or Matthew, and especially not you. I'm sorry that it took me this long to realise that. I am very happy for you and Matthew. I may still get jealous from time to time, I can't deny that, but you are my sister and your happiness means far more to me than this house." Mary said. "I hope you can forgive me for taking so long to realise this."
Florence just grinned and lunged forward and hugged her. "Mary, there was never anything to forgive. I understand. I really do. And I know that it will still be hard for you."
Mary smiled in thanks, "Now, please tell me what you are hiding away in that book. It is all anybody is talking about."
Florence decided that this was perhaps a good moment to share its contents with someone. She moved back to the desk and picked up the book. She handed it to Mary. Mary opened and looked through it. She looked up to Florence as she realised what the book was and she was touched that Florence was letting her look through it.
"It will be a beautiful wedding." Mary commented, her smile genuine.
"Will you help me?." Florence asked.
Mary smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Florence and Mary sat down on one of the couches. Florence talked Mary through the book and Mary gave some a good opinions on some of the ideas in the book. They continued to do so until it was time to dress for dinner. Florence took the book into her room and placed it back under her pillow for safe keeping as she did every dinner.
Today they were celebrating her engagement. Matthew and Isobel were coming to dinner. As was Violet. If anybody in the house was unsure about whether they had gotten engaged or not, they would know for sure after tonight.
Florence stepped inside of the reception room behind Mary and her eyes immediately fell upon Matthew. He stood upon her entrance. Florence stepped up beside him but before she could greet him, she was greeted by Isobel.
"Oh, Florence." Isobel said, giving Florence a hug. "You need to come to tea one day and we can talk some more about your wedding."
Florence smiled and nodded, "Of course. I'll bring Mama as well."
Isobel smiled and stepped away which allowed space for Violet. Violet looked between Florence and Matthew before letting a small smile slip onto her face.
"Congratulations, my dear." Violet said.
"Thank you Granny." Florence replied, giving Violet a hug.
"Yes, yes, alright, my dear. Stop that before you make me cry." Violet said, pulling away from the hug and quickly stepped away from the couple all together.
Florence turned to Matthew, finally glad that she could address him. "Good evening."
"Good evening." Matthew said, taking her right hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
Everybody took a seat except from Robert who remained stood by the fire. Isobel, Matthew and Florence sat on the couch with Florence in the middle of the father and son. Cora and Mary sat on the single seats to their left while Violet and Edith sat on the single seats to the right. They were sat to wait for Sybil who was late.
"Whatever is holding Sybil up?" Cora asked.
"She was going on about her new frock." Mary replied rolling her eyes.
"Yes, she seemed very excited about it." Florence added with a smile.
"We'd better go in without her, or it's not fair on Mrs. Patmore." Robert suggested looking around the room.
"Oh, is her cooking so precisely timed? You couldn't tell." Violet asked in the usual Violet tone with a mocking laugh.
"I think her food is delicious." Isobel said in defence of Mrs Patmore.
"Naturally" Violet replied dismissively. It was a tone that Florence had come to refer to in her head as the 'I must disagree with Isobel' tone.
Eventually the door opened and in stepped Sybil in her new dress. Matthew stood as was polite when a woman entered the room. Everybody looked in shock at Sybil's new frock.
"Good evening everyone." Sybil greeted.
Florence realised that it wasn't really much of a dress. The top was a similar shape to a traditional dress but where the skirt should be there were puffy trousers. The trousers were tight around the ankle so they weren't in the way. Florence could see the scandalised looks on some faces in the room but she loved it.
Florence stepped forward, "Oh, Sybil, it's wonderful."
Florence could tell that she was getting some odd looks from those that had been a bit scandalised but she didn't care. She thought Sybil looked great, even if it was breaking from tradition.
"Spin around. I want to see it." Florence said standing directly in front of Sybil.
Sybil spun on her heel showing Florence all of it before looking to Florence, "You like it?"
"Very much. It's very… modern." Florence replied. She did truly like it but she didn't want anybody to spoil Sybil's good mood with her dress and she could see the scandalised looks. She thought it better to move the conversation onward before it could begin, "But I can't deny I'm getting hungry. Shall we go in Papa?"
Robert numbly nodded and they all began to move.
Sybil and Florence shared a happy look. Yes, it was a good day.