And How it Glistened As it Fell
A/N: Hello! Here's a ficlet to celebrate the anniversary of M/M's engagement – the night of the Servants' Ball was Jan 12, 1920 (my headcanon). The title comes from Taylor Swift's All Too Well (one of my absolute favourite songs, incidentally) – "I still remember the first fall of snow, and how it glistened as it fell …"
Without further ado … Enjoy … :)
January 12, 1930
She could feel his eyes upon her.
She knew what he was thinking of, of course – she had felt understanding flash as their eyes met over dinner; deep, sweet memory echoing between chocolate and sapphire. This night, ten years ago, when she had consented to become Matthew's wife … ten long years, and how happy – how wonderfully happy they were with each other.
Her feet retraced the path they had taken a decade ago, when the hall had been lit up with music, and lively waltzes and dancing couples … out of the front doors, just a few steps beyond. The ground was carpeted in glistening white, and glittering snow was still floating down in gentle flakes.
Nothing had changed, seemingly, and yet everything had ... or nearly everything, anyway.
A little smile curled her lips as she thought … if not for the wedding and engagement rings upon her finger, and the silver threads in her hair, she might well have been the young woman who had once been resignedly turning over plans to flee to America, away from Downton and Yorkshire and … Matthew.
"I thought you'd be out here."
His voice was warm, deliciously warm, and rich – it floated upon the air, and every crunch of fresh, crisp snow beneath his feet seemed magnified in the silence.
Mary smiled gently. "You know me far too well, darling."
They stared out together into the darkness, the black night and the white snow.
"It's – been so long, hasn't it," Matthew reflected quietly. "Ten years. And – it still feels as though – it's just the beginning …"
"Mmm," Mary hummed softly in assent. Her freckled white arms, shrouded up to the elbow in black silk, shivered slightly in the chill. But then she felt his arms around her, encompassing her lovingly, and the touch of his lips to her forehead, and his black jacket that was richly scented with familiarity and warmth and comfort and him, drape around her slim shoulders.
She laid her head against his shoulder, humming contentedly. Her eyes raised to look at him, his darling face inches above her own – bright blue eyes and golden hair, every bit as handsome as the night – this night, that she had agreed to marry him. To do him the honour of becoming his wife, his other half, his partner in every aspect that mattered.
How much time had passed, and how much had happened since then. How much they had weathered, hand in hand … the births of their three precious, precious darlings, the deaths of her dear Papa and Mama, stepping into their roles as the Earl and Countess of Grantham (Matthew was doing an absolutely splendid job, but then – she'd always known he would), then her dearest Granny, less than two years before … and Kit's seventh birthday only a few weeks ago …
You've lived your life and I've lived mine, he had said. And now it's time … we live them together.
And the darling memory was burned forever into her brain, engraved upon both their hearts, how she had made him kneel down – and do it properly – and how he had willingly complied with a half-exasperated grin, uncaring of the snow that soaked the knee of his trousers, how the 'yes' had burst joyfully from her lips as he had known it would, and how they had kissed headily in the cold, sealing their union.
"The night we were engaged," she murmured quietly against his shoulder, her eyes tracing the path of a tiny snowflake, which seemed unable to make up its mind which way to float, buffeted this way and that by the light wind.
"My darling …" Matthew whispered against her neck, where he feathered the softest kisses that made her body tremble (though not with cold). "I'm … so happy we're married. I never thought I'd – be lucky enough to marry you, and … darling, you've been so wonderful, always – to me, to our children …"
He raised his eyes to hers, and his hand tenderly ghosted with infinite adoration over her porcelain face. He opened his mouth to whisper the words to her, but … Mary beat him to it, her lips passionately pressed to his, every bit as intoxicating as it had been that night, so long ago now, that they had sealed their promise, and their love.
"I love you," she whispered against his lips, and she felt her darling husband's body tremble pleasurably against hers. They swayed slightly, kissing in the starlit snow, Mary's hand cradling his darling face, the other gripping his shoulder.
Matthew's eyes shimmered with emotion, with adoration, and he kissed her forehead again, and again ... he understood, all too well, everything she could not find the words to tell him, that his every sentiment was echoed in the sweetness and affection of her kisses.
Memories of blissful joy reverberated between their two bodies, and suddenly – Matthew's arms had wrapped around his wife's waist, and hers were around his neck, and he was spinning her, whirling her around in giddy circles, their laughter floating away into the beautiful January night.
At last he set her down, her deep brown eyes shining as bright as two stars. They kissed again – softer this time, taking deep, tender sips.
"Shall we go in?" she murmured against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat through the white tie, steady and strong, and his gentle hand at the back of her head, cradling her close … but there was no doubt that she'd be rather warmer and more comfortable indoors …
"Of course …"
She made to turn and walk back indoors, her gloved hand tucked into the crook of his arm, but – then Matthew wrapped an arm around her shoulders, another under her knees, and picked her up in his arms, her surprised, delighted shriek ringing in his ears. He carried her back indoors – there weren't any servants about, thank heavens – down the entrance hall, through to the library.
He sank down upon the settee, shaking off the snow from his shoulders, his chilled hands warmed by the fire that was crackling faintly. Mary was still enthroned upon his lap, nestled into his chest.
Matthew registered the light brushes of her lips to his exposed neck, red in the rosy firelight. His Mary … she was marbly and strong and beautiful and … he loved her. He bent his head and she smiled against his mouth, relishing every moment of it, the blissful ecstasy that pervaded her, body and soul.
They stayed like that for just a little while, wrapped in each other's familiar arms, until the fire had burned itself almost to mere embers, and the clock chimed midnight.
"Darling," Matthew murmured, his lips tracing a path down the side of her face, down her neck … "shall we – go upstairs?"
"Yes, I think we better had ..."
Ten years ago, two newly engaged people freshly bonded in love had bidden each other good night in this library, with giddy plans to announce the welcome news to the family … feeling sorrowful at the parting, and light-headed at the knowledge that they would be married – Mary had retired upstairs to her bedroom, and Matthew to Crawley House, both almost unable to bear their separation, no matter how fleeting.
But now it was a couple married a decade, and madly in love , who ascended the stairs hand in hand to their bedroom, in anticipation of the promise of a warm bed and blankets and passionate, arousing, intimate kisses … and they would wake the following morning, not alone in their separate beds, wondering if the previous night had only been a delightful dream, imagining how it would feel to have the other's presence in their bed – but unclothed and with bare, entangled limbs and twisted sheets and … together.
And they were blissfully, blissfully happy.
A/N: I rewatched the S2CS today to commemorate, and the ending never, ever fails to put a huge grin on my face and make me scream internally and cheer for the darlings. They deserve all the happiness in the world. BEST PROPOSAL EVER.
Thank you so much for reading! Reviews are very welcome and gratefully appreciated! :) :)