Chapter 8 – The family is made aware.

A/N – ok so, obviously, I don't know how to break up my scenes in word when loading to the Document Manager, if anyone would like to enlighten me, I'd be most appreciative. It is as distracting to me as it is to the reader to find the scene breaks with no warning.

Matthew and Isobel arrived at the desired hour at the Abbey. Carson greeted them at the door officiously, but with a twinkle in his eye and a warm welcome home for Matthew as he hadn't sees Matthew earlier in the day.

"It is good to see you, Mr. Crawley. Welcome home. I am afraid Downton hasn't been the same without you. I am glad to see you well."

"Thank you Carson, it is good to see you. Downton is indeed much changed, but for the better given the circumstances. I know it wouldn't be supported half so well without your stewardship." Matthew said sincerely.

"We all have our duty, Sir. I am most grateful for you appreciation, he paused. The family is gathered, please follow me." Carson said as he turned and led them down the hall to the drawing room.

Isobel and Matthew followed Carson. Matthew's anticipation was growing by the second. His heart beat wildly and he tried in vain to calm his emotions. He had played out several scenarios in his mind as he dressed, as they journeyed to the Abbey, and indeed while making small talk with Carson. He was giddy with excitement, expecting to leave tonight a very happy man indeed. But it wasn't as if he would smile at Mary and she would run into his arms and kiss him lovingly and all would be settled. There was decorum and a meal to get through, not to mention a handful of others, their family no less to break free of, before they could have a proper conversation. And a proper conversation he intended to have with at least a few proper kisses to round it out.

If he could dictate the circumstances, Mary would be instantly at his side; they would break unnoticed from the rest of the party, share a romantic interlude, and emerge with an understanding about their future together.

Matthew willed himself… calm down, enjoy the evening, look forward to the conversation, and stop this madness. You have waited this long, it's not much to wait a couple of hours more. And with that, he entered the drawing room behind him mother and greeted his family for the second time in nearly 10 months.

"Matthew!" a chorus of familiar and heartwarming voices greeted him. Matthew smiled individually to Edith, Cora, Violet, Robert, Sybil and finally Mary as his eyes made their way across the room. Cora and Robert stepped forward, greeting him affectionately.

Robert exclaimed, "Matthew, we are so very glad to have you home! We have not been the same without you, indeed Downton has not. Welcome home my dear boy!"

Cora smiled widely, "Welcome dear Cousin Matthew!"

Matthew relaxed and calmed, and finding his voice, he said a bit more emotionally than he would have preferred, "I am very happy to be home and with all of you again. I have missed all of you and Downton very much."

And with that a very familiar and comfortable evening began.

Matthew made his way around the room greeting Edith, Sybil, Cousin Violet and finally Mary.

How glad he was that Mary was positioned at his last stop. He greeted her again for the second time today and for the second time in nearly ten months. "Mary" he said softly, his eyes taking her in. My god, you are beautiful, he thought.

I love you, I have loved you, and I did love you!

His heart was pounding in his chest. How he wanted to take her in his arms and pledge his eternal love for her. Must get a hold of yourself, he willed inwardly.

Mary responded, "I am sorry we didn't have much chance to catch up earlier today. I was in the middle of my afternoon's chores and am afraid that I wasn't able to make more time to visit with you. Please know I wanted to very much."

Mary hoped he didn't realize just how much. She remembered how she felt Matthew's presence before she saw him and her first instinct had been to jump into his arms and kiss him madly. That is, until she thought of his engagement to Lavinia.

"Of course." He assured her. "Your work at Downton is very important. I do understand." And he meant it.

At dinner, Violet was curious that Lavinia wasn't here and more curious that neither Matthew nor Isobel had mentioned Lavinia's impending arrival or indeed Lavinia at all.

She speculated briefly and arriving at a probable conclusion, she mused aloud, "And when shall we expect Lavinia to be joining us?"

"Yes, Lavinia, I should very much like to see her.", Edith reinforced brightly.

Matthew and Isobel who both had been expecting the inquiry, but were both unpleasantly hearing the question, stiffened slightly. They had not prepared an adequate response to the eventual question; they hadn't prepared a response at all. Isobel felt an answer was needed to address the question, but knew it was Matthew's place, so she kept silent and her expression fixed.

Matthew froze. Of course, it was the ever vigilant Cousin Violet who posed the question. If he wasn't mistaken, she looked quite mischievous.

Everyone was now looking at him, having realized this was an obvious question that no one (except Mary) had bothered to think of. Where was Lavinia and when was she arriving?

Matthew composed himself and said directly, "Lavinia won't be joining us, our engagement has ended." His eyes fixed on Mary.

Now it was Mary's turn to freeze. Was it true, did she hear that right? And as her mind registered the questions and clarifications demanded of Matthew around the table, she realized it was true.

Matthew was free. "That means" her mind processed… the possibilities she envisioned made her giddy. Her eyes, her face beamed with happiness and joy, but in an instant she recovered herself and her expression was fixed and unreadable. But as Matthew had been gazing at her directly, he had observed her response and felt great joy nearly overwhelm him.

He pulled himself back from thoughts of Mary as his family continued to pursue additional information on the subject. He collected himself and found his voice, explaining briefly that Lavinia and he had realized their affection wasn't sufficient enough for a life together, and so they had determined that it was best to break off their engagement. He concluded that he wished her happiness and would always think of her fondly.

In individual responses and collectively, his family acknowledged and absorbed the change in Matthew's situation. Violet wasn't the only one to speculate that Matthew's love for Mary and Mary's obvious, but unacknowledged love for Matthew might be the reason that Matthew and Lavinia had discovered that their affection wasn't sufficient enough…

And as if to confirm their opinions, all observed that Matthew and Mary were openly staring at each other across the table.

Mary felt her heart was going to bounce right out of her chest; it was pounding that hard. She stared across at Matthew with a look of complete adoration. If she could have she would have leapt across the table and embraced him passionately. Oh to imagine his kisses, his arms around her, holding her tighter and tighter against him – oh and he had broken with Lavinia. It was too much, it was possible, she might get him after all.

She was awestruck as she took in Matthew's gaze. His eyes, his expression, his entire being seemed to confirm that Matthew was having the exact same thoughts as Mary.

And then something bitter disrupted her thoughts... yet again… Pamuk. Matthew did not know about Pamuk. She would have to tell him. And as she began to process that ugly truth, she broke her gaze and turned to Carson who was now serving the final course.

A/N So this taking much longer than I expected to get through, but as you unfold the story, you realize how many characters you have to manage. Everything needs to unfold in due time. Sorry to leave here, hopefully we will get some M/M resolution in the next chapter…. Unfortunately I can't guarantee it; the story has a life quite beyond my control