Mary went to bed that night feeling the happiest she had felt in a long time. Matthew loved her, all she had to do now was try and break off her engagement to Richard. She slept well that night and woke to the chirping of birds. A smile made its way onto her rose lips and she brought a delicate hand to touch them, remembering how passionate her kiss had been with Matthew. She got up and dressed herself, much to Anna's surprise when she walked in to see her mistress completely dressed. Mary decided that she would stand up to Richard that morning after breakfast and sure enough when the time came, she felt her heart rate increase.

'Richard, might I have a word with you? In private,' she said and Richard raised an eyebrow.

'Of course my dear,' He said, getting up and following Mary outside of the drawing room and as soon as the door closed and they were away from spectators, Sir Richard grabbed Mary's arm and threw her into Lord Grantham's library. 'What in God's name was that? How dare you humiliate me so! You as a woman have no right to talk to a man in such ways!' he growled but Mary remained perfectly calm.

'That may be your opinion Sir Richard, but you are under my father's roof and therefore you shall listen to me. I am not going to marry you.'

Sir Richard blinked at her before laughing cruelly, 'you think you can just break off our engagement as if it meant nothing?'

'It did mean nothing. You called it a business move yourself. I want love in a marriage, not to be a bulbul to your friends down in London, the fault is mine for even accepting your proposal' she said and his eyes began to shine as anger took over his body, yet Mary did not stop, 'you can ruin me and my family if you wish but in the end, what good will it do? My father is loved by everyone, Sybil is engaged to be married, and Edith too has a suitor! If needs be I am willing to be a spinster, if it means avoiding marriage to you! You have no regard for me and for once the fault is not mine, it is entirely yours!' she yelled at him. And in no less than thirty seconds, she felt a sharp blow to her body as his fist met her stomach, the impact forcing her to the floor.

'How dare you speak to me like that!' he growled, 'You will marry me or else I will make sure that your beloved Matthew will be brought down to the status of a pauper.'

'I… will still love him, no matter how rich or poor he is!' Mary said, getting up and facing Carlisle once more, 'you have no control over me or my feelings and I will not stand for this.' She hissed and Carlisle just laughed once more.

'Mary, Mary, Mary, you think you have the energy to stand up to me but you are only an ant…. An ant that has wondered far away from his anthill and is in real danger of being,' he paused, 'squished.' Once again, he raised his fist and again he beat her to the floor. 'You WILL be my wife!' he growled before storming out. Mary started to cry and realised that he would never leave her alone unless she married him. She doubled over in pain as she got up and followed him back to the drawing room. Matthew studied her closely when she re-entered and he couldn't quite work out why she suddenly had started to behave differently. He also could have sworn he had heard raised voices during the time that Mary and Sir Richard had been absent from the room.

'So how are the arrangements for the wedding coming?' Sir Richard asked and Cora smiled at him.

'We are actually finished Sir Richard,' she said with pride and she took a sip of her tea.

'Good because Mary and I are to wed on Saturday.' He announced and everyone almost choked, whether it was on their tea or their saliva, they were all shocked. Mary suddenly felt a wave of dizziness come over her and she dropped her tea cup, just like she had done back in 1918 when Matthew had been hurt during his time on the front.

'Mary dearest, are you quite alright?' Lord Grantham asked and Mary nodded.

'Yes Papa, I'm quite alright.' She said, 'I am just surprised that Sir Richard announced this without consulting me.'

'Yes, as am I.' Matthew reiterated and he observed the reactions between Mary and Carlisle.

'Well I guess we'd best tell the church to prepare for the wedding tomorrow' Cora said, immediately getting up and suddenly everyone was moving about. Suddenly the door opened and Carson stepped in.

'Excuse me my Lord, but we have a phone call for Sir Richard.' He said and Richard excused himself and followed Carson. Mary immediately exited the room with Edith undetectably stuffing a note in her hand, while Matthew followed close behind. He grabbed her arm when they were quite alone and noticed that she winced, leaning forward slightly as he made her turn towards him.

'Mary, what's going on? Have you completely forgotten yesterday?'

'I tried to end my engagement to Richard but it backfired. I'm so sorry, so very sorry Matthew.' She whispered and he felt like his heart had once again been snapped in two. He gently took her in his arms and she winced, whimpering in pain.

'Mary?'

'He struck me Matthew, I cannot anger him again and if I do not marry him, he will never leave us alone… ever.' Matthew could not believe it and it pained him to say his next words.

'Then marry him for I will not see you be punished, but promise me that you and I will always love each other. Sir Richard is old and works a lot, sooner or later he is bound to expire and then my darling, my love, and then we will be together.' He whispered, pushing his lips to hers and locking her in a passionate kiss.

'Come to my room tonight.' She whispered in his ear as he kissed her neck. He stopped and looked at her with shock, baffled at how she had even considered asking him that. 'I want to be with you before I marry that vile man. I am already damaged goods so Sir Roger will not know the difference.' She said kissing him again and Matthew nodded before leaving her. She smiled as she reread the note that Edith had passed her.

'Lovemaking does not have to end with a child.'

Mary smiled softly, now glad that Edith was one of the few people who knew of her transgression and the war had made it so that they were closer sisters than before.

When the clock chimed three in the morning, Matthew entered Mary's room to find her sleeping on her bed. He crawled on the bed towards her and began to kiss her softly, making sure that he didn't hurt her torso where she had been brutally attacked by Richard. This act of love woke her up immediately and she immediately embraced him. Their night together was pure paradise and when it was over, Mary lay in Matthew's arms.

'I still can't believe we did that Mary, it shouldn't have happened.' Matthew whispered and Mary sat up.

'Are you regretting it?' she bit her lip but Matthew brought her back down and kissed her, stroking her soft skin.

'I would never regret this Mary, ever, not if it means that I can never have you next to me again. Damn society's rules,' He whispered against her lips, 'I love you, I love you so much and I will love you no matter what people say about you.' Matthew whispered and Mary felt her heart swell with love and she kissed him passionately again.

'I love you too Matthew.' She whispered back, tears streaming down her cheeks, 'and I'm glad I was able to make love to you before I marry Carlisle this afternoon.'

Matthew stiffened and he gazed into her eyes, 'I don't care if you get married Mary, we will be together, no matter what.' He said, kissing the top of her head and holding her closer.

'But Richard will take me away; we will not see each other.' Mary wept and Matthew squeezed her tight.

'As long as we love each other, nothing will happen my love.'

Mary looked in the mirror as she stood in her wedding gown, a single tear making her way down her cheek. Her mother, sisters and Anna were in the room and all looked at each other, each giving a look of sympathy.

'Mary, you mustn't cry, you did choose to marry Sir Richard.' Cora said and Mary shook her head.

'I know, I know… but a woman's wedding day should be the happiest day of her life, yet I feel like as soon as this day is over my life will be over.' She said softly and Sybil put a hand on her shoulder.

'Mary, Sir Richard will be good to you.' She smiled and Mary nodded.

'I know he will. I suppose I had best get this over with.' Mary said, picking up her bouquet of cyclamens, harebells, hyacinths and poppies. Cora frowned and looked at her.

'Mary, your bouquets flowers are so depressing!' she cried and Mary shrugged.

'What do they mean Mama?' Edith asked and Cora looked at her middle child.

'Cyclamens are for resignation or goodbye, Harebells are for submission and grief, Hyacinths are for sorrow and poppies are for eternal sleep, Mary…. why?'

'Because this is how I feel, this will be my life. I will be a prisoner in my own home, to my own husband,' Mary snarled, surprising her family, and she looked at herself in the mirror once more. She looked at the white beaded dress that clung to her every curve, her veil covering her face. She looked beautiful, even she knew that herself, but she did not feel it. The only thing that bought a smile to Mary's face was that she and Matthew had given themselves to one another only hours ago and for that she was grateful, 'Well, let us make our way to the church.' She said, leaving her room and walking towards the car, where the new chauffeur, Mr Ruskin, was waiting for her.

When she arrived at the church, Mary clutched her father's arm tightly, 'Mary, you still have a chance to walk away, it is clear that your heart does not lie with Carlisle.' Robert said gently and Mary shook her head, 'and I know you know it. I only want to see you happy my dear, marriage is long and it will be even longer if you are spending it with someone who you don't love.'

'I will learn to love him.' She said, forcing a smile on her face.

'Well if you are sure Mary,' Robert sighed and stood up straight as the music began. The doors opened and the two walked into the church. Mary looked at the end of the aisle to see Sir Richard standing there, his eyes shone brightly and she took a deep breath and began walking towards him. On the way down the aisle so passed Matthew and the exchanged glances of pure sorrow and finally Robert passed Mary over to Richard.

Richard held Mary's hand tightly and pulled her towards him, embracing her.

'Are you his whore?' he asked her quietly in her ear and Mary's breath caught in her throat.

'No, how dare you suggest such a thing.' She whispered back angrily and Richard's grip tightened on her, 'I'm here, I'm marrying you, you're getting what you wanted.'

Richard's grip relaxed ever so slightly as they walked towards the alter and the vicar, 'I want you to be happy with me Mary.' He murmured.

'I will never be happy with you Richard,' Mary said coldly and Richard even winced, 'you have hit me, you control me and much more, what makes you think I could ever be happy with someone like you?' she muttered before putting a smile on her face.

'Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.' The vicar bellowed and as he talked, Mary felt her dress becoming tighter and tighter and it became harder to breath as her veil became heavier, the weight making her feel dizzy. No one spoke and she looked in the reflection of the glass to see Matthew's head was bent and she found that she was breathing fast and her corset was preventing her from breathing.

'I can't breathe,' she whispered, touching Richard's arm with one hand, the other on her stomach whilst gasping for air and Richard rolled his eyes.

'Really Mary, this is not the time for this,' Richard growled before looking at the Vicar who was glancing at Mary with worry, 'she'll be fine Vicar, continue.'

'Very well,' he stated, 'I require and charge you both that if either of you know any impediment, of why you may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, you do now confess it.'

Mary felt hot and cold at the same time, she was sure now that she had done her corset too tight. She couldn't let Anna see the bruises so she had to do it herself. God she had been stupid.

'Rich… Richard… I can't breathe.' Mary said again and she bent her head, people in the congregation now beginning to notice.

'Mary.' Richard growled, his voice holding a warning tone. Meanwhile Isobel had poked Matthew.

'Matthew I know this is hard for you seeing Mary marry Sir Richard, but something isn't right… Mary looks like she's about to faint!' Matthew looked up and saw that Mary indeed wasn't looking well and the Vicar was looking worriedly at Mary. Sir Richard was talking to him and it looked like he was urging the vicar to continue.

'Carry on Vicar…. She will be fine.' Richard said, angry at his fiancé.

'Sir Richard John Carlisle, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?' The vicar asked, his eyes staying on Mary.

'I will.' Richard smiled
'And will you, Lady Mary Jane Crawley, wilt thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?'

'I can't breathe.' Mary said before collapsing onto the marble floor, her head smacking it hard.

'MARY!'