So who saw the Downton Abbey Christmas special mini spoiler and picture in the paper? Stupid or what - the romance should be between Mary and Matthew, not Rosamand and some new guy!

'MARY!' Matthew cried and he jumped out of the pew and ran towards her, followed closely by Cora, Sybil, Isobel and Robert. Richard looked down at his fiancé and rolled his eyes.

'I'm sure she will be fine, perhaps she just needs a little air.' He smiled and Matthew glared at him.

'Good God man! Are you blind!' he yelled, 'You're fiancé is lying on the floor unconscious! Show some more concern!' he yelled.

'Mother, she's not breathing!' Sybil cried and Matthew felt a surge of panic go through him and he dropped to his knees, hissing slightly in pain, and performed the kiss of life on her, something which he had learnt on the front but nothing. Sybil looked at her sister whilst Matthew continued to try and resuscitate Mary.

'Mother, her waist looks far too thin don't you think.' She said worriedly and Cora nodded.

'Yes, yes it does now you mention it. And didn't Mary lace herself up this morning?' Cora said as realisation hit her face, 'move away Matthew.' She commanded and Matthew moved aside, tears leaking down his cheeks, 'Robert, please ask the guests to occupy themselves and not to concentrate on Mary please.' Cora said, 'I must work fast.' She said and she began to undo Mary's dress, not caring if the men saw. She got ripped open the front and looked at Richard. 'I need a pen knife.'

'Do I look like someone who would carry a pen knife.' Richard scoffed.

'Here cousin Cora, I have one.' Matthew said, handing it to her. Cora cut open the corset and released Mary. Immediately Mary sat up, gasping for air and breathing heavily.

'Mary!' Cora hugged her daughter.

'Can we continue with the wedding now?' Richard asked through gritted teeth and everyone looked at him in shock, 'Mary?'

'I suppose we had best.'

'Mary! You can't, not after this!' Matthew pleaded and she looked at him sadly and gave him a soft smile.

'You know I must, everyone has come down for today so I must not let them down.' Mary sniffed and she got up, Cora retying her wedding dress after removing the corset.

'Ladies and Gentleman, we are ready to continue.' Richard announced and there was a murmur before all went quiet and Matthew couldn't believe his love was throwing her life away. 'Continue where you left off please Vicar.'

'Er yes, 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 will.' Mary said quietly. The vicar smiled and looked at Mary and Richard.

'Sir Richard, please repeat after me. I Richard John, take thee Mary Jane to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.'

'I Richard John, take thee Mary Jane to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.' Richard said, his eyes gleaming and Mary shifted uncomfortably on the spot.

'Lady Mary, I Mary Jane take thee Richard John to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.'

'I Mary Jane take thee Richard John to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.' She said, choking back tears and Matthew closed his eyes and shook his head. Richard smiled as he was handed a ring and he grasped Mary's hand harshly, ready to put on the ring.

'Sir Richard, please repeat after me, with this Ring I thee wed: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.'

'With this Ring, I thee wed: In the Name of the Father and of the son and of the holy ghost amen.' Richard grinned, itching to put the ring on Mary's finger.

'Bless, O Lord, this Ring, that he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in thy peace, and continue in they favour, unto their life's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.' Richard then placed the ring on Mary's finger and she bowed her head in sorrow. 'O eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life; Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this Man and this Woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that they, living faithfully together, may surely perform and keep the vow that each of them have made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Sir Richard John and Lady Mary Jane have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this congregation, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.' Mary and Richard kneeled in front of the vicar and he smiled and placed his hands over their heads. 'God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.'

'Amen.' The congregation finished. Mary felt dead inside, she was now married to Carlisle and the look of pain on Matthews face was more than she could bear.

'I must now ask that you both sign the marriage certificate and then you will be legally married.' The Vicar stated and Matthew watched as Mary and Richard left with Cora and Robert.

Mary looked at the certificate and realised that when she signed this document, she would essentially be signing away her life. She grasped the gold fountain pen in her hand and shakily signed the certificate. At least now, Richard would remain silent about her and what she had done. When she re-entered the church, she noticed that Matthew was now back in his seat giving him a heartbroken look on his face.

'Sir Richard Carlisle and Lady Mary Carlisle have signed the certificate and may now share their first kiss and husband and wife.' The Vicar announced and Mary gulped, facing her husband and closing her eyes, holding her breath. Soon enough a pair of lips came in contact with hers and surprisingly Sir Richards lips were very soft and gentle with this kiss in comparison to the angry one he had given her a few months back. Of course he wasn't Matthew but she shut her eyes and actually found herself enjoying the kiss, even though she wished she wouldn't. The church bells rang and Mary detached herself from her husband and smiled at the congregation half-heartedly, her eyes immediately seeking out Matthew who was smiling and clapping like everyone else. Sir Richard held his arm out for Mary to take and she held onto it, her face in a forced smile and he walked her down the aisle and into the village hall, which was attached to the church, with the guests following them. A small buffet was there for those who would not be returning to Downton for the formal reception and it gave the opportunity for Sir Richard mingle and Mary to find Matthew. Mary scanned the room for her lover and sure enough he was in the corner talking to her mother, seeming to be in a deep conversation. Mary decided that she would leave him for now and as she turned her head, she noticed the graveyard out of the window. Quietly, she slipped out of the hall in only her flimsy wedding dress and walked through the snow towards Lavinia's grave. She hadn't visited her friend's grave since the funeral and for some reason she felt it was a good time now. Bending down, she removed the snow that covered her name, the coldness of the snow stinging her warm hands and making her fingertips feel numb. Mary looked at her bouquet and laid it down in front of her grave.

'I wish you were still with us Lavinia, I wish it had been me and not you that lied beneath the earth now.' She whispered, 'I know the flowers in my bouquet aren't the best, but I'd rather they'd go to you than on the wall pressed as a memorial of my marriage.'

'Darling, are you there?' Violet's voice rang out and she walked towards her granddaughter.

'Granny, you shouldn't be out here, you'll catch your death,' Mary said and Violet smirked.

'Speaks the bride who is not wearing any sort of coat at all,' Violet smiled, 'Mary, are you alright?'

'Of course I'm alright Granny, I just got married, I'm as happy as I'll ever be,' Mary laughed coarsely and Violet raised an eyebrow.

'Mary…'

'Granny, whatever you say cannot change anything, Richard and I are married now and as you have told me from when I was a child, life is not a bed of roses. Well you were… are right Granny,' Mary choked back tears sitting down on the bench next to Lavinia's grave, 'I will be living amongst many thorns.'

'Oh Mary,' Violet sighed, sitting next to her. She looked at her granddaughter, her eyes filling with pride, 'I may be old but I am not stupid, I know you married Sir Richard to protect the family.'

'How did you….,' Mary started, shocked. Violet wiped away a stray tear with her leather glove covered hands.

'How I discovered it matters not, I just want you to be happy.'

'I can't be happy without Matthew Granny, and you know that!' Mary covered her face. Violet cradled her grandchild in her arms and Mary breathed in her grandmother's perfume. It always managed to soothe her and soon she felt the cold, 'perhaps we should go in Granny, I'm starting to feel the effects of this winter weather.' Violet released Mary from her hold and together they walked back into the village hall.

RxR please, else the next update wont be arriving quite as quick :3 x