Matthew nodded politely at each of the three girls that came through the door, but he couldn't bring himself to nod when he saw the fourth.
He had seen her before, and he remembered her distinctly. She looked even prettier in her evening dress. When he met her, she hadn't told him her last name, or given him hardly any hint to her status. He would have never guessed, after seeing the house she said she lived in. Why would she have lied to him?
He could tell she was just as surprised to see him as he was to see her. Unlike her family members, she seemed to forget proper behavior, because she stopped in her tracks and gaped at him for a moment. Mary regained herself after a short second, and continued in after her mother and sisters.
"Cousins Matthew, Cousin Isobel," Robert began, "this is my wife, Cora, my youngest daughter, Sybil, Edith, and the eldest, Mary."
Both Mary and Matthew had expected the other to say something about their first meeting, and both were relieved when no one mentioned anything. Matthew and Isobel took turns greeting each member of the Crawley family individually. Matthew nodded politely to Cora, Sybil and Edith, but he tensed slightly when he greeted Mary. He was positive she was the same Mary he had met in London, but he continued to act as though it was their first meeting, and she did the same.
Not long after, the Crawleys were gathered in the dining hall for dinner. Matthew and Isobel were hardly able to eat with their relatives bombarding them with questions. Mary had been given a seat right next to Matthew.
"I am sorry I couldn't tell you that you were my next heir personally," Robert apologized. "I'm sure it came as quite a shock."
"'Shock' might be an understatement," Isobel joked. "Matthew could hardly speak."
"Mother, don't pretend you were not surprised by it too," Matthew said.
"So what made you choose to become a lawyer, Mr. Crawley?" Mary asked, placing unnecessary emphasis on using his last name.
Matthew tried to act as though her avoiding calling him Cousin Matthew hadn't phased him. He decided to hand it right back to her. "Are you really interested?" he asked, smiling in triumph at her expression.
Mary stepped down immediately. She remembered the first time she had asked him about his job, he said those exact words. It was the first time that night that either of them even hinted to having met before. She looked down at her plate and acted as though she was terribly interested in her meal.
No one had noticed the short battle between the heir and the eldest daughter. Questions for Matthew and Isobel continued throughout the rest of dinner. Mary didn't speak to Matthew again until they had gone through to the drawing room later that night. Cora had been waiting for a chance to talk to her daughter about her behavior at dinner, and any way she may behave in the future.
"Mary, why do you insist upon being rude to our guests?"
"Mama, how could you expect me to be courteous to the stranger taking what's rightfully mine?" Mary snapped.
Cora took a deep breath to help keep her temper. "You don't have to like him, Mary. All I am asking is that you show him some hospitality. I'm sure it is as hard for him to take on such a large fortune as it is for you to give it away to a stranger."
"How can you trust him? How can any of you trust him? I'm sure he is just like all other members of his class. They are all greedy, Mama, and he has no interest in running Downton! He just wants the fortune."
Cora gave her daughter a warning look. "Mary, if that's what you really think, then please keep it to yourself. You haven't even talked to him. You could hardly know that much about him yet. Please take some time to welcome him tonight."
Isobel and Violet, both much older than the rest of the family, retired earlier than the rest. Isobel offered to stay and wait for Matthew so he wouldn't be left without the car, but he insisted that he was fine with walking. Mary, who desperately wanted to avoid making polite conversation with Matthew, did the same. Only instead of going straight up to her room, she snuck outside to sit at her favorite bench. Normally, she chose this spot because of the shade provided by the large oak tree, but that made no difference at night.
Not long after Violet, Isobel and Mary had left, Robert announced that he too was ready to retire. Cora did the same, and Matthew saw no reason to keep himself up any longer. He said his goodbyes and stepped into the dark to walk back to Crawley house, where he would spend the first of many nights.
Mary stood up from her bench and began walking up the path back to the house, where she hoped Anna wouldn't be too upset at how late she was. There were still lights on inside, so she guessed she wasn't the last one up. Mary stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Matthew walking in her direction. He hadn't seen her yet, and she considered stepping off the path to be out of his sight until he was gone, but she continued walking and hoped he wouldn't stop for conversation. She didn't get her wish.
Mary attempted to walk past him with simply a nod and a 'good night', but Matthew wasn't so short.
"Cousin Mary, I thought you had gone up already."
"Mr. Crawley," she said with an icy tone. He looked away in irritation at her for once again calling him by his last name.
"Why all the formalities? I don't see why it would be so troublesome for you to call me 'Cousin Matthew' the way the rest of your family does."
"Calling you by something other than what I just did would be implying that I might like you, and we wouldn't want that."
Matthew was frustrated that she wouldn't warm up to him. He couldn't see why she would hate him so much, when she had hardly ever talked to him. "I don't know what I did Mary, but I'm sorry for whatever it is." He froze as he realized her had just called her by only her first name. Matthew sighed before speaking again. "I'm sorry for that. I shouldn't have called you that." He knew it was improper to call a lady by only her name without knowing her well.
"That's not all you should be sorry for," she said, to Matthew's relief, without the angry tone.
"Then what should I be sorry for?" he asked her, moving slightly closer to her.
"For starters, you did flirt with me." Mary was surprised at her courage. She hadn't expected herself to mention their first meeting to him.
"I believe it's only fair to say you did the same," Matthew smiled.
"I can assure you that it won't ever happen again."
"And why would that be?" he asked, once again moving a little closer.
"You do realize it's rightfully my estate?"
Everything clicked in Matthew's head. This would explain why she had been so nice to him the first time they met. She didn't know who he was. Then again, he didn't know who he was yet either. He had received the telegram from Lord Grantham that same night, after he had returned home. This time, she had shown no sign of liking him. She despised him because he was taking the fortune that should have been hers. It wasn't his fault, and he felt terrible that he would receive what he never wanted but she had hoped for her whole life.
"Of course I do, Cousin Mary, and I'm sorry for any trouble I have caused you," Matthew apologized. "And any trouble I will cause you, for that matter."
Neither one had noticed Sybil quickly walking down the path. "Mary? Where have you been? Anna said she has been waiting for you for quite some time now."
"Goodnight, Cousin Matthew," she said, hoping he would notice what she had chosen to call him. It was her way of quietly telling him she would at least attempt to get along with him. She pulled herself away from him and began walking back to the house with her sister.
"I do hope you were being civil with him," Sybil said.
"Of course I was. Have you ever known me to behave otherwise?" Mary asked sarcastically.
"Mary, please do us all a favor and treat him a bit more kindly. He's just as nervous to be here as you are reluctant to accept him. And it's not him fault anyway."
"It appears that I am the only one that cares about keeping Downton in the family."
"It will be in the family. Matthew is family, Mary. And if it means that much to you, then you could always-"
"I don't plan on marrying Cousin Matthew," Mary interrupted.
"I didn't say you had to," Sybil explained. "But please don't rule out that possibility if Downton really means that much to you."
And with that, Mary left Sybil to go to her own room, hoping Anna would understand her.
A/N Hey guys! So a lot of you are worried that Mary and Matthew might not get together. I promise they will! I am a huge M/M fan, and there will also be some Sybil/Branson. Also, it will take a few chapters to get to the big stuff (like Mary's kidnapping) because some things have to happen leading up to it. Please review! It helps me write faster knowing you guys are enjoying it and anxious for another chapter.