"Mama, have you heard of a newspaper owner by the name of Richard Carlisle?" Mary asked her mother as Anna pinned her hair up for dinner.
"Yes, the name does sound familiar," Cora said. "Why do you ask?"
"We met last time I was in London, and I was hoping he could visit next week to meet the family."
"Why on earth does he need to meet the family?" Edith asked. "He's not a possible suitor; he couldn't be. Isn't he a bit old?"
"No older than Anthony Strallan," Mary said coolly. Mary clearly remembered Sir Anthony Strallan. Cora had pushed her at him on more than one occasion, but after having shown no interest in him, as was the case with every man her parents pushed her to, Edith was quick to catch him. Mary supposed she was only desperate.
"Girls," Cora scolded. "Of course he could visit. When would he be arriving?"
"Three days I believe."
"I will have Robert tell Carson to prepare a room for him. It will be just him, correct?"
Mary cringed slightly at the reference to Lord Edward Clarke and Mr. Kemal Pamuk, but she recovered quickly. "Yes, just him."
A little over a week later, Mary woke up earlier than usual to prepare herself for the journey to London she had planning while Richard Carlisle had come to visit. It had been a disaster. From the second Sir Richard had arrived, it was clear he did not fit with the family. He seemed to hold a grudge against Matthew, though they had never met before that day.
A self-made man. That's what Richard had called himself when the Dowager had pointed out that Richard was a member of the working class. She had only had too much fun at dinner, attempting to peel Richard apart. Mary could tell she didn't enjoy him one bit.
The next morning, Mary was more than pleased to see Richard off, and she was sure her family was happier than she was.
"Would you mind too horribly much if I came to see you sometime?" Mary asked him.
Richard smiled at her request. "I would be more than delighted. Perhaps a week from today?"
Having agreed, Mary had told Branson of her plans in order to reserve the car for the day. Her mother had requested she take a train to London and stay one night with Aunt Rosamund, but Mary had refused. She hoped to be back late that evening, not wanting to spend any more time with Richard than was necessary.
When Richard had proposed to her before he left to return to London, she had been slightly taken aback, despite having expected him to do so. Mary had been entirely unimpressed with his proposal, though she chose to mask her feelings from him and said she would think about her answer and let him know. It almost sounded like a business proposal.
Mary stepped outside to find that it was still dark, and the air was cold without having seen sunlight for hours. She clutched her book to her side as she pulled her coat around herself tighter to block the wind. She was relieved to see Branson making his way to the front entrance, the headlights of the car shining brightly in the early morning.
"Good morning, milady," he said cheerfully as Mary stepped into the backseat of the automobile.
"Good morning, Branson," she said with a tone that was friendly yet showed she was his superior. "I do hope life has been treating you kindly," she said as he closed the door behind her and took his seat at the wheel.
"Just fine, milady. And you?" he asked.
"Perfect. I only wish I didn't have to make this journey today."
They didn't speak the rest of the way to London. Mary couldn't bring herself to make polite conversation with one of her servants. All she could think about was the dreaded conversation she would be having with Richard later that day.
"Who would have guessed? The flawless Lady Mary Crawley isn't as perfect as everyone has been led to believe," Richard Carlisle said.
Mary had told him her story, and he hadn't said a word throughout the whole thing. Now, he seemed exceptionally calm, which was worse than the yelling she had expected.
"Do you still expect me to marry you after this?" he asked. Mary was silent. "I can't think of a decent man that would plan on marrying an impure woman."
"I'm not asking you to marry me anymore," she told him. "I'm only asking you to prevent the story from reaching anyone else."
"And why should I do that? Give me one good reason," Richard snapped.
"Because I was under the impression that you considered yourself an honorable, self-made man," Mary defended herself.
Richard stood silently glancing out his office window, contemplating his next move. He knew that he would receive a small portion of the blow if the story got out, given that he had proposed to her. If he did buy her story, however, she would be in his debt. He could easily publish the story himself, and she knew that. She would do anything to stay on his good side.
"Alright," he said, turning back to face his fiancé. "I will buy your filthy scandal, and we will continue with the engagement as if nothing has happened."
Mary thought for a moment, before nodding her head in agreement.
A/N I am SOOOO sorry this chapter is like 2 months late. Please don't throw tomatoes! I am also sorry that it moved quickly and the writing was pathetic in this chapter, but I had terrible writer's block and I wanted to get the next chapter up so I just kinda tried to get it out of the way. Please be sure to review (even if I don't deserve it) because it lets me know that there are readers who are anxiously awaiting the next chapter.