AN: I totally forgot to say "Thank you" to eyeon yesterday. There is a conversation in Kiss Me in which Mary and Matthew talk about whether they'd still have gotten married if Patrick had not died. Eyeon told me that that would be a good idea for a new story. I changed the original idea a little, but the basic idea is the same. So here it goes:
Eyeon, thank you very much for putting this story into my head and for reviewing my stories so faithfully!
Matthew
"Matthew, be careful."
"Why?"
"Lady Mary is not for you."
"I know mother, she has to marry her cousin Patrick. Her father's heir. She told me so herself. Without me asking her. So don't tell me that she is stringing me along, she warned me. But I enjoyed talking to her anyway. And I am almost sure that I am in her good books now which might put me into her father's good books."
"Still Matthew. Be careful. Don't fall in love with her."
"I won't, don't worry", he says but thinks that it is already too late.
When he sees her at the breakfast table the next morning he sits down next to her and she literally beams at him. He can feel Patrick's eyes on him and looks up but Patrick has already sat down next to Lady Edith and seems to be involved in a conversation with her. The day is spent as days of house parties are always spent. There are walks around the park, games of cards, listening to music and talking to people one hardly knows. Although Matthew thinks that the last part isn't strictly true. He spends most of his time talking to Mary and he has the feeling that he knows her quite well.
"How do you do that?"
"What?" he asks rudely and surprised because he didn't think that Patrick Crawley would ever talk to him.
"Make Mary smile a true smile. Make her give you her full attention."
"Isn't she always like that?"
"Absolutely not. She's arrogant and haughty and aloof."
"Maybe she is just in a good mood because she likes this party?"
"Mary is never in a really good mood. Or she hasn't been in the last five years. Except for since the moment she met you. Don't get too close to her."
"Don't worry. I know that she is supposed to marry you. I won't steal her."
"That's not what I mean. I am not sure that I will marry her after having seen you with her."
"Cousin Patrick, we didn't do anything"
"I know. But I can't make her happy and she won't make me happy but there is someone else whom I could make happy, I think."
He watches Patrick go back to Edith and sees her smile at him. She doesn't look so nondescript anymore and he wonders if it wouldn't be better for everyone if Patrick married Edith. He could marry Mary then. Or maybe not because he is sure that the Earl of Grantham would not allow his daughter to marry an upper middle class lawyer. He is also sure that Mary would never want to marry a country solicitor.
Robert
"Papa?"
"Yes, Edith?" He knows his daughter is stealing herself to say something she isn't sure she is supposed to say.
"What do you know about Matthew Crawley?"
"Only what Mary has already told me. That he is your fourth cousin, a lawyer and that he lives in Manchester. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you would invite him and his mother here for New Year's Eve or the shoot or both."
"Edith, if you like him we have to talk about that very seriously. Because I won't allow you to marry a middle class lawyer."
"I don't want to marry him, don't worry. But he is nice and it might be helpful to know the only lawyer in the family."
He wonders what is on his daughters' agendas. Mary wouldn't stop talking about Matthew until Patrick shut her up rather unkindly. And now Edith wants him here for a family holiday. All he can do is shake his head at her when she leaves.
"Cora?" He calls his wife when he sees her walking past the library. "Could you come in here? I want to talk to you about something."
She smiles at him. She always does. And it always makes his heart beat a little faster.
"Edith wants me to invite Matthew Crawley for New Year's and the shoot."
"That is rather curious because Mary doesn't stop talking about him. I hope he is not another man for them to fight over, because they already fight over Patrick like cats and dogs." He has to laugh, he can't help it.
"It's not funny, you know. You aren't the one who has to deal with their fights and barbs all day long."
"I am sorry, my darling. And I know the whole Patrick thing is rather delicate. If Mary only agreed to make the engagement official, Edith could stop hoping."
"I don't think that will happen anytime soon."
"We will have to talk to her again. But regardless of that, should we invite Matthew Crawley and his mother?"
"I think so. I want to meet him. If both Mary and Edith praise him there must be something special about him. Robert, as much as I would like to stay here with you, your mother has summoned me for tea. And I will be late if I don't leave now."
"We couldn't risk that." Because there are no servants around he gives her quick kiss on the lips and she smiles at him in a way that makes him want to do all kinds of things to her but he knows he has to let her go. "I'll see you tonight", she says to him and leaves. He stares after her in wonder. He still can't believe how happily married he is. He wants this for his daughters too and he always thought that it might happen for Mary and Patrick. But after the way Patrick talked to Mary the past few weeks he doubts that. Regardless, there is no way around this marriage.