Hey! So here's chapter two – I hope you enjoy reading it! Let me know what you think :)
It was Matthew that woke first, all be it slowly the next morning; he smiled feeling Mary next to him, she was still encased in his arms safely. The memories of last night's events started to trickle into his consciousness as he began to wake fully. Feeling a fresh wave of joy at his prospective father-hood, he shifted with the excitement that bubbled up inside of him. He needed to stretch to ease the stiffness in his legs, finding that his muscles were cramped due to their unusual position. He looked down at a still sleeping Mary again with anticipation; she was cradled in his arms, resisting the urge to wake her he decided to let her sleep a little longer. Carefully Matthew unwound his arm from her waist and supporting her head and back, lowered her gently onto the pillows. The hair at the base of her neck was trailing down in wisps although most of it remained pinned up, he paused, one hand leaning on the bed and the other still at her neck where his thumb caressed her jaw lightly. He loved watching her sleep, it was truly the most relaxed he had ever seen her, and she was carrying his child, their child. It was just too wonderful for words, with this he bent down and placed a lingering kiss to her soft and yielding lips. Mary stirred but did not wake; instead she nestled further into the undisturbed sheets. Matthew smiled to himself feeling oddly protective of his sleeping wife, he marvelled at how all that he loved and held dear could fit onto one bed. He quietly left to change and to ask Anna to ready a bath for Mary, their sweet secret lay silent on his lips; he would make sure he was back long before she woke.
The first thing that Mary was aware of was the gentle touch of Matthews fingers as he traced lingering patterns on the back of her hand, which he held tenderly. His other hand was resting lightly on her middle, and she felt the comforting weight of his palm, with his fingers spread across her stomach. Matthew watched the increasing rise and fall of her chest, and her fluttering eyelids that signalled she was waking. He lent over to press a kiss to her warm and slightly parted lips. The sweet pressure of which prompted Mary to open her eyes and smile lovingly up to her husbands handsome, but still somewhat sleep blurred face.
"Good morning my darling" Matthew breezed happily as he sat back on the bed to let her wake fully.
Her voice, still a little scratchy from sleep came back enthusiastically "Good morning Matthew." She beamed, sitting up into a more comfortable position so she was level with him. She reached out and took hold of his waistcoat and pulled him against her, she frowned as she looked at him properly. "You've changed?" her head slanted to one side as she observed the rest of his attire quizzically.
"Yes, I – I woke rather early this morning and, well…" Matthew paused, turning a little red, realising what he was about to say was more than a little embarrassing.
"And…" she raised an elegant, mocking eyebrow at him, enough to crumble any man's resolve.
"Oh all right, I was far too excited to stay in bed…and I didn't have the heart to wake you up" he smiled in defeat as he felt his masculinity diminish that little bit more with his giddy outburst.
"Oh Matthew, you are truly wonderful" Mary bestowed upon him a penetratingly long kiss before resting her forehead against his, their noses bumping. She chuckled "honestly, what would Granny say if she knew we'd slept fully clothed…I can hear her tutts of disapproval from here"
"Or…" Matthew chimed in "You could tell her of the many; many times we've slept fully un-clothed. That might keep her quiet for a little while…" He leaned in to graze her lips again.
"Matthew!" she swiped at him playfully, trying to escape his roaming hands, she giggled and responded by poking the spot between his ribs that she had discovered was particularly ticklish. It worked perfectly as Matthew immediately yelped and ceased his ministrations. "That will teach you…" Mary laughed as she gracefully got up and started to stretch.
Matthew admired her from his vantage point; she looked ethereal pulling out the pins from her hair and smoothing her rumpled clothes, all the while framed by the soft sunlight rolling through the curtains behind.
"You needn't stare quite so obviously Matthew" she gently chided, sweeping her hair over her shoulder and rubbing her neck. "Remind me never to fall asleep sitting up again, I ache terribly… I hope your back wasn't bad this morning?" Matthew's mouth tweaked upwards, she was still so attractive, even when asking the most mundane of questions.
"My back was fine darling" he said firmly, sliding off of the bed and walking around to face her "And if you would care to come with me…" he took her hand and led her to the bathroom. "I think this might help sooth your aching muscles..." he opened the door to reveal a steaming hot bath, the surface sprinkled with rose petals. Mary breathed in deeply, he had used her favourite bath salts, she turned to him with a shining smile and wound her arms around his neck.
"Thank you…" She lent up and kissed him on the cheek.
"No, thank you. For giving me more happiness than I ever thought was possible" he kissed the tip of her nose "Now…get into that bath before it gets cold, we've a lot to do today if we want to…" Matthew stopped, realising he was a bit ahead of himself, they'd not discussed telling anyone yet "I mean, that is to say if you wish to…we can wait for a while if you'd rather…" he stammered on awkwardly.
"Oh Matthew, you're adorable when you're flustered" Mary chuckled into his shoulder "I'm ready to tell the whole world that we're starting a family."
"Really? Because we don't have too…"
"Well, perhaps not the whole world." She interrupted "But we can start with the really important people; does that sound like an agreeable plan to you?" She teased lightly.
"Oh yes, very agreeable." His reply was somewhat mumbled against her cheek.
"Well then" She stepped backwards out of his hold, running her hands down his arms leaving their joined hands the only immediate contact between them. "Give me a few moments to enjoy this wonderful bath, and then we can go and catch your mother before she leaves for the hospital…I'm afraid that if you go on your own you won't be able to keep it in, so you'll simply have to wait for me." She smiled smugly her as eyebrows raised in challenge.
Matthew was surprised at her obvious gesture. "Are you sure you don't want to tell the whole family together?"
Knowing how much it would mean to Matthew her lips curled up "Isobel has been such a help these last few months in settling me, and since we do live in her house, I think that affords her a little special treatment. Don't you agree?" That's if she'd not already guessed Mary told herself, Isobel was a nurse, and had proved herself unusually perceptive when it came to Mary.
Matthew simply nodded glowing with warmth; he released her hand and turned to leave. "I'll let Anna know you're up" and with a final swift smile he departed to return to his dressing room to wait for her.
Mary entered the bedroom a little later wrapped in her dressing gown. Anna was laying out her clothes on the bed, when she heard the door open she looked around.
"Lady Mary, I hope you had a nice bath?" She enquired innocently, laying out a shirt.
Mary smiled as she came further into the room, she said in mock disapproval "Oh Anna, you can stop with pleasantries right now…" She had become closer to Anna since the move to Crawley house, and with no more secrets to keep or bind them they were left with just a genuine understating and true friendship.
"I'm sorry m'lady, force of habit" Anna replied airily as she put out the last of the clothes, she turned to Mary who was now sat on the side of her bed drying her hair. Anna moved over to her, grabbing the hair brush from the vanity on her way past. "Mr Matthew looked…excitable this morning." Anna ventured cautiously, barely suppressing her smile and failing to keep the joyous tone from her voice.
Mary looked round at Anna, who was now gently brushing the kinks from her damp hair. As Mary regarded her she observed Anna's lips pressed together in a thin line, although a twitch at the corner of her mouth was betraying the otherwise stoic expression she wore. "You know…don't you?" Mary stated matter-of-factly as she tried to catch Anna's eye, she couldn't lie for toffee.
"Know what m'lady?" Anna tried her best to feign ignorance, but instead she had to restrain a giggle.
Mary turned to face her fully now, smiling ruefully at her companion. She reproached teasingly. "Come now Anna, you look far too smug, and I've known you far too long…"
Anna couldn't keep a straight face a moment longer and burst into a wide grin "Well, if you don't mind me saying m'lady, it was a bit hard not to notice, no one has a stomach bug for near on two months" Anna was chuckling at the look on Mary's face, it clearly hadn't occurred to Mary, that after tending to her in the mornings and the many messages she relayed to Mr Matthew, about being tired or unwell that Anna might have suspected, or even noticed.
Mary sighed through her smile, she should have realised of course, dear Anna, she never missed a thing. With this thought Mary bit her lip anxiously, if Anna knew…"Do you think Isobel's noticed? I should hate for it not be a surprise."
Anna smiled "Well, your excuses were rather feeble, but I don't think she suspects"
Mary rolled her eyes; she reached for Anna's hand and pulled her down to sit on the bed next to her. "Good…and my excuses were not feeble." She sat up a little straighter and she said in her best haughty voice "If you continue to contradict me, I shall have you dismissed directly!" Both women broke down into fits of laughter… after the giggles had subsided Anna brought her hand to Mary's shoulder and an honest smile graced her features.
"Congratulations Mary…I'm so happy for you both." In this moment all other things were forgotten, it was not 'lady' or 'maid'. They were just two women, two friends who had been on a long journey to get here, happy together.
Mary pulled Anna into an affectionate hug "Oh, thank heavens I've got you to look after me. I don't know what I would've done without you these past months; truly, you are such a good friend to me." She started to think about what was going to happen, not just the pregnancy, but after too. She would be a mother. Oddly enough, she'd not considered it like that before. There was a difference between having a child and being a mother Mary thought, and in that moment she resolved to be the best mother she could.
When Anna looked, she saw the apprehension in her lady's eyes; she laid a comforting hand on her knee. "Thank you m'lady, and I'm here to look after you" she gestured to Mary chucking quietly again "…for both of you I should say."
Mary's smile said all that she needed to in response, and the two women lapsed into a comfortable silence whilst Anna softly brushed her lady's hair.
A gentle knock disturbed the easy silence and Matthew's voice came floating through the door. "Are you nearly ready for breakfast darling?" Anna slid the last pin into Mary's now neat and dry hair and she stood from the vanity to smoothing out her blouse.
"Yes, I'm just coming…" Mary said happily, she stopped before opening the door and turned to Anna. "Thank you" she lent in and gave her friend a kiss on the cheek before joining Matthew in the hall.
"How do I look?" she said, smoothing down a non-existent crease her skit nervously.
"Glowing" Matthew replied affectionately as he took her hand and led her down the stairs. Before they reached the sitting room door she pulled on his arm to stop him going in. Matthew turned to face her with a questioning look.
"I think you should be the one to tell her Matthew"
He regarded Mary uncertainly. "You're not worried about telling mother are you?"
"No, not at all" she replied quickly, with a hint of amusement "I just think it would mean so much more to her if it came from you, you're her only son after all…"
"I can't see why it would make a difference…But of course I will" He squeezed her hand gently as he opened the door and stepped inside.
"Morning my dears" Isobel breezed; she schooled her features and tried not to glance too obviously at their entwined hands. When she went to check on Mary last night she was relieved at the sigh before her and had left them to sleep, but not before noticing both pairs of hands curled protectively over Mary's stomach. "How did you both sleep?"
"Perfectly well thank you mother" Matthew replied as he cast a knowing look in Mary's direction. "There's something we'd like to tell you…" Isobel put her paper down and looked on encouragingly. "Well, it seems that…Mary and I are…we're going to have a baby!" he exclaimed rather loudly and happily.
"Oh, how wonderful! I am so proud of you both! Come here" Isobel got up from the table and came round to give them each a hug and kiss on the cheek. "I did wonder…" she said as she looked at Mary reassuringly.
"I thought you might have, although I still hope it was a pleasant surprise" Mary looked down apologetically.
"Nonsense! How could it not be my dear?" Isobel chuckled.
"I do hope I'm not that transparent, I think Anna knew perhaps before I did…"
"Oh course you're not darling, I didn't realise did I?" Said Matthew cheerily whilst buttering his toast.
"Well that's hardly surprising is it?" Isobel said mockingly "You never were one of observing the obvious my dear." Mary and Isobel shared a giggle at his expense whilst Matthew rolled his eyes and got on with his breakfast.
Later that morning they had gone their separate ways; Isobel had gone to the hospital and Matthew had business in town, although he was rather reluctant to leave Mary's side, he promised he'd be home within the hour. Mary wanted to telephone the Abbey herself to arrange to go up there for dinner for the evening, when everyone had left she picked up the receiver and dialled.
"Hello, Carson the butler of Downton Abbey speaking"
Mary couldn't help but chuckle, she was secretly hoping it would be Carson. "Hello Carson, its Lady Mary."
At this the old mans voice brightened "Lady Mary, what can I do for you?"
"Could you please let Papa know that we will be coming up for dinner tonight, with Isobel…Oh, and could you send a message to the Dower house inviting granny please?"
"Of course milady, is there anything else?"
"That's all thank you Carson. I'll see you at eight, you'll have to wait until then to know any more I'm afraid" Mary said indulgently, she could almost feel his smile from down the line, the man who came only second to her Papa for so many years. And of course now there was Matthew, but she did love dear old Carson.
"I shall look forward to it milady, goodbye" he said fondly.
"Goodbye Carson" She said cheerfully as she placed the receiver back on the hook.
A slow smile spread across her face as she walked the hallways to the guest bedroom, she lingered by the doorway and looked in imagining all the things they would need. A crib, a rocking chair, baby clothes, they would certainly need to re-decorate the room she thought. It was much too gloomy looking for a nursery. She touched a hand to her abdomen wishing she could find some outward evidence; it wouldn't be long though, Clarkson had said that she was nearly three months and that she would start to show soon. After losing herself in thoughts of baby Crawley excitement washed over her, for perhaps the first time since she found out. It wasn't nervous excitement or hopeful excitement. It was pure exhilaration at the thought of having a baby, Matthew's baby, of being a mother. All of a sudden she couldn't wait to tell the whole family, Mama and Papa would be so happy! Granny would most likely congratulate herself, as she still maintained their marriage was her doing, but that was to be expected she thought fondly. Mary couldn't even wait tell Edith, it turns out that siblings are much more tolerable when you don't live with them…Sybil. Mary signed, she'd almost forgotten that Sybil was in Ireland, she missed her darling sister so much and it was at times like these she wished she was here the most. Feeling a little downcast that she wouldn't get to tell her face to face, Mary went into the sitting room to write to Sybil. It would certainly be a letter that would brighten her day! She thought how happy little Finn would be to have a cousin to play with. Not that her nephew was more than a baby himself, but she hoped maybe it might spur the Branson's into visiting.
That's where Matthew found her a while later, finishing off her long and happy letter to Sybil and tucking it into an envelope.
"It's for Sybil" Mary informed him as he came to sit beside her. "I thought I'd better do it now before Mama has a chance to spoil the surprise..."
Matthew picked up on her earnest tone "I'm sorry she can't be here Mary, but I'm sure in light of the news they will come and visit, after all Finn's almost old enough for the journey, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if Sybil insisted on coming as soon as she gets your letter." He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder and rubbed it soothingly.
"I just miss her…" Mary said wistfully "I rang the Abbey, it's all arranged, we are to be there at eight…I had to stop myself from telling Carson down the phone!" She laughed at herself and rolled her head back onto Matthew's shoulder, closing her eyes for a long moment.
"Mary…" Matthew hummed a few moments later.
"Mmmmm?"
"I'm under strict instructions not to let you fall asleep sitting up…" Matthew said attempting to sound stern, but failing miserably.
"Hmmm, by who?" She said sleepily.
"By you darling! This morning!" Matthew laughed, causing her head to bounce up and down on his shoulder.
"Well I don't remember…" She replied without opening her eyes "Anyway, what am I always telling you Matthew?" Her arms wrapped around his waist.
"Never listen to the things you say darling…" he said in imitation.
"Precisely… Now, keep still." She tucked her head under Matthew's chin and drifted off in his arms once again.
Mary was dutifully woken by an apologetic Matthew in plenty of time to change and prepare for dinner. She dressed in her favourite red dress, with the elegant beading, looking at herself in the mirror she realised that she wouldn't be able to fit into it much longer, but remembering what that meant she wasn't all to upset about it.
She descended the staircase and met Matthew at the bottom, they were swiftly joined by Isobel and they all stepped into the moter waiting outside. Not before Matthew had leaned in to give her a quick kiss and whispered "You look beautiful my darling" into her ear.
Mary held on tightly to his hand throughout the short journey, she had butterfly's, but the good kind. The type she got whenever Matthew was close. And as he rubbed his thumbs over her palm she couldn't help but smile in anticipation.
When they arrived at the Abbey Matthew opened the door for Mary and then his mother, Isobel went straight over to greet Carson who stood proudly in front of great doors. Matthew turned to Mary as she let out a long breath. He proffered his arm for her and smiled… "Ready?" He asked.
"Ready." She took his arm gratefully, holding on a little tighter than necessary as they walked into the house and were greeted by the family.
After engaging in some polite chit-chat it was announced that dinner was ready, and the family went through. The first two courses had been and gone and Matthew was staring to regret not discussing tactics with Mary. She was holding it together well, but he was having a little more trouble remaining focused on the dinner conversation, he hoped it didn't show. But since he had got to tell his mother it was only right that Mary was the one to tell the others, so he waited for her to take the lead confident that she would pick her moment well. Taking her hand under the table he leaned a little closer in to say…
"So" sailed Robert's voice across the table "Mary, why the change of date? I thought you had arranged to come at the end of the week?" Mary quickly leant away from Matthew before he had a chance to speak, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Well Papa." She looked to Matthew, "Matthew and I have some, rather exciting news…" Everyone at the table held their breath "We're…having a baby!" Mary said apprehensively. The room erupted into congratulations; Cora got up and hurried over to Mary to embrace her eldest daughter.
"Well done my darling! I'm so happy for you!" They embraced once more and then Cora turned her attention to Matthew who was being shaken by the hand firmly by Robert.
"Well done, dear chap! I'm so proud!" He turned to look at Mary "I'm so proud of you both" Robert closed the distance between them and took Mary into his arms being careful not to squeeze her to hard.
"Thank you Papa, it means a lot to us that you're so happy" she was released and moved to stand beside Matthew. Who looked a bit like a rabbit in headlights.
"Congratulations…" Edith said genuinely as she placed a hand on Mary's arm, smiling at the contact, it was the most sisterly thing to have past between to two for some time.
"Thank you Edith." Mary replied honestly.
It wasn't long before the Dowager was tired of waiting patiently to greet the couple. "Congratulations. And all I will say my dears, is that you're both very…efficient." Mary and Matthew were a little taken aback, they had only been married just under four months, but they hadn't exactly held back. They had both turned a rosy shade before Robert reprimanded his mother gently.
"Now, now Mama…"
"Oh Robert, I was only joking" She swiftly dismissed his admonishment with a wave of her hand and turned her attention back to the couple. "Well done to you both! Now I have something to stick around for." She winked at them before ordering Carson to fetch some more drinks.
After a drink with an excited Robert and celebratory cigar (which Matthew didn't have the heart to turn down) they rejoined the ladies, who were busily talking amongst themselves. Isobel made room for Matthew to sit next to Mary and after another half and hour of animated conversation he felt the lull of Mary's head lightly onto his shoulder. He turned and noticed her eyelids were heavy, seemingly unobserved by the rest of the party he gently kissed Mary on the head and took her arm to lovingly pull her up.
"Thank you for a lovely evening Cousin Robert, I think I'll take Mary home now if you don't mind." He chuckled "I think it's bed for you my darling." He smiled at Mary and let go of her once she had stopped swaying on her feet.
They said their goodbyes and headed out of the door which Carson held open for them.
"Congratulations milady" came Carson's rumbling voice. "We're all very happy for you downstairs."
"Thank you Carson" said Matthew, smiling.
"Yes, thank you Carson" Mary dropped Matthew's arm for a moment and reached up to give Carson a kiss on the cheek, wrapping her arms around his starched and broad chest.
"You're welcome milady." He smiled broadly as he escorted them to the car.
With this Mary, Matthew and Isobel drove back to Crawley house in companionable silence, the former attempting to stay awake whilst the latter shared fond looks, chucking every now and then when her head fell from Matthew's shoulder.