Mary stirred as Tom gently kissed temple and whispered, "Good morning sweetheart,"
She sighed and mumbled "five more minutes," before realising who woke her and immediately sat up in the bed. "Good morning darling," granting him a soft kiss as he wrapped his arm around her.
"Mary, as much as I don't want to ruin the moment, you have terrible morning breath,"
A look of horror passed her face as she sprang out of bed. Tom burst out laughing and sat up straighter, admiring the view. "I was only joking Mary, although I won't protest at my wonderful view at the moment."
Reddening at the fact that she missed his sly humour she decided to punish him. "Well in that case," slipping a his shirt over her head, and smiling at his disgruntled sigh. Yes, life with Tom would be fun.
"You're cruel Mary," he got out of bed and walked over to her, wrapping his muscled arms around her slender waist. "And here I was thinking you liked me," he pouted.
"Hmm, well I only like you a little," she rested her arms on his shoulders and they locked eyes. "I love you a lot," he grinned into their kiss when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Tom? It's ten o'clock! Are you planning to work today?!" Lord Grantham's loud, questioning voice travelled through the thick, oak door. Tom mumbled under his breath as Mary looked for somewhere to hide. "They can't know yet. We can tell them this afternoon if you want Mary, but they cannot find out like this," Tom whispered as he lead her into the en-suite, wrapping a robe around himself. She kissed him again and nodded, closing the door behind him as he walked towards Lord Grantham's resonating call.
"Robert," tom nodded as he oped the door for his father-in-law. "Would you believe I thought it was Sunday? I was going to spend the morning in bed,"
Robert furrowed his brow as her surveyed Tom's dishevelled appearance but nodded his acknowledgement. "Well,it's Monday, Tom and we have work to do, I'll see you in Oakwood farm at eleven," Robert shook his head as he left To, to close the door.
Mary cautiously exited the bathroom and laughed giddily. "Goodness, that was like being a girl again, hiding from the nanny!" Tom smiled at her excitement and moved to the wardrobe.
"Would you be a sweetheart and help he dress?" He cocked his head to one side and made an attempt at what Sybbie called 'puppy eyes'.
"I thought you could dress yourself." She teased but went to choose a suit, shirt and tie, settling on a light tweed and emerald green tie. "For a bit of Ireland," she winked.
He slipped on the clothes and she moved to do up his tie. "Sorry, I just always did it for Matthew, I understand if you want to-"
He cut across her and said, catching her arms mid air as she made a move to return them to her side, "Mary, I would love you to. I remember Matthew had impeccably tied ties!" He laughed as she stroked his cheek.
Minutes later, she straightened his impeccable tie and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. "What do I look like?" She sighed, smoothing her ruffled curls.
"A goddess, sweetheart a goddess,"
She playfully slapped his bicep as he left the room, wondering how she would get to the other side of the house, unnoticed, in Tom's dress shirt.