"Edith, you're awfully quiet," Matthew prompted her when they have been travelling for a while in silence.
"Am I?" Edith stated, drawn back to the present. "I was just thinking about what Mary said."
"Did she ask you to not to talk with me?"
"No; she told me not to settle to be second best," she revealed to him.
"And she's right," he supported Mary's opinion. "I hope you believe me when I say we both only want you to be happy."
"So have you decided what you're getting Mary for Christmas?" Edith said, changing the subject.
"Not really," he replied, letting her change the subject. "Do you have any suggestions?"
"You can never go wrong with jewelry and Mary loves them."
"I was hoping for something simpler, something sentimental," he mused.
"Mary isn't sentimental, are you sure she would like that?" she asked incredulously.
"Perhaps I'll find something that is both," he surmised.
...
Mary was about to carry William back to the nursery when she saw Isobel arrive. She saw Carson greet their visitor at the door and waited a little so Isobel could see William.
"Look who's here, it's your grandmama," she told her son and presented him to her.
"Hello," Isobel greeted both of them. "How are you today?" She touched the little hand that reached out to her.
"We are doing well," Mary replied for both of them. "What brings you here today?"
"I hope your invitation for me to come visit is still valid."
"Of course," Mary assured her. "It's just that you haven't really come visit us since I extended it."
"I have been busy," Isobel explained. "But I'm here now."
"Did Matthew mention that he will be going to London?" Mary deduced that her visit was no whim.
"He may have mentioned it," she admitted. "Alright, he wanted me to help ease your worry about him being away."
"He didn't have to do that," Mary said.
"He worries as much about you as you do for him."
"Mary, are you having luncheon with us?" Cora asked when she entered the hall. "Isobel, it's so nice to see you. What brings you here today?"
"I thought I'd come and see my grandson," Isobel explained.
"Please join us for luncheon," Mary invited her. "It would be nice to catch up."
"That would be lovely," Isobel accepted happily.
"Let me just take William back to the nursery," Mary said and headed upstairs.
...
Matthew spent most of the day listening and touching items he wanted to buy as presents. He was glad that Bates and Anna were with him because they gave their valuable opinions knowing who the gifts were intended for. The last two gifts were the dearest but hardest for him.
"Have you decided what you are getting Lady Mary, sir?" Anna ventured to ask.
"First let me get something for William," he replied. "I'd like to get him a teddy bear."
Bates and Anna took him to a store that sold teddy bears.
"May I help you sir?" the store manager asked Matthew.
"I'd like to buy a Steiff teddy bear for my son," he replied. He touched a few that was brought to him and made his choices.
After the toy store, Matthew asked to be brought to a jewelry shop.
"Would you mind if you waited outside?" Matthew asked his companions after he was seated.
Bates gave Anna a quizzical look before following her out.
"Why would he want us outside?" Bates asked. "Wouldn't he need our help choosing whatever he is getting Lady Mary?"
"He's making sure that we won't tell Lady Mary what he's getting her," Anna said with a smile. She knew Matthew trusted them but gave them deniability if Mary tried to find out.
...
Mary waited for Matthew in the hall after she heard that the car was sent to fetch them. She didn't have to wait for long and had to refrain from running into his arms when he entered. Instead she just reached for his hand.
"How was London?" she asked him.
"I think I accomplished what I set out to do," he said happily.
"Where is Edith?" she asked when she only saw Bates and Anna get out of the car.
"She decided she'd stay another day," he informed her. "She's staying with Cousin Rosamund."
"I can't believe she left you to travel home alone," she said, quite disappointed with her sister.
"Mary, she didn't abandon me," he assured her. "She was at the train station to see me off."
"What's this?" she asked when she saw Anna carrying a large teddy bear when she entered. It was hard to miss since it wasn't in a box like the rest of the things Bates and Jimmy brought into the house.
"It's a teddy bear," he stated the obvious.
"It's much too big for William!" she exclaimed, looking at it and thinking it was bigger than her pillow.
"That's not for William," he told her. He pulled out a smaller version from his pocket and showed her what he got for their son.
"So for whom did you get that one?" she asked, watching Anna take it upstairs for them.
"It's for you," he whispered in her ear. "Something to hug when I'm not around."
"And why wouldn't you be around?" she asked, trying to keep the panic she felt from overwhelming her.
"What if I have to go to London again for business?" he posited.
"And I can't come with you?" she asked, trying to comprehend what would possess him to go to London without her again.
"Mary, there will be times I can't take you with me," he reminded her. "You will let me go about my business on my own won't you?"
"If you don't do it too often, I think I can manage without the teddy bear," she told him, trying to be supportive of him.
...
Mary looked at the teddy bear in the corner of the room where Anna had placed it when she came up to change for bed.
"What was he thinking getting me this?" she wondered out loud, touching it gently.
"I think it's quite sweet," Anna said with a smile. "You are never too old for a teddy bear."
Mary picked up the bear and gave it a quick hug and had to admit that it was comforting as Matthew had said.
Both Mary and Anna were startled when they heard a loud knock from the dressing room door. Anna went to answer it for Mary. She saw an anxious Molesley on the other side.
"Something is wrong with Mr. Crawley," he said nervously.
Mary heard and quickly crossed the distance between her and the door and was instantly in the dressing room. She found Matthew hunched over holding his head in his hands.
"Molesley, please ask Carson to phone Dr. Clarkson and send the car to fetch him," she ordered, watching the man hustle out of the room. "Was his head aching while you were in London?" She turned to look at Anna, knowing that it would not have been overlooked except when Matthew was on his own.
"It wasn't," Matthew answered, struggling to stand up. "It only started now."
"Let's get you to bed," Mary said, gently helping him walk to their room.
...
Dr. Clarkson arrived quickly and tagging along was Isobel who happened to be at the hospital when the car fetched him. Mary was grateful she was there because she shooed away the rest of the family who she knew would have been hovering about while Clarkson checked on Matthew. She knew they cared for Matthew but preferred a smaller group in case a crowd worsened his condition.
"Has this been happening often?" Clarkson asked Matthew.
"Not since the last time," Matthew replied. "I didn't think it would happen again."
"Does this have anything to do with his eyesight?" Mary asked with concern. "Have you heard from Dr. Duke-Elder?"
"Unfortunately, no," Clarkson revealed. "I'm afraid he's in Switzerland learning about new medical techniques from a Dr. Gonin."
"Is there no one else who can provide help?" Isobel asked.
"They all think that it is not related and there must be another reason why Mr. Crawley's head is hurting."
"I wish Dr. Duke-Elder would come back soon," Mary stated hopefully. "I'll ask papa if he can summon him."
"Not everyone is at our beck and call," Isobel noted.
"Not even for Matthew?" Mary was quite vexed with Isobel just then for not supporting her.
"Mary, please," Matthew called out, reaching for her hand. He knew he had to calm her down before an argument ensued. "I'm just probably worn out by the trip."
"That's probably right," Clarkson agreed. "You were worn out from travelling the last time as well weren't you?"
"Yes, we had just finished touring the estate," Mary recalled.
"There you go then," Clarkson said. "I would recommend that you refrain from wearing yourself out from travelling."
Mary certainly liked that and thought it would dissuade Matthew from venturing far from Downton for a while. She saw Matthew frown but he remained silent.
"You will listen to Dr. Clarkson won't you?" Isobel asked, knowing her son well.
"If it happens again tomorrow, give him this," Clarkson said, handing Mary something from his medicine bag. "It might ease the pain."
"Thank you Dr. Clarkson," Mary said with a smile. She nodded to Anna to escort Clarkson and Isobel out while she tended to Matthew.
...
Tom had just stepped out into the hall to go to breakfast when he saw Mary approaching.
"Good morning," he greeted her. "Is Matthew feeling better?"
"Much better I think," she replied with a smile. "I wondered if I might have a word before you left for the day."
Tom nodded and stepped closer to hear what she had to say.
"How's the project coming along?" she asked quite unexpectedly.
"It's coming along nicely," he told her. "We are building new structures to hold the new machinery coming in and have consolidated quite a bit of land now. We've sectioned it for farming and raising animals but that's not what you wanted to know." He was quite animated talking about his work then realized she may not be interested in the details.
"It's alright Tom," she assured him, realizing what he was thinking. "In time, I'll probably understand more about running the estate but for now, I was hoping that you would come to me first if there are problems."
Tom was visibly confused.
"I was hoping that we can resolve small problems first without bothering Matthew," she explained. "If we can't then we can bring them to his attention. I think it would help him focus on his recovery."
"Of course, I'll do anything to help." Tom watched as Mary walked away. He was quite impressed with her initiative.
...
Matthew sat on the edge of the bed with a visible pout on his face. He wasn't happy being cooped up in the house and he knew after what Clarkson had said, Mary would definitely veto any plans to travel.
"There you are," Mary said when she entered the room. "Are you ready?"
"For what?" Matthew asked sullenly.
"I thought we should go on a picnic," she announced. "I think we can spend the day out for a little while."
"Who's coming with us?" Matthew snapped out of his mood once he realized Mary may not allow long excursions but isn't about to keep him indoors indefinitely as he first thought.
"Pratt will drive us, Anna will come along as well and William."
Matthew stood up and extended his hand when he felt Mary was near him. He pulled her into his arms.
"Don't you want to go out?" she asked in jest. "Would you rather stay home?" She knew he was not but couldn't help teasing him.
"You know I would like to go," he replied. "I just wanted to thank you properly." He reached out to touch her face so he could plant a kiss on her lips.
"That won't change my mind about letting you go to London," she warned. "Whatever business you need to do, we can either postpone it or have people come here."
Matthew knew he had to take it slow and hoped that he would be well enough soon to be able to do as he pleased.
...
The picnic was very pleasant. Matthew enjoyed spending time with Mary and William out of the house. He sat next to Mary as she cradled William on her lap.
"Did you like the Christmas ornament I got?" he asked.
"Yes, it is lovely," she agreed. "I'll hang it tomorrow when the tree arrives."
"I was thinking of starting a tradition of buying a new one every year," he declared. "It will chronicle special events in our lives from now onwards."
"I thought you didn't like tradition," she teased him.
"I like some traditions," he clarified. "And this will be our very own. Besides, we have more than enough room on the tree for more ornaments."
"Or we can get a bigger tree," she said. "When did you have it made?"
"A few weeks ago, I wanted to commemorate our becoming parents."
Mary thought about the exquisite glass ornament he had gotten them. She smiled and looked at the cherished chap on her lap who made this Christmas one of the memorable ones.
"So, what do you say?" he prompted her. "Shall we make it our tradition?"
"I look forward to seeing what we get next year," she replied, kissing him on the cheek.
...
Matthew and Mary had just come down for dinner when Carson announced that Arthur had arrived and wanted to speak with Matthew.
"I wonder what it's about," Matthew wondered out loud.
"He's in the library, sir," Carson said. "Shall I ask him to come another time?"
"No, I'll go see him," Matthew said and started to walk towards the library.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Mary inquired. She was relieved when Matthew shook his head in response.
"I hope he doesn't expect to be invited to dinner," Carson said, voicing Mary's own thoughts.
"I hope not," Mary agreed. She turned just in time to see Tom come down for dinner. "Tom, is there any problem at the work site?"
"Not that I know of," he replied. "Everything looked in order when I left."
At that moment the library door opened and both Matthew and Arthur emerged. The two men shook hands before Arthur left the house but not before turning to smile at Mary.
"Is something the matter?" Mary asked.
"Nothing is the matter," Matthew replied.
When Tom heard that he nodded to Mary to take his leave and headed to the drawing room to join the rest of the family.
"So what did he want?" Mary asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Apparently Arthur is spending Christmas in the village," Matthew replied. "His mother has decided to travel and he couldn't follow."
"Why is he telling you this? He doesn't need your permission to stay in the village."
"I suppose he is feeling lonely," he guessed. "It will be Christmas soon after all."
"Please tell me you didn't invite him to spend it with us." Mary knew Matthew was hospitable and worried he may have done just that.
"I thought about it but Cousin Violet might not like that so I didn't. I know how difficult it is for her not being in her own home, I didn't want to spoil Christmas for her."
Mary silently thanked her granny for that and she was glad he was making an effort to put the family's need above his natural tendencies.
"Are you two just going to stand there or come with me into the drawing room?" Violet said when she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Coming," Matthew replied with a smile. "Do you think I'm turning into a snob?" He asked in a whisper so as not to let Violet hear. He tilted his head when he felt Mary wrap an arm around his.
"Of course not! You're just showing how much you love this family," she whispered back.
"Can you guess who I love the most?" he joked.
Mary watched Violet disappear through the drawing room door before turning to Matthew and kissed him.