After Anna had told her where Matthew was, Mary decided to take a moment to check on William before going to bed. She lovingly watched her son sleep peacefully. She marveled at how quickly he was growing.
"Mary, shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?" Robert asked when he found her hovering over William.
"I could ask you the same thing," she said, turning to find him in his pajamas already.
"I just wanted to kiss the children good night," he said, entering the nursery to do just that.
"I don't recall you doing that when we were children," she teased.
"Didn't I?" he asked, trying to remember. "Well I suppose it's time to change that." He absent-mindedly touched the top of William's head.
"I do remember you holding my hand when I skinned my knee as a child," she revealed a childhood memory. "You told me to be brave and that everything will be alright."
"I remember that," he said, starting to tear up. "I think you holding my hand helped me be brave as well. You don't know how terrified I was when I saw you bleeding like that."
Mary was very touched and hugged Robert. She wondered how many skinned knees she'd have to go through with William but knew she would definitely hold his hand if he needed her to.
...
Long after Robert had left the nursery, Mary decided it was time to go to bed herself. She was walking down the hallway when she saw a swaying Arthur approach her. She turned to look around and wondered how he managed to get upstairs.
"Lady Mary, a word," Arthur slurred. "Please."
"You are drunk," Mary stated the obvious and tried to walk around him.
"Wait," he said, reaching for her hand to detain her. "You need to hear me out."
"I don't think you have anything to say that I need to hear," she insisted, pulling her hand away from him.
"You don't need to continue to suffer," he said. "You've done your duty and he has his heir. You can leave him now."
"You are definitely drunk and you can't be serious!" she exclaimed, quite aghast at his gumption to make such a claim.
"I can make you happy better than he can," he insisted, trying to steady himself against a wall. "I love you, you know."
"And how do you propose to make me happy?" she asked, trying to use reason to get through a drunk.
"I can take you away from all this," he said, gaining a bit of clarity from his drunkenness. "I know of an estate that I can fix up and make as grand as Downton if not better."
"So you're taking me from one estate to another?" she challenged him. "I thought you wanted to take me away from an unhappy life."
"Then I'll take you anywhere you want," he offered. "As far away as you'd like."
"So you're wealthy enough to take me anywhere and provide me the life I'm accustomed to?" Mary saw him waver and knew the answer before he even spoke.
"I will work hard and your connections will open up doors for me. I swear we will be happy." Arthur made an attempt to hug and kiss Mary but ended up hugging a pillar when she side-stepped his approach.
"My kind doesn't forgive divorce easily," she warned him. "No doors will be open to me much less you if I leave Matthew. And what makes you think I would leave him and my son?"
"Anna Karenina did," he suggested to her.
"You imagine yourself to be Vronsky?" she asked incredulously. "I certainly do not see myself as Anna Karenina! Nor do I intend to follow her example."
"It's not what I meant," he tried to salvage his attempt to win her. "I just …"
"Let me be absolutely clear that I will never leave my husband, my son or Downton," Mary said before he could say another word. "You will stop this at once and never bring it up again." She turned away to leave him only to hear a loud thump behind her.
In his attempt to reach for her, Arthur fell flat on his face and lost consciousness. Mary stood frozen in place and wondered what to do next.
"Milady," Anna and Bates called her attention as soon as they reached her. They had heard the commotion and voices so they came upstairs to check on it.
"He's drunk," Mary said and watched Bates turn the man over.
"And passed out," Bates said.
"Did he harm you milady?" Anna asked, looking worriedly at her.
"I'm fine," she assured both of them. "Just please get him out of the house."
"Leave it to us, milady," Bates acknowledged.
...
Matthew sat on his side of the bed waiting for Mary to return. He was quite pleased to hear from Robert, Cora and Tom how happy Mary looked while they were dancing. He looked up when he heard the door open.
"It's just me," Mary informed him when she entered the room.
"How is Rose?" he asked, remembering why she had left him in the library the first place.
"She's heartbroken," she replied, opting not to keep it from him. "Apparently liquor brings out the truth in Blackwell."
"I'm so sorry to hear that," he said with obvious sympathy. "Will she be alright?"
"Yes of course, she'll be fine," she assured him. "But can I ask you to keep him away from the house?"
"Certainly, I would imagine he would avoid coming anyway."
"How much longer will he be working for you?" She would rather have him leave immediately but chose to ask the question instead.
"A month more," he said. "But I'll talk to him about finishing ahead of that." He thought Arthur would want to be done to avoid any further awkwardness.
"I hope he will leave sooner than that," she repeated.
"I guess you were right about him after all," he told her. "I just thought he was like me, wanting to make a mark in the world."
"He is definitely not like you!" she emphasized. "You would never want anything you didn't earn even when it is offered to you."
"He is obviously ambitious," he agreed. "I think he has had to make things happen to get to where he is."
"He is too ambitious," she said. "He wants what isn't even offered to him."
"You mean Rose? I am sorry about that. I didn't think it would turn out this way."
"No one could anticipate such an outcome," she said, trying to ease his guilt. "And I'm sure Rose will be fine. She can probably go to London for a few days for a diversion."
"I don't think Cousin Rosamund would like that given how the last visit ended," he noted. "She might put Rose under lock and key."
"I think she's learned her lesson and she only wants what anyone her age wants," she observed. "Actually what anyone wants for that matter."
"And what is that?"
"To be loved," she revealed. "My darling, you do know how I feel about you don't you?" She thought about what Rose had said before.
"Mary, my darling, you don't have to say you love me for me to know that."
"But you say it so easily and often," she reminded him, running a hand down the side of his face.
"Just because I do doesn't mean you have to," he said, catching her hand and holding it in both of his. "We each love in our own way and you seem to forget that I know you, the real you. You may not say the words, but you definitely love me."
"And you have no doubts?" she wondered. "You didn't believe me when I told you I was happy."
"That's different," he said. "I have proof of your love and his name is William. And don't say you did it out of duty."
"No, I wasn't going to say that," she said honestly. "Because I can't." She leaned in and kissed him like she never did before.
"Where's Anna?" he asked when they both pulled away slightly.
"Why?" she asked, still trying to catch her breath.
"Isn't she coming to help you change for bed?" he asked impatiently.
"She's helping Bates with something; she'll be here in a while."
"So what do we do in the meantime?"
"I think we can think of something."
...
Matthew woke up in darkness and the first thought that came to him is if he would ever be able to see again. He has had those thoughts before but this was different, it felt more urgent somehow. He dared not move in case his movement woke up the woman sleeping beside him. He smiled when he remembered what had transpired the night before. He thought about how magical that date has become for him from the moment he proposed to her; she had continually surprised him since. He heard the faint sounds of footsteps coming into the room which meant Anna was about to wake them up.
"Good morning," Anna greeted in her usual cheery tone as she drew back the thick curtains.
"Good morning, Anna," Mary greeted back as she stirred against Matthew. "How is Bates today? I hope last night's task wasn't too much of a burden."
"He is fine, milady. He wasn't alone with the task; we got a few of the boys to help."
"My darling, would you like to have breakfast in bed?" Mary asked to change the subject. She knew Matthew would prefer to head downstairs but asked anyway because she wanted to extend their time in bed together.
"I think that is a wonderful idea, my feet are still sore from all that dancing."
"Why didn't you say you were worn out?" she asked with concern.
"I was just joking," he said. "Anna, did you enjoy the ball?"
"I did sir," Anna said. "But I can never hope to dance as much as you did."
"I'm afraid Molesley is going to have to send my shoes to the cobbler to fix."
"Why don't you just get new ones, my darling?"
"Is there another ball we will be attending?" Matthew couldn't help but tease her about it.
"Who knows, we may have to chaperone Rose to a few when the season comes," she told him.
"Crikey, I suppose we're in for it," he joked and laughed.
Anna liked hearing Matthew and Mary in good cheer. She was glad to witness some of it before quietly leaving the room to get them breakfast.
...
Matthew was sitting in the library listening to music while Mary was with William. He hadn't expected any visitors so he was surprised when Thomas announced that Arthur had arrived to see him. He had thought that Arthur would take a day off especially after what had just happened but since he was there, he decided it was a good time as any to talk with him about his employment.
"Good morning," Arthur greeted him. "I wanted to speak with you about my behavior last night."
"Yes, I heard about it," Matthew said, facing him based on his voice. "And I'm quite disappointed in how it turned out."
"I would like to explain," Arthur started to say nervously. He knew his whole career and future hinged on what happens next.
"Alright, I'm listening," he said, wanting to give Arthur a chance to redeem himself.
"I'm in love with Lady Mary and I think you would agree that she will be happier with a man who has full use of all his faculties to make her happy."
Matthew was stunned by this declaration and clenched his fists. He tried to contain the anger he felt rising inside him.
"I think it is time you set her free," Arthur continued.
"Did Mary say she loves you?" he asked sharply and pointedly.
"She would never say it out of a sense of duty to you. Which is why I think you should release her from that duty."
Matthew felt his anger boil over and swung at the man who had just offended him. He was glad to feel and hear his fist hit the man. He prepared to defend himself from a blow from Arthur but instead heard a thud on the floor.
"Matthew! What's going on?" Tom asked with alarm as he entered the library. He had heard the agitated voices when he passed by and decided to check just in time to find Arthur crumpling to the floor while Matthew stood ready for a fight.
...
Mary had just placed William back in his crib when Anna came rushing through the door in a panic.
"Anna, what's the matter?" She knew Anna wasn't quick to panic so seeing her in such a state got her worried.
"Milady, come quickly to the library," she informed her. "Mr. Crawley and that man are fighting."
Mary didn't need to hear more as she rushed out of the room and ran towards the library. She knew Matthew wasn't one to start a fight but knew he wasn't one to back away either. She feared what lies he might have heard to warrant such a reaction. She entered the library from the door nearest her path to find not only Matthew and Blackwell there but her father and Tom. She saw the other man had a bloodied nose and quickly scanned Matthew for any injury.
"Mary, you shouldn't be here," Robert warned. He didn't like exposing women to violence and would rather have this resolved amongst the four men.
"No, she is the reason for this fight," Matthew said angrily. "She should be here."
Mary approached Matthew and saw Tom position himself to defend them both if the need arose.
"Go ahead, tell her what you told me," Matthew prompted the other man.
Arthur hesitated and tried to stop his nose from bleeding before speaking. "I've asked Mr. Crawley to set you free so you can be with me."
"What?" Mary exclaimed. "You're mad if you think I would ever go with you."
"I know you are scared of leaving all this but soon it will be a thing of the past," Arthur tried to reason, grasping at straw. He hadn't anticipated that Matthew would put up a fight.
"You once said Downton can be great again," she reminded him. "And even if it fades away, I would never leave Matthew. I go where he goes."
"Even to the poorhouse," Arthur warned her menacingly, trying to gain an upper hand.
"Enough!" Matthew who had been silent interjected to end it once and for all. "Mr. Blackwell, I suggest you leave this estate now before I have you arrested." He wanted to call Arthur a villain but chose not to.
"On what grounds?" Arthur challenged.
"On moral grounds," Matthew said strongly. "You dare come to this house and try to steal my wife. You will leave here immediately and without reference."
"I have a contract."
"A contract with a moral clause that you have violated," he informed Arthur. "I have a right to demand your arrest and imprisonment for a long time."
"Leave now before we throw you out," Tom said angrily. When it came to defending Matthew, he was just as fierce.
Arthur looked around and knew he had lost his gamble and hurried away.
...
"I'm glad that unpleasantness is over," Robert said with relief.
"I'll make sure he is gone today," Tom said. "And I'll inform everyone to report him if he should return."
Mary was barely listening to them because she was carefully studying Matthew's countenance. She could clearly see his anger and it hadn't subsided even after Arthur had left. She just wished they could be alone to talk about what had just happened. She reached out to touch his hand but he pulled away.
"I need to be alone," he said coldly before walking out the door.
"Give him some time," Tom said, trying to comfort her. "He'll come around you'll see. He just needs to cool off." He gave her hand a squeeze before heading out to do what he said he would.
"Are you alright?" Robert asked with fatherly concern.
"I will be once Matthew is speaking with me again," Mary replied, trying to hold back tears.
"I know Matthew well enough to know he can't stay angry for long, especially not with you," he assured her.
"I've never seen him this angry, papa," she noted sadly.
"I hadn't realized that man was a scoundrel. He seemed like a decent man before all this."
Mary knew he was that from the moment she met him but didn't say anything. She now worried that Anna was right and Matthew was deeply hurt by her keeping silent.
"Things will be alright," Robert said as he watched Mary deep in thought.
...
Mary sat in their bedroom and waited for Matthew to return. She tried to think of other ways the day could have gone but knew it was wishful thinking now. She stood up when she heard the door open hoping it was him.
"It's just me, milady," Anna said, having heard what had happened in the library.
"Do you know where he is?"
"John said he saw him walking outside in the garden."
"Oh Anna, you were right," she said, finally letting tears fall down her cheeks. "I should have told him about that man the moment he acted inappropriately."
Not one to say 'I told you so,' Anna merely touched Mary's shoulder to show her support.
"Do you think he will forgive me for this?"
"Mr. Crawley is a smart man. I think he will know your reasons for not telling him. He loves you very much that this won't matter to him."
Mary was glad that Anna was always supportive and sensible. She knew there will be no judgment of her omission and choices.
"Will you be changing for luncheon?"
"No, I think I'll have luncheon here. I'm not ready to face everyone until I've settled things with Matthew."
"I'll come back with some sandwiches then," Anna said and headed out the door.