Matthew lay on the bed and wondered how Mary was. He missed having her by his side but knew there was no turning back now. He had to see this through no matter what. He was anxious to know what Dr. Duke-Elder may have found and hoped for the best. The waiting was more frightening than when the good doctor ran tests on his eyes.
"Are you comfortable sir?" Molesley asked as he tidied up a bit. It was a modest room for two and he had to admit that he had never stayed in a hospital room before. But he wasn't about to leave Matthew if he could help it.
"I'm quite fine," Matthew replied. He knew Molesley's fear was more towards them fleeing without a word to Mary than by their new surroundings. "Try to get some sleep."
"Good night, sir."
Matthew stayed awake long after he heard the soft snoring of his companion and reached for the toy dog that he brought with him. He was by no means superstitious but Mary had given it to him for luck long ago and he felt it had been and was his only link to her. He said a silent prayer that his family will be safe while he was away.
...
"Mary, what are you doing here?" Edith asked the following morning at breakfast. "Shouldn't you be having breakfast in bed?" She had already uttered the words before realizing how that may have been a harsh reminder of Matthew's absence.
"I wanted to have breakfast with you," Mary said, ignoring the sad reminder. "And I wanted to catch Tom before he left for the day."
"What do you need Tom for?" Robert inquired.
"I wanted to know how the project is coming along," Mary replied plainly.
"Mary, I'm sure Tom has it under control and you need not worry yourself about it."
"In case you've forgotten papa, I know what Matthew's plans are and I would like to make sure it is done accordingly," she reminded him.
Robert was about to object but decided against it hoping that work would prove a good diversion for her.
"Where is Rose?" Mary asked of Edith.
"She said she wanted to telephone someone in London who might be able to help locate Matthew," Edith said. "I already called Gregson last night for his help."
"Oh there you are Mary," Rose greeted her. "I called a friend of daddy's and he will be scouring London to find Matthew."
Mary doubted they would be any more successful but was grateful nonetheless.
...
Matthew sat quietly as he listened to the clock tick away the time. He wished the doctor would hurry but knew that in order to be accurate he had to be thorough and unbearably slow.
"Mr. Crawley," Dr. Duke-Elder greeted him when he finally arrived. "How are you feeling today?"
"I feel anxious," he replied honestly. "I hope you have good news for me."
"Well, it could be good news," the doctor said cautiously. "I have confirmed that your blindness is due to retinal detachment on both of your eyes. It could lead to permanent blindness but I believe it can still be fixed by surgery at this early stage."
Matthew heard Molesley gasp at the mention of surgery. He would have preferred to hear the prognosis alone but Molesley had refused to leave his side. He listened carefully as the doctor explained the procedure and his chances. The benefits of having a doctor for a father and a nurse for a mother, Matthew understood what he heard better than most.
"So you see Mr. Crawley I think you will be a prime candidate for the procedure and you will regain your vision in no time."
"How soon can we schedule it?"
"To be honest Mr. Crawley, I've only seen it done once before so I would recommend that Dr. Gonin perform the surgery. I was in Geneva learning it from him as you know but I feel that you will be better off going to him for it."
"Can you help me make the arrangements then?"
"Certainly," Dr. Duke-Elder assured him. "I will personally escort you and your companion there since I would like to see the process again. I will telephone him today."
...
"Tom, can you tell me how the project is progressing?" Mary asked as she and Tom pored over the map splayed on the library table.
"Well, these are almost complete," he indicated on the map. "And these haven't begun yet."
Mary estimated the extent of the work still to be done and wondered if there was anything to be done to speed things up.
"When we are done here," Tom continued. "We can ask the men to help with this section and I think it will take half the time it took before."
Mary and Tom talked a bit more about strategies on how to manage the project better before calling it a day.
"He will be alright," he finally said. "I just know he will be."
"He better be or I'll never forgive him," she said sadly. "I just wished he had told me."
"He probably just didn't want you to worry," he speculated, trying to defend Matthew's decision.
"By leaving me a vague note probably written by Molesley and no idea when he will be back?"
"I'm sure he won't be gone for long. This is his home and if I were him, I would come home as soon as I possibly can."
Mary smiled a bit, appreciating Tom's support and how he had come to view Downton as his home as well.
...
Dr. Duke-Elder had quickly arranged for travel for them and told Matthew that they would be on their way in a few days. He asked Matthew to rest and prepare himself until then.
"Wouldn't it be cold there?" Molesley asked.
"I suppose it would be which is why I'm glad I asked you to pack heavy coats for us."
"Of course, sir," he replied weakly. "If I may sir, can I leave you for a little while to attend to some matters?"
"Certainly, go," Matthew agreed. "I won't be going anywhere and can't really. I wouldn't want to bump into an acquaintance who might report my whereabouts to Mary."
...
"Anna, you have a telephone call," Carson announced when he found her in the servants' hall.
"Who is it Mr. Carson?" Anna asked, not expecting anyone to call her.
"She said she is your friend."
Anna looked at John with a puzzled look before going to Carson's office to take the call.
"Hello," she spoke into the phone. "Hello?" She repeated when no one answered her.
"Anna, is that you?" Molesley asked. "Please don't let anyone know it's me calling." He hoped no one was around to hear in case Anna said his name.
"Molesley?" she whispered. "Where are you? Is Mr. Crawley with you?"
"Yes, I'm with Mr. Crawley but I promised him that I was not going to tell anyone where we are. I'm not even supposed to be calling but I need your help."
"Is something the matter?" she asked with concern.
"You see, I need my heavy coat sent to me," he explained. "Can you please send it down to London tomorrow?"
"Are you going somewhere cold?"
"Please Anna," Molesley begged. "I can't tell you or he will be very disappointed in me."
Anna chose not to press him for more information and agreed to send him what he needed in the morning.
"Thank you very much," he replied with relief. "You've saved my life."
Anna didn't think so but was willing to help and even asked if Matthew needed his heavy coat.
"No, I've packed Mr. Crawley's already and again, thank you Anna."
...
"Who was it?" John asked when Anna returned to the servants' hall. He saw her signal for him to follow her so they could talk in private.
"It was Molesley," Anna revealed to him after checking to see that no one was eavesdropping.
"Molesley?" he whispered. "Is he alright? Is Mr. Crawley alright?"
"Yes," she replied and nodded her head to indicate a singular answer to all his questions.
"Did he say where they are?"
"Not really but he needs our help. He needs his heavy coat sent to London so can you please fetch it from his room so we can send it down on the train in the morning?"
"It sounds like they are travelling to somewhere cold," he guessed.
"It does, doesn't it? But he promised Mr. Crawley that he wouldn't tell anyone so his call has placed him in a bind."
"I'll say. What about Lady Mary, are you going to tell her about this?"
Anna didn't know how to answer that.
"Well, you'll have to decide soon," John reminded her as the dinner gong rang. "I'm sure you will do the right thing." He was certain of that and walked with her up the stairs to do their respective tasks.
...
Tom was giving Mary a quick update in the hallway when Anna arrived. He gave her a quick nod before heading off to prepare for dinner himself.
"Will the project get delayed?" Anna asked, knowing that was what Tom and Mary were discussing.
"Thankfully no," Mary said as she changed. "In a few more days we can move resources to other parts of the estate and perhaps even finish early." She was highly optimistic and strove hard to get it done for Matthew.
"Mr. Crawley will be pleased," Anna noted quietly.
"What's the matter?" Mary asked, seeing how uneasy Anna was.
Anna took a deep breath before telling Mary about the phone call she received.
"So they are in London. When is he expecting his coat?"
"Tomorrow on the first train, milady," she said. She could tell that Mary was planning something.
...
"Mr. Crawley, I wondered if I might leave you again for a little while," Molesley inquired as they finished breakfast.
"I don't see why not," Matthew replied. "You can just tell me you'll be going and not ask me for permission."
Molesley was glad and hurried on to the train station to pick up his package. He was looking around for the station master to claim it when he saw Anna walking up to him with the package in hand.
"Anna," he greeted her with obvious relief. "You didn't have to bring it yourself."
Anna quietly handed him the package and looked on as Mary approached.
"Molesley," Mary called him. She saw him freeze for an instant before facing her with a nervous look.
"Lady Mary," he stammered. "What are you doing here?" He quite knew why she was there and looked for a way to run away. Because it was a busy station, he couldn't find an opening and knew that he wouldn't get far anyway. He swallowed hard and hoped he would survive the coming inquest.
"I think you know why," she began. "Where is Mr. Crawley?"
"I don't know," he lied, knowing it wasn't going to convince anyone.
"It's quite obvious you do since you were the one who wrote that note to me and left with him."
He looked from her to Anna then back. He felt he was sweating profusely and tried to wipe away his fear.
"Are you going to tell me where he is?" She had that steely look that could cower any man.
"Milady, I made him a promise that I wouldn't tell anyone," he continued to stammer. "I just can't tell you milady." He repeated the words in his head to give him courage.
"Let me be clear, if you don't tell me now, you will no longer be welcome at Downton." Mary heard Anna gasp because they were all well aware of how important his job was to him.
Molesley looked ashen and on the verge of fainting after hearing that.
"Well?" Mary prompted him when he hesitated, glaring at him for effect rather than of anger.
"I'm sorry milady, but I gave Mr. Crawley my word," he replied, finding strength and standing his ground.
Both Mary and Anna were quite surprised and impressed by the man's devotion to Matthew. Mary more so because she had always thought he would spill the beans with the slightest provocation.
"Milady, perhaps we should let him be," Anna intervened for him. "We can't make him break his word to Mr. Crawley."
"If anything happens to Mr. Crawley, I will hold you responsible," Mary said as a last attempt to make him divulge his whereabouts.
Molesley merely looked more scared but didn't say anything more.
"Milady, we should get going," Anna said, steering her towards heading back to Downton.
Mary started to turn towards the train but turned back to Molesley who seemed rooted to the platform. "Please tell Mr. Crawley that we all miss him." With that, she walked away.
...
Matthew heard Molesley return and the distinct sound of paper ripping. He wondered what Molesley was doing.
"How was your day?" Matthew asked casually.
"I saw Lady Mary," Molesley confessed nervously.
"What? Where?" Matthew expected Mary storming into the room any moment.
"At the train station," he continued. "I didn't tell her where you were." He had waited until the train had left to be sure she wouldn't follow him back to Matthew.
"Why were you at the train station?"
He explained what had happened and why in his rush, he had forgotten to pack his own heavy coat.
"You should have told me," Matthew said, quite proud of his valet holding his ground against Mary. "I would have bought you one here and you didn't have to bother them at Downton."
"I am sorry, sir," he apologized earnestly. "It was my fault and I didn't want to bother you with it."
"Well, in a few days we will be on our way; there will be no more chances of bumping into anyone from home. And well done Molesley, I can imagine how difficult it must have been to face Mary."
"She said I'm no longer welcome at Downton," he said sadly. He truly liked his job and sad to lose it.
"Don't worry, I'll vouch for you," Matthew assured him. He heard Molesley sigh with relief.
"She also said that 'they miss you'," he conveyed her message.
Matthew smiled and knew what it truly meant. He missed her, too, and was glad she had tried to locate him; in a way it meant she hadn't given up on him.
...
"Why didn't you press Molesley for answers?" Robert asked when he learned of it.
"Because he promised Matthew he wouldn't tell anyone where they were," Mary reasoned on their behalf. "I will not make him break his promise."
"But it was the only way we could find him," Cora said. "London is a big place and no one has found him yet." She knew there were lots of people helping in the effort.
"Perhaps we should just wait until he is ready to return," Violet suggested.
"I disagree," Isobel interjected. "He should be with the people who love him rather than gallivanting in London."
"I doubt his gallivanting at all," Violet reminded Isobel. "Maybe he just wants a break from all of us treating him like he was a fragile Faberge egg."
Isobel still couldn't understand nor condone what Matthew had done.
"It's alright," Mary said, trying to keep the peace between the two. She appreciated Isobel's support but knew Violet was right as well. She just had to believe Matthew did this for a good purpose.
"Where do you think he's going?" Edith asked in general.
"Where would it be cold this time of year?" Rose continued her line of questioning.
"Wherever it is, I just want him to finish quickly so he can return to us." Mary stood up and headed out to see her son. She was quite drained and needed his company to cheer her up.
...
Matthew, Molesley and Duke-Elder arrived in Geneva to meet with Dr. Gonin. He and Dr. Duke-Elder conferred before telling Matthew when he was going to have surgery. It was going to be days away so he could recover from the stress of travel. Matthew was counting the days not only to his surgery but to the day he would see Mary again.
"Molesley, have you seen my toy dog?" Matthew asked as he prepared to go to sleep. It had been his constant companion in bed as a surrogate for Mary.
"I know I packed it sir,' he said, digging through the luggage. He didn't know the true significance of it but knew it was important enough to be careful with it.
"It's alright if you can't find it," Matthew said, trying to be practical.
"I found it!" he exclaimed when he did. "It was tucked under one of your shirts sir."
Matthew touched the soft plush toy and felt happy that it wasn't lost after all.
"Have you thought about what you would be doing after the surgery sir?"
"The first thing I'd like to see is Mary's face," Matthew said wistfully. "But since she is not here, I suppose anything will do."
"I brought a picture of Lady Mary," he said happily. "I took your wedding photo and packed it up."
Matthew was truly pleased with Molesley's initiative. He looked forward to seeing that photo as soon as he recovered from surgery.
...
Days quickly passed with Matthew and Mary leading their separate lives. Matthew prepared for his surgery while Mary kept busy with matters of the estate. They both woke up thinking of one another and went to bed longing to see one another soon.
Mary sat at her usual bench in the garden when she heard Anna call out to her. She wondered what could have her in such a state.
"Milady, come quickly," Anna said, still panting from running. "They need you in the nursery."
Mary rushed up to the nursery to hear William crying and find her parents hovering over his crib. She quickly noticed that something was wrong.
"He has a slight fever," Cora said. "We've sent for Dr. Clarkson."
Mary lifted the little boy and tried to comfort him. "How long has he been like this?"
"I don't know," Robert said. "I just happened to pass by and heard him crying."
"Where is nanny?" Mary asked next.
"She's taken Sybie out for a walk I think," Cora replied.
"Where is Clarkson," Robert asked impatiently. "We've sent for him a while ago."
Dr. Clarkson arrived promptly to ease Robert's impatience. He checked the little crying boy before speaking.
"I believe he is teething," he said calmly, gently revealing the poking tooth on his lower gum. "Some babies develop a slight fever and cry but it should subside on its own."
"What if it isn't that?" Mary asked with motherly concern.
"I will return in the morning to check on him again," Clarkson offered. "His temperature isn't high enough to be a concern yet which is why I think it is brought on by his teething. Just keep him fed and hydrated for now but call me if anything changes."
Mary didn't want to leave William's side after Clarkson left to watch over him. Anna had brought up sandwiches for her so she didn't have to go downstairs for dinner. She had decided that she would rather be with a crying baby than alone in her own room.
"It will be alright," she said soothingly to William.
"Do you need anything else milady?" Anna asked before preparing to home for the night.
"Nothing for tonight Anna," she replied, watching Anna touch William's head. "Do you think he knows his papa is away?"
"I'm not sure but I heard children can be quite perceptive. I'm sure he wants Mr. Crawley to come home soon."
"I desperately want him to come back to me soon."
"Who knows, Mr. Crawley and Molesley are on their way home at this very moment," Anna said, ever the optimist.
Mary smiled and turned to look out the window at the bright full moon. "Please come back to me Matthew." She whispered a wish before kissing William's forehead.