Tom paced at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Mary to come down. He was eager to get things going because he felt strongly about the unexpected opportunity. He knew she agreed with him but also understood her cautious approach.
"Are you ready?" Mary asked when she saw him, knowing what it was he was waiting on her for.
He nodded and followed Mary to the library where Matthew said he would be after breakfast.
"Darling," Mary greeted him when they entered the room. "Are you busy?"
"No," he replied and looked up from his pile of papers to her then to Tom. "What's the matter?"
"Something has come up while you were away," she began. "Sir Anthony is back from his self-imposed exile and he is considering selling his estate."
"Mary and I thought that it would be a good idea if we bought it," Tom said, unable to contain his enthusiasm. "It is already modernized and easy to integrate into ours."
"It would be better than having a new neighbor," she added. "Doesn't it sound like a great plan?"
Matthew sat quietly and considered what they had just presented to him. He saw that they were both in agreement and felt burdened to make a decision he wasn't ready to make.
"Tom, would you give us a moment?" she requested when she saw him hesitate.
Tom noticed it, too, and wondered if they had overplayed the chance of expanding the estate. He decided that they can discuss it further and come to an agreement without him.
"Is something wrong?" she asked when Tom had left the room. "We thought you would be interested."
"Is this something I have to do as you say and not challenge it?" he asked quietly.
"Of course not. This isn't a trivial matter and you can decide what we will do."
"Does Robert know about this?" he asked. "How does he feel about buying the estate?"
"No, we haven't told papa yet. I was hoping that we can come up with a plan before we told him."
Matthew stood up and stepped closer to her. "Will you give me some time to consider it?"
Mary nodded quietly. She wondered what he wasn't telling her but decided not to press him for answers yet.
"I'm going out for a walk," he said. "I'll see you later." He kissed her cheek before walking away from her.
...
Matthew walked outside deep in thought when he heard Martha call him. He realized he had passed her without noticing her sitting on the bench he and Mary frequented.
"Hello," he greeted shyly. "I didn't notice you there." He hoped she wasn't offended by his inattention.
"You seem deep in thought," she observed keenly. "What has you preoccupied if you don't mind my asking?"
"Mary had just told me about an opportunity to buy Sir Anthony's estate," he revealed. "She is right about it being a serendipitous opportunity for us if we bought it."
"Then what is stopping you from taking advantage of this offer?"
Matthew wondered if it was worth bothering Martha with his dilemma and appear indecisive especially when he was still working on winning her approval.
"You can tell me, I will be impartial," she assured him, sensing his quandary.
"The thing is, although we've made the estate profitable, it isn't ready for such a big investment. If I were to decide to buy it, the family will have to live an austere life and I think that will be too much to ask of them. If I let it pass, Mary won't be happy and I agree it would be a wasted opportunity."
Martha thought for a moment before continuing. "Can I ask you something? Did you save Downton because Mary asked you to or because you believe in its tradition and its potential?"
"Both," he admitted. "It began with Mary asking me to help and the more I did, the more I saw my future entwined with that of Downton's. I even see William's future start to do the same."
"What about your other children? Are you not planning to have any more?"
"Them, too," he corrected himself. "Although tradition only allows for one heir, I hope that all our children will benefit from Downton's prosperity."
Martha considered him for a moment before deciding what she could do for him. "I might be able to help you with your dilemma around the finances."
"I wasn't asking for money," he said, slightly embarrassed. "I'm sure I can figure something out; I just need to think it through."
"Is that your English pride speaking?" she teased. "Now isn't the time to let that get in the way."
"I think it's more my manly pride," he confessed. "And truly, I do not wish to impose. I wouldn't want you to think less of me."
"I won't if you accept my help," she assured him. "Think of it as my investment in your future; you're family now."
"I'll accept your offer on one condition," he countered. "The money must be a loan that I will repay with interest."
"I'll accept your offer on two conditions," she said. "First, that you don't tell the family especially Mary."
"Why not?" he wondered.
"How do you think she would feel if she found out that I helped you and refused her when she asked for my help?"
Matthew nodded his agreement. "And the second condition?"
"I'd like you to raise your children knowing as much about their American heritage as their English one."
"As much as Mary would permit me," he joked.
"I'm sure she will, given your own interest in American culture."
"I'll do my best," he agreed to her terms. "Thank you for your help."
"Don't thank me yet," she cautioned. "Now it's all up to you to make it all work."
Matthew was quite aware of the added responsibility and the resulting additional scrutiny from her but was pretty confident and optimistic.
...
Mary was waiting for her horse to be brought to her when she heard footsteps behind her. By the time she saw who it was, her horse had arrived.
"I'm glad to see not everything has changed with you," Edmund teased. "Imagine my surprise when I found out you were both a wife and a mother from your grandmother."
"Why would that surprise you? They were both announced in the papers."
"I've been very busy to read English papers," he said.
"Matthew has time to read American papers," she challenged him.
"Of course he does because he has time on his hands," he argued. "I imagine that's all he does all day."
"You're quite mistaken," she corrected him. "He is quite busy running the estate and until recently, he was still working as a solicitor. He has transformed the estate in short time which I doubt anyone can do even if you paid them to do so."
"Is that why he can't join you on your ride?" he joked. "He wouldn't mind if I joined you would he?"
Mary signaled for another horse to be brought out for him. "Can I ask why you are antagonistic towards him?"
Edmund smiled as he mounted his horse. "I wouldn't be doing my duty if I didn't. Which reminds me, how do I address him?" He urged his steed forward to catch up with Mary.
"Mr. Crawley unless he lets you call him Matthew," she replied. "If you continue to be unfriendly, I doubt you'll get that privilege."
"So he has no title even now that he's your husband and the future earl?" He clearly still was baffled with the titles.
"Since he isn't the son of an earl, he can't take papa's subsidiary title of viscount," she explained. "When Matthew becomes earl, William will become viscount as a courtesy title."
"And that's when you become Lady Grantham, what you've always wanted," he said jokingly.
Mary reined in her horse so it slowed its pace. She turned to study Edmund beside her. "Have you decided what you want?"
Edmund smiled. "I think I finally have. I'm slowly taking the reins of the company I'm about to inherit."
"I'm glad," she said. "It's about time."
"Do you think that if I were more English like you, I would have made my decision early on like you?"
"Yes, I believe you would have," she said with a smile. "It would have spared your father the fear that you would abandon his life's work."
"Well, you should have been more American so you could tell your father you would continue his," he joked.
"You forget, I can't inherit the title or the money," she reminded him.
"Is that why you married him?" he asked. He held his breath, hoping he hadn't upset her too much.
If it were someone else who asked her that, she would have written him off but since it was Edmund, she gave him a chance to explain.
"Do you remember when I was about to leave for America, you made me promise to ask you why you were marrying the man you chose?"
"You're a little late don't you think?" she said, clearly remembering it. "I'm already married and have a son."
"Better late than never," he said hopefully. "And I think you didn't need me after all."
"So is that your way of saying you approve of him?"
"I just want you to be happy," he replied. "And in the short time I've watched him; I can see he clearly wants to make you happy."
"How can you tell?" she asked curiously. She knew Matthew well but wondered how Edmund came to the same conclusion.
"From what your grandmother told me and seeing him, I think he's willing to do anything for you," he explained. "And you set a pretty high standard you know."
Mary considered what he said carefully as they headed back to the house.
...
Matthew walked back to the house with a spring in his steps. He couldn't wait to find Mary so he could tell her when he saw Carson at his usual post.
"Carson, do you know where Mary is?" he asked, wanting to shorten his search.
"Lady Mary is in the library," he replied. He stepped back to allow him to pass when he saw Matthew turn to face him.
"Carson, I was wondering if you can tell me how many staff would be needed to keep up a house a little smaller than this," Matthew asked.
"It would depend on how small the house is and how big the family living in it is," he replied honestly.
Matthew nodded and turned to go into the library.
"Mr. Crawley looks like he is on a mission," Mrs. Hughes noted as she approached Carson.
"He's always on a mission," Carson said. "I wish he'd slow down a little to enjoy life."
"My, my, who are you and what have you done to our Mr. Carson?" she teased, quite amazed at how much he really cared.
"He is part of the family now," he replied. "And it would be nice if we didn't have to worry about him for a while."
"If it were up to you and Lady Mary, you'd put him in a cocoon," she said.
Carson thought that was a good idea if only he could figure out how to do it.
"He doesn't like being sheltered you know," she warned, knowing he did like that idea.
...
Matthew strolled into the library but instead of finding Mary, he saw Edmund standing by the bookshelf looking at a book. He hoped to leave unnoticed but no such luck.
"Hello," Edmund greeted him. "Were you looking for someone?"
"I was told that Mary was here," Matthew replied, facing the other man.
"You just missed her. She went upstairs to get changed for luncheon."
"Is it that time already?" Matthew asked, checking his wristwatch to confirm. "I suppose we should get ready then."
"If I may make a suggestion," Edmund offered. He waited for Matthew to accept with a nod before continuing. "Don't let your work on the estate consume you."
"What makes you think that?" Matthew wondered.
"I just noticed that you weren't available to go horseback riding with Mary today," he noted. "If I were you, I wouldn't miss a chance to be with her."
"But you're not me," Matthew reminded him. "And I don't think you should tell me what I should or shouldn't do."
"Of course," Edmund apologized. "I suppose as her friend I'm just looking out for her."
"Is that all?" Matthew sensed that there was more to his concern.
Edmund paused, realizing he may have exposed his true feelings to Matthew. He knew he had to come clean at least to Matthew.
"Does she know?" Matthew asked, guessing correctly how the other man felt.
"No, she doesn't," Edmund replied sadly. "The irony of it is if we were born into each other's families, Mary would have been an ideal American heiress and I would have been a good earl-in-waiting. I may have even been persuaded to court her."
Matthew certainly could imagine that scenario but was glad it wasn't reality. He debated on how he would respond to Edmund after his confession.
"Don't worry, I know I can only be a friend to Mary," Edmund tried to assure him. "That is if you will allow me to continue to be."
Matthew took a deep breath while Edmund held his. "I will allow it for as long as Mary wants to be your friend. Just know that I won't tolerate any intrigue that will cause a rift between us."
"You have my word," Edmund promised, extending his hand to shake Matthew's. "And I doubt I can ever do that given how happy you keep her. So just keep her happy and I think you have nothing to worry about."
"I intend to," Matthew said before taking Edmund's hand to shake it.
...
Mary waited for Matthew in their room after she changed for luncheon. She was hoping to speak with him in private before they joined the family for their meal.
"Mary," Matthew called out when he entered the room. He saw her jump up from the couch and into his arms in one fluid motion. He was surprised when she kissed him on the lips but warmly received it.
"How was your walk outside?" she asked him when she pulled away. She saw him slowly open his eyes with a look of disappointment.
"It was pleasant," he replied, reverting back to his happy look. "What was that kiss for?"
"Since when do I need a reason for a kiss?" she asked.
"Since never," he replied, drawing her close for another.
"Matthew about Sir Anthony's estate," she said when they were done. "Before you say anything, I want you to know that you don't have to buy it if you don't want to." She noticed he wanted to say something but knew she would change her mind if he spoke before she finished.
"What has changed?" he asked.
"Nothing," she replied. "But I know I ask a lot from you sometimes and hope you know I'm grateful."
Matthew studied Mary for a moment. "What will Tom say if we don't buy it?"
"Let me talk to him," she offered. "I can convince him to let it go."
"But you know how much I hate to disappoint you," he teased.
"You're not," she assured him. "You've already done so much and I support your decisions."
"In that case, I'll need your help telling Robert about adding more land to our estate," he said with a widening smile as he watched her realize what he meant.
"Are you sure?" she said in disbelief. She hugged him when he nodded his confirmation.
"The question is what to do with Locksley House," he wondered. "It would be a shame to just close it indefinitely."
"Perhaps we can find someone to lease it until we can decide what to do with it."
Matthew was glad she was thinking the same thing. "I was considering hiring a small staff to maintain it when we turn it into something like a vacation country retreat."
"I don't know if papa will agree to that," she said cautiously. "I don't even think I'd like having a long line of people running through the house."
"Well, I thought that if it was a shorter lease, we won't have to pay to get people out if and when we need it sooner," he explained.
"We can discuss it once it is ours," she replied. "First you have to buy it from Sir Anthony."
"I'll ring him after luncheon and go see him tomorrow."
"Alone?" she asked with concern. "Why not take Tom with you for company?" She was still worried of what might happen if he was on his own with Blackwell still at large.
"Why don't you come with me?" he suggested. "With you by my side, he will know that it's not just my idea but the family's."
"I suppose I can," she agreed. "Maybe he'll feel guilty and sell it to us cheaply."
"Mary, I won't buy it unless it's fair to him," he warned gently.
Mary rolled her eyes at him. "Fair and cheap then."
Matthew smiled at his ever practical wife. "How was your morning ride?" He chose to change the subject to avoid any disagreement regarding the purchase.
"It was quite pleasant," she said. "Edmund actually joined me to catch up."
"Edith was right, he is quite fond of you," he noted.
"You need not be jealous," she assured him, running her hand down his cheek. "Now come along before we delay luncheon for everyone."
"Who said I was jealous?" he joked, following her out their room.
"Good, because I would hate to think you didn't trust me," she joked.
"I trust you implicitly darling," he said before offering his arm for her to take.