Chapter 3

Matthew's first difficult therapy session would turn into days, and eventually weeks, of mornings spent at the hospital and afternoons lying flat on his back in bed. The evenings varied. Sometimes he was able to rise and join Mary in the parlor or dining room for a couple of hours. Other times, he was forced to content himself with a book and tray in bed, though Mary was kind enough to keep him company on the majority of these occasions.

His doctor had encouraged him to bear up despite the hardship, keeping in mind that the pain and exhaustion wouldn't last forever. Eventually, his back would fully heal and his muscles would strengthen, but this was only a small consolation when he lay awake at night, desperately tired but unable to rest or find a comfortable position.

On one such night, he suddenly realized that it had been a fortnight complete since he'd last made love to his wife. Constant pain and lack of proper rest had robbed him of the amorousness that had characterized the first stage of his recovery, and he couldn't help but feel guilty that he hadn't even thought to see to Mary's needs, despite the temporary repression of his own.

He turned his head to look at her as she slept peacefully beside him, her long, ebony braid draped gracefully over the curve of her slender neck, and sighed. He missed her warmth against him, as she had seemingly given up her preferred resting place draped over his chest. Of course, he couldn't blame her. He hadn't been the most approachable of husbands in the past weeks, though she hadn't expressed any discontent. He wondered, if she had, would he even have noticed? She deserved more, and he missed the physical closeness that had always been a comfort to him, even in his darkest moments.

With a groan, he reached for her, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her to him. In being gruff with her, he'd cut off his nose to spite his face. If he was going to lie awake in the dark for most of the night, he might as well enjoy holding her close while he did.

Mary whimpered plaintively at the disturbance, but didn't fully awaken. She nestled instinctively into the curve of Matthew's shoulder, and he breathed a sigh of relief as the familiar touch brought him a measure of much-needed peace. Wrapping his arms securely around her, he pressed a kiss to her fragrant hair before closing his eyes to enjoy the sweet tickling of her breath against his neck, the press of her soft breasts into his side, the weight of her thigh covering his. After a few moments, the warmth of her body dulled the pain in his back, and he relaxed, soon joining her in sleep.

Matthew awoke to the aroma of coffee and freshly baked scones. His eyes fluttered open as the china on the tray clanked together as Mary placed it on the table beside him.

"Good morning," her soft voice greeted him. "Any longer and it'd be 'good afternoon.'"

He groaned and stretched carefully, smiling sleepily up at her. Once his eyes adjusted to the light, he was able to see that the sun was, indeed, pouring in through the open curtains at a much different angle than he was used to seeing upon awakening. The bed dipped slightly beside him as Mary sat down, her cool fingers smoothing his hair.

"I hate to wake you before you're ready, now that you're finally able to get some sleep. I know you need it." She paused to adjust the covers around his middle as he slowly pulled himself into a sitting position. Even during the three days each week on which he didn't have therapy, he hadn't been able to sleep past daybreak, so Mary was pleasantly surprised to see that this morning had been an exception. It was a shame to wake him, but she had a surprise to share. "I'm afraid we have company coming over for tea in a couple of hours, so you'll have to make yourself presentable."

"Oh?" Matthew raised an eyebrow at her as she situated the tray over his lap. They hadn't had any visitors since they'd been in London. "May I ask who?"

"Oh, nobody special," Mary replied flippantly. "I sent a note to Lavinia a few days ago asking her to bring her fiance around some time, and she telephoned this morning. Apparently they have news they want to share in person."

Matthew looked up from stirring his coffee to find Mary grinning playfully at him. She was teasing him. He smiled back and turned his attention to his breakfast, refusing to take her bait.

"Well, that's wonderful, darling. Thank you for writing her. I'm ashamed to say, I haven't given it the slightest thought since we arrived."

"I'll ask for your bath to be drawn now so it'll be ready once you've eaten," Mary spoke, brushing off his silly thanks. Matthew always seemed to forget that Lavinia was her friend too.

It was quite some time, owing to the necessarily careful pace of Matthew's morning ablutions, before he was seated - dressed, coiffed, and shaved - beside Mary in the front parlor, waiting to receive their guests. He rose shakily as Lavinia and Dr. Whitman where announced, happy despite his discomfort as her smiling face came into view.

"Mary! Matthew! Oh, how thrilled I am to see you both!"

Mary smiled broadly at Lavinia's exclamation, stepping forward to greet the younger woman with an affectionate hug.

"Hello, Lavinia. It's so lovely to see you. I'm glad you could come, and," Mary turned and gestured to Matthew's still figure behind her, "I know Matthew is as well."

Matthew made a mental note to shower his wife with affection once they were alone for being so undeservedly wonderful to him. That she showed no hint of jealously towards his former fiance was astounding, as he wasn't at all sure he could be as gracious under similar circumstances. His bride was a true lady, in every respect.

"You're looking well, Lavinia," he greeted her, taking her hand in his own. He wished he were strong enough to bend and place a kiss on his friend's blushing cheek, but it was all he could do to remove one hand from his stick to hold hers.

"You look much improved yourself," Lavinia gushed, standing slightly back to look him over, erasing the sad images of Matthew in a hospital bed, then in a wheelchair. "Oh, Matthew, I'm so very, very happy for you." She rose on tip-toe to place a soft kiss on his cheek, giving him the opportunity to kiss hers in return. Lavinia stepped away, wiping an escaped tear from her cheek, as a throat cleared behind them.

"Should I be jealous?" her fiance asked teasingly, his warm smile allaying Matthew's worries about offending Lavinia's intended.

"Of course not, my dear," Lavinia laughed as she made her way back to his side, wrapping both her hands around his arm and placing a firm kiss on his cheek. "Matthew, Mary, I'd like you to meet my fiance, Dr. Benjamin Whitman."

The young doctor stepped forward to shake Matthew's hand, his trained eyes taking in his new acquaintance's awkward stance and slight pallor before bowing over Mary's hand. "Lady Mary, Mr. Crawley, it's a pleasure. Lavinia has spoken very fondly of you both. I'm delighted to finally meet such paragons."

"Oh, Ben, you do tease me so," Lavinia sighed, blushing prettily.

"Please, do be seated," Mary offered solicitously, claiming her place beside Matthew on the settee as Lavinia and Ben sat in the chairs opposite.

As if on cue, the parlor doors opened admitting a footman with the tea tray. Mary thanked and dismissed him before pouring for everyone, and the very pleasant visit began in earnest. Lavinia insisted on knowing all there was to tell about the status of Matthew's recovery, which he smilingly explained for her as Ben listened with a look of concern that struck a cord with Mary. She liked the young man already. He wasn't what one might call handsome, but he had a pleasant face and intelligent hazel eyes. His slight build seemed more suited to Lavinia's own petite stature than Matthew's tall frame had been. No longer was she the delicate shrinking violet Mary had first seen entering Downton's great hall beside Matthew. Sitting beside her beloved doctor, she shown as the gem she was, appearing more lovely than Mary had ever noticed. Things had certainly worked out for the best.

After several minutes, Lavinia placed her tea cup back on the tray and cleared her throat, gaining the undivided attention of the room.

"Unfortunately, we'll have to be going soon, so I suppose I should share our good news now," she spoke, reaching for Ben's hand.

"Yes, you mentioned on the telephone that you had something to tell us," Mary responded, setting aside her own cup to give her friend her full attention.

"Well," Lavinia began, glancing conspiratorially at Ben before meeting Mary and Matthew's curious stares, "remember I told you last autumn that we were to be married in the summer?"

Both Mary and Matthew nodded their heads in assent.

"There's been a change of plans. We're to be married...in two weeks time, on the 12th of March."

Congratulations were expressed warmly before Lavinia's expression suddenly turned somber, causing a small break in the joyous atmosphere.

"I know you're both probably wondering about the sudden change," she spoke softly, picking nervously at the fabric of her skirt. "You see, my father's health hasn't been good, and I'm worried...I'm..."

"What my fiance means to say is that her father's health is stable now, but I'm concerned that he may take a turn when the summer heat rolls in. We'd prefer to be able to honeymoon now so we won't have to worry about leaving him alone under precarious circumstances."

Lavinia smiled appreciatively at her betrothed, her eyes still showing hints of sadness despite her obvious joy.

"Thank you, dearest. You've been so good to my dear father."

"Perhaps," Ben teased. "I might have only told you that so I could rush you to the altar."

Lavinia giggled prettily at Ben's comment, prompting the rest of the party to follow in her levity, and the remainder of the visit was spent discussing the couple's honeymoon plans. When at last Lavinia and Ben stood to take their leave, Mary extracted a solemn promise from both to join them for dinner in the coming week, which they heartily agreed to.

"I like Dr. Whitman," Mary observed once left alone with her husband. "He seems a very good match for Lavinia."

"Indeed, he does," Matthew agreed, nodding enthusiastically. "She clearly adores him, as he does her."

"And does my husband clearly adore me as I do him?" Mary pouted flirtatiously at him, the sparkle in her eyes hiding the tiny, almost imperceptible insecurity behind her playful words. It was only because he knew her so well that Matthew was able to see it. He also knew that even Mary herself would think her jealousy silly and would never dare admit to it outright. It was one of things he loved about her.

"Madly," he answered, giving her a sidelong glance before picking up a book he'd left on the table. He could feel her gaze on him as he pretended to read, trying to hold back the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

When he saw her stand and move towards the door, he was almost disappointed that she hadn't taken his bait, but, instead of the creak of the hinges, the clank of the lock was heard. His smile grew wider, but he continued with his eyes firmly fixed on the blur of black font in front of him. He felt her approach more than saw it. She stopped once she'd entered his peripheral vision, and he felt his mouth go dry as she darlingly lifted her skirt just enough to shimmy her knickers off, stepping out of them primly before standing still, seemingly waiting for his reaction. Matthew wet his lips as his body suddenly recalled just how long it had been...and how desperately he desired her.

Satisfied with his unconscious reaction to her bold move, Mary removed the book from his hands and set it back on the table before placing herself gracefully in his lap. From then on out, there was nothing but a blur of heated kisses and searching hands grasping at fabric and buttons and the subtle creak of the furniture as they sifted together, sighing in unison as their goal was at last achieved. Mary rocked slowly over him at first, gradually gaining speed as her need for him increased almost painfully. His hands eased under her skirt, urging her on until she was forced to clap her hand firmly over his mouth as he cried out his release. Her head lolled back on her shoulders, her mouth open in a silent gasp as she let the lovely sensations wash over her until, after some minutes spent recovering in her husband's arms, she found the strength in her legs to stand.

"It's a fine morning," Matthew observed as they stepped out of the car at the hospital entrance. "Perhaps, if I'm not too worn out, we can spend some time in the garden when we return to the house."

"That would be lovely," Mary answered absently, relieved to see that Matthew was in a world of his own this morning. He hadn't noted her preoccupation. She looped her arm casually through his as they made their way inside.

"I'll see you in an hour," he breathed against her ear as her hand slipped from his arm, and he followed the nurse out of the waiting room and down the hallway to the room where his therapy would take place.

Mary watched, her fingers clutching anxiously at the handle of her purse, as he disappeared around the corner. Rather than making herself comfortable in one of the provided chairs for the next hour, she turned and made her way down the opposite hallway towards another ward of the hospital. She had an appointment of her own to keep.

Sorry (not!) about the cliffy! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, even though it's a couple days late. I never intended for there to be smut in this installment, but it just kinda happened. Hopefully I redeemed myself at least a little. :)

As always, giant thanks to everyone who read and reviewed as well as to Willa Dedalus for being an amazing support. If you have a moment, I'd love to know your thoughts!