September 2, 1918

There was no walk to the hospital Monday morning. Branson drove Sybil, Matthew and Robert to the hospital. Matthew got his new dressing then Branson took Robert and Matthew to the railway station. They were on a lighting trip to London to meet with Murray and discuss the entail.

They did not get back to Downton until past ten that night. Carson met them at the door.

Mary was standing in the hall. "You must be famished, I had Mrs. Patmore make up some sandwiches for you"

"Thank you Mary but I am off to bed" said Robert "Perhaps Matthew..." He smiled at them and headed up the stairs.

"You do not have to attend on us Carson."

"Good night my Lady, Captain Crawley" Carson bowed and left.

Matthew and Mary went into the dining room. Matthew sat at the end of the table with Mary just around the corner to his left. Matthew poured her a glass of wine. He poured a glass of water for himself.

"How was your day?"

"Ask me a question about the Boer War."

"Was it that bad?"

"No" he smiled at her. "It was quite interesting and it was mutual anyway. He listened as much to me talk about my war as I listened to him talk about his war."

"And the entail? Did it enthral you?"

"Speaking from the vantage point of my high standing in the legal profession I was quite impressed. Every eventuality seems to have been anticipated. Your grandfather really tied things up."

"Yes, he certainly did"

"We even discussed a private bill in Parliament to break it"

"And?"

"First of all Murray was told they would not even consider one while the war was on. And then it would have to be shown that there were no male heirs... So if I were to be killed and after reasonable enquiry no Australian cousin were found you would inherit"

She reached out and squeezed his hand. "Do not talk like that!"

He looked at her hand. She went to withdraw her hand but he turned his hand so now it held hers.

They gazed at each other, not speaking. Their heads started moving moving closer together until there seemed there was nothing left to do but to kiss. But they did not. Mary would have kissed him but Matthew drew back. He let go of her hand.

"I'm sorry, I presume too much.."

Mary looked at him. He had a sad look in his eyes. "No, do not be. It is quite all right" Mary could hear herself babbling. She had thought that a kiss would have lead to... what? Perhaps a proposal. The moment had felt right but then he had shied off. What was it? Did he not regard her the way she thought he did?

"We also spent an hour at your father's tailors on Saville Row. I have never had so many parts of me measured in my life"

"So Father is having you kitted out"

"Not just yet. I told them not to cut any cloth until the war is over, that Aussie cousin of ours might be a different size"

She scowled at him. "I told you not to mention that again!" Mary stood up and left the room.

Matthew finished the sandwiches. He did not touch the wine. He went to bed.