September 6, 1918

Downton Abbey

Mary was waiting for Matthew when he came down stairs. She gave him a tentative smile. "How are you this morning?"

"Very refreshed thank you" he gave her a reassuring smile. "How are you?"

On the way to the hospital Mary and Sybil peppered Matthews with questions about Marie Claire. He felt he gave a good account of his ward. Marie Claire was intelligent, healthy, beautiful and somewhat bilingual. He did not mention that Marie Claire was also somewhat strong willed. They could find that out for themselves.

At the hospital Matthew and Mary waited for Sybil to tease them but she did not, all she did was smile a lot which was more irritating.

On the walk back from the hospital Matthew and Mary did not talk about the elephant which was walking with them. Each would have talked of it, if the other brought it up, but neither of them did, so they did not.

They talked of the weather, Mary loving the autumn, Matthew not looking forward to winter; fox hunting, she loved it, he could not see the point; cooking, he could, she couldn't; books, her James, him Kipling; they did not talk of the elephant.

Conversation was easier once they had collected Patricia. Patricia demanded their concentration.

Piggy back.

Paddy cake.

Got your nose.

Count your toes.

Can't find me.

You're a bumblebee.

I'm going to get you.

And mama too.

Patricia giggled. Mary giggled. Truth be told, Matthew giggled.

By lunch time everyone was warm, sweaty and ready to eat. Mary had a surprise for them.

"Sausage rolls?" Matthew looked at them with wonder.

"You should have seen Mrs. Patmore's face when I asked for them" Mary laughed.

"Mustard too. Excellent" Matthew was rooting through the picnic basket. "And gingerbread men for dessert. And what's this – a bottle of lemonade and one of ginger beer but no glasses."

"Carson almost did not let me take the basket without glasses, he did not think it proper."

"Speaking of proper, is there any chocolate?"

"No, that is for later"

"Later?" Matthew leered at Mary.

"Much later" she reached across and put her finger on his lips. He kissed it.

After a joyful and bountiful repast, for Mrs. Patmore had also packed lots of what she considered to be proper picnic provender, Patricia started yawning, and she was soon followed by Matthew.

"Sweetie, before you take a nap, your mother will have to change your nappie"

"Me?"

"Your turn, as you will recall I changed her the last picnic."

Mary stuck her tongue out at Matthew but she went ahead and changed Patricia.

Matthew laid down on the picnic blanket.

"Roll over on your left side" Mary laid Patricia down by Matthew and gave her a bottle.

In a low soft voice Matthew started singing to Patricia.

"I ride an Old Pa int, I lead an old Dan

I'm going to Montan' to throw the hoolihan

They feed in the coulee, they water in the draw

Their tails are all matted, their backs are all raw

Whoppee ty i oh Get along little dogies

Your misfortune is none of my own

Old Matt Crawley had a daughter or two

He lost them both to boys in blue

His wife thinks that she's always right

He keeps on singing from morning to night

Whoppee ty i oh Get along little dogies

Your misfortune is none of my own

Patrica fell asleep first followed by Matthew. Mary sat and watched them. Her perfect little girl nestled beside her ... her what? Her perfect husband? Her daughter's perfect father? Her perfect friend? ...Her perfect lover? He was perfect. Here in Downton. What would he be like in Society? In London? Oh he was intelligent, confident, charming – he would probably excel, but still she would like to see for herself. And what of money? Was he a spendthrift? Did he gamble? Was he extravagant? Never again she had vowed; she would not be poor. She knew her father would be happy to pay his heir a generous allowance. But what would he do with it? She wanted to see, she had to know. For her sake, and for Patricia's. She sighed and then laid down beside them.

Patricia woke up first. Wake up Mama. Wake up Papa. Time to play.

Matthew opened his eyes. Mary's face was not six inches away. As he was watching she opened her eyes. They laid like that for a long time gazing at each other, the squirming baby between them. At the same moment they both leaned forward and kissed.

-0-

Back at the Great House Matthew and Mary split up. After dropping off Patricia with Beth in the nursery Mary had Anna draw a bath for her. She needed to do some thinking and there was nothing like a nice warm soak to facilitate that.

Matthew went to his room to write to his mother.

While he was writing there was a knock on the door. Matthew opened it thinking it would be Mary.

It was Carson. "Captain Crawley this has just come for you" Carson extended a silver tray on which there was a telegram envelope.

Matthew took the envelope "Thank you Carson" Carson nodded and left the room and closed the door behind him

He opened the envelope and read the telegram. He blew out his breath. He opened the door. "Carson!" he called. The butler turned around and came back.

"Sir?"

"When is the next train?"

Carson looked at his pocket watch. "In 25 minutes"

"Can you have Branson take me to the station?"

"He is with Lord Grantham but Lady Edith is here"

"Could you ask her to have the car at the front door in 5 minutes?"

"Yes sir"

"Thank you, now if you will excuse me I have to pack"

-0-

Mary came down the stairs to dinner. She scanned the group waiting for her at the bottom. They seemed glum. Matthew was not with them. She had expected him in the nursery when Patricia had her dinner, when he had not appeared she had assumed he had fallen asleep. Has something happened to him?

Robert met her. "Matthew is gone"

"Gone?"

"He has been recalled to duty"

Robert handed her a telegram. She read:

'MAJ M CRAWLEY

PROMOTION CONFIRMED LEAVE CANCELLED REPORT UNIT SOONEST

COL JF MACLEOD'

"I drove him to the station. He wanted to say goodbye to you but you were in your bath" said Edith "He wrote this for you in the auto" Edith handed Mary a piece of paper torn from a small pocket notebook. "He said he would write a proper letter when he had time"

Mary looked at the note. It was written in pencil, shaky because of the ride she supposed.

'Mary:

King George commands and I obey.

I left a book in my room for Patricia.

Give her my love and if she doesn't need it all keep some for yourself.

I hope you see what you are looking for.

Matthew'

Mary folded up the telegram and the note. She did not say anything, She turned around and went back up the stairs.

Cora and Carson found Mary in her bedroom laying on her bed. Carson had a tray with some dinner for her.

Cora sat on the bed. She rubbed Mary's back. "He will be back. In the meantime please do not fall back into that black mood. Try to eat something."

"I should have told him I loved him"

"Do you love him?"

"I think perhaps I do"

"There will a another chance to tell him. Now your father wants to know how you are going to vote"

"Vote?"

"On whether to ask Matthew back"

"Yes, of course"

"Then it is unanimous" Cora patted Mary's hand. "Now get some rest. It will be a bright new day tomorrow."