AN: I apologize for the problems with chapter 18! I hope to make up for it here! What did you think of the names that were tossed around in the last chapter? Have any name suggestions? Let me know!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Downton Abbey.
Mary's fingers nervously thrummed against the arm of her chair. "Mary, darling, calm down, your father won't be angry." Matthew insisted. "Not at you. You're the one who saved me from ruin." Mary muttered as she felt Matthew fold his hand over hers gently. "What could possibly be taking him so long?! I just want to get it over with!" Mary cried out quietly.
Matthew gently took the hand he was holding and kissed it "Do try to relax darling. You look like a soldier who's about to go into battle." Matthew muttered without humor. Mary looked at her husband's face and saw the slight look of horror on his face. In a moment she realized how silly she was being. Worrying over something like her father's respect when her beloved husband had seen hundreds, if not thousands of men fall dead around him, and had only been able to come home in a wheel chair. "I'm sorry Matthew." She leaned over to kiss his lips softly, quickly sitting up properly when she heard the door open.
"Mary, Matthew? Carson said you wished for me to find you here. What is it?" Robert asked as he sat at his desk. Mary looked at Matthew, and her heart fluttered even more quickly in her chest. Her mouth felt suddenly dry, as if she'd lost her ability to speak. "Cousin Robert, something has happened in the past that we know is going to come back to haunt us. And we felt it would be best that you knew before it became public." Matthew said calmly.
"Go on." Robert said warily. "Papa, you remember Pamuk?" Mary asked softly, her cheeks turning a brilliant red just at the thought. "Before you continue my dear one, I suppose its best that I tell you I know." Robert sighed as he ran a hand over his head. "What?!" Mary gasped in shock. "I know what occurred the night the diplomat stayed in our house." He clarified.
"How did you find out?" Mary asked through gritted teeth. "Your mother told me on the night you married Matthew." Robert admitted. "And, you've let me live under your roof, all of this time, knowing what I've done? The disgrace I brought upon us?" Mary asked as her eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't have turned out my own child. I'm disappointed in you, and the choices you made, yes. But I also love you, and it isn't as if you did it to harm the family. You've also made it quite right, by marrying the heir to Downton." Robert smiled at his daughter, to show he truly felt no anger.
"But Papa, you… you never even mentioned you knew." Mary was at a loss for words. "Why would I speak of something that would only bring about an argument, or hurt feelings? And to my Settled, and expecting daughter? There was no point." Robert shrugged. "Oh Papa!" Mary felt moved to tears as she rose to embrace her father. As she moved to sit again, her father looked to Matthew. "Now why bring this up at all?" Robert asked.
"Papa, you remember Sir Richard Carlisle?" Mary asked nervously. "The newspaper fellow you were so sure you were going to marry? Of course I do." Robert's brow wrinkled with his confusion. "He... He…" Mary's voice trailed off as she buried her face in Matthew's shoulder. "Vera Bates somehow found the story, and sold it to him. He's going to publish, to get revenge against Mary for breaking their understanding." Matthew explained solemnly. Roberts face turned red in outrage. "He is, is he?"
"Yes Papa. I'm sorry, I've ruined everything." Mary said through the tears that had begun to spill. "You haven't, Mary. It's despicable people such as Carlisle, who ruin things!" Robert stood and began pacing. "He will publish. We don't know when, only that he will." Matthew explained. "Oh! It's just occurred to me, that when this is published, our family name is tarnished, and it will be quite difficult for Sybil to find an appropriate match!" Mary gasped.
"Don't worry over Sybil Mary, she's charming, and sweet, she will make a match with ease. You're quite settled, and Edith is quite settled. The only person who should have concern is Richard Carlisle." Lord Grantham growled as he sat behind his desk. "Papa, what do you mean?" Mary asked, slightly aghast. "I mean to say that I intend to make Sir Richard sorry, if he dare publish anything about you." Lord Grantham said simply. "Papa, please don't do anything rash! I…I don't want anything bad to happen to the family." Mary insisted as she folded a hand over her belly.
"It won't be anything rash dear, I promise you that." Robert smiled sincerely at his daughter. "Alright, papa, I trust you." Mary smiled. "Was that all you needed?" Robert asked. "Yes papa." Mary answered, and silently wheeled Matthew out of the room. "I believe that it went rather well, all things considered." Matthew said.
"I agree. Though, I still believe that it will affect Sybil." Mary sighed as she wheeled him into their bed room, and carefully draped over his lap. "She's sweet, and a wonderful girl. She will find someone who she deserves." Matthew wrapped his arms around her waist and gently stroked his hands over her pregnant belly. "Matthew, I think- Well, I'm almost positive that Sybil has feelings for Branson." Mary admitted.
"And if she does?" Matthew asked. "Well, if she does, she would have to break all tradition to marry him, Papa would disown her, Mama would be heart broken, and the list goes on really." Mary sighed. "Would you turn away from her, if she were to marry Branson?" Matthew asked. Mary thought it through for a moment, before settling on an answer "Of course I wouldn't. She may be iron willed and thick headed at times, but she is my sister, and I do love her."
"Who's to say everyone else wouldn't feel that way?" Matthew asked. "They wouldn't" Mary insisted. "And why not?" Matthew asked with a smile. "Because- it's simply- well… Matthew Crawley, I do hate it when you're right!" Mary exclaimed. "Then you must spend an awful lot of time hating me." Matthew teased. Mary leaned in, and kissed her husband affectionately "I won't ever hate you, darling, no matter how many time's you're right, and I'm wrong. Though to be fair, I do believe I'm right a fair amount of times!" Mary laughed.
"So you are darling, so you are." Matthew agreed. "I'll never know how I was so fortunate as to marry you." Mary sighed, and laid her head against Matthew's chest. "Well darling, I do believe it was destiny." Matthew kissed her hair. "I almost lost you far too many times." Mary was almost in tears as she recalled all of the time's she'd thought Matthew was leaving her forever. "I'm here now. I'll never leave again." Matthew insisted as he gently stroked her hair.
"Matthew?" Mary asked sleepily. "Yes Darling?" He replied as his fingers traced patterns up and down her back. "Do you suppose the publishing will change anything?" Mary asked nervously. "No, nothing." Matthew insisted. "I never did Thank you." Mary muttered. "For what?" Matthew was suddenly extremely confused. "For loving me, and our daughter." Mary was nearly asleep now. "Who's to say it isn't our son?" Matthew countered. "I just have a feeling…" Mary nestled her head into the crook of his neck. "Well, I suppose we have a bit longer to wait." Matthew smiled at his wife.
"I do believe that we agreed we're both right half of the time. So I suppose there is a chance that I'm wrong." Mary laughed. "Lady Mary, admitting willingly that you may be wrong?" Matthew gasped. "Do stop teasing." Mary muttered. "Never." Matthew smiled mischievously. "We'll just have to wait and see." Mary's voice trailed off as she fell asleep quite comfortably, wrapped gently around her husband. Matthew wrapped his arms tightly around his wife, and in a matter of minutes had fallen asleep quite comfortably as well.
AN: I know, it's got a very cheesy ending, but that's just the way that I write things! I do hope you enjoyed! Have a lovely day!