Previously:
Downton Abbey, England, August 1913
Matthew stared at her. "Perhaps it would be a better idea for me to stay in the Bachelor's Wing, at least for tonight."
"Papa will likely be carousing in celebration for most of the evening, and you may be in no condition to go back home later," Mary agreed. "Yes, perhaps staying overnight would be safer for you."
"I'll raise it with Robert as soon as we arrive," Matthew said quickly.
Mary looked up at Downton Abbey as they drew closer, tightening her grip on the arm of her fiancé. Their wedding was less than two months away.
Chapter 13:
Downton Abbey, England, October 1913
"May I come in?" Mary asked as she knocked on the door softly.
"I am flattered, My Lady," Carson nodded, rising from his desk and motioning to a chair.
Mary came in and sat down. Carson had been a father to her since she was a little child, and the thought of soon not seeing him each day caused her to smile wistfully.
"I need your help with his Lordship," Mary began. "I'd like to take Anna or Jane with me after we return from the honeymoon, but I suspect Papa will resist. If you could support the idea by saying that the one who remains will be enough to assist Lady Edith and Lady Sybil, that may sway him."
"Of course, My Lady," Carson agreed. "Between one lady's maid and the housemaids, Lady Edith and Lady Sybil will be well taken care of. What the house needs more urgently is another footman, if I may speak freely. I'll stand up for your side when the time arrives."
"Thank you, Carson," Mary smiled. "I will miss you," she said after a short pause.
"Well I hope to see you and Mr. Crawley here for meals as often as possible, My Lady."
"That would be lovely, and I imagine we will be here frequently," Mary said. "But it won't be the same, you know? It's time for me to move on to my husband's house, Carson. I'm Mr. Crawley's problem now," she joked.
"You were never a problem, My Lady," Carson said quietly.
Mary smiled appreciatively. "Still, my life is changing, Carson. I must be a proper wife now. And so it's time to leave, at least until we return someday."
Mary rose from her chair. Carson rose as well.
"My Lady, pardon me, but have you considered staying here after the honeymoon?" he asked nervously. "There's plenty of room and Mr. Crawley could bring Molesley with him. Crawley House is suitable of course but you both would be happy here, wouldn't you?"
Mary smiled sadly. "It's not for me to say, Carson. I love Mr. Crawley above everything in the world. I shall miss Downton, but my husband's home is Crawley House, and I will go there willingly and without question. It's what he deserves and I shall not fail him in this."
"Yes, My Lady," Carson nodded.
Mary gave the butler a brave smile. She then turned and left.
Office of the Law Firm of Harvell, Carter & Lewis, London, England, August 1913
"Matthew," Alex smiled, looking up from the papers spread out across the boardroom table. "How is the Archbishop?"
"I gave him your kind regards," Matthew smiled, shaking hands with his friend and boss. "I can't quite believe he's going to be conducting my wedding ceremony."
"I believe it," Alex chuckled. "Lord Grantham would not settle for anything less. Although poor Reverend Travis will probably be doing most of the work. The Archbishop will just swoop in and claim the glory."
Matthew smiled in agreement, then took in the documents organized before them. The boardroom of the London office was much larger than the boardroom at the office in Ripon. "Is it all finished then?"
"Everyone signed this morning," Alex nodded.
Matthew picked up a document and scanned it carefully. He eventually smiled as he put it back down. "Excellent."
"You're sure about this, Matthew? There's still time to change your mind before we report to the proper authorities."
"No, I'm certain, Alex," Matthew said firmly. "It's a risk, but I know we'll get what we want in the end."
"And you're sure you don't want to tell Mary or Lord Grantham?"
"I'm sure," Matthew nodded. "Robert can keep his own counsel. This is for me."
They both turned as an assistant came into the room with a silver tray and two glasses of champagne. Matthew and Alex each took a glass.
"You missed the toast this morning," Alex said, lifting his glass towards Matthew. "I saved some for you. To you, Matthew. May your gambit give you everything you desire."
"To you, Alex," Matthew smiled, raising his own glass. "May both of us receive what we wish for."
Grantham House, St. James Square, London, England, July 1913
Matthew gritted his teeth, swallowing hard. He blinked several times, breathing in short gasps.
"Mmm," Mary sighed, kissing his neck and running her fingers lightly across his bare chest. "I've been waiting all through dinner to have you all to myself like this."
His hands moved from her hips and up her sides as he pulled her into a deep kiss. The soft silk of her dressing gown caressed his skin, and he gasped quietly as Mary returned to kissing his neck.
"You seem somewhat tense, darling," Mary teased. "And you're strangely quiet."
"Naughty minx," Matthew whispered. "You know the walls here are thinner than at Downton."
"Which is why we're here in your room, clear across the house from the rest of the family," she said huskily. "All alone in the dark."
"You are merciless," Matthew smiled, his desire coursing through him. "You're supposed to be teaching me about who will be arriving tomorrow so I can get their names straight in my mind."
"Always so studious, Matthew," Mary smiled against his skin. She kissed his chest before settling herself next to him. "Very well. It's mostly relatives and friends from London. You'll already know most of them from the Season parties," Mary said, stroking her fingers languidly along his bare arm.
Matthew swallowed, revelling in her touch. Mary rhymed off several names of her relatives and Matthew repeated them back to her as he tried to focus on committing them to memory.
"What about Cora's family? I know they aren't here now but are they crossing over from America for the wedding?" Matthew asked.
"No," Mary replied. "Grandmamma sent her best wishes, and some money as a wedding present. She's invited us to New York whenever we have an opportunity. But she and Uncle Harold very rarely come over. Their last visit was rather tense."
Matthew laughed. "Ah yes, you told me during your Season. The War of the Grannies."
"You have a very good memory," Mary smiled, kissing his shoulder.
"I remember everything when it comes to you," Matthew whispered, his eyes locked on hers in the darkness and they kissed softly.
"It isn't surprising that Grandmamma isn't coming. We don't usually travel for weddings ourselves," Mary stated. "Papa's friends from Scotland and even Brighton aren't coming. I'm actually rather glad for it. If we had been married in the Summer it would have been chaos. Everyone in London for the Season would have made the trip."
Matthew chuckled. "Most of my relatives sent their regards, but only a few are coming."
"Viscount Branksome will be here, although I think Evelyn is just coming back from France, so he may not make it in time for tomorrow. Lord Merton – my godfather – will be here with his wife and their son. I'm anxious for you to meet him, Matthew. He's always been so good to me since I was an infant."
"Mmm," Matthew smiled. "Another man who spoiled you no doubt."
"Matthew!" she chastised him. "I'm hardly spoiled."
Matthew laughed. "Between your Papa, Carson and Lord Merton, I would say you were very well taken care of, darling. Although as absurd as it sounds, you probably aren't as spoiled as some of your friends, actually."
"Exactly," Mary said triumphantly. "Now, have you learned enough? Or do you need a detailed description of Great Aunt Patricia's mole for your memory?"
Mary laughed as Matthew turned and moved above her, pushing her back into the soft pillow and kissing her neck. He wrapped his arms around her and trailed light kisses across her cheek and forehead before moving to her lips.
"Why don't you just whisper their names to me while we stand in the receiving line?" he said confidently.
"How very efficient of you, darling," Mary smiled back before he captured her mouth.
Downton Abbey, England, October 1913
Anna placed the last comb in Mary's hair. They exchanged a glance in the vanity mirror and Mary nodded slightly. Anna smiled.
"You would ask, wouldn't you?" Cora said nervously. "If there was anything you wanted me to tell you?"
Mary rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I'll figure it out, Mama. Relax. There's nothing you need to tell me now."
"Because when two people love each other, you understand, everything…" Cora's voice trailed off.
Sybil and Edith looked at their Mama curiously.
"Is the most terrific fun!" Cora finished quickly.
"Mama!" Sybil exclaimed.
Edith laughed.
"Careful, Mama," Mary looked at her with a smirk. "You shouldn't use such scandalous language in front of the family and Anna."
"Please, Mary," Cora smirked back. "Sybil already knows what 'fun' means."
Mary rolled her eyes and laughed along with her sisters.
"We should go," Edith sighed. "The cars are waiting."
Mary turned in her chair and Sybil came over and knelt in front of her.
"Darling, I know your wedding is the one everyone's been waiting for. And you have so much responsibility. But I'm even happier for you because it's still so incredibly romantic," Sybil smiled.
"Thank you, darling," Mary smiled, kissing her youngest sister on both cheeks. "Thank you for always being the sweetest of us all."
"Come, Sybil," Edith held out her hand, then meeting Mary's eye. "I still can't believe you love him, or how remarkably convenient it is that you're marrying Papa's heir. But he has the position and he's incredibly handsome so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
They exchanged a glance and a knowing smirk. Edith took Sybil's arm and ushered her out of Mary's bedroom.
Mary stood and Cora took her hands in hers.
"You do love him, don't you? And you're sure that he loves you? I know that he adores you. That's obvious. But he really loves you? He'll be good to you?" Cora looked at her imploringly.
"He loves me more than Papa loved you at first," Mary smiled. When she noticed Cora's continued worried expression, she squeezed her hands. "He loves me, Mama. I know that Matthew loves me so much that it scares me sometimes. He doesn't…he doesn't expect anything from me. Not the way other men have in the past. He's happy with me as I am. He doesn't care that we argue, or that I fight with Edith or that I can be heartless for no reason at all. He just loves me for me, Mama. I can't explain it, and I don't know how I deserve it, but he'll be good to me. He already is."
"Well then," Cora beamed. "Very, very good luck, my beautiful daughter."
Cora left and Anna brought Mary's wedding gown out. Mary looked around her bedroom and sighed.
"Milady?" Anna asked, looking at her inquisitively.
"I'm going to miss this place, Anna," Mary said sadly. "It's the only home I've ever known. I don't really know how to live anywhere else. Even when we're in London, I always look forward to coming back here. That's over with, now."
"He's a good man, Milady," Anna said carefully. "You'll be happy at Crawley House, so long as you're together, won't you?"
Mary looked at Anna for a few moments then smiled genuinely. "Yes, Anna, you're right." Mary looked at her wedding dress shimmering before her. "Home is where my husband is from now on."
Village Church, Downton Village, England, October 1913
Matthew stood still. The pews were gradually filling as friends and family members came into the Church, some offering him smiles and reassuring nods, others looking around to socialize before the ceremony began. Matthew ignored the chatter around him, caring only for the arrival of one person.
"Relax, Matthew," Alex smiled. "Don't be so tense."
Matthew continued to look up at the altar.
"I've had this dream," he whispered, glancing at Alex, then smiling as he looked forward once more. "It's a rather old dream. I'm standing in a Church just like this one, and I'm waiting and waiting and waiting, and suddenly the doors open and everyone rises and gasps and I still look straight ahead. Then there's a light, it's not blinding, it's a gentle, warm light, and I look towards the door, and walking out of this light is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I try to look away but I can't. She's smiling at me for some reason and I can't avert my eyes. I keep expecting someone to step in front of me and take her away but she just keeps walking towards me, keeps looking at me, and I smile back because I realize that she's here for me, just for me."
Alex smiled and nodded.
"I'll tell you when she arrives, Matthew," Alex said quietly.
They did not wait long. Matthew heard cheering from outside. The entire Village had turned out to line the road. He saw them before when he arrived. They were waving flags and cheering and he found it all amusing. He heard the cheering grow louder. He kept looking straight ahead. He heard the doors open and the guests rise. He kept looking straight ahead. He heard laughter as the flower girls pranced up the aisle to the appreciative gasps of their families. He kept looking straight ahead.
"Now, Matthew," Alex smiled.
He turned his body first, then his eyes, the sunshine beckoning him. Robert was stepping proudly forward, his head raised and his back straight, but Matthew did not see him. Mary was holding several long stems of white calla lilies, but Matthew did not see them. People would talk for months about her gorgeous gown, a Lucile original of silk and lace, with small pearls inlaid in the fabric, a sash across the waist, a long train and a translucent veil held back by an ornate silver headband, but Matthew did not notice these fine details.
He saw Mary's smiling face, her eyes alive and calling to him, and as she came inside the Church framed in sunlight, his heart leapt and his lips curled into a brilliant smile.
Mary saw his eyes above all else. They were contrasted handsomely by his light blue vest and silver tie. She smiled at the thought that those eyes, those mesmerizing eyes, were now truly all hers. She could seek them out, gaze into them, get lost in them unashamedly. It was her right as his wife, and she felt glee and joy bubbling inside of her as she finished the short steps to reach his side.
Robert stepped back. Alex stepped to the side. Mary and Matthew looked at each other, smiling unabashedly before the Archbishop raised his hands to begin the ceremony.
Downton Abbey, England, October 1913
Anna came down first, carrying her Mistress' flowers. She went outside, joining the other servants who were gathered to see Lady Mary off.
Mary came downstairs, walking steadily and keeping the train of her dress behind her. As she reached the Great Hall, she smiled as she saw Carson and her Papa beaming back at her.
"Well," she smiled. "Will I do, Carson?"
"Very nicely, My Lady," Carson replied.
Carson bowed and went outside. Mrs. Hughes ushered the flower girls out the door. Mary could hear activity downstairs as servants carried candlesticks and serving trays into the ballroom where the luncheon would be held.
"Mary," Robert smiled, coming over to her. "You're happy aren't you? This is what you want, isn't it?"
Mary smiled patiently at him. "Yes, Papa."
Robert nodded. "I know that our attempts to find a match for you haven't been ideal," he explained. "But you're still my daughter. I want a good man for you. A brave man. From what I know of Matthew, I think he'll do right by you."
"You don't need to worry about Matthew, Papa. He's everything that I want," Mary smiled.
"Good," Robert smiled. "Well, let's get going, then."
Mary took a deep breath and followed him across the Great Hall. She looked up at the walls as she approached the door, remembering all that the place had witnessed in the years she lived here. She took one last look before she stepped into the sunshine at the threshold of the door and heard the applause of the servants.
Village Church, Downton Village, England, October 1913
"Well, what should I pack for? Warm weather or cold?" Mary asked.
Matthew smiled at her as he stood by her side. "What should you pack for?"
Mary rolled her eyes at him. At the altar, Reverend Travis was speaking to the Archbishop and to her Papa. Her Mama and sisters were sitting in a nearby pew.
"Fine," she conceded. "What type of weather should I tell Anna to pack my clothes for?"
Matthew chuckled. "If you must know, certainly warmer than here, but not overly hot. And less rain."
"Warmer than Yorkshire with less rain," Mary repeated. "Well that could be anywhere."
"It could be, yes," Matthew smiled.
"You're enjoying this," Mary shook her head.
"A husband should be allowed to surprise his wife," Matthew smiled.
"And a wife should be allowed to know where her honeymoon will be," Mary retorted.
"Darling, you'll find out soon enough. We'll be wherever it is we're going within mere days. You can't want it to be a surprise, then scold me into telling you in advance. You can't have it both ways," Matthew said gently.
"I can if I want to!" Mary challenged him. He rolled his eyes at her and smiled.
Mary smirked as her expression softened.
"Very well, Matthew, keep your secrets," she said, turning away and looking straight ahead.
Matthew frowned. "I know that tone and that look. You're up to something," he whispered.
Mary looked at him and smiled. "Not at all, darling," she beamed. "It's just that you know my wedding trousseau includes certain evening outfits that I picked out just for you, for very special evenings, and I may have to leave some of them behind if I don't know where we're going and what the weather will be like. I may need to bring an extra shawl or coat instead."
Matthew swallowed. "Perhaps I could be convinced to share some other information on the trip, darling," he stammered.
"If we could take positions and run through it once more, everyone, please!" Travis called, raising his hands for attention.
Robert walked over and offered his arm to Mary. "That's us, let's get to the entrance, then," he said.
Mary turned to her fiancé. "Whatever you wish, Matthew," she smiled.
She took her Papa's arm and walked casually back to the entrance to the Church to rehearse the ceremony once again. Matthew stood in place and sighed. He looked to his right and rolled his eyes at Alex's smiling face.
"Well played, Matthew," Alex nodded. "Well played."
The Royal Normal College and Academy for the Blind, Upper Norwood, London, England, March 1911
"Excuse me, Lady Mary, would it be all right if I sat here?" he asked nervously.
Mary looked up at her fellow teacher. "Of course," she smiled. "Please do."
Matthew smiled gratefully and sat down on the other side of the table. He took a bite of his sandwich and swallowed before speaking.
"I wasn't aware they served cucumber sandwiches in the cafeteria," he said, looking at her plate.
Mary smiled. "They don't. I brought these from home," she explained.
"Ah," Matthew said, somewhat embarrassed. "That's quite economical of you, Lady Mary. I never have time to prepare my lunch, so I usually end up buying it."
Mary smiled again. "I didn't prepare my lunch, Matthew. My cook made it for me."
"Ah, I see," Matthew said awkwardly.
"I'm not very domestic, I'm afraid," Mary said calmly. "I'm sure I'll be taught the basics when the time arrives, but all I really know how to do is scramble some eggs, and that's mainly because our butler taught me quite by accident when I was a child."
Matthew smiled. Rather than be shocked at her lack of cooking ability, he found himself picturing an adorable young Mary standing on a kitchen stool cracking eggs into a bowl and stirring them with a wooden spoon as big as her arm.
"Have you lived in London long, Lady Mary?" he asked.
"We don't live here," Mary corrected him. "We keep a home here, mainly for when we are here in Winter and Summer, and whenever Papa has business in the City. Every March my sisters and I are sent here to work for charity, so for this month, London is home."
Matthew nodded.
"What about you, Matthew? I understand you live in Manchester? What brings you to London?"
"My job brings me here. An old classmate and mentor of mine has an office here. He consults me on certain files and has me come to London on secondment from time to time. I'm here assisting him with trial preparation for this month."
"That sounds rather interesting," Mary noted.
"Hardly," Matthew chuckled. "It's an Estate matter, rather boring actually, but there's reams of documents so Alex could use some extra eyes."
Mary nodded.
"So where is home then, if not here in London?" he asked.
Mary smiled wistfully. "Yorkshire. Downton to be exact. My family lives at Downton Abbey. It's the most beautiful place. The house has been in my family for generations. And the grounds are magnificent. Green fields for riding horses, a Rose Garden, a forest and glade that we use for hunting, a short walk to our Village, and a manageable train ride to York and London."
"That sounds impressive," Matthew said, trying to fathom how large this Estate must be. He had heard of country homes of the aristocracy, but never considered the true size and scope of it.
"It is," Mary smiled. "It's home."
Village Church, Downton Village, England, October 1913
"I, Matthew, take you, Mary, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."
The Crystal Palace Park, London, England, March 1911
"At least the rain has lifted long enough for us to walk," Mary huffed.
"I'm glad," Matthew agreed. "Your parasol would have been rather useless if it was truly raining."
"It's designed to match my dress, Matthew," Mary frowned. "It isn't meant to be practical."
Matthew laughed. "Yes, darling, I understand. It's only meant to give the impression of being effective against the rain, but not actually to perform the task."
Mary smiled at him as she shook her head. She still felt a slight flutter in her chest when he called her 'darling', even though he had been doing it at every opportunity for a week now.
"Whenever it rains too much, I often wonder what it would be like to live somewhere else with far more agreeable weather," she sighed.
"Where, for example?" Matthew asked, intrigued that she would even entertain the thought.
"I don't know, somewhere warmer with more sunshine, but not too hot. Paris or Venice, perhaps."
"Do you think your Governess-taught French will pass muster in Paris, darling?" Matthew teased.
"I'm sure I could manage," Mary countered. "Besides, Matthew, as long as the staff speak the native tongue, that's all that's required."
Matthew laughed. "I have a hard time picturing you anywhere but in England."
"Well that sounds rather boring," Mary said. "I think I would do quite well somewhere abroad for a month or two. Enough time to get acclimated and then I could decide from there."
"Don't you have family in America?"
"My Grandmamma, an uncle and some cousins," Mary nodded. "America seems rather far though. I don't know if it would be to my taste. I'd rather stay on the Continent."
"And what do you envision doing in this new realm of yours?" Matthew teased.
"Oh, I don't know," Mary smiled, looking into his blue eyes pointedly. "You know, darling, I'm quite certain I could make a go of it, so long as I was with the right people."
Matthew smiled back and nodded in understanding.
Village Church, Downton Village, England, October 1913
"I, Mary, take you, Matthew, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish and to obey, till death us do part; according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."
Downton Abbey, England, October 1913
"How long will you be gone?" Sybil asked.
"A little under a month," Matthew smiled.
"And where are you going?" Edith asked.
"Yes, darling, where are we going?" Mary looked at him pointedly.
"We'll be staying in London at Aunt Rosamund's for two days," Matthew replied.
"And after that?" Edith smiled.
"After that," Matthew paused, looking at Mary. "We'll be going somewhere else."
Mary rolled her eyes. "My fiancé can be rather insufferable."
"Oh, let him have this one, Mary," Sybil laughed. "It's bound to be a rare victory for him once you're married."
Edith laughed.
"Speaking of which, we better turn him out. It's bad luck to see me the night before the wedding," Mary smiled.
Matthew nodded to the family and rose from the sofa with Mary.
"I'll see him out. You don't need to chaperone us, Mama," Mary smiled. "After tomorrow, everything is permitted."
"Don't embarrass me," Cora smiled back. "Good night, Matthew."
"Get a good night's sleep!" Sybil laughed.
Matthew blushed and bid everyone good evening as he and Mary walked out into the Great Hall.
Once they reached the door, he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her soundly. Mary smiled.
"Did you ever think, back when we had to part, that you would see our wedding day arrive?" he asked.
"Of course," Mary smiled. "I always get what I want, you know that."
Matthew chuckled.
"I told myself it could never be," Mary said quietly. "It was the only way I could get through my Season, and face the future, to try and do my duty. I had to tell myself I could never have you, that I would have to settle for someone else."
Matthew nodded.
"When Papa told us who his heir was, when he told us you were coming to Downton, I went upstairs right away and wrote to you. As I was writing, I found myself thinking about our wedding, and it shocked me. We hadn't seen each other in months. We'd said goodbye. I didn't know if you'd moved on. I didn't know if you'd still want me."
"When I got your Papa's letter, I didn't realize the enormity of it. He told me I was his last surviving heir. I didn't believe it. He told me he wanted me to come to Downton and learn the duties of my new position. I couldn't imagine that. All I thought about was this was the chance I thought we would never have. I didn't know what your situation was. I hadn't read any engagement announcement in the papers. But I knew I would see you again, and that was already more than I had hoped for."
"Then you got my letter," Mary smiled. "You knew I still loved you."
"And you came to meet me upon my arrival at Crawley House," he answered. "And you knew that nothing could ever change for me. I still loved you."
"And here we are," Mary laughed, kissing him chastely.
Village Church, Downton Village, England, October 1913
"Forasmuch as Matthew Reginald Crawley and Mary Josephine Crawley have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a Ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
Mary and Matthew rose, turned and walked down the aisle and out of the Church, the sunshine and the cheers of the crowd greeting them. They waved and accepted well wishes as the guests came out of the Church. There were guests to thank and portraits to take, and they moved from one duty to another, their hands joined all the while.
Eventually they took the carriage that had brought Mary to the Church. Matthew held her hand firmly as they travelled the winding road towards Downton Abbey.
"Well, that's done," she grinned. "I'm your wife now. Surely you can tell me where we're going on honeymoon, darling?"
Matthew laughed. "I promise I will tell you everything once we reach London tonight."
He moved towards her and kissed her to confirm his intent.