This chapter is definitely rated M!

XX

A sly smile escaped his lips. "Should we?"

She arched an eyebrow. "Be completely inappropriate?"

"I would love to be completely inappropriate with you this week end." Matthew's silky tone implying both intimacy and a hint of mischief. He brought her gloved hand to his fingers and took it off, kissing her inner palm before putting it around his neck.

He felt the thrum of her body in anticipation. Her brown eyes dilated from his touch.

"Let's do it." Mary's husky response as his lips once again engulfed hers.

XX

Matthew pulled into the space behind Downton Abbey. Mary had given him directions to park in the back staff lot as it would be empty. She would meet him there when after taking her parents to the train station and making sure Jellybean and Mr. Banks were loaded into the horsebox she had bought second hand.

"Jerry will drive the horses back and put them in their stalls."

"That's the new groom?" Matthew had read all the email notifications Mary sent. He just did not always respond.

"Yes." Mary pulled a strand behind her hair. They had moved into a more private corner of Jellybean's horse stall at the York Riding Show. "Jerry Stahl."

Matthew looked amused. "Good name for a groom."

"He's an old hand. Very reliable. His great grandfather worked on the estate years ago. I was lucky to persuade him out of retirement. His daughter wants work at Downton Stables to learn to clip and plait for dressage. I think she wants me to take her on as a student. She's at uni." Mary eased Jellybean's bridle off.

"So that's how many employees?" Matthew asked.

"Three counting Anita the office help. Some of the owners who board horses come out to take care of their animals as well."

"Sounds like you have it all in hand." Matthew never doubted anything less.

Mary smiled. "I love it, Matthew." Her eyes danced as she continued, "You have no idea how much I appreciate you giving me the financial backing I needed."

Mary drew closer to him.

"Is that all I am?" Matthew joshed in her ear. "Your silent partner. You'll use me just for my money."

"Of course." Mary rejoined flicking his left ear slowly with her tongue. She felt his body quiver. "I hope to do just that all week end."

The both were nervous, trying to hide it.

Matthew glanced around, no one was there. He drew her body towards him. His hands roamed down her waist and towards the riding breeches that fit across her rear. His kiss was deep and needy.

"How long will you be?" He wanted to be with her as soon as possible. Any time alone would be time to worry that his decision to be with Mary was wrong.

It didn't feel wrong, though. His mouth nuzzling her neck. Her hands underneath his jacket and along his back.

It felt exactly right.

"I will be a couple hours. I need to get my parents to the station. And make sure Sybil goes with Edith to her flat." Mary's voice upticked at that last revelation.

Matthew gave her a quizzical look.

"She might decide at the last minute to spend night at Downton," her hand running low and massaging his rear. "And we can't have that."

He gulped. "That would not be good."

"Meet you at Downton then. Go around the back of the house to the staff lot. It's more private." She gave him a meaningful glance.

Matthew slowly nodded. "I have to pick up a thing or two but I'll be on time."

"What things?" She tugged surreptitiously on his belt loop.

He groaned into her mouth for one last kiss. "Some things…" A lingering pull on her lower lip. "See you later."

And with all the forbearance he could muster, Matthew left her to finishing up grooming and unsaddling the horse.

He swiveled on his heels at the door to the stable. He gave her a dazzling smile. "You were a winner today Lady Mary Crawley. You were amazing."

She shooed him away with a blush. "See you later."

XX

Matthew smiled at that memory. It was just a couple hours ago but he already missed her. When making the decision to go to the Riding Show he had anticipated the possibility of spending more time with Mary. But he had no expectations beyond a dinner and a talk after.

The potential of a week end alone made him weak at the knees.

And so the decision for a quick trip to Boots at Ripon.

Along the way back towards the Downton Estate he caught a sign for a florist shoppe. He pulled the car into a space and went inside.

The bell dinged. "Hello?" He called out to the empty show room.

From behind a curtained back partition a woman emerged. "Hallo How can I help you?" Her Scots burr light and friendly.

"I'd like to purchase some flowers. A bouquet please." Matthew's glance took in the variety of sprays, posies, and plant pots on display.

"Oh aye." She led him towards a selection of Fall colors. "What's the occasion?"

Matthew's hesitant but cheeky expression enchanted the store owner.

"Oh" She winked. "A lady then. A lovely spray of colorful flowers for a first date? Or something more romantic."

Matthew spied an arm sheaf of red roses. "How about that?"

The older woman approved of his choice. "Red the color of passion. Of love. You know Robbie Burns is always right "O my Luve is like a red, red rose…"

Matthew finished with "I will love thee still, my dear/ While the sands o' life shall run."

"Ach you must have a touch of the Scots about ye." She laughed. "Shall I brighten it up with a new ribbon?"

Mathew's eyes danced. "Yes please. I'd love to buy that."

So now here was outside of Downton awaiting Mary's arrival. He was only a tad early having made good time from Ripon.

Mary said after she saw Jerry off with the horses, she'd take her parents to the train. And, he remembered, made sure that they'd be absolutely alone tonight.

Mary had seemed to understand that he didn't want to talk about what happened before their reunion at the horse show. That tonight was for them alone.

Would there be the tinge of regret in the cold light of day? That he had acted with his need to possess this woman. That it, rather than rational consideration of his still marital state, made him act rashly and therefore jeopardize any good faith on the part of his soon to be ex-wife.

Matthew's jaw tightened in a grimace. He just didn't think that would happen. Lavinia was not vindictive. She was strong, for sure. Their marriage was over. Lavinia knew it. Her steely look upon his disclosure that his heart lay elsewhere showed him that. But his honesty was what she wanted. And it was what she got.

They parted with all the cards on the table. She knew he would go to Mary.

He'd deal with any consequences.

This night was for them alone. This week end. This life to come.

He turned as he heard Mary's car wheels on the gravel pavement. Her Jaguar pulled in beside him. She grabbed a bag and got out.

"Been waiting long?" She asked coming around the side of his Porsche. She dropped the bag on the pavement.

Matthew opened his driver's side door and put his feet on the gravel. He got out but ducked back in to lift the bouquet off the passenger seat. The store owner made him promise to treat the flowers delicately, as you would your lady love.

And he had every intention of doing so.

He took them out and turned around to face Mary, the flowers across his arms.

Matthew gazed into Mary's eyes as she took in his gift. "Oh Matthew…." She reached out to take them into her hands.

"I hope they're not too much. I don't want to overwhelm you with expectations." He was suddenly so nervous, so panicked that his desire would drive her away. That it was all too much too soon.

"Have I miscalculated?" His eyes shifted from side to side.

"Do you always do that?" Mary asked, touching her nose delicately to the red tips. She gave him an insouciant look.

"What?" His eyes beetled again.

"Move your eyes from left to right whenever you are unsure of yourself?" Her cheeks were half covered by the rose petals.

Matthew's eyes froze and opened wide. He stared at her agape. Then he clapped his mouth shut, but his eyes darted once more.

Mary's laugh was irresistibly delighted. "There. You did it again."

A slow smile crossed the corners of his mouth. His cheeks, though remained flamed red.

Mary was inches now from his face. "I love the flowers. They are perfect. Thank you."

His eyes peered into hers. "I rather hoped you would. You rattle me, you know. I hardly know where I am when I'm around you. It's deliciously unsettling."

"Good." And her lips took his in a long, slow kiss. "I should hate to be predictable." The crushing sound of the wrapping as he clinched her to his body.

"Let's go in." As Mary released his lips.

"I'll follow you." Matthew said, taking a step back. She handed the rose sheaf to Matthew temporarily.

Mary moved towards the side garden door. There was a keypad with an alarm code. She clicked in some numbers and heard the click of the unlocked bolt. "I have to disengage the interior alarm as well. Come inside."

Matthew walked inside and set down the roses on a side table. He went back to get their bags.

The week end had started.

XX

Mary completed certain housekeeping tasks as Matthew toured the downstairs of the Abbey. It was so silent. So beautiful. He had not had a chance to look around during his first trip. He had been hurriedly escorted into the library and then the dining room.

So he turned instead into another room. A pianoforte in the corner making it the music room he mused. Didn't all these houses have named rooms?

"I've never learned to play it I'm afraid." Mary's voice from behind him. "It's very old. Mama barely let us touch it when we were children." She had taken off her boots and was in bare feet.

Matthew had his hand lightly touching the instrument. "My mother wanted me to learn the violin. I was atrocious. The neighbours complained."

"So no musicality between us then?" Mary approached him.

Matthew lips puckered. "I do sing a little."

Mary's eyes narrowed on him. "I do too."

"Well then," he said, "We might just get on harmoniously after all."

His arms drifted around her waist. Running along the S curvature of her torso. "The perfect line of beauty the poets call it. I want to know all of you."

"You shall." Her burning voice all he needed to hear.

Their lips closed upon each other's. Mary's hands fumbled with the buttons of his suit jacket. She unhooked them and drew it off his shoulders. His hands roamed against the silky softness of her riding breeches, cupping each of the cheeks of her buttocks with abandon. He pulled her closer, taking his hand under her thigh and drawing her leg up and around his groin.

She gave a guttural moan of pleasure as she felt his arousal.

"I need to get out of these clothes." Mary whispered in his ear. "Do you want to help?"

He swallowed thickly and nodded.

"Come upstairs." And as he released his grip on her she slipped out of his arms. She took his hand in hers and guided him out of the room and towards the large mahogany and oak stair case. "My room is on the second landing. On the left."

Matthew followed her up the stairs. His body moving in time with hers at each stair step, his hands moved to possess her. His fingers reached out, stroking her inner thigh delicately and then more vigorously as Mary's mouth responded with a ragged moan of pleasure. She doubled over and missed a step as the wave of heat his action caused struck her. Even clothed his touch set her off. She pushed herself back against the bulge in his trousers, rubbing it and feeling it lengthen and grow stiff at her effort.

They never reached the bedroom. Mary twisted around and gave him a hot, slippery kiss. Her tongue dove deep into his mouth, almost down his throat. She tore at his shirt impatiently, the buttons flying off in every direction.

He responded in kind with her riding blouse. He half unbuttoned it even as she her tongue lapped inside his mouth sending spasms of pleasure throughout his body. He gave up and pushed it over her head. Her bra came next. She shimmied out of it to help him. A louder moan exited her as his fingers made their way to each breast. He lost his balance in the attempt to bring his mouth down upon her nipple.

They stumbled up towards the second floor landing, their legs dangling down the steps as he lay her down upon the carpet. His hand once more stroking inside her thigh while his mouth found their desired target upon her breast. His tongue flicked and played until he brought the nipple upright and erect. The soft flesh and warm skin pushing him to massage his lips deeper and deeper until her breast engorged and the aureole was swollen red and enflamed.

Mary felt encumbered by all her clothes. By his. By anything that kept their flesh from touching.

"Take the breeches off." She begged hoarsely.

Matthew obliged. He unzipped the leggings and pulled them off in one move with a long grunt. He felt for her panties and tugged them down. She rose to meet his waiting mouth. He filled her with deep lunges of his tongue, tasting her. Making his own hardness swell against the constrictions of his trousers. She shouted as his efforts brought a release.

"Yes. More… more…" Her breaths ragged as her body shuddered with each flick of his tongue inside her.

Matthew, in a haze of impassioned lust he could no longer control, seized her. She was wet with his action. He wanted her to be uncontrolled in her wantonness. In his shamelessness. His teeth nibbled at her soft folds. She responded with even more guttural moans. Her hands grasped and played with the locks of his hair. Her eyes had been screwed shut, but she opened them to see him possess the most intimate parts of her body. He was blind to her watching him as he concentrated on her pleasure.

She lolled her head back languidly as each shattering wave of desire crashed, wrecking her willpower and making her demand even more of him. She pushed her thighs against his cheeks, and he lifted his head. She reached out to pull him towards her, realizing his trousers were still on. One last grunt of effort and they, along with his boxer briefs, were flung down the staircase. She giggled naughtily.

"We'll have to get them later….," as her mouth clamped down on his hot, sticky lips. Matthew's body leaned over hers. He positioned himself to plunge his shaft into her as she opened herself up to him.

But he hesitated suddenly.

She felt his absence as he lifted up. "What?" Her words muffled as her mouth was dry from his previous claims on her body.

Matthew's tousled hair was in his eyes. He blew some air up from his mouth in an attempt to meet her gaze below him. He flung his head and the locks dislodged. He could see she was antsy to get on with their love making. Her hands were kneading his arse cheeks, digging her nails in. Making his hard shaft inch closer and closer inside her.

"Should I put on some protection?" He finally blurted out, probably ruining the mood of intensity that had previously surrounded them.

"It's fine, Matthew." Mary exclaimed heatedly, wriggling her legs around his buttocks and cupping her knees against him. She pulled him down further. "I've got it in hand." And she made her demand clear by pushing even harder against him.

Without any more resolve left, he thrust inside to her contented groans. She was ready and wanted all of him. He pulled back and thrust in harder and harder, she meeting him with every stroke, rocking and pushing him inside. His mouth went down again on her breasts, making her shout as he nipped and pulled.

Then their mouths met in wet sloppy kisses as each took the other to the brink of climax. His deep lunges became more deliberate, more focused. He rode and pushed in time to each of her heated groans. Suddenly he felt her buck and jolt underneath him, her mouth biting her hand as he had released his lips to get better traction with his body for each of his thrusts. He pumped even harder taking her to a release that made her scream into the palm of her hand. She hooked her legs even tighter around him as she writhed side to side and then suddenly her body went taut and then collapsed in contentment. She gave one last lingering wave of bemoaned pleasure.

Then his own spasms of intensity wracked his body. He let loose after holding it in for so long, the sensation was insanely explosive, taking him to a state of near ecstasy and exhaustion at the same time.

He had never felt anything like it. He was desperate to keep it going, it left him trembling from the exertion. He felt numb and helpless. He wanted it to last forever. Mary's body, her scent, her being encompassed and possessed him. She was skillful in ways of maneuvering his body he never experienced before. He had been used to giving others pleasure; she managed to make him give and take his own at the same time.

Matthew was adrift, hardly able to form a coherent thought. His body collapsed against Mary's as he heaved breaths to try to regain a semblance of rational thought.

Mary loved feeling the heaviness of his frame atop her own. His weight gave her the feeling of being enclosed by his skin, by his warmth, by his everything. She closed her eyes and allowed the sensations to fill her body.

They stayed long minutes catching their breaths, coming back to reality.

Mary grunted a final time, heaving him to one side. "I still need that shower."

Matthew sat up. Lifted her up next to him. He finally took in the fact they were still on the staircase. "We never even made it to your room…" He chortled.

"Come on." And she led him inside her bedroom and to the en suite shower, leaving their clothes strewn all over the stairs and landing. "I'll come back for them later."

The hot water felt so good on their bodies. Each took time soaking the other in suds and lather. Matthew stood behind her, his hands loitered on the curvature of her waist, stroking down the sides and coupling her buttocks in his hands. He then explored her breasts, teasing each nipple, manipulating until she groaned once more. He thought he'd never tire of that sound. She leaned into him as his fingers felt their way once again into her, stroking gently but firmly.

"You are insatiable." Mary voice came to him as from a fog. He was so concentrating on her body, on each sensation.

"You are perfection." If it was wrong to say, let it be so. He could no longer deny it. She turned and their lips met. The steam of the shower wafting around them. They were lost once again to each other's craving.

XX

"I'm starved." Mary said.

Matthew quirked his eyebrow as an impudent grin spread across his face. God help him, he had never felt so good in his life.

"Cheeky bastard." She replied, playfully hitting his rump as they walked down the stairs after cleaning up their previously discarded clothing. "I mean for food. Should we call up a take away?"

Matthew's laugh echoed on the landing. "You know I do cook."

"Your talents are endless…" And they locked in a kiss again.

Matthew continued down the stairs. "At university I learned to fend for myself in the kitchen. Too poor sometimes to eat out, you find amazing way to combine whatever is in the frig." He puckered his lips as he then said, "I suppose you never had to worry about that. Oh Carson… peel me a grape." And he mimicked an open mouth and a plunging in of the fruit.

Mary hated to admit that was, if not close to the absolute truth, at least had a modicum of veracity. "Alright alright…I may not have had to learn to cook, but it wasn't like that at all. We no longer have servants waiting on us hand and foot."

At Matthew's astonished look, she realized even that sounded as if she came from another reality. "It's who I am Matthew. We are the remains of a forgotten ruling class. Caught between what was and what is. At least I know I have had a privileged life. I can't deny it and I won't apologize either."

Matthew looked chastened. "You're right. I shouldn't make fun…it's just that…" and his hand waved around the salon as they walked towards the kitchen that was one floor below. "You know it's servants downstairs and masters upstairs. I would have been a servant."

"But you've inherited the earth." Mary pointed out as she started to poke around the cabinets and pantry storage areas. "Your class won the struggle. Look at you. A self-made multi-millionaire while people like Papa try to maintain a façade of wealth, to hide all the debts accumulated over generations of waste and idleness. They stuck their heads in the ground like the proverbial ostrich and are now astonished that the times have changed."

Matthew agreed. "Your father is going to have to retrench on costs whether he wants to or not. He can't keep it up." And to prove his point he asked when this kitchen was refurbished and upgraded. The appliances were all state of the art. The sculpted steel side by side multi compartment glassed in refrigerator he was poking around inside cost at least £10,000. He saw a door that led down a hall to another room with more of the same kind of expensive systems but this time an independently zoned wine cooler with twelve shelves of bottles. He counted four of those in all. And that wasn't counting the Aga stove, new marble counter tops, and every gadget and appliance he could ever think of seeing in a store.

"Mother likes to putter around down here." Mary said. "Dad travels to France every year to see the new vintages."

Matthew just grunted. He didn't really want to get into all that with Mary tonight.

"Ah ha!" He claimed his prize, pulling out some eggs.

She looked unimpressed. "They're eggs."

"Ye of little faith…" He tutted. "Eggs can be turned into anything." He looked around. "Aaah. …bread." He pulled open a cabinet, figuring they'd have a sealed storage compartment for that as well.

" Mrs. Patmore makes that fresh every other day." Mary explained.

Matthew let his economizing go for the moment.

"Let's see…" Matthew pulled out his iPhone from his pocket. "Ah the Smitten Kitchen. I like the sound of that.." and his finger scrolled around the chosen site.

"What are you doing?" Now Mary was insatiably curious. "You're making something?"

"You'll see" He said mysteriously. "Where are the spices? I need nutmeg and cinnamon."

She pointed to a cabinet as she glanced at the mobile he left on the counter. "French toast?"

"Hey! No cheating." He walked back towards her grabbing the iPhone.

She grinned like a Cheshire cat as she pulled her own out of her jeans pocket. "I can do you one better." And after a few clicks she thrust the mobile out to him.

Matthew squinted. He hated to admit he needed reading glasses but managed to make out the article title on Buzzfeed "Boozy French toast." He put his hand on his chin, thoughtfully scratching the stubble. "I like that. Do you have any Bailey's?" He walked back towards the room that seemed to hold all the liquor. Mary heard some bottles rattling and then he emerged again carrying not only the Bailey's but cointreau and bourbon.

Mary's eyes widened.

"What?"Matthew said innocently. "In for a penny..." and he clapped his hands in delight.

"Do you want to whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, and salt? Or slice the bread? We will have to let it sit for awhile. The recipe says overnight, but I think a couple hours will suffice."

"So who's hungry now!l" She walked around the island to stand next to him. "I'll slice. You whisk."

Between the two they managed to slice, whisk, and dip the bread into mixture after Matthew measured out several teaspoons of the alcohol into bowl. He decided just on the Irish cream liqueur and the cointreau for the dip, but poured himself and Mary a healthy portion of the bourbon.

"Where did you get this?" Matthew perused the label. "It's from Louisiana."

"Mama was surprised by Papa with a trip to New Orleans so she could go to the French Quarter and hear some real live jazz." Mary was munching on a banana as they worked. She dipped it in the liqueur.

"Will she mind if we use it?" He poured himself another.

"No." Mary held out her glass for a refill. "You're her favourite anyway."

Matthew smiled. "When would this have been?" Matthew's curiosity getting the better of him.

"Four years ago or there abouts." She scrunched her face in thought. "Mama made some friends and they still send her gifts like that. I do like some of the old cd's she brought back of the bands. It's not Radiohead or Chemical Brothers so i doubt you'd like it."

Matthew laughed. "Your mother's music taste is eclectic." He gave her sweetened lips a quick kiss. "So is mine. I'd love to hear some." What he did not disclose was those vacation dates would fit, he thought. Given the secret he was now burdened with about Robert's affair and breaking it off after the baby's birth.

Matthew finished pouring the mixture over the slices of bread. He bent his head towards the mobile again. "It needs to sit now."

"I need to see to the horses. Do you want to meet Diamond?"

Matthew's eyes lit up. "Very much."

They walked towards the back door. "Put these on." Mary handed him a pair of boots. "It's not far but it is muddy." She grabbed a flashlight. "Follow me."

They walked about half a mile to the stable yard. Matthew admired all the refurbishments as Mary made sure everything was in order.

"Come here Matthew." She said taking his hand and leading him back towards a stall. "This is Diamond." The thoroughbred knickered as Mary held out her hand. He ate the apple gently from the palm of her hand. She leaned her head along his neck.

Matthew took in the tableau of horse and owner. It was clear how special their connection was. "He's magnificent."

"There will never be another like him." Mary patted the animal. The horse moved closer to her. " We were one out on the course."

"Thank you for letting me meet him." Matthew moved up behind Mary.

She swayed a bit as the effect of the bourbon finally took hold. "If Jellybean and I have half the connection of Diamond and myself, I'll be satisfied."

Matthew reached out to take her in his arms but he too was feeling the buzz of the ninety proof bourbon. He pulled her closer to balance each other.

"Let's go back and put the slices in the oven." He rubbed his eyes to try to stop the double vision but it was no good. He was well on his way to being crocked.

She snickered. "If the boozy mix is as potent as Mama's bourbon, I might just let you carry me up the stairs naked." She placed her face on his chest, feeling the ripped abdomen of his muscular chest contract at her contact. She gave a deep sigh of utter contentment.

"Careful...I might not have the strength. We will just have to make love on the kitchen floor instead." His words slurred as he lifted her head up to see her face.

"That's fine with me..." She drew him closer again. "...now come and kiss me."

She moved up to allow him to pull her in for a long, deep kiss. She met it and slid her tongue down his throat, making him tremble in anticipation of sensual joys to come.

XX

...more to come for this week end... and then reality bites. Reviews are lovely and dear to my heart. Please tell me what you think.