XX

"Let my PA Leila hook your girl up." Michael Morton said to Matthew as the two strode across the hotel lobby to the conference center. Morton was already distracted by the continual buzzing of his iPhone so Matthew only had half his attention.

"Hook her up?..." Matthew's confused look said it all.

"With an appropriate outfit for tonight's blow out." Morton clapped a hand on Matthew's shoulder. "Is your new girlfriend hot? I had no idea you were even divorced. My ex took me for fuck all, I hope your legal training allowed you to make out better."

Matthew winced at that crude male bonding. He knew Morton was already on his fifth wife, at least at last count and was always on the lookout for the next.

His own divorce was still to raw, his own guilt too palpable to be as casual as Morton. He had wronged his wife and tried to make good. It was nothing to gloat or boast about. They had parted, if not on friendly terms—and who was he to expect that—then at least they parted without lingering acrimony. If she had been putting on a front—and Matthew suspected she was—he let it go. Lavinia had every right to leave on her own terms.

But one thing he also had learned about Morton, he liked the sound of his own voice more than anything else. So, if Matthew simply said nothing, Morton would move on to another topic.

Which he did.

"I'm sorry I won't be able to sit in on your seminar today, but I've got to welcome these big guns flying in from L.A."

They had reached the conference rooms door.

"I've done these before." Matthew assured him. "I can handle it."

Matthew simply wanted it over with. It was three hours in the morning and another two after lunch. The session would open with his own presentation on Brexit and the state of the European market followed by an open forum discussion.

Mary was on her way, but with the time changes and delays at Heathrow it meant they would not see each other until that evening. He hadn't even known about the drinks and dinner bash until Morton told him an hour ago. Mary was usually stylish and appropriately dressed, but he doubted she'd pack anything other than overnight travel clothes. Her messages had been that she couldn't stay long, but they must speak in person.

He spent much of the previous night speculating as what she meant by that.

What could be so important that she felt the urge to travel across an ocean and continent to talk to him. To tell him something.

It most probably was not to do directly with her father's secrets. She had said it was good news.

Or the opposite of something wrong.

What could that be?

He had only one other theory. He knew how much sex they had engaged in freely and without protection. The sex had been mind blowing. He thought he had experienced a great deal of good sex in his life. But part of his guilt was when his mind, unbidden and shameful, compared his past to what he's experienced with Mary and he realized there was no comparison. Mary made his body ache to hold her, to possess her, to be one with her.

He thought she felt the same. Hence their liberated and off the chain sex life. It had been heady and turned his life upside down. His mind continually wandered to the curves of her body. They could hardly ever keep their hands off the other when in a shared space.

He loved every minute.

Thus his growing belief the hypothesis was right.

And that simultaneously made his heart burst with joy and his head spin with remorse. What would she think of this? It would ruin her plans. And yet she was happy?

And then the darker question. One that filled his brain no matter how much he wanted to ignore it.

Was the child his?

XX

Mary checked her mobile. She had to leave Downton for Heathrow immediately if she had any hope of making the flight. If she left on the 7pm flight she would arrive in Las Vegas Friday afternoon. The time zone calculations were making her head hurt. She needed to get going.

That is if her father would ever get to the point.

He had been speaking about fifteen minutes already in spurts followed by long pauses and hesitations.

She was more than a little irritated.

"How's this venture coming along?" He had asked.

"You mean Downton Stables?" She wanted him to acknowledge it by name. As well as her success.

"Yes." He still spoke as if from a great distance. "Is it all you wanted? Is Downton Stables worth leaving Grantham and your obligations there?"

"Papa it's my own. Of course, it's worth it. Why are you not more pleased for me?" She gripped his arm.

Her pained words broke the air between them.

"You are my dearest daughter." Robert spoke with heavy emotion. "And I love you. I am pleased. I just wish ..." He pushed his fingers towards his brow. "I wish circumstances were different."

"What is the matter?" Mary was tired of being left in the dark with regards her father's money woes. Her voice steely.

"I've not been the best steward of Downton, my dear." He choked out the words. "It's not something I can easily speak about. I liked having you in London. It's good to have family around you."

And again his voice trailed off. It seemed to Mary as if he was in another world entirely.

"Things can be put right." Mary asserted, trying to recall her father back from wherever his mind had wandered. "Every business has ups and downs. We both knew Jarvis was double dealing. You said you fired him. That's a step in the right direction."

"There's more to it than that." He could hardly look at her. He coughed. Looked away, then back at his daughter, recovering enough to say in what he hoped was a civil manner, "I might have to sell some land at Downton. I need some ready cash."

"What?" Mary's eyes flashed up. "What land? Why? The bank would surely be a better option?" She had never felt such a sense of disconnect, of betrayal from her father. He was a good man. A kind man.

This unsympathetic person before her was not her Papa.

"I'm not ready to explain why I must do this. It's part of a larger story and sometimes pieces of puzzles must remain lost." He started to pace around the library, making Mary nervous.

"For how long?" A sudden shiver ran up Mary's spine. She had never heard her father speak in such riddles.

"I'm not sure." He almost whispered it. "…not sure."

"Then certainly you can put it off until I get back from this trip. I need the land surrounding Downton to run the horses. To teach my students. Surely you know that. To have to rent it back would incur unnecessary expenses that I can't really afford." Mary's voice was direct and harsh. "Are your puzzle pieces worth that?"

"You don't know what you're saying." He met her judgmental eyes, saying brusquely. "Where are you going? If your business is so on edge how can you afford to leave it?"

Mary retorted coldly, "We all have secrets Papa. I will tell you mine, when you tell me yours."

XX

At the lunch break Matthew found out that Mary had boarded and was on her way. He wasn't sure at all he'd be able to see her because of the agenda of meetings he had arranged. Many of the seminar attendees wanted his time for one on one investment counseling. He had agreed to the meetings before knowing Mary intended to come to Las Vegas. She understood and reminded him she was perfectly capable of finding a taxi and making her way to the hotel.

Morton again assured him that all was in hand. His PA would meet Mary at the hotel and see her well taken care of in Matthew's absence.

He was rushing about taking in meetings at several hotels around the strip. He had rented a Mustang for his stay which made the trips at least a bit of fun. When in America he figured, laughing as he was handed the keys. Previously in France and Canada he'd driven on the right so he was fairly confident in his ability to navigate American roadways.

So he found himself ensconced with some American investors over drinks at the MGM Grand when Mary texted she had arrived, a taxi waiting her from the hotel. She understood he was busy and would meet him later at the Grille Room for the party. Morton's PA Leila was to take her to several shops so she could find an appropriate outfit.

Matthew arrived back at his room, noted Mary's bags in the bedroom and her make up things scattered about. He had just enough time to change into the Tom Ford tux he had brought with him. He knew from past experience that there was always some sort of fete or charity event to attend in any of these type gatherings.

Walked across the foyer and into the Grille Room. The music was loud, the conversation buzzing. The room filled with the same types he always saw at these things.

He was already bored. The only thing that would engage him would be Mary's presence.

Where was she?

XX

Leila had been a godsend. She met Mary down in the lobby of the Aria hotel after waiting for her to put her bags in Matthew's penthouse suite. Her orders were to take Mary to several of the haute couture boutiques in and around the strip so she could find an appropriate dress and shoes for the Morton and Co party that very night. She had first assumed anyone named Lady Mary Crawley would be an evil snob, looking down her aristocratic nose and sniffing in derision.

Nothing could have been further from reality. Leila admitted Mary was a snob, but in a casual, laid back kind of way. Her posture, her lithe body movements. Mary was the bomb. Leila wanted to kill herself because she'd never be that cool.

In return, Mary loved Leila's funky taste in clothing immediately upon seeing her bohemian dress with chunky boots . So she set off confidently with the slightly younger woman to visit both the Via Bellagio and the Grand Canal shops.

"I only wish I could afford these shops." Leila said as she pushed the door open to Barney's New York.

"I should not be splurging right now myself." Mary admitted. "Having set myself a budget, I'm about to break it."

Leila tried to hide a snort, but Mary caught the look. "I know how it looks, but I've just stared my own business and I'm trying very hard to make it work."

"I'd love to do that." Leila said. "My own consignment shop maybe or something like. Not just personal shopper and slave to whatever Michael Morton wants."

"Is he a bad boss?" Mary inquired. Matthew didn't really care for the man but she never got the idea he was cruel.

Leila shrugged indifferently. "He doesn't grope his employees or anything. But I don't like taking orders."

"That's not a great endorsement." Mary observed. "I don't blame you for wanting to get out on your own."

"It's good for now though." Leila guided her over to some racks of dresses. "This one would look fantastic on your figure."

Mary fell in love with the black Oscar de la Renta sleeveless lace Godet dress. It had a scooped neckline and a silk lining. It felt divine against her skin.

"It usually takes much longer to find anything I like…" Mary paused, feeling her next words would have made her sound insufferably privileged.

"Off the rack you mean?" Leila smirked.

"I shop at H & M too," Mary blurted out before realizing that too sounded smug. She shook her head and sighed. "I like shopping most anywhere." It sounded fatuous and lame, but it was true. "My sister Edith says I would rather shop than do almost anything else."

Leila added dryly, "It's better than sex."

Mary archly agreed. "Oh much better…" Of course, now that there was Matthew. She'd have to add sex with Matthew to that list of favorite activities.

That made Mary giggle.

Leila smiled. "I…I don't mean to be presumptuous but I've seen your boyfriend. He was with Michael this morning. He's handsome as fuck."

Mary blushed furiously, knowing the full truth of that statement. Matthew at times literally took her breath away. He was so well defined, his abdominal ridges and plains begging to be explored by her hands and fingers. She wanted to go all night. Feel the rise and fall of his chest. Touch and explore.

And look where that got her…she admitted ruefully to herself. She would not be able to wear this size two dress much longer.

Yet another reason to splurge. She'd be round as a basketball within a month or two.

"I'm going to get it." Mary decided. "I need a pair of shoes…"

"Over here." And Leila again looked on in envy as Mary closed her mind to all sensible thoughts and bought the Christian Louboutin Dorissima Pumps.

Matthew would love them. She knew how he had torn his gaze from her legs when they first met. Now he could look. And she'd love it.

When all their purchases were complete, the women ate lunch on Mary's tab and they returned to the hotel.

Mary showered and dressed, fixed her hair loose around her shoulders, allowing a few wisps to fall across her forehead. A splash of the Jo Malone orange blossom she had in her bag and she was ready. One last pucker to affix the lipstick and she was done.

Matthew had texted he was still busy with clients and, though he had tried to get away, he'd be at least another half hour before he could join her at the party.

She went down to scout around this gathering of rich Americans at play. Mary had an American boyfriend at Oxford. He turned out to be far more interested in the connections to the aristocratic circles Mary introduced him to than her personality or her life goals.

She dumped him.

This lot looked much the same. Blokes more interested in what they can get than into, rather than what they could offer. It had turned her off so many times in the past.

Was that why she settled for Henry? To not be out there anymore? He was safe.

Was she therefore making a big mistake in going from that break up immediately into another relationship?

Was Matthew a safe choice? Was she afraid to be alone? Should they pull back and take things slower?

Mary unconsciously slid her fingers along her still slim stomach, Bit too late for that she thought.

They had plunged into a love affair and the consequences were soon to be glaring to all.

Mary had trouble processing it all. She needed to talk to Matthew. She needed to see him.

Where was he?

"Hello darlin'…" The Texas twang was obvious. "You look rather lost. Let me escort you over to the bar and I'll buy you a cosmopolitan." He seemed to add syllables to the word as he drawled.

"I'm not lost." Mary corrected him. She gently but firmly removed her arm from the obnoxious man's grasp. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm fine as I am."

"A pretty thing like you…." His eyes ogled her long legs in an uncomfortable manner. "You're not from around here are you? You sound like Princess Diana herself." Another leer. "And your assets…" he licked his lips, "…are spectacular."

Mary realized this was almost too easy….

"But you…" she slowly shifted her eyes up and down the Texan's rather pudgy middle section. Lingering deliberately on his groin, she clucked icily in utter disappointment "…have a great many shortcomings."

Drop the mic and walk away girl, she told herself as she made her way down the stairs towards the open bar.

"I'll have a sparkling water with a lime twist." And sat down on the barstool. She felt rather good after that encounter. She was tired of suffering fools. She wouldn't do it anymore.

It was then that Matthew spotted her.

She turned.

She saw him.

He saw her. She drew his eyes hungrily. He swallowed thickly. That dress was drop dead gorgeous. Her foot skirted along her calf, showing off the spiky heels she had bought earlier in the day. She crossed her leg and beckoned him over.

How different, Mary thought. How different when the man you love looks upon you with quiet adoration. He gazed with respect. With love.

His eyes never left her as he walked the few steps that separated them.

"Mary…" He kissed her lightly on the lips. "I've missed you so much."

Matthew's tux was cut just right. Her arms slipped around his waist. She rested her head on his shoulder. "It's such a relief to finally see you."

"I'm so sorry I had those meetings. But I'm all yours…" He kissed her, pulling her lower lip towards him. "At least until tomorrow morning."

And they laughed.

"It's enough." They cuddled together.

The bartender broke them up. "What can I get you?" He handed the water to Mary and turned to Matthew.

Matthew asked for his usual Laphroaig neat with a water back.

When Mary quirked an eyebrow, he excused his minor excess, "I have had an exhausting day." His mouth puckered mischievously. "I'll only have two…or three." He kissed her again. "…or ten. God here comes Michael. And he's got Lauren in tow…"

"Lauren?" Mary looked over to see a leggy blonde on the arm of Matthew's host.

"His latest…" Matthew informed Mary under his breath as he threw his eyes up in resignation. "Michael, Lauren. How lovely." And Mary would never have known from his smooth English tone that he ever wanted to be anywhere else on earth.

Watching Matthew in a professional capacity, even at a social gathering, was eye opening to Mary. He was so diplomatic. So civil tongued, even to those he clearly detested.

Very much like her own masks she donned at social gatherings back home. They had been like that upon their first meeting. She was the ice queen. He the intruder. Then they got to know one another. Be open with each other. That other life was false. What they had was real.

She mused on this while Matthew made the introductions.

"Lady Mary Crawley,"

And she put out her hand.

"Michael Morton and Lauren McKee."

"So nice to finally meet you." She tried to hear his response over the increased din as some kind of announcement was being made over a loud speaker.

"Sorry to have kept Matthew from your side." Morton said smoothly, taking Mary's hand and shaking it. "He's in demand and here such a short time that every minute counts." He turned to Matthew. "I did tell you we're taking the Mazin brothers out on the golf course on Sunday, right?"

Matthew closed his eyes again in forbearance, his mouth taut. It was only a second, but Mary saw it. He then took another glug of his whisky and responded, "I recall you saying something of the kind. I don't really play golf."

"You're English. You invented the game…" And Morton laughed raucously. "Anyway it's better that you don't. That way you won't have to let them win."

"That's the Scots…actually." Matthew muttered to Mary's ear in mock disgust.

But he let it go and the conversation flowed on to various other business related subjects.

They mingled. They played the game they were enjoying themselves.

After about an hour it was enough.

Eventually Mary yawned and made a slight gesture of her head towards the exit, and Matthew imperceptibly nodded his head.

"I think the flight is catching up with Mary." He said to Morton. "We should be turning in."

"The night's a virgin…" Morton laughed again in that grating manner that Mary akinned to a dentist's drill.

"But I've got an early start. Remember I still have another day's seminar this week." Matthew glanced around the room and noted several members of his session already three sheets to the wind. He wondered how many would stagger down in the morning.

"I'll see you Sunday." And at that he held out his hand to take Mary's.

They made a quick dash to the elevators.

XX

Once in his suite they could finally relax.

But Matthew also knew this was the most important time of the day. The reason for Mary's visit having been put on hold while she accompanied him to the party downstairs.

They busyed themselves changing clothes.

Matthew offered to help unzip her de la Renta. He laid kisses all along her naked back as he slipped it off.

"Expensive?" He asked.

"Only half the national debt." Mary quipped back. "Or my entire pin money for the next five years..."

"Worth every penny." His kisses now made it to her revealed shoulder. "You're so beautiful."

Mary kissed him deeply. But he sensed a hesitation.

"Are we to talk now?" He moved away to allow her to put on her night shirt yoga leggings. He started to undo his tie.

Another time and Mary would have helped remove it and they'd have ended up in a mad love making session.

Instead she watched as he methodically removed each garment and carefully packed the jacket and trousers back in its travel case.

She laughed at his neatness.

"What?" He asked, "i don't like to be untidy.Are you a secret mess maker? If so we might not be able to cohabitate after all." He tried to sound light hearted.

"Who says we are?" Mary replied in a more reserved tone. "With our different work locales I don't know what we should do." She looked wan and worn out suddenly.

Matthew finished dressing in a t shirt and boxer briefs. He gathered Mary in his arms. "I'll do whatever you want."

"I'm pregnant." She said it.

Matthew's arms grew tighter, the embrace he never wanted to end. "I see."

"You don't seem as surprised as I had imagined." She let go as she needed to see Matthew's eyes.

They were steady. But if she looked close she saw a twitch of concern.

"I had a day or two to think about what you said. You said it was good news." He moved to sit down on the bed.

"Is this good news?" Mary took the seat opposite on a cushioned chair. "You seem little tentative. I know it's not what we want right now..."

"That's not it at all..." Matthew didn't really know how to say what he wanted to ask.

"You want to make sure it's not Henry's." Mary said it for him.

He nodded, a little shamefaced.

"It's right to want to know that Matthew. Of course you should ask." Mary reached out to clasp his hands. "But I'm sure the baby is your child. Our child."

His indrawn breath released, Matthew gripped his cheeks with the fingers of his other hand. The one clasped in Mary's was shaking. "Oh God Mary. I'm so sorry for even thinking otherwise."

"I had been to see my doctor for an annual check up just before we met at Downton for our week end getaway. I wasn't pregnant. We talked about changing my contraceptive patch to a shot because of my increased exercise regime. I went back a couple days ago to confirm the home test I took from the druggist and she did. I'm about two months along. Henry and I stopped at least weeks before. I probably should have realized earlier but I just thought my body was adjusting to the changes. Dr. Walsh didn't know why the shot failed, but these things happen. When we were at Downton I thought we'd be fine. I don't want you to think I manipulated anything..." Mary bit her lip.

"Never!" Matthew dropped down beside her chair. "This is wonderful news. I know the timing isn't very good. You have your riding and the business... I should have taken more precautions..."

"I've given that some thought" Mary interrupted.

"Oh..." Matthew let her continue. He blinked in concern.

"First I told you not to get those condoms you had ... " She pulled back some stray locks from his forehead. "I knew what we were doing. I'm not blaming you at all. And if we waited to have children I'm afraid we might have had to wait a mighty long time. If I had started training full out for Tokyo, it would have been four years at a minimum. This is happening now, and I'm just beginning. I can take the time off, concentrate on the business. I think it will work."

"But..." He could hear her hesitancy.

"Well...it's just so soon. We..."

"We hardly know each other." He finished. "True enough."

"I don't even know if you want..ed kids." Mary ended the sentence awkwardly.

"With Lavinia you mean." Matthew nodded, knowing what she didn't want to say. "We tried early in our marriage. But it didn't happen and after I started my business..." He trailed off. Then started again, "it wasn't the same. I became obsessed with its success. I think she knew I didn't want any distractions. My work became too important. My need to prove myself. It ruined us."

The bluntness of that response made Mary jump. Matthew looked up.

"I won't let that happen again. Which of course is easier to say now that I've made a success." The bitter irony of that would haunt Matthew.

His hand slipped to her stomach. "I'm very happy Mary. You must believe me." He rubbed gently. "I know we've only just begun in this relationship, but this child will be loved. Loved and most probably spoiled rotten."

They laughed.

"Have you had much sickness?"

"Not too bad really. I am half dead with exhaustion." She yawned again.

"Of course you are. How stupid of me..." and he helped lift her out of the chair and to the bed. So many thoughts crowded his brain.

"Have you told anyone else?" He turned towards the other side of the king sized bed.

"No." Mary melted into the pillow with a contented sigh. "Plenty of time for that. Papa and I did have a bit of a row before I left for the airport."

Matthew's head swiveled around. "What about?" He then resisted divulging any client secrets. Robert could potentially sue him for defamation or something given their icy relationship. He really wanted her father to tell his daughter on his own. He had tried to emphasize that in their last meeting.

"Nothing. That's just it. He won't tell me what's going on. Just some nonsense about needing quick cash. He wants to sell some Downton land." And then she looked at Matthew's face carefully. "You knew that? Didn't you. Your face gives you away every time."

Matthew had to chuckle. "So I've been told before. Good thing I never took a case to the central criminal court. I did know about Robert's land idea. You did convince him to delay any decision I hope?"

"Yes. For the time being. I told him it was vital to my business. What would have happened though, if he went ahead?" Mary leaned up on the pillow.

"I'd have had to get my bank to get in touch with Robert's estate agent."

"To do what precisely?" But she knew the answer.

"Buy it from him." Matthew replied cheekily. "I don't want my investment in Downton Stables jeopardised after all..."

"Oh of course not.." Mary playfully slapped his arm. You might lose out on a good thing."

"A very very good thing." And Matthew slid down to kiss her.

"They'll all have to know soon enough." Mary returned to subject at hand. "Your mother as well."

Matthew closed his eyes. "She already thinks I've been rash in rushing ahead with us. That I've hurt Lavinia for my own selfish need not to take things more slowly."

"This will merely confirm it." He placed his hand across her waist.

"What should we do then? To make it all right with everyone?" Mary didn't know the answer to that herself much less expect Matthew to resolve it.

"We should be very mature about it. Co parent our child until we get to know each other better." He honestly hated the very sound of that. "Not rush into anything..."

"Anything like..." Mary looked at Matthew.

He swallowed. "Like marriage..." He hardly believed he uttered the word. His own divorce signature was barely dry on the decree absolute.

"Is that a proposal Mr. Crawley?" Mary felt his hand tighten against her skin. She had no idea until that moment she wanted him to ask.

He blinked rapidly and plunged ahead "We are in Vegas..."He moved off the bed to kneel before her.

XX

So ...what is that all about eh? Are they crazy? Should they?

and yes to some that chapter title will sound familiar and probably give a bit of the plot away...lol :)