Hi! Back to this story after a hiatus so I could finish that epilogue chapter [Christmas Time] of A Stitch in Downton Time for the Secret Santa on Tumblr. I hope you liked it (please read it if you haven't :) already) …
So to remind everyone where we were:
He gave a deep chuckle at that beautiful memory. "How are you my darling? I hope to get up to see you tomorrow night."
"I'm getting back into the swing of things." Mary said. "Sybil and Edith will be here tomorrow as well. It'll be my turn now to tell."
"We'll do it together." He heard her stifle another yawn. "But go back to sleep. I'll text you when I'm leaving."
He paused, "I love you."
A slow smile crept over Mary's face in reply, "I love you too. I've missed you these past days."
"I'll be there before you know." And he clicked off.
XX
Matthew sat down at the bar and, with only a brief pause, ordered his usual.
When the whisky arrived, he downed a sip and let the liquid coat his tongue. Ordered a pub special for this very late lunch and glanced around at the entrance to see if Tom had arrived. Going on 4:30 Matthew had just gotten out of a long session with Edward Crabtree about the property at Woolgate Commons.
They had exhausted every detail. The team led by Mika had done him proud and everything was in order.
He felt a reward was only proper.
He let another sip of the single malt slide down his throat.
This for him.
Another reward for Mika.
He wouldn't usually order a drink, but he wasn't exactly on the official clock. He got back from Las Vegas yesterday. The dinner with his mother behind him. She would meet Mary the following week at a dinner arranged at a restaurant in London. Isobel was to spend a fortnight in the capitol and so Matthew made reservations at Café Bruno for three.
Not the rooftop. As that was too cold this time of year.
And it was Mary and Matthew's special place. Where they had met. Where he had fallen in love.
Inside the restaurant boasted an ambiance both upscale and cosy. So Matthew made arrangements with Alain for their best corner table.
Now he was heading back after the late meal with Tom to the office before taking to the road and end up in York.
To tell Mary's family. That they had married. Were to become parents in a few short months.
Perhaps he should let Mary take the lead. His most recent idea was to barge in and just tell them all to bloody well get used to him being around.
That made him laugh internally. No… he'd be on his best behaviour.
He was just itching to be with Mary again. She'd calm his nerves on that front.
Tom arrived.
"Hello." Tom clapped Matthew on the back and sat down on the adjacent stool. "Had your fill of America did you?" He pulled off his rain coat, leaving several large drops of water on the floor.
"Absolutely." Matthew glanced out at the bucketing rain. "All that sun…" He pulled a mock disgusted face, "Awful."
Tom sat down. Ordered the same sandwich. Watched Matthew take the first bite, the ring apparent on his left hand.
"So you did the thing?"
"We did the thing." Matthew corrected, his lips upticked in a sweet smile. "Mary and I have been officially married for a week and a half."
Tom shook his head in bemusement.
"What?"
"It's not your pattern at all. I would never have thought you do anything so impulsive. Every decision I've ever seen you make was reasoned and usually mulled over for weeks." Tom moved his forefinger back and forth, "even where your office was to be located. Was the second floor better than the third? Corner? Or the large one in the center."
"I'm still that way." Matthew said evenly. "People don't change. I just reasoned it out more quickly this time." But he gave himself a hard pause. He also remembered feeling this same way about his first marriage. That he had made the right decision. They had dated a brief time as well.
So Tom was wrong in one respect. That was his pattern. At least in love.
He took a slower sip of his drink. No. This love for Mary was different. This was honest. The warm liquid coating his throat, Matthew licked his lips and finished it off.
He had never felt this good ever before in his life. Alive. Aching to see Mary again.
"But speaking of not making fast decisions…." Matthew segued into the next conversation cautiously. "There are one or two points we need to discuss."
Tom took a bite and waited.
"How is Mika working out?" Matthew started, trying to get a feel for Tom's true feelings about their protégé.
"Fine." Tom nodded. "Just as we thought. She took the lead with Crabtree and has ole Connie eating out of her hands."
Matthew guffawed. Conrad "Connie" Parker was an ornery cuss who hated practically every agent they had ever tried to work with him. He came from money but was himself a self-employed artist.
Tom finished, "they looked at properties all over the South Bank and settled on studios near Waterloo Bridge."
Matthew was pleased. "So you think she's ready for more?" He probed.
"Such as?"
Matthew swallowed and then made his suggestion. "A partnership?"
Tom was surprised. "Are we looking to bring in a third?"
Matthew's eyes narrowed, beetled a bit. "No. Not necessarily."
"But…"
"Just a thing I was considering." Matthew pursed his lips.
Tom tried to tease out Matthew's true purpose. "She's a real find. We don't want to lose her. A larger firm could offer her more incentives, bonuses. That kind of thing."
"I was thinking of turning over Crabtree entirely to her. Since they're getting on. See how things go from there. Maybe in a few months we'll approach her with the partnership idea."
Tom stopped in mid bite. Crabtree had been Matthew's big coup. Now he was turning him over? "What's going on then mate? Cut to the chase."
Matthew spilled it finally. "It's just an idea I have. Given my new circumstances I think I'll be spending more time in York. So I thought Mika could be brought in as a third."
"You're not quitting?" Tom's Irish brogue got a bit thick.
"No, no." Matthew said. "Just changing focus. Neither of you like the consulting work so I thought I could take on all those clients while you focus on our properties. I can do investment and consulting work anywhere."
Matthew let the idea sink in with Tom. "I don't want you to think I'm slagging all this on you mind. I'll still pull my own."
Tom had to laugh at that. "You've been a damned workaholic Matthew. For the past two years or so. If the one thing this new marriage has done for you is to give you some perspective on what matters, then it's all good to me."
Matthew was about to protest, but instead he fell silent.
"So you'll live where?" Tom asked.
"I don't know yet. Mary's business is in Yorkshire, on her father's estate. So she has to be up there full time."
"But you could live there and here in London. I know lots of couples of make that kind of thing work."
Matthew shook his head. "It's not as easy as it looks."
"At least until there's a family I suppose. Then compromises are made. But that's not…"
Tom suddenly looked at Matthew. Saw his eyes narrow and catch the edge of a glance.
"Mary's not pregnant? Is she? I was just joking about anything untoward."
"Two months along." Matthew confessed.
"You sure it's yours?" Tom said before thinking. "Shit…" Open mouth insert foot!
"What are you saying?" Matthew leapt to Mary's defense.
"Nothing. Nothing." Tom put up his hands in a defensive gesture. "I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I was just making sure. She was with another not that long ago."
Matthew scratched his cheek sheepishly. "So was I. Remember? Mary assured me that she had not been intimate with Henry since that rather awful dinner I had at Downton where her father and I rowed. She realized after I'd driven off that she'd break things off with Henry. And we've been together since our first week end at Downton which is when this presumably happened."
They had made love several times that week end. Both before and after the bourbon fueled night when she took him to the barn to meet Diamond.
When he knew he'd never be the same again. And it was wonderful.
"So that's why the move to York?" Tom inquired.
"I want to be close to her." Matthew replied firmly. The resolution he made in Las Vegas clarified his life. His priorities. He would do anything for his family.
"I'm happy for you Matthew. I'm happy for you both. We all need to get together for a meal."
"You and Sybil you mean?" Matthew cocked an eyebrow. "Are we to be brothers in law as well as business partners?"
"Whoah Whoah…" Tom laughed. "Sybil and I are just dating. She's far too much involved in her studies to acknowledge my existence some days."
Matthew had surmised as much from his conversations with Mary. "You might not know then. We're telling the family tonight. I'm traveling up after we meet with Mika. That is, if you're on board?"
"About bringing her in as partner. Sure. She's a real asset."
Matthew clapped his hands together. "Excellent. I'm in the mood for some good news for après cela, le déluge."
"Is it going to be that bad?" Tom asked. "I mean their old man isn't the easiest bloke around, but you did do the right thing."
"Let's hope he sees it that way." Matthew let it go. Tom didn't know about Robert's secrets. He didn't want to let anything slip. "It's a lot for any parent to take in." He sighed heavily.
"Your mother?" Tom replied. "How'd that go? I don't envy you for sure on that."
Matthew gave a controlled smile. "She'll take some time to come around. I don't blame her for being angry. We're to have dinner next week. One step at a time."
They finished the meal and went back to the office to tell Mika the good news.
XX
Mary was running late. She texted Matthew who was already on his way up the M1 to Yorkshire. He had decided to drive to calm his nerves so she doubted he'd be early.
It was her evening routine to check on every horse. Not to follow up on Jerry's work. He was the best manager, the best groom in the business. Mary trusted him implicitly.
She just liked knowing every detail about every horse under her care. So Jerry would walk with her around the livery yard moving into each of the stables and every horse stall. The horses that were owned by others but boarded at Downton were the first to be seen. Their owners were given a daily status update on Facebook or whatever platform they used. Then Mr. Banks and Jellybean were rubbed down and fed.
Jerry would usually leave around that time, so that Mary could see to Diamond herself. She would give the old thoroughbred an apple or some other treat. She'd brush the horse's mane, as he was still a vain old fool who liked to look his best.
His deep exhaling breaths reverberated against her body. She felt comfort and security around her favorite. He'd groan deep as she brushed and plaited.
Mary echoed his quiet nickering sounds, adding "tch tch tch…" with her tongue.
Diamond would snort in utter contentment, and Mary would leave his stall for the night always feeling just a little bit better about life.
This evening, in addition to anticipating Matthew's visit she also had one of the co-owners of Two Women and a Computer in to discuss changes Downton Stables website. Lila suggested including pictures of Mary's recent victory at the Berkshire Horse Trials and Maggie's achievement at the York Gymkhana. She would have to get permission from each of the parents to include any other child's name in this new folder.
Mary gazed at her own picture holding the victory cup. A look not only of triumph on her face, but satisfaction. The achievement being not only in the win, but in the quality of her horsemanship and her pride in Jellybean.
It was everything she had wanted. To be her own boss. Return triumphant to a world that she had abandoned.
Was all that for naught now? She frowned suddenly.
"Is everything alright?" Lila asked. "I can change the picture if it's not to your liking."
"No. It's fine. You're doing a wonderful job." Mary reassured, her voice thin though. "It's just been a long day."
"You do look tired. A bit pale." Lila's face scanned Mary's. "You coming down with something perhaps?"
"I'm fine." Mary put off telling Lila anything. So many people to tell.
And it was true. She was feeling quite rundown. More than she even expected. She knew she'd have some bouts of morning sickness and she had tried to take it a bit easy. But she also knew plenty of pregnant women who worked well into their third trimesters with very little down time.
She thought she'd have plenty of time to inform all the necessary people about the changes that were inevitable.
Her career on hold.
Her teaching methods changed due to her advancing pregnancy. The doctor already warning her of limiting her time on a horse. To be careful at all times. To allow others to take more of the reins, so to speak.
But Mary had thought all of that would be later. Yet she was so tired.
The appointment with Dr. Walsh was set for the next day. Matthew would go with her. So maybe they'd get some answers then.
For now she called it a day. Lila left and Mary closed up the office. Jerry, already informed about Mary's condition, promised to take up the slack whenever she needed. She had been amazed at his calm. She thanked him for understanding. He replied that he had never seen her so happy and he wished her and the new Mr. Crawley every happiness in the world.
Mary had needed to hear that.
For without Matthew's presence, the doubts scratched at her mind. She had been working on the high of finding out she was with Matthew's child. That they were married. The blissful honeymoon at Lake Tahoe. She closed her mind to anything else.
A world of two. Matthew made her feel so safe, so loved. His calming voice. His loving eyes. His pencil scratching her nude form onto a piece of paper. Drawing their life together, the child unborn within.
Everything seemed possible.
But she had returned to the real world alone. Matthew had stayed in Las Vegas at her insistence to finish his commitment. They had video chatted and texted. But it wasn't the same.
Could it all collapse? Life had thrown so many changes in her direction recently. She thought she could ride them all and come out on top. It was useless to be angry at Matthew. They had created this child together.
Mary rubbed her shoulder as she made her way back to Downton. She shook off the funk. Matthew was coming for dinner. All the secrets would be out in the open finally.
Then they'd see what came after.
"There you are, dear." Cora's voice reaching Mary as she stepped inside the French doors. "Are you going to change?"
"Yes Mama. I'm going up now. I had a few things to clear up at the office." Mary moved quickly towards the staircase. "Matthew's been delayed in any event. I know Carson hates it when his dinner is served late, but it can't be helped."
Cora glanced at her daughter up and down. She was wearing a long coat, covering most of her body. Even inside, though, Mary did not remove the garment.
She ventured, "Are we going to be allowed into some secrets tonight?"
Mary twisted her head, knowing her mother was not fooled at all by her silence. "All will be revealed Mama. All in good time."
Cora responded, "I'm happy to hear it."
Both women were a bit startled by a long groan emanating from the library.
"Papa?" Mary asked, concerned.
Cora paled. "Yes. He's not been feeling well at all today. Complained of a stomachache but says it's nothing."
That did not bode well for his mood. Mary continued up the stairs.
"The curiosity surrounding your Matthew's visit had not improved his mood."
Mary arched a curious eyebrow. "My Matthew?"
"Oh please Mary…" Cora rejoined. "We're not all your father. Some of us do see what is before our eyes." Her mother moved closer to the staircase, her voice lowered. "I just want to know you both realize what you're doing. In the heat of a romance you sometimes forget that other people can get hurt."
Mary paused in her ascent up towards her room. She did not want her mother thinking any unkind thoughts of Matthew. And they were deceiving her. She had taken off her rings after returning home because she promised Matthew she'd wait to tell anyone until he was by her side.
"Matthew's a good man, Mama." She said softly, descending to take her mother's hand. "A good man."
Her mother only nodded curtly and turned away.
Mary, finding that odd, continued on her way to her bedroom. She chalked up her mother's concern to their decision to remain silent until both were present.
She'd keep to that decision, but wished Matthew greater speed in arriving at Downton.
Mary dressed for dinner. She decided on knee length dress with boots and a cardigan sweater against the chill. The house was old, and even with the new heating it was always a few degrees below comfort.
She had asked the housekeeper Mrs. Hughes to make room in the old dressing rooms adjacent to her bedroom for Matthew. He would remain the night and would need room henceforth for his clothes and toiletries.
The space had been made for him. It adjoined her own dressing closet.
Soon he'd move in and they would be together. Although the subject had barely come up, she assumed that at least part of the time Matthew would reside at Downton. Of course he needed to keep a London residence for his work. Mary hoped it would not be that rather cramped flat he used after his divorce. She would give up her townhouse to Sybil so maybe they'd find a new one together.
Seated at her night table, Mary applied some last minute lipstick and reaffixed a curl of hair behind her head. She put on the necklace Matthew had bought in Vegas for a wedding present.
And her engagement and wedding rings.
She heard some voices from downstairs, not heated exactly. But raised.
Matthew had arrived.
Mary peeked once again in the mirror, and made a move to go downstairs to rescue her husband.
God knows how he might get into it with her father.
They were like oil and water those two.
XX
Matthew's wheels scraped the gravel driveway.
The door opened and Carson walked out to escort him inside.
They had been expecting him, Matthew knew. And he was late again. Carson would disapprove. In spite of the rain he had tried to make good time, but the M1 was crowded with week night commuters.
He glanced in the rear-view mirror to make sure his tie was straight then exited the Porsche.
Matthew eagerly awaited the reunion with Mary. But he was filled with trepidation regarding the meeting with Robert. Not the joy of telling them about their marriage and forthcoming child. That, once the initial shock was over, he hoped would be easy. That they would acknowledge reality much as his mother did. And then the long process of acceptance would begin. They would show everyone just how much in love they really were.
No, the trepidation was the fear of slipping up. His real concern was letting Robert's secrets out in the heat of an argument. He would have tread carefully.
He closed the car door.
Matthew left his bag inside the car. He had made a hotel reservation in Ripon. He wanted to relax after the revelations to Mary's family. And he wanted to do it in utter privacy. The penthouse at the Old Deanery overlooking Ripon Cathedral seemed just the spot to unwind. He had not seen Mary in over a week and he wanted their reunion not to be surrounded by her family and their employees at Downton.
He hoped she'd understand.
Matthew walked inside, followed by Carson who closed the door behind them.
"Wait here sir. I'll introduce you."
Matthew rocked on his heels. Mary must not be ready as he was sure she would have been in the salon to greet him. Her text said she was running a bit late.
Cora came through the door of the library. "Matthew. How good to see you again. We're all in here."
We? Matthew gulped. Who else was to be witness to this? Sybil and Edith were away and already in the know. So …
"Have you met my mother in law the Dowager Countess of Grantham?"
Matthew moved slightly to see the older woman giving him an intense assessment head to toe. Her eyes bore into his own.
They stared a full few seconds before either spoke.
Matthew did not flinch nor look away. But instead met hers, steady and without guile. Matthew knew this woman was on their side. Mary had told him about the visit to her house; their conversation about love and marriage. The trust Violet asked Mary to extend to Matthew had been his life line.
To have Mary return to him in America.
To now have these rings upon their fingers.
To have the patience to prove to the dowager and to every member of Mary's family that the trust was not in vain. This was his family now.
He fully intended to win them all over.
To earn their friendship, if not their love. He'd be his own man. Not genuflect to Robert's position as outdated as it was. But he would offer advice and counsel if asked. Robert was in genuine crisis.
Something needed to be done, Matthew knew far too well.
And soon.
"Lady Grantham," Matthew spoke in that register that was both polite and charming. His cheeky smile met Violet's as he nodded his head and the raised it again. "It is so very nice to meet you." His hand still at his side.
He knew the proper protocol was to wait. This spoke of good manners.
Violet returned his greeting and held out her hand. "The same to you Mr. Crawley. My grand-daughter has spoken very highly of you. I hope she was not exaggerating."
Matthew accepted her outstretched hand. He gave a firm shake, careful of the older woman's bony fingers and paper thin skin. But her strong grip belied her age.
She knew what was what.
Matthew's cheeks blushed slightly. "I will strive to live up to Mary's good opinion."
Robert's snort of derision was unmistakable, but Matthew chose to ignore it.
He was trying to be on his best behaviour after all.
"So what is this dinner in aid of?" Robert turned to his wife. "Why does Mary feel the need to have us all together? I have a great deal of work to finish and yet she recalled me back from London as if it was a command. I came as requested but I can't say I relish the company."
He didn't even try to mask his disdain towards Matthew.
The man who knew far too much about his secrets.
"Robert I hope we can start over. Learn to get to know one another…" Matthew's attempt at courtesy was cut off.
"Why would I want to do that?" Robert snapped. "What are you to me?"
"Your son-in-law Papa." Mary entered the room. "Matthew's my husband and I do so want us all to get along." She elegantly draped her arm within Matthew's. They stood side by side.
Robert's jaw fell.
Cora, who suspected all along something like this was afoot, moved towards the white-faced Earl of Grantham. Violet remained seated, having been in on the secret all along.
Matthew snuck a proud look at his wife. So strong. So poised.
She certainly knew how to make an entrance.
Robert recovered quickly. "What are you talking about? Married? You can't be."
She had an answer for that. "You introduced us Papa. Making me attend that business dinner on your behalf."
Her father retorted, "Where if I recall you accused me of selling your body for my personal whims!"
"I stand by my repugnance." She bit back. But turned to reassure Matthew who had turned a bit pale, "even if in this specific case, the man turned out to be more of a gentleman than her own father."
Robert turned red with anger. "I …" He spluttered helplessly to defend that. But he knew deep down his daughter was right. He had forced her to do something out of desperation, something he was now mortally ashamed of.
Mary tried to relent. "I know you did what you think you needed to do Papa. But you went about it in the wrong fashion. Even so, Matthew and I realized we had a great deal in common. He offered to partner me in Downton Stables and after that …" She foundered on her explanation.
Matthew stepped in to help her, "Mary and I began a relationship."
That was all the cue Robert needed to turn his fury towards a more favoured target.
"You are already married." Robert hissed. "I met your wife at Mary's London house. What did you do? Get rid of her when you saw an opportunity for the main chance? Is that your game? Improve your Crawley name by associating with the real deal?"
Matthew's jaw clenched. The tiny muscles around his face grew taut and flexed. He answered in the coldest tone Mary had ever heard. "You know nothing about me or my family."
Robert grumbled, but did not apologize.
Matthew was furious. He spat out, "Furthermore I don't need anything from you. Don't you realize Robert I can buy Downton right out from under your nose for a song if I chose. There's not one thing you could do about it. You know as well as I the shaky foundation upon which your assets stand."
Robert's nostrils flared. "New brooms sweep clean, eh? All you know is to take. I've done my duty to my family. You know nothing about such things."
Cora said severely, "We know he speaks the truth Robert. I think we all need to calm down."
"Yes Papa." Mary also tried to mediate. She pulled Matthew away. He went to stand next to her willingly. "This is getting us nowhere."
"He's come in here and upended everything." Robert said to his daughter. "The last time I saw you in London you were engaged to marry another man."
"Lived. Papa. I lived with Henry in London. We broke up." Mary's words emotionless. Facts were facts.
"Because of him?" Robert threw an accusing finger in Matthew's direction.
He stared at Matthew. "Are you doing this deliberately? Turning my family against me for some kind of sick revenge for firing you? You certainly wormed your way in for sure. But what's your game, eh? You want to take over Grantham Inc as well? Well you can't have it." His voice hoarse from the exertion.
Matthew's turned to ice. He was sick of Robert's insinuations. "You have no right to accuse me of any of that. If anyone has ruined your family and your company, you have only to look to yourself for blame."
The two men squared off as if in an arena.
Mary knew they had got beyond any hope either man would relent. She had to be the referee.
"Papa," She stepped towards her father. "I love him. I know this is a lot to take in. It appears we kept all of you in the dark about certain events. You must believe it was not our deliberate intent to do so."
She threw Matthew a look. Your turn, it spoke.
Matthew, taking his lead from Mary calmed down and said in a cool, but even tone, "I was separated from my wife soon after my first dinner here at Downton. We've since divorced and Mary and I decided to marry while I was conducting a series of conference lectures in America."
Robert had stepped away towards the window. His back to them all.
"But why so soon?" Cora interjected to change the direction of this conversation. "I can understand people moving into a new relationship. But why marry so soon after a divorce?" Cora took in both her daughter and Matthew. Finishing with, "Is it just because of the baby?"
The room fell silent. Robert turned on his heels back towards his daughter and Matthew, mouth gawped open, eyes wild with bewilderment. Violet looked on admiringly at her daughter in law's aplomb.
Matthew looked wide eyed at Mary. Had she told her mother?
Mary shook her head at his unasked question. No she had not. But Cora was wise to the ways of the world. Nothing got past her.
"We knew if we waited until we returned to England, that the reasons for us not marrying would outweigh any push we felt towards matrimony." Matthew admitted. "That people would oppose the idea because we haven't known each other than long. That it's too soon after my divorce. That it would look like we were trying to hide an affair behind the convention of marriage."
Matthew hadn't meant for that to sound accusatorial, but it came out that way.
And saw the older man blanch as the target hit close to home.
Matthew had done what Robert had not. Divorced his wife to spare her as much pain as possible. To marry the woman with whom he had conceived a child.
Matthew turned quickly back to Cora. Held Mary's hand tight inside his own. He could not help but notice, however, that his wife was white as a sheet. He felt horrible. "The baby has sped up our timetable yes. But we wanted to start our life together as soon as possible." He looked to Robert to mend some fences. "I know I have asked a lot of you in a very short time."
Mary added, "All we ask is that you are happy for us. Believe in us."
"How easy that would be." Robert declaimed harshly, "if not for his threats."
Matthew knew his mere presence upset his father in law. He just wasn't sure what to do about it. He refrained from taking any more of his bait though. Lashing back only made things worse.
And he had promised Mary and himself to try to work with Robert to create harmony within the family.
So far he had failed.
Matthew said in a tone of reconciliation, "I am no threat Robert. To you. To anyone. I want us to try again. I can help…"
Robert harrumphed harshly and walked back towards the window. He had grown increasingly pale. "You're new to our way of life here. I'm unused to be spoken to like that in my own house."
Violet spoke to her son, "Stop being such a bully Robert. That will get us nowhere."
"So now you are against me too?"
"No one is against you." Cora said. "Matthew may have been a little disrespectful, but you have been just the same."
"You knew about all this? The marriage? The baby?" Robert inclined his head towards his wife and mother.
"Not directly. No." Cora admitted. "There were signs in that direction. I made some calculated guesses. Nothing was kept deliberately from you."
"I advised Mary to follow her heart." Violet announced to the astonishment of her son. "I know you think I rarely use mine except to pump blood through my increasingly frail veins, but I know it serves other functions. If you could only open your eyes to see what is plain in front of you. These two are in love. It shines around them. We should not discourage it, but embrace it."
Mary rushed over to Violet and gave her granny a hug. "Thank you."
Before any other words could be spoken Carson announced dinner.
They all moved towards the dining room. Matthew moved to escort the Dowager Countess. He extended his arm gracefully.
Violet, knowing this young man was intelligent enough to calculate having her on his side was to his advantage, accepted. But it also forced him to lean down so she could whisper in his ear, "A good opinion once lost, is difficult to reattain. Make sure you don't lose mine."
Matthew's piercing blue eyes met the more muted one's of Violet. "I understand. I apologize if I came across as rude. It was not my intention. I will make it my duty henceforth to earn everyone's good opinion in this family. My love for Mary is genuine. It's the most real thing in the world to me right now. Thank you for allowing me a second chance with her. I will most probably need another one with Robert."
Violet patted his hand before accepted his arm. "I will say no more. But please let us have a pleasant meal for my stomach for discord has limits."
Matthew chuckled softly and smiled. "Are we to be friends then?"
The Dowager arched an eyebrow and responded dryly, "We are allies for now. Which, given your circumstances, can be a good deal more effective."
The two made their way into the dining room. Matthew guided her into the seat next to Robert at the center of the table. Mary motioned him across to sit next to her mother.
He took the seat a bit sheepishly. "I'm sorry Mary. It just got a bit out of hand."
Robert it seemed felt the same way. He looked over at Matthew. "Look. Can't we stop this rowing…."
But he was cut short by a loud grumbling sound emanating from his stomach. Everyone heard and turned in his direction. Robert's face turned a horrible shade of red.
"I'm so sorry…" He got up to excuse himself, but it was too late.
He doubled over, and then reared back shooting blood out into the air.
The blood spurted from his mouth and shot across the table, directly hitting the white table cloth and spattering a large amount onto Cora who was shocked to see her husband in such distress she hardly realized she was covered in blood.
Carson ran over to catch Lord Grantham as he fell to the floor.
"Oh my God…" Violet's chair moved back as she tried to reach out to her son.
"Papa…" Mary was heard to scream.
Matthew pulled out his mobile and clicked 999 for an ambulance. He moved out of the room as the noise level was too much for him to hear the operator.
He gave the address as Downton Abbey, explained what had happened, and nodded when the operator responded that help had been despatched.
"What is it?" Violet knelt down as Carson laid the Earl on his side to help him breathe. "Is he alive?"
"Yes." Cora said. "I'm here darling. Don't worry." She said soothing her husband.
Robert could not speak. He was writhing in pain.
"The ambulance will be here shortly." Matthew informed the family.
Within a few minutes they could hear the wail of the sirens approach the house. Carson went out to let them inside.
The gurney appeared in the dining room, two Emergency Medical Technicians on either side.
After assessing Robert could be transported to hospital, they lifted him onto the stretcher and wheeled him outside.
Cora said she'd go with him. But that Violet should stay at Downton with Mary and Matthew.
Matthew offered to go. "You …you might need some help."
"Thank you…" But Cora's face turned as white as a ghost as she looked past Matthew to see Mary about to collapse.
"Mary…" She cried out.
Matthew whipped his head around and bolted over to his wife, barely catching her before she collapsed on the floor.
She groaned and gripped her stomach.
Matthew could hardly speak. "Mary….Mary…" his entreaties unheard by his unconscious spouse.
"Get that ambulance back…." He roared beseechingly at Cora. She turned to call them once again into the dining room.
"Oh God…." His voice pleading his wife to hear him. "Mary come back to me…"
XX
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