What I need after today is some loving time with the Crawley family... I hope you do too!
XX
Mary wrapped her arms around Jeremy, soothing him with sweet, quiet words. "Sshhhh…. What is the matter my little sweet pea?"
She rocked slowly in the chair, suppressing a yawn.
Jeremy and his mum had been up most of the night. And as it was their birthday tomorrow, Mary had wanted both her boys to be well rested for all the guests and partygoers her mother had invited to Downton. In addition to family, Emily and her siblings would be there as well as a few of the children from the local playgroup they had found while at the park with the twins. Cora had finalized the guest list with Mary the previous week, before she had traveled with Maggie down to the Stamford Show.
Isobel was expected by the morning train. Matthew was to meet her and drive her to Downton.
Mary kissed Jeremy's head. She really wanted to get some sleep, having been up since 6am that morning and never off her feet. And now she was up and down with her youngest.
George was upstairs, dead to the world. He was always the better sleeper Matthew stated. One story and one kiss good night and their eldest by 12 minutes was out. Jeremy, on the other hand, tossed and turned and never settled immediately. But usually after some blurbing with his lips he slept through the night.
This night however, he didn't want to leave Mary's arms. Every time she put him back in the cot first upstairs, and then in order not to disturb George, in the downstairs nursery he opened his eyes and began to fuss again.
"Can't say as I blame him." Matthew whispered in Mary's ear. "He misses you…" And kissed her on the lips. "Like we all did." One more lingering kiss. Their fingers entwined.
Mary never wanted him to let go but told him she'd deal with Jeremy. He had done so much for her over the past weeks, she'd take it tonight.
"I'll be up when he's down." Mary let go of Matthew's hand. A soft smile crept over Matthew's lips. He blew a soft kiss and tapped the door frame as he left.
Oh she had missed all her men. Mary had made it back earlier than expected in the evening after leaving settling the horses back down at Downton Stables to Jerry. Her student, Maggie Mason had finished with a first-place blue ribbon in dressage. Surprisingly Maggie and Mr. Banks had shown a real affinity for the precision of dressage and Mary decided to emphasize at Stamford which turned out well for her student. So after a celebratory dinner with Maggie, Will and Daisy Mason she took the train back to Downton Village and drove home surprising Matthew who was putting George down while holding Jeremy.
She had found out that Emily had to go home early and Matthew was alone most of the day. While he put George down she took Jeremy and ordered take away from the Indian restaurant in town as Matthew had not eaten.
Over the curry and tandoori chicken Matthew told Mary she had missed Sybil by an hour. Her sister had stopped by on her way to Downton with a "big secret" she was "simply dying to spill." Matthew's rounded lips and animated arm gestures imitation of her sister made Mary laugh.
"Did she tell you the secret?" Mary's curiosity was piqued more than she wanted to let on. Some gossip from her sister was just the tonic she needed after the long day. And being away from family for what seemed like weeks.
"No…" He admitted. "She bursts in saying she could have texted you but it needed to be said in person and she wanted to give George and Jeremy a kiss. She said she could only stay a few minutes as your mama and papa were expecting her at Downton but twin love won out and she stayed about an hour."
They both smiled at their boys' indulgent auntie.
Matthew then knitted his brow in a serious turn. "Actually …" And as he was about to tell her about George walking they both heard Jeremy's wail on the baby monitor.
Mary laid a hand on her husband's back and rubbed gently. "I'll get him. You finish your dinner. I'll take a shower and change and be back down."
Matthew didn't want to break the mood. Mary's happiness upon her return home took precedent and he let it go. He could always tell her about George later.
So he reached up and pulled her down for another kiss and let her go upstairs.
But Jeremy was still fussing hours later. When he finally went down for the night in the downstairs nursery Mary took the baby monitor upstairs and quietly opened the bedroom she shared with Matthew.
His face was profiled in the moonlight. Shirtless, one arm draped over the duvet, Matthew stirred at the sound of the door opening. He rubbed one sleepy eye.
Mary gazed at her gorgeous husband and pondered how she ever left him for even a minute of the day.
Matthew sat up, leaning on his elbow and opened the duvet for Mary to get in with his other. "Is he down?"
Mary sat the monitor on the nightstand and tuck in between the sheets next to Matthew. "Yes. Hopefully we can all sleep in a bit tomorrow. I'd hate for either to be fussy at their party."
Matthew's mouth muffled agreement as his body snuggled close to Mary and drew in her scent, an intoxicating mix of orange and jasmine.
She spooned close to Matthew. His arms enveloped her waist, his hands roamed down to caress her hips and rounded rear. She knew he wore only his underpants as his hard arousal burned heat against her body. She murmured a series of short breathed gasps as his touch drew closer and closer to her wet center. He caressed her name over and over in soft tones of love.
"Mary…Mary, I've missed you so much." The soft pads of his fingers slipping into her slick, tight body, pressing in all the right places to make her moans more audible in the quiet darkness of the night.
Mary pushed down his underpants and felt his engorged shaft release. Matthew felt hot sensation flood his body. They turned towards each other, lips reaching for each other. They kissed deeply, slowly at first and then more needy as their passion began to peak. Matthew's tongue dug deep in Mary's mouth. His hands slid down her abdomen and then his head moved slowly down until his lips and tongue lightly passed over her nipples. He gently took one breast into his mouth and then the other. His hands tugged at the straps of her negligee until they released from her shoulders and he slipped it off.
Mary shuddered as his mouth moved even further south and his tongue took long, deep tastes of her. She clutched his hands and bucked against him helplessly. Wanting more. Ever more. Delicious wave of heat surrounded her. She surrendered to all of it. Matthew's mouth came back up to meet her waiting lips, panting and tasting of salt. Mary's fingernails dug into his ass and she pushed his shaft closer to her inner thigh. Matthew grunted as his breaths grew heavy. He drove into her hard and needy. She met his rhythm as her breasts touched his chest as he dipped down to lavish her with kisses. Fire and desire became one as their bodies swayed and jerked against each other. She was wild that he thrust and fill her to her own center. He bucked and shoved and drove inside her until he felt the powerful, intense release that caused a guttural moan to part from his lips. He drove the final thrust upwards of his need to ensure that her climax was as shattering as his own. Mary threw her head back and a brief yelp of passion escaped her lips as the release gripped her and took her over the edge of desire. They came back together, body to body, their sweat and heat mixing as she remained inside and on top of him as he stroked her hair until her breath became less feverish and steadier.
Both recovered slowly. Matthew lay down beside her, their legs and arms still entwined. He kissed her hair, feeling it tickle his skin.
No words were needed. Just touch. Just being together.
Once semi-consciousness was attained, however, both perked their ears up and began to listen to the air. To the sound waves emanating from the baby monitor.
To potential fallout from their vigorous love making.
To cries. Or whimpers.
But blissfully, there was nothing but static.
Matthew's head fell against the pillow. Mary slipped her arm around his shoulder and rested against his chest.
They all slept lazily late into the morning.
XX
Matthew and Isobel strolled over the lawn to the picnic tables where the rest of the family mingled in groups of two or three.
The children were either running around chasing each other or playing on blankets spread out under the trees. Balloons wafted in the breeze. Mary had asked that her mother not go all out and plan a crazy party with guest characters playing superheroes or pirates or whatever. They could hold all that off until the boys were older and could participate more in the entertainments they or their friends wanted. This would just be to celebrate the year milestone in a quiet family atmosphere.
The sun was shining, and Matthew was happy the weather appeared to have no potential for rain. He pointed out Emily and her brother to his mother. "Turned out he broke his arm in a nasty scrum at rugby. They splinted it and sent him on his way."
The siblings were eating fairy cakes Cora had made earlier that morning making sure the older kids had snacks appropriate to their age while the little ones munched on carrots and bananas and maybe some of the soft pizza slices or cheese sandwiches. Matthew waved over to Emily and she waved back. He then led Isobel over to the family table where Mary sat with George on her lap.
The boys wore matching tan shorts and light blue pullover shirts.
He kissed his wife in greeting. "How is everything here?"
"Wonderful." George's face smeared with jelly but laughing merrily. "We're all having a marvelous time." She took out a wet wipe and cleaned her son's face. Bertie and Edith were on the opposite side. Edith held Jeremy and Sybil sat next to Cora.
Robert stood off to the side near his mother. Isobel moved to the side to sit down next to the other Crawley matriarch. Violet had a sun hat and glasses on. She sipped some iced water from a glass.
"Not too hot I trust?" Isobel asked in a friendly manner to Violet.
"No." Violet responded. "But at our age, we must ration our excitement. I told Mary I could stay one hour but no longer."
"Would you like to come back to Crawley House afterward? Matthew has to stay and help out Robert with some accounting." Isobel turned to her daughter in law. "I could take the boys back for their naps if you'd like to stay here and catch up with your sisters. I know you've been away."
Mary was very appreciative for Isobel's kindness. "I would love that very much."
Matthew exchanged a grateful look with his mother. It warmed his heart every time she extended her love to include Mary. They were all truly becoming one family.
"Dig in." Sybil told Matthew. "There's plenty for everyone." He grabbed a couple of the sandwiches and a bottled water and took a seat on the blanket next to a couple of the other children from the playgroup. He was friends with Saanvi's dad and they began to pick up a conversation about the best cricket players ever to play at Lords they had begun weeks ago. Bertie overheard their animated discussion and walked over to join them.
Mary had extended an invitation to Peter through his adopted parents but had been informed he was attending a summer camp. His mother said in future she'd make sure to put the date in the calendar and would love to attend next year. She also said that Peter had talked of little else but the horses and ponies since the carnival and that even though he was usually shy and reserved, he wanted to take some lessons and could she recommend someone in Wales. After a few inquiries Mary had gotten back to Daphne with a name of a friend who ran a stables near Laugharne.
They all spent the next hour eating, singing, and playing with all the children. Emily rounded the little ones around her and started blowing bubbles to keep them occupied while a few of the older children played tag in the garden.
Mary had brought gift bags for all the children to take home. Just little trinkets and candies. When all the guests who were not close family left for the day, the rest gathered around and opened a few of the presents for the twins. Mary and Matthew had mentioned that they'd love more books to read to the boys and some sorting and nesting toys.
"Hmmm…" Sybil squealed in delight as Cora unwrapped her large present box for the boys. It was a walker push toy made from wood with old fashioned wheels and a long aluminum pusher. "Perfect for George." And she grinned madly at Matthew.
Matthew tried to imperceptibly warn his sister in law that he had not told Mary yet about George walking with a small shake of his head.
But Mary's attention was distracted and he wasn't even sure she heard. Jeremy had found the box and was turning it over onto his head. "No sir. No …" and took the box from him. Jeremy started to wail and pout, but ended up giggling madly as his mother made goofy faces at him and hid herself in the box and popped back up with another funny expression.
Matthew joined in with George and soon everyone took a turn making the boys laugh. Robert's silly cross eyed grin making Jeremy laugh so hard he rolled over on the blanket. His grandfather scooped him up and started to tickle him.
It was a great way to end a beautiful day.
Soon enough Violet headed inside to Downton to fetch her bag for the trip to Crawley House. Mary helped Isobel and Cora put the boys in the stroller and pack up the gifts and toys. Bertie and Matthew cleared up the tables and put everything back in the coolers and containers and carried it all back to the kitchen and sorted the recyclables while Sybil and Edith put on the dishwashers as it was Mrs. Patmore's day off and no one wanted her to have stacks of dishes to wash in the morning.
Robert and Sandy waited for Matthew to finish. He wouldn't be long, Matthew told his wife after a lingering kiss on the lawn near the Lebanese cedar tree. Just going over some investment opportunities to extend the haylage yields at the farms.
"There is a cricket match in the village though…" He gave Mary a cheeky grin. "Bertie and I thought we'd go check it out what with Mother and your granny taking the boys." His voice became playfully pleading. "If you don't mind."
Mary said in a mock monotone, "Go ahead. You know the game bores me to sobs."
Matthew kissed her one more time. "We'll catch back up tonight. I have something exciting to tell you."
Mary was left to wonder about Matthew's secret as Cora walked up at the same time. "I don't mean to rush off but I have caterers in for the grand opening in a fortnight. I couldn't schedule any other time."
"It's fine Mama." Mary soothed her mother. "Edith and Sybil are taking me to tea in town. Come join us when you're done."
"I'll do just that." And she kissed Mary's cheek and moved back inside Downton.
Mary joined Sybil in her Volvo S40. Edith was in the back seat. When they arrived at Vivian's Tea Room, a favorite of all the women since their childhood, they sat down and ordered the full afternoon tea.
"Later we should go out with the boys for cocktails and a meal." Sybil said. "Make a full day of it. We see you so little these days. I know Matthew wants to keep you all to himself, but he needs to make room for us as well."
"Maybe some other time darling. Matthew did say you stopped by yesterday. To tell me something…" Mary turned to her sister. "What was it?"
"Sybil!" Edith called out. "I told you not to tell her before I could get a chance."
"I didn't." Sybil's mouth was full of scone but she protested anyway. "Mary wasn't there and Matthew was too excited about George walking to bother telling him."
"Wait?" Mary's eyes narrowed. "George took some steps? Matthew never told me."
"Oh God." Sybil put her hand up to her mouth. "I'm hopeless. He said not to breathe a word before he had the chance to tell you himself."
Mary tried not let on how sad this information made her. It was a day to celebrate.
"Don't tell him I told you." Sybil begged.
"I won't." Mary replied evenly, though her smile was unsteady.
Instead she turned to her other sister. "So spill. I need secrets. Now!"
Edith finished her sip of tea. "Well…"
Sybil started to giggle.
"I'm pregnant!" She announced jubilantly.
Both sisters jumped up and hugged Edith at the same time. "I'm so happy for you, darling." Mary kissed Edith's cheek. "When?"
"I'm about six weeks along. So early next year." Edith replied with elation. "A lot of time to go."
"It will fly, let me tell you." Mary pronounced. "You think every day when will this pregnancy be over and then it is. It's like the old adage the days are long but the years are short." Mary's breath caught on her own words.
And then she started to cry.
Both sisters were shocked. Mary almost never cried. She was always so strong.
Mary's eyes brimmed with tears which she quickly wiped them away. She hated public displays.
"Motherhood makes one do things you never expect." She tried to cover up her emotions with a quip.
Edith leaned over and hugged Mary around the shoulder. "We'll have lots to cry about together soon. Very oddly I look forward to it."
Mary recovered her equipoise and they caught up on each other's news. Mary told them about Maggie's success and her own hopes for London later in the summer. Edith said though she'd have to pull back some she still intended to continue to research material for her book on Brexit. Sybil was to graduate and take her exams to become a registered medical practitioner.
"But that's just the beginning." Sybil announced. "I've decided to spend some of my post-graduate years in America in hopes of becoming Board certified in emergency medicine."
"Does Mama and Papa know?" Edith asked.
Her sisters were speechless. Mary finally said, "You're moving to the States?"
"For a time. We'll see. I want to see the world. Maybe it's just the beginning." Sybil popped a small bite cookie into her mouth. "It's my decision."
"Good for you." Mary exclaimed, more like her old self. "I say go for it. I felt the same way at your age." She turned to Edith. "We both did."
Edith agreed. "We'll miss you though."
"I won't be leaving for a few months. Maybe January." Sybil explained. "You can visit anytime."
"Just in time for baby's birth." Edith counted the months. "So you must promise to try to stay that long."
Sybil did so with a hug. "I'll do my best. I am the best aunt in the world after all."
Cora joined them after a bit. "That's done. The menu is set for the donor's dinner the night before our grand opening."
"That's wonderful Mama." Mary said.
"I could not have done it without Matthew's help. He got me through all the endless government paperwork associated with opening a business on a historic property."
"I'm glad he found the time."
"He expected to be with you at your events but since you don't seem to want him around he was able to find the time among his other responsibilities." Cora chided her daughter softly.
"He said that?" Mary asked in a sharp tone. "That I didn't want him?"
"No," Cora said. "He'd never actually say it. But he does miss you something terrible."
Mary was quiet for the rest of the meal. The women all parted with kisses and hugs. Mary walked back to Crawley House. Matthew had not yet returned from his cricket match Isobel informed her. Violet had been picked up an hour previous by Robert.
The boys were playing boisterously in the nursery. "I hoped if they played enough they might be a bit easier to get down for the night." Isobel talked as she put some toys back in their bins. "They've had their dinner."
"Thank you." Mary said in gratitude. She sat down in the window seat of the nursery.
"Is anything the matter?" Isobel wasn't used to such silence from Mary. She usually took charge as soon as she entered the house.
"Is Matthew happy?" Mary asked suddenly.
"With you and the boys? Of course he is. He's more settled than I've ever seen him."
"Settled yes. But that's nothing really." Mary said it with a tinge of sadness.
Isobel would have none of that. "It's the very opposite of nothing."
"How so?" Mary shook her head ruefully. "Settling into village life you mean? Just a matter of finding this house and starting his work I suppose."
"Not just that, my dear. Don't always think so practically. Settled in his mind I mean. He was so restless. Driven to succeed for so much of his life. I wrongly thought his first marriage would stop him from that path. But he just took on more challenges that took him away for months and weeks at a time. As if he was running away. But you and the boys are like a tonic for him. He is so happy."
Mary was grateful for Isobel's kind words. She had been cool to like this new daughter in law early on but now Mary believed Isobel spoke from her heart.
"I'll be off now. I've got the 6:30 to catch." Isobel gathered up her bag and glasses.
Mary took a step towards her. "Would you like to wait for Matthew? He could walk with you?"
"Not necessary. It was a grand day." She gave Mary a peck on the cheek and waved a good bye and she was out the door.
Mary let the boys continue to play with their birthday present of blocks and stacking squares. Never disturb children quietly at play was a motto at their house.
Take advantage of it. So she sat gazing out the window. Thinking of a conversation she had with Anna a few weeks previous. They had been at dinner after watching the competition all day. Anna was trying to feel Mary out with regards to how she felt about taking on even more training time.
"I think you've really found your rhythm. The London Trials will be your best outing yet but after you have to concentrate on the real goal. The Olympic trials next year. You won't fail again if you work hard."
"I didn't fail last time." Mary reminded her coach. "I never even began. Diamond went lame in practice. I never even got to begin."
Anna said encouragingly, "Jellybean is in fine shape. You won't have such bad luck two times in a row."
"What about you?" Mary ventured, Anna's past a bit shrouded in mystery. "I know you had some bad luck as well." Anna had to quit competitive riding due to an accident that displaced her hip.
"I came up the hard way. No one believing in me. A girl who's mother was a domestic and her father no where to be found. I had my only luck when my mum took a job on an estate and I became friends with some of the other employees kids. We would play with the daughters of the owner of the place. Some hedge fund manager who bought the place for his la-di-dah wife. You'd call them interlopers for sure."
Mary had to smile. Her father certainly would.
"I learned to ride with them. Caught the bug. Wouldn't let go until my mother got me more lessons. Worked in the stables to earn the money for more lessons. It wasn't easy. Your kind always sniffing their noses. I just wanted to show them all up." Anna rolled her eyes towards Mary.
"I know the type. I hope you found out we're all not like that."
"I did. I found a group of friends and supporters. It is like a family. The only kind I'll ever want."
"Haven't you ever met a man you'd like?"... Mary hesitated. "Or a special person..." She realized she wasn't entirely clear on Anna's sexual persuasion. That had never really been a part of their conversations.
"I was married. To a man..." Anna laughingly clarified. "But it didn't work. I wanted my horses more."
Mary had smiled and let the talk slide back to competitors strengths and weaknesses. But now it came back to her.
She never wanted Matthew to doubt her intent to spend the rest of her life with him.
It suddenly came to her why these past weeks she'd felt so drained. So empty. She thought it was the travel. The intensity of training. The details of the dressage choreography.
But it was more. Her life was more than that. Her life was Matthew. The twins. Her family. She drew strength from them far more than she realized. And she wanted not to separate them any more.
An idea danced around her brain. One that took shape and made her suddenly giddy with happiness. She'd have to enlist Tom's help though for it would require a certain amount of stealth and misdirection for it all to come off.
Jeremy started to vigorously yawn. His brother followed suit.
Mary heard the front door open just as she was scooping them up to bed.
Matthew whispered a "hello" and kissed his boys.
He was grimy from the village cricket match. His hair tousled and over his face.
"I hit a ball over the boundary." Matthew informed Mary, very pleased with himself. "Do you need help?"
Mary said, "You'd do better to shower. I'll put them to bed."
"I could wait for you..." Matthew curled an eyebrow upward.
"An offer I can't refuse." She winked and walked upstairs towards the twins bedroom.
A few minutes later she opened the door to their room. Matthew was still undressing. "That didn't take long."
"Birthday wore them out I suppose." Mary made a move to slip off her clothes to join him in the shower.
Matthew stopped to admire and adore his wife's shapely body.
Mary said lightly, "Sybil told me you said George walked yesterday." She really didn't want to have an accusatory tone.
Matthew sat up straighter on the bed, stiffening slightly.
"It's ok." Mary reassured him. "I knew I'd miss out on some things. Was it across the room? He didn't do anything like it today."
Matthew puckered his lips in thought. "It was more of a wobble I suppose rather than a walk. About two steps and he crashed and cried. I meant to tell you but I didn't want it to ruin the day." His face a picture of concern about upsetting Mary.
"It hasn't." Mary loved that he was so concerned. "I've had a lovely day. We'll try to see if he'll do it again tomorrow for both of us. Or maybe Jeremy won't let his older brother steal all the limelight."
Matthew stood up and walked over to Mary. First leaning down and passionately kissed her. And then to Mary's surprise he picked her up and into his arms. She let out a suppressed yelp of laughter and then clapped her hand over her mouth.
"Sshhh... " Matthew teasingly warned. "I want to make love to my wife in the shower. No interruptions allowed." He slid his hand against her backside making her moan now in anticipation of the delights to come.
"Lead on...I am yours to do with as you want." Mary placed her arms around his neck and playfully pumped her legs and feet up and down. Their lips meeting again and again as Matthew walked towards the bathroom.
XX
Ok. That was a nice way to end what could have been a stressful day. There will be a longer conversation about Mary's career and fitting it all in with family life. Her plan to surprise Matthew will come in the next chapter. I hope you'll stick around for it! :)