A/N: The timeline isn't like canon in this story. Conversations and events aren't always going to be stuck to in this story. I'm trying to keep Edith and Marigold's story as close to canon as possible but in this chapter, Tony and Charles are invited to stay with Evelyn for the anniversary dinner. I hope you won't be too disappointed. But with Matthew still alive, events of the series have to be reimagined :)
February 1924
The fire in the library brought a welcome warmth as the February winter chills filled the grounds of Downton Abbey. Mary found the frosty mornings a perfect excuse for snuggling into her husband as close as she could. Of course, it was also the perfect excuse for the two of them to share their body heat engaging in more pleasant activities than sleeping. But this afternoon, Mary welcomed the warmth of a roaring fire in the library as the frost painted the windows opposite. Entering the library with Matthew, she headed straight for the tea tray where Barrow stood observing the family in silence, ready if they should request anything.
"Look at this, a man in misery." Her father commented.
Pouring herself some tea, she looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes at her father reading the newspaper. Tom entered the library, heading straight for the tea tray.
"Who's in misery?" her brother-in-law enquired.
"The King, according to Robert." Cora replied amusingly from where she sat on the sofa.
"Why?" Tom asked.
"He has to deal with a Labour government. Why do you think?" Robert retorted.
Rose let out a light chuckle from where she sat next to the Earl of Grantham.
"He doesn't look miserable to me. He just looks like himself." Rose added.
Mary smiled slightly, knowing that her cousin was still in delight at having been presented to the King and Queen last summer in her coming out. She turned to face her father, curious about his objections to the new Prime Minister.
"What is your main objection to Mr. MacDonald? That the Prime Minister is the son of a crofter?" she asked.
"I couldn't care less if he was the son of Fu Manchu. What worries me is that our government is committed to the destruction of people like us and everything we stand for." Robert replied over his newspaper.
Mary took a seat next to her mother as Matthew and Tom sat in the other empty seats with a cup of tea.
"I think we should wait and see what happens before we panic." Mary stated, taking a sip of her tea.
The other adults drank their beverages before the conversation changed.
"Where's Edith?" Cora asked curiously.
"Oh she had to see some old lady in the village," Rose replied, "She said it was important.
"She's always so busy these days." Mary commented.
"And what about you Rose? Is everything settled at the school?" Cora questioned.
"What's this?" Tom chipped in.
"Oh they were swearing in Mr. Adams' replacement on the school board today. It all went off very smoothly." Rose explained.
"I thought they might have asked me." Robert mused, continuing to read his paper.
"I should support the school more; I feel a bit guilty for neglecting it." Tom sighed.
"I'm giving out the pupil's prizes tomorrow, why don't you come with me?" Rose offered.
"I think I will." Tom smiled.
"Why are you so invested in the school, Tom?" Robert asked curiously.
"Well…if I'm going to send Sybbie there next year then I need to show more of an interest." Tom replied.
Mary took a deep breath as she watched her father stare at her brother-in-law intently.
"Y-you're thinking of letting…my granddaughter…be educated…at the local school…" Robert questioned.
"Maybe. She would attend a local school if we were living in Dublin." Tom reminded him.
"But you're not living in Dublin." Robert pointed out.
"Papa, remember that any decisions regarding Sybbie are Tom's to make." Mary stated.
The atmosphere turned silent as the adults all finished sipping their teas before Cora turned to look at Barrow.
"Barrow, can we clear the tea? I'm afraid Lady Edith's missed it, and Nanny will be down in a minute." Cora instructed.
Robert rose from his seat, folding up his newspaper.
"I'd better run." The Lord announced.
"Oh, stay and see the children. They would love to see you." Matthew said brightly.
"Just as soon as they're able to answer back." Robert stated amusingly.
"Sybbie can answer back." Rose pointed out with a smile.
Mary and Matthew laughed lightly. Their niece had definitely found her voice at the age of three-and-a-half.
"True. Why does she call me Donk?" Robert queried curiously, looking around the group of adults.
"It was that game you played at the children's birthday party." Tom chuckled.
"Pin the tail on the donkey." Matthew recalled with a laugh.
"Well can't I be Grandpapa or something a little more dignified?" Robert requested; annoyance present in his voice.
"I'm afraid it's Donk for the moment." Mary said with a smile.
"I don't want George and Charlie to catch it." Robert stated, starting to walk away.
Nanny entered the library with the children, Sybbie first and George and Charlie behind her smiling widely.
"Here they are." Cora gushed.
"Bye Bye darlings." Robert said, hugging each of his grandchildren.
"Goodbye Donk!" the three children chorused.
The adults laughed as Robert left the room and the children were brought over to the group by Nanny. As usual, Sybbie went straight to Tom and sat in his lap as George sat beside Mary with his stuffed bear and Charlie toddled over to Matthew.
"Mama, are we doing anything special for your anniversary?" Mary asked.
"What had you in mind?" Cora questioned.
"I thought we could make an evening of it." Mary mused.
"A nice dinner perhaps. Invite some people your age, your father won't want a lot of the usual crowd." Cora encouraged.
"Splendid. I'll telephone Evelyn; it's been a while since we last had him for dinner." Mary said.
"He's engaged now, isn't he?" Matthew asked.
"No, they broke it off." Mary replied.
"Well that's a shame. Perhaps Mr. Napier could bring some friends? Liven things up a bit?" Rose suggested.
"That'll be nice." Cora smiled.
"I'll just make a telephone call and see if he can attend." Mary smiled.
She left the adults in the library and walked across the great hall to the telephone, having a brief conversation with Evelyn who informed her that he currently had a job to do not far from Downton and would like to attend the dinner. Mary extended the invitation to his party and Evelyn confirmed they would be delighted to attend. Bidding him goodbye, Mary placed the telephone back in its place and returned to the library.
"Good news. Evelyn can attend the dinner and spend the night, he's currently travelling with a Mr. Charles Blake and Tony Foyle, Viscount Gillingham." Mary informed them.
"Lord Gillingham? He recently inherited his father's title, didn't he?" Rose asked.
"He did," Cora confirmed, "You knew Lord Gillingham as a child, Mary."
"We haven't seen him for years." Mary added.
"I'm sure it will be nice to get to know a childhood friend of yours." Matthew smiled.
Mary nodded, lifting George into her arms as her son held his arms out to her. She kissed his soft cheek as the conversation turned to more planning for her parent's anniversary dinner.
oOo
With Evelyn Napier, Charles Blake and Lord Gillingham staying for the week, the house was abuzz with panic at the extra guests and the more food that had to be prepared for their stay. The group had arrived the day before the anniversary dinner and the night had been a quiet affair with plans being made for Mary and Tom to show the men the grounds after luncheon the following day.
Wrapped up in their coats to protect them from the February cold, Mary set off with Lord Gillingham, Evelyn, and Tom for a walk through the grounds. Tom and Evelyn walked slightly ahead of her and Lord Gillingham. As she fell into step with Lord Gillingham, she noted just how much different he had looked from all those years ago. Granted, he still had that dark hair and dark eyes, but he seemed a lot leaner, perhaps it was from his time spent in the military during the war? The war had certainly changed a lot of the men who had returned home, she knew it had left more than just bad memories for Matthew.
"How long have you and your husband been married?"
"That's quite a direct question, Lord Gillingham."
"Please, call me Tony." The viscount requested.
"Very well. Tony. We've been married for nearly four years." Mary replied with a fond smile.
"And you have two children I believe? Evelyn says they're quite handsome boys." Tony commented.
"Yes, George and Charlie. They take after their father." Mary said.
"It's a pity they don't favour their mother." Tony complimented.
"What about you? Any plans to marry now you're the viscount?" Mary asked.
"I'm engaged to Miss Mabel Lane Fox, but we haven't set a date yet." Tony replied.
"So you've caught the greatest heiress of the season?" Mary chuckled.
"She's very nice in fact." Tony stated.
"I'm sure." Mary mused.
"Of course, everyone wants it, on both sides. But we do get on." Tony sighed.
"You may be surprised to hear that a match that is wanted by everyone can turn out to be extremely happy." Mary argued.
"Do you speak from experience?"
"Absolutely. Matthew and I were flung at each other's heads from the moment he arrived. If anything, it rather slowed matters up."
"But you're happy?" Tony asked.
"Wonderfully happy." Mary admitted.
"How lucky you are." Tony said admirably.
"Am I?" Mary questioned rhetorically.
She knew full well just how lucky she was.
"You've known a great love. Doesn't that enrich any life?" Tony questioned.
"I suppose. Matthew changed me. I love him but he's changed me." Mary answered honestly.
And she had changed. She felt softer, a little nicer, a little warmer. Matthew had broken down that icy exterior and brought out all the good she had discovered she had. It was what allowed her to love her husband and boys so freely, so openly. She liked to think that Matthew changed her for the better.
"You're no longer that intolerable little girl." Tony teased.
Mary chuckled.
"I seem to recall you found all three of us intolerable." She commented.
"You Crawley girls were mischief. Always hiding my things whenever I stayed here with my father." Tony laughed.
"Sybil always gave them back to you." Mary recalled.
"She did. I was sorry to hear of her passing." Tony apologised.
"It was a while ago now. Complications during childbirth and seizures after her daughter was born." Mary explained.
"I suppose she lives on in her daughter. What did Mr. Branson name her?" Tony asked curiously.
"Sybbie. Short for Sybil." Mary replied.
"Fitting."
They caught up with Evelyn and Tom who had just been joined by Matthew. As Mary smiled at her husband, he scowled which caused her to frown. But before she could ask Matthew what was wrong, the group began to walk back to the house for afternoon tea.
oOo
The night of the anniversary dinner had arrived, and the occasion should have been more joyful. Instead, Mary noticed that Edith was looking more forlorn than she usual did. All day, Edith had been miserable and had grumpily refused to accompany her and the others on a walk after luncheon. But forgetting about Edith, Matthew had joined them after a discussion about household finances and he had been in a strange mood. He would scowl at her whenever she would talk and laugh with Tony, reminiscing about their childhood years. But later in the afternoon Lady Anstruther arrived asking to use the telephone and to rest due to car troubles which ended with her mother invited the woman to spend the night and attend the anniversary dinner. According to Tom, there were no issues with her car, but Mary shrugged it off.
Once dinner had started, her father had given a speech, raising a glass to toast mama. The conversation drifted to the committee and discussion of war memorials to which Miss Bunting announced that she was against such a permanent structure in the village. Mary watched as the teacher sparred with her father over the discussion, with Miss Bunting even going so far as to tell the entire room that the committee didn't want Robert's input which caused a very awkward silence.
Thank God for Carson for ending that awkwardness.
When everyone had retired for the night, Mary sat at her vanity table and started to take off her jewellery and unpin her hair. Matthew was already dressed for bed as he emerged from his dressing room as Anna helped Mary undress and change into a nightgown and her robe. Her husband remained quiet as Anna braided her hair and bade them both goodnight.
"It's a bit strange isn't it, how Lady Anstruther arrived and there's nothing wrong with her car?" Matthew queried curiously as he shrugged off his robe.
Mary shrugged, taking off her own robe and placing it on the back of her chair.
"Maybe she was just angling for an invitation to the dinner." Mary said.
"I'd much have preferred her company to Lord Gillingham's." Matthew grumbled.
Mary rolled her eyes. All throughout today, Matthew had taken a dislike to Tony Gillingham. He was a man she had known in her youth, but they had had a very large gap in the years since she had last seen him. Tony had not long ago inherited his father's title and had been telling her about his betrothal to a Miss Mabel Lane Fox. What Mary had seen as reacquainting with an old friend, Matthew had seen as Lord Gillingham trying to flirt with a married woman.
"Darling, jealousy doesn't become you." Mary sighed.
Matthew blinked and looked at her furiously.
"I'm not jealous," Matthew said defensively, "Wouldn't you hate it if a guest of your father's started flirting with me? It's improper."
"Tony is just a friend. A friend I haven't seen for a very long time so of course I wasn't going to be rude to him when he initiated a conversation." Mary stated.
"To you he might be just a friend. To him, he's probably picturing whisking you away on a horse." Matthew grumbled.
"I don't need any man to whisk me away from anything. I'm perfectly content where I am." Mary argued.
"Try telling that to Gillingham! The nerve of him!" Matthew sneered.
"Honestly, I don't know why you're so bothered about Tony. I haven't seen him in years. This week has been the first time I've even seen him in that time, and you just assume that he has some wicked design on me to steal me away from you." Mary accused.
"You don't know how men think, Mary. Most men look at you and see a beautiful woman they want for their own." Matthew said bitterly.
"I can't help the way other men might think, Matthew! And even if Tony does think of me in the way you imply, it's hardly my fault." Mary shouted.
"It would help if you didn't smile at them encouragingly." Matthew shot at her.
Mary felt anger rising through her body. How dare he accuse her of flirting back with Tony?! How could he even question her loyalty? It was utterly ridiculous.
"I have never encouraged another man to think I would be open to betraying you." Mary said insistently.
"Maybe not intentionally. But what you might consider polite behaviour others mistake for an invitation, Mary." Matthew sighed.
"I don't need a lecture on how to behave, thank you!" Mary hissed.
"I'm not lecturing you!"
"It certainly seems like you are!"
There was a pause before they could argue even more on the subject of Tony Gillingham when they heard Barrow shouting in the corridor outside. Pulling their robes back on, Matthew opened the bedroom door and saw smoke filling the hall.
"FIRE! THERE'S A FIRE!" Barrow shouted.
"George! Charlie!" Mary screamed, rushing from the room.
She rushed into the hall, coughing as she felt the smoke fill her lungs as she rushed down the hall and into the nursery. Matthew was behind her, the lights flickering over their heads. The children were stood in their beds, crying at the shouting when she picked George up from his bed and used the other arm to lift Charlie as Tom grabbed Sybbie. The group rushed out of the nursery and back down the hall.
"Thank god, Mary, Matthew take the children outside!" Robert instructed, "Tom, come with me!"
Tom placed Sybbie in Matthew's arms and gave his daughter a kiss before rushing off after Robert. Mary and Matthew descended quickly down the stairs as Mary used all her strength to hold her sons in her arms as she tried to get out of the house as quickly as she could. The night air was bitter and cold as they rushed through the doors and ran across the gravel until they were a safe distance from the house. She placed George on the ground, taking off her robe to wrap it around George and Sybbie as they sat on the damp grass. She held Charlie tightly in her arms as she watched the rest of the household join them outside.
"I have to go back in and help!" Matthew said desperately.
"Matthew-"
But it was too late, her husband was already rushing back to the house as Barrow brought Edith out in his arms. Cora had joined her, as had Rose as Mary watched the house intently. Her father, brother-in-law and now her husband were tackling the fire in Edith's bedroom, and she was worried sick. Literally. Sickness filled her entire body and she felt that she was unable to keep still. The fire engine arrived and Mr. Drewe and his men rushed inside the house with the hose and water buckets.
But she still stared at the house, silently praying that Matthew would be alright.
And if he wasn't alright, she knew that she would never forgive her sister's carelessness.
Minutes passed and Tony walked over to where she stood with her son in her arms, the other son wrapping his little arms around her leg and held on tightly to her.
"Do you need anything, Lady Mary?" Tony asked.
"Just my husband." Mary replied curtly.
"I didn't have him down as the type to run back into a burning house." Tony commented.
"You don't know my husband, Tony."
"Evidently."
Mary looked at him, eyes narrowed in the dark to try and make out his face.
"Is there a particular reason why you've sought me out? You haven't offered your services to mama." Mary questioned.
"It's your company I have enjoyed the most during my stay so far." Tony answered honestly.
"That's a rare opinion others might not share." Mary stated quietly.
"And you? Have you enjoyed reacquainting with me?" Tony asked boldly.
But she couldn't give Tony an answer. Her attention flickered back to the house and her heart soared with relief as she saw her father and Tom join the rest of the household on the lawn. Her eyes went to the doorway, looking around until she saw him.
Matthew.
She didn't register placing Charlie on the ground beside his brother. She didn't register rushing across the lawn and the gravel, ignoring Tony in the process as he urged her to stay back from the house. All she could register was that Matthew hadn't been burned alive in the fire, that he was stood in front of her with a look of relief on his face, his blue eyes searching for her. When Mary reached him, she flung her arms around his neck and claimed his lips in a desperate kiss. She didn't care about propriety. She didn't care about the mass amount of people around them as she felt Matthew scoop her up in his arms. She didn't care about who might be watching as Matthew opened his mouth to her and their tongues met desperately seeking reassurance that all was well. She kissed him, as passionately as she could until she pulled away from him to catch her breath.
Matthew continued to hold her to him, her legs off the ground.
"Don't ever do that again!" Mary chided in a whisper.
"I needed to help, darling. I had to. Besides, one day, I won't be here and Downton will still be standing-"
Mary placed a finger to his lips to silence him.
"I'm not ready to part with you yet, Matthew Crawley. The house can be rebuilt if it burns. You can't." she whispered.
Matthew nodded his agreement with a smile, pressing his forehead against hers.
"I love you. I'm sorry about my jealousy…" Matthew whispered.
"You have no reason to be jealous, my darling. I love you with my whole heart, nobody else could ever come close to that. Only you!" Mary said insistently.
Matthew nodded and pressed his lips back to hers and kissed her softly. Mary moaned into his mouth, refusing to stop just for the sake of her family. She didn't care if she and her husband were giving everyone a show. She only pulled away from him when she heard her father announce that the fire was out and that everyone could head back inside. She smiled as Matthew placed her back on the ground and the two of them walked over to where their children sat on the grass and lifted one each into their arms.
"Let's get you boys back to bed." Matthew said affectionately.
"All this excitement, I think we'll be having breakfast a little later in the morning." Mary chuckled.
Charlie nestled his head in the crook of her neck as she met Tony's wonderous gaze. She allowed Matthew to walk on ahead of her back into the house as she waited to see what Tony had to say.
"You're lucky, Mary. Not everyone can be as fortunate as you." Tony sighed.
"I know I'm blessed," Mary replied, "I have a husband who I love more than anything in this world. I have two sons who I hope will be just like the man their father is. I hope you can find the same happiness with Miss Lane Fox as I have found with Matthew."
Tony smiled sadly.
"I think what you have found with your husband is a rare jewel that others cannot claim to be as lucky to find. I know I can grow to love Mabel, but it won't be the same as what you and Matthew share." He stated sadly.
"I wish you all the best, Tony." Mary said.
Walking back into the house, Mary headed up the stairs and to the nursery where she placed a now sleeping Charlie back in his crib and kissed all three children on the forehead before walking down the hall. Once inside her own bedroom, she saw that Matthew had already discarded his robe and was climbing under the bedsheets. She closed the door behind her and walked over to Matthew's side of the bed, pulling back the covers and straddled his waist.
"Mary? What are you-"
But she silenced him with another kiss. Just a little more desperate and needy than how she had kissed him outside. Her hands cupped his face, searching out every inch of skin she could find before moving them to the buttons of his nightshirt. He kissed her back eagerly, his hands reaching the hem of her nightgown and pulled it up her body until they broke the kiss so he could lift it over her head. His hands went for her knickers, pulling them down her legs as she shifted and chucked her clothing to the floor. Next were his trousers and pants, joining the heap of clothing on the floor as they kissed more heatedly. Mary groaned as she felt his fingers scale her back, as if discovering her all over again like he had the first time they had made love. He broke away from her, his lips kissing her throat, her collarbone and her breasts as his hands fumbled on the side table next to him as he tried to reach the drawer. Mary's eyes fluttered open, her hand reaching for his and stilled it.
Matthew looked up at her curiously.
"What are you doing?" he asked her hoarsely.
"I don't want to use anything tonight." Mary whispered in reply.
His eyes widened in surprise. Ever since Charlie's birth they had been careful. They had used preventative measures and had not conceived a child in a year and a half. But in this moment, Mary didn't want a barrier or two from feeling her husband. Tonight she could have lost him in a fire, and she had felt despair as she waited for him to emerge from the house. She wanted to feel him, just him, nothing between them as they made love.
"Mary…" Matthew said breathlessly.
She knew that he was going to ask her if she was sure about it. She knew that tomorrow they would have a conversation about it and what it meant going forward. But in the moment, she didn't mind if she conceived a child or not. If it was meant to be then it was meant to be. But for one night, she wanted them to get lost in the feel of each other, of the need for each other. Nothing else mattered but him.
"If we conceive then we conceive. I just want to feel you, Matthew, to take away the horridness that could have happened tonight." Mary pleaded.
"Are you sure?" Matthew asked.
She nodded.
"Make love to me, Matthew."
And so they did, and Mary enjoyed every single moment of their lovemaking. It wasn't rushed or frenzied or rough like some of their couplings together were. It was tender, loving, and pure and reminded her of their first time together on their wedding night. Matthew poured every ounce of love and devotion into his movements as she gasped his name and muttered confessions of love to him until they both reached and fell over the edge together.