AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm back! I spent a month mostly playing in the tiny sandbox of The Blue Castle fandom, but I've been missing Mary and Matthew too much to keep away for long :) Here is the update of The Bet, but updates to the rest of the stories should follow in quick succession. I thank you for your patience in waiting for them and as always I hope you will enjoy reading them!
Oxford and Cambridge Club, 71 Pall Mall, London, December 28th, 1913
"So I should thank your charming fiancee for dismissing you from her presence and thus freeing you to have lunch with me?" asked Jack Weatherby teasingly over the lavishly spread table at one of the dining rooms of Oxford and Cambridge Club.
Matthew shrugged good-naturedly in response.
"I planned to talk with you anyway since you hinted so strongly before Christmas that you had something important to discuss, but yes, Mary most uniformly threw me out of her aunt's house today," he said dryly. "She is meeting with Tony Foyle and felt that my presence during that conversation would be rather tactless."
Jack laughed.
"Oh, I can just imagine! But it is a fortunate timing for me, since I truly have a business to discuss with you. Tell me, how committed are you really to living at Downton?"
Matthew frowned.
"Me and Mary are still discussing it, actually," he said cautiously. "She loves Downton dearly and feels very much that we should keep presence in the area as the future earl and countess, a view in which she is wholeheartedly supported by Cousin Robert, of course."
"But not by you?" asked Jack shrewdly.
"I am more ambivalent," admitted Matthew. "I am willing to stay there, as long as we get the house of our own, but sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be better for Mary to get away from it. She does seem at times frustrated with lack of purpose in her life and I can't see it improving much after we marry. I will have my job and learn the estate management from Robert, but her life will necessarily be mostly the same as it is now, with the exception that she would have her own house to manage. Considering however that we won't have the means for her to become a high society hostess…"
"You're afraid she will grow bored with her life pretty quickly and regret her marriage to you?"
"I wouldn't go so far as her regretting it," said Matthew thoughtfully. "I hope at least that it won't come to that. But she is so intelligent and capable, Jack, that it is a waste to keep her away from any meaningful employment of her abilities. I would love to share management of Downton with her one day – you should hear her speaking about this estate, she is so passionate about it – but I can't see Robert agreeing easily to include her. He's rather set in his ways and his opinions regarding the place women occupy in society, which is truly astonishing to see considering that he has Cousin Violet as a mother."
"And you think it would be better for Mary to live in the city?"
"I don't know for sure of course, but I hope it might. London has seven million people and all kinds of activities she could get involved in if she wanted to. I have no idea what she would do, but she never had an opportunity to be anything else than an earl's daughter. I'd like to see what she would do given more freedom to decide for herself."
"Maybe nothing," said Jack sensibly. "She might very well keep paying calls and waiting for you to inherit."
"Maybe," agreed Matthew with a smile. "But then it will be truly her decision to do so."
"So you think you would be able to talk her into moving here?"
"Possibly. We raised the topic previously, at least, and she wasn't completely opposed to it. But why do you ask?"
Jack pushed his empty plate away and stapled his fingers.
"Reggie and I are working on a potentially huge deal," he said. "We're representing the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in its negotiations with the Admiralty Office to win a contract to supply oil for the Royal Navy. Churchill is very much in favour of it and we're lobbying together to get such a deal approved by parliament. The details are still pertaining, but most likely it will involve the government purchasing majority shares in the company as well."
Matthew looked at him astutely.
"And you want me onboard for that deal?"
"You are very good with takeovers and commodities contracts," answered Jack measuredly. "Besides, I happen to like you, you know. If I am to hire a new lawyer to spend hours with while we iron all the details out, I'd like him to be a friend. Not to mention, we can earn quite a windfall if everything goes well."
Matthew ate the last bit of his steak, thinking fast as he chewed.
"Reggie would be alright with me joining the firm? I don't have so much experience."
"You've been working on shares transactions, companies' valuations and commodities long term contracts for three years," countered Jack. "Which may not be long, but you were good at it. I don't believe you forgot all you learnt in a mere year of handling wills and conveyancing of property."
"No," Matthew assured him with a smile. "I don't think I have and I do miss industrial law, to be honest. Your proposal is rather intriguing."
"Then come with me to the office and discuss the specifics with Reggie," Jack urged him. "Just so you have the full picture to discuss with Mary."
"Well," said Matthew, looking at his watch. "I assume she got rid of Foyle by now, but it probably would be wise to give her some more time to cool down. He can be an amazingly aggravating chap."
Sitting room, Painswick House, 35 Eaton Square, London, December 28th, 1913
If Mary was to be honest with herself, she would be forced to admit that she felt rather nervous as she waited for Tony in her aunt's black and gold sitting room. Tony answered her call and invitation with enthusiasm, cementing her conviction that he fully expected to be engaged to her today. She was not looking forward to dealing with his disappointed hopes.
It took her some effort to convince Aunt Rosamund that she should give them privacy for that conversation. Aunt Rosamund tried to play the chaperone card, but gave it up at Mary's pointed question about what exactly she expected to be chaperoning them against, considering that the whole purpose of the meeting was to send Tony on his merry way. She retreated to the library with a demand to hear all the juicy details straight after Tony's departure, in payment for her lending Mary the venue for the meeting. Mary acquiesced with an eye roll, internally deciding that she would share only the details she would feel like sharing.
Tony arrived punctually, exactly when the little porcelain clock on the mantel was chiming noon.
"Mary!" he said, handing her an enormous bouquet of pale pink roses which must have cost him a fortune at the end of December. "I'm so glad to finally get to see you! You can't know how impatient I was to have this conversation with you."
Mary smiled, thanking him for the roses and handing them to a footman to put into a vase, all the while thinking with a sinking stomach that it was going to be dreadful – there was simply no way around it.
"Tony," Mary started when they both sat down on the adjacent sofas, her left hand hidden carefully in the folds of her skirt to keep Matthew's ring from view for now. She dismissed all the servants from the room and there was no way to postpone it anymore. "I will never forget what you were willing to do for me and your support in the most trying moment I've ever had to endure. Truly, I will always be grateful to you for that."
Tony puffed up proudly at that.
"You don't have to be grateful, Mary," he said, although it was obvious he liked her gratitude very much. "I love you and you're going to be my wife. There's no need for gratitude when I've only done what was natural in those circumstances."
Mary took a deep breath. This was not going to be easy.
"Tony, I can't marry you."
He gaped at her in astonishment.
"Whyever not?"
She looked at him straightforwardly.
"Because I love Matthew and he asked me to be his wife. We are engaged. I wanted to tell you myself, before we announced it publicly."
"But… but Mary…" stammered Tony. "Don't you love me?"
"I'm sorry, Tony, but I don't," answered Mary, wishing that this whole conversation was over already, but knowing she owed Tony her honesty and probably an apology. She'd never promised him anything, that's true, but she had never refused him properly either and she knew very well what kind of hopes he harboured as the result. "I am extremely fond of you – I consider you one of my dearest friends – but it is Matthew I love, so I know I could never make you happy."
"But Mary, you told me you were going to give me your answer!" protested Tony and it took a considerable effort on Mary's part to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
"And I just did," she pointed out. "It just wasn't the answer you wanted to hear and I am very sorry for that."
"I thought you wanted to marry me," he said bitterly. "You made me think you did!"
Mary bit her lip.
"I did seriously consider it," she said honestly. "Truly, I did, and if Matthew didn't ask me when he did… I probably would have. But Tony, it would have been a mistake. You deserve a wife who loves you just as deeply as you love her and you wouldn't get that with me."
"I will never love anyone else as I love you!" he exclaimed passionately. "Crawley can't love you nearly as much!"
No, he loves me more, thought Mary immediately. He actually knows me, he sees me for who I truly am, and loves me still. You could never do that.
"I am truly sorry for the pain I caused you," she said composedly. "But you must see that with my feelings being what they are, it is for the best. We would not be happy together."
He leaned towards her, grasping her hands in his.
"We would!" he entreated. "Oh Mary, how can you say we wouldn't? I know you say you love him and I know he is your father's heir, but I'm sure you would have learnt to love me if we married. You don't understand how deeply I care for you. You fill my brain. I am always wondering what you're thinking, what're doing… Every hour of every day. And I am a son of viscount, I can give you a better position and life right away, not wasting your life as a solicitor's wife until your father dies. Please, think of it!"
"I already have, Tony," said Mary, reminding herself again to be gentle and patient. "I truly have thought about it all a lot – I've hardly thought about anything else for months. As I said I am grateful to you both for thinking so highly of me and for your support in the most trying circumstances I've ever had to experience, but my mind is made up. I gave Matthew my answer and I am giving you one as well. I am engaged to Matthew and I truly think it's for the best. I know you imagined us wonderfully happy together, Tony, but I don't think we would have been – I really am not the best wife for you. I would make you miserable and regretful in the end."
"Oh, Mary, you wouldn't!" said Tony mournfully. "You never could! You're perfect and I don't know how you expect me to survive this disappointment. I will never forget you or cease to love you. Never! But," he added bitterly, "I suppose the lure of Downton and being a countess one day was simply too much."
Mary's eyes flashed, but she bit her tongue. There was absolutely no point in quarrelling with Tony. At this point, she simply wanted him gone. She did her duty and informed him of her engagement in person; her conscience was clear. The best he could do now was to finally accept it and disappear, leaving her free to enjoy the prospect of becoming Matthew's wife within less than three months.
"I'm sorry for causing you disappointment," she said coolly. "But believe me, it is for the best."
He looked at her with soulful, dark eyes – admittedly one of his most prominent features – and Mary thought coldly that she was completely unmoved by them. He was handsome and rich and an heir to a nice title, but she felt not even one sliver of regret or doubt looking at him now.
She couldn't wait to have him gone and to have Matthew by her side instead.
"Oh, Mary!" said Tony. "My darling, darling Mary! I will go then, if your mind is made up – I will – but can I ask one favour? And then I really will go and leave you in peace."
"What is it?" asked Mary warily.
"Will you kiss me? Please. I'll never love again as I love you in this moment. And I must have something to remember."
Mary stared at him incredulously.
"Absolutely not!" she said. "Tony, I am engaged! How can you even ask me that?"
He dropped his head, blinking against tears gathering in his eyes, but it didn't soften her at all.
"Goodbye, Mary. My darling Mary. My prayers go with you for everything that you do," he said in a tortured tone and finally, blessedly left.
Mary collapsed on the sofa with the biggest sigh of relief she had ever uttered in her life.
Loxley Park, December 28th, 1913
Anthony beamed at Edith and bent to kiss her cheek when Branson assisted her from the car, followed swiftly by Cora and Sybil.
"Lady Mary didn't come?" he asked after he greeted them as well.
"She's in London," answered Edith shortly, then smiled at him. "But never mind, with Mama and Sybil we have plenty of people to advise us."
She was in fact very happy that Mary decided to go to London on whatever business instead of tagging along on Edith's first inspection of her new home. She could just imagine her sister's disparaging remarks or her derisive eyerolls at anything less full of splendour than Downton. Well, Loxley Park might not be Downton Abbey, but it was a perfectly nice house and, most importantly, it would be unquestionably Edith's. She wouldn't have to spend decades before she was the mistress of it. She hoped Papa would enjoy an exceptionally long life.
Then she pushed any thoughts of Mary out of her head because Anthony led her to meet the lined up servants.
"I am glad to introduce Lady Edith to you all," he was saying with a proud smile. "My future wife and your soon-to-be mistress."
They all bowed and curtsied and Edith's heart fluttered. They were to be her servants – she was to be their mistress. She, who was always overlooked, always powerless and a second thought, would be in charge of this household. It was both exhilarating and intimidating.
Cora smiled at her reassuringly.
"You will do brilliantly," she whispered into her ear with understanding. "You are so clever, my girl, and I know I trained you well."
Edith's throat tightened as she nodded gratefully.
Anthony proceeded with introducing the servants to her. Whittaker, the elderly butler – Anthony mentioned that he served his father before him – Mrs Rubens, the housekeeper. Mrs Jones, the cook. Barnes, Anthony's valet. No footmen – Edith made a mental note to discuss it with Anthony – surely they should have at least one? Ellie, Amy and Beth, the housemaids. Becky, the scullery maid. Brown, the head gardener and Collins, the groom. No chauffeur either, since Anthony was driving himself; he told her that he was taking his car to a mechanic in Thirsk for maintenance.
Altogether, just eight indoor servants – nine soon, with an addition of Edith's lady's maid. It was… not much, but Edith reminded herself that Loxley was smaller than Downton. Still, if they could at least hire a footman…
They all walked through the house and started the inspection of the public rooms. The library, with messy, lived in air – it was obvious that this was the room Anthony preferred – Edith loved it on sight. This was not the kind of library where even the inhabitants of the house signed any book they took off the shelf in the ledger; here books were haphazardly piled on tables and window seats, patiently waiting to be picked up and finished or reread. She imagined many cheerful days of sharing that room with Anthony, reading and discussing any topic under the sun, and exchanged happy smiles with him.
The drawing room was cheerful and elegant, with more feminine air – Anthony explained it was designed by Maud after they married – and the dining room spacious and well-appointed. There was also a billiard room, Anthony's study and a delightful music room with a beautiful piano, which Edith couldn't stop herself from trying out. It was in tune.
"I've had it retuned for you," said Anthony, looking at her fondly. "I can't wait to have the privilege of listening to you playing it on a regular basis."
"I only hope you won't be disappointed!" answered Edith, terribly touched by the gesture. "I truly am not so very good."
"Nonsense!" protested Sybil. "Don't listen to her, Sir Anthony – she is very good and pleasant to listen to. When I was little, I used to sit with my doll outside the music room, listening as she practised."
"I'm more inclined to believe your sister on this matter than you, my sweet one," said Anthony. "You are too modest."
They continued their inspection upstairs and here was where their faces fell a bit. There were eight bedrooms, but they were clearly outdated and even neglected – all very clean, but with an air of rooms long unused and unaired. The wallpaper in one of them was even peeling a bit.
Anthony shuffled his feet.
"I never have guests overnight," he explained. "Both mine and Maud's family live close enough that they just went home after dinner and since we didn't have children, there was really no use for the rooms besides the master bedroom. You may fit them however you like, my sweet one. I do see they need some of your touch. I'm just not sure if it can be accomplished before the wedding…"
"Oh, I would prefer to do it after anyway," said Edith hastily, hoping to avoid raising the topic of their wedding date again. It was announced and set in stone, with the invitations sent; there was no changing that. "When I can oversee everything myself. Truthfully, Anthony, I can see myself being quite happy in that house as it is – delightfully happy!"
She saw the delight in his own eyes at this proclamation and would have kissed him if it wasn't for Mama and Sybil in the room with them.
Eaton Square, Belgravia, London, December 28th, 1914
Matthew looked at the beautiful woman holding his arm as they strolled through the green of Eaton Square – not very green right now, of course, considering the season – and waited with bated breath for her reaction.
"It would be a good career move for you, wouldn't it?" she asked finally.
"Yes, it would," confirmed Matthew immediately. "I could probably rise to a partner at Harvell & Carter eventually, but that's it. Their firm is a respectable and profitable one, but it doesn't have significant potential for growth or bringing more money; it mostly serves the same steady circle of local clients. What Jack and Reggie are proposing is an altogether different animal – a firm which is small now, but very well connected and, in a short time, very likely not only to conclude a huge and very profitable transaction, but to benefit from this success in attracting this kind of recognition which is bound to lead to future deals."
"But would you benefit from this deal too, coming into the firm so late?" asked Mary with a frown.
"If I buy a partnership, yes. Both Jack and Reggie agreed to propose very favourable terms to me. I would get 30% to their 35%. It would require a significant investment from me, all my current savings, really, but I do believe it would bring me significant returns very soon."
Mary nodded thoughtfully.
"I see you truly want to do that," she observed.
"I do," said Matthew. "But only if you're alright with moving to London. I want you to be happy."
Mary bit her lip.
"I never wanted to leave Downton," she said slowly. "Although I assumed I'd have to, after Patrick died and I knew I had to find myself another husband. But I've been thinking ever since October about what you said regarding us getting our own house and I must admit it does have some appeal."
"Only some?" asked Matthew dryly. "Then I must be doing something wrong."
Mary peered at him from under her eyelashes.
"Maybe a little more than some."
"Then let me list what I'm thinking of when I imagine us moving here," said Matthew in a low, intimate voice. "I would have to go to the office, of course, but we would have the evenings and weekends entirely to ourselves. We would share breakfasts and dinners – just the two of us – with no need for me to stay behind in the dining room to smoke and drink – I would much prefer not to waste any time I could spend with you instead. We could go to theatres and operas and ballets and movies together and quarrel about each other's opinions of the play or the music. We could row on the Serpentine in the summer or stroll through parks at any time of year. We could do all we wanted – make any idea which appears in our heads a reality – because we would have nobody to please by ourselves. Am I the least bit convincing?"
"You're doing a passable job of it," admitted Mary. "Do continue."
"You could do anything you wanted here, Mary. You could get involved in a charity of your choice. You could attend a university if you want. You could spend your time while I'm at work with all kinds of interesting people instead of paying your calls in the same several drawing rooms as always. I certainly wouldn't dream of telling you what to do and who else would be there to do so?"
"Granny," answered Mary immediately. "In a letter, if not in person. She has spies everywhere, she would know what I'm up to. But other than that, yes, you're definitely convincing. Where would you want to live, exactly? I suppose we could ask Papa to open Grantham House for us."
Matthew swallowed, thinking of the sprawling mansion at St. James Square.
"Possibly something a bit more on a human scale," he suggested carefully. "There will be only the two of us, after all, not to mention that we have to think how many servants we would like to keep and the staff for such a huge place would be quite a strain on our finances."
To his enormous relief, Mary nodded in agreement.
"I have a better idea anyway," she said. "Did Papa tell you that he inherited Cousin James' house in Kensington?"
New Year Shoot, Downton, January 1st, 1914
Anthony looked at the winter sky with a smile.
"At least it doesn't look like we're going to end up drenched this time."
Edith, standing by him at his assigned post, laughed.
"Which is lucky, because there isn't any handy shed or any other kind of shelter nearby," she answered, but then looked at Anthony from under her eyelashes in a way which took his breath away for a moment. "Although it is a bit of pity as well. The last time we hid from the rain together I so wished you would kiss me, but of course it was impossible then. Now though – now I think I would ask you to do so."
"Do you know," said Anthony a little breathlessly, "that I truly wanted to kiss you then? I didn't, of course – I chastised myself for such thoughts quite severely – but I can't deny that the desire to do so was very real."
They shared another fond smile before the horn signalled the beginning of the shooting.
32 Hyde Park Gate, Kensington, London, January 3rd, 1914
Mary and Matthew, accompanied by their parents, stood for a long while in front of the gleaming white terrace house on a narrow, quiet street opening to Hyde Park, visible at the end of it just to their right. It was four stories high, not counting attics and the basement, with a porch supported by Greek columns, black door, huge windows and black iron balustrades. It was a handsome house, no doubt about that, but Mary couldn't help thinking that it was awfully small in comparison to anything she'd been used to.
She'd been here only once or twice before. Cousin James much preferred to visit them at Downton and Grantham House than host his family at his own home. When her engagement to Patrick had been tentatively discussed, it had been understood that either Patrick would have given up his London job and moved to Downton or they would have lived at Grantham House. But Matthew had accepted Mary with all her messy past and grevious mistakes. She owed him some concessions of her own.
"Let's go in," suggested Robert, taking out the key. "I had Mrs Bute come over here with some maids and clean it properly before our visit, so it should be habitable, despite standing empty for nearly two years. All the personal items of James and Patrick were removed in the months following their deaths since I planned to rent the house sooner or later, but I just didn't have the heart to deal with it. Luckily, as it turned out," he smiled at Matthew and Mary.
Robert had been aghast at the idea of them leaving Downton for London, but Matthew's promise to keep up with the estate matters appeased him enough to agree with Mary's suggestion of allowing them to use James' house as their London home. When Matthew asked about the rent, he only scoffed and refused to even consider the matter; he would never stoop so low as to demand rent from his daughter and son-in-law. Mary saw that it bothered Matthew, but privately agreed with Papa. Having a rent free house in London was going to be a significant improvement to their budget and would allow for several other luxuries which would otherwise remain outside of their means.
The door opened into a long, narrow corridor, with white walls and a hardwood floor partially covered by a blue and gold carpet runner. From there, they walked slowly through a front sitting room leading under an arc to the dining room in the back, overlooking a small, west-facing garden. Both rooms were well-lit and fitted with modern furniture.
"James had the house fully renovated in 1910," said Robert, showing them a lift installed next to the staircase and shaking his head over such an unnecessary gimmick. "Spent a fortune on it, but thankfully it should mean there will be very little for you to do, unless you want something more to your taste."
"A lift is very practical though," observed Isobel. "One does get tired from walking up and down all the time, and this house has a lot of stairs. I'm sure the servants appreciate it too."
Robert just shrugged and led them to the 1st floor, taken by a big, impressive drawing room and a study in the back. Mary looked around critically, but found little she didn't like. As much as she disliked Cousin James, he had good taste. She looked at Matthew, also taking it all in without a word, and wondered what he was thinking – if he could see them living here and making it their home.
"I would change the curtains," said Cora, eyeing the heavy blue ones critically. "But the furniture is nice and the windows wonderful. How do you like the study, Matthew?"
"It's perfectly serviceable," answered Matthew, walking over to inspect it. "Although I would need to add more bookshelves to it."
"Cousin James was not a reader," muttered Mary under her nose, earning herself a sharp, rebuking look from her father. "Well, he wasn't!"
"That's true, Rober," said Cora, coming to her defence. "He much preferred to spend time in company than poring over a book and you know it."
Robert sighed and shook his head, but just led them to the 2nd floor.
It was taken by the master bedroom, master bathroom and a single dressing room – James outfitted it with only himself in mind – and was the first room Mary found herself immediately mentally refitting. Currently it was too aggressively male for her taste. There was also a terrace over the study, facing west, and she could imagine sharing a drink there with Matthew in the summer evenings, with the view of the Hyde Park trees in the background. She touched his hand briefly, smiling at the vision in her head, and was glad to feel his fingers squeezing hers.
The 3rd floor contained two bedrooms and a bathroom – currently guestrooms – and the attics day and night nurseries, definitely in need of updating as they hadn't been in use since Patrick had been in short trousers. The servants quarters were in the basement, next to the spacious and modern kitchen. The garden was minuscule and, in the beginning of January, rather bare, but it was a nice thing to have in the city, and besides they had Hyde Park within 5 minutes walk.
"What do you two think?" asked Robert when they gathered in the drawing room.
"I quite like it," answered Matthew, looking at Mary half anxiously, half teasingly. "It reminds me of our house in Manchester, doesn't it, Mother?"
"It's similar in the number and arrangements of rooms," agreed Isobel easily. "But definitely more spacious. And whatever you say, Cousin Robert, I adore the lift and the modern bathrooms and kitchens!"
"There is also electricity in every room, even the servants quarters," said Robert. "And a telephone in the study."
"Mary?" asked Matthew. "What do you think?"
Everyone looked at Mary expectantly. She internally scoffed at the way they all clearly considered her the biggest, if not only, potential obstacle to the neat plan of Matthew and her settling here.
"Well, one has to live somewhere," she said blithely. "The master bedroom will have to be refitted, but other than that I think it will do. It is only Kensington, but it's respectable enough and I like the proximity to the park. The house is rather small, but we hardly need a bigger one at present."
She did roll her eyes at the visible relief of her family at that proclamation. Seriously, she wasn't so difficult as to warrant such a reaction!
Thankfully Robert, Cora and Isobel got engaged in debating the necessity of lifts and electricity in the kitchen, so she and Matthew managed to sneak away to the ground floor sitting room and talk for a moment in peace.
"Do you truly like the house, darling?" asked Matthew again. "We don't have to move here if you don't want to – we don't have to move to London at all. I want you to be happy."
"I am not sure yet if I will like living in London all the time," answered Mary honestly. "But I want you to be happy too and I see that you do want it all: going back to the city, working with Jack on industrial law, this house… I want to try it. If we hate it, we can always return to Downton; we will have to do it one day anyway."
Matthew looked at her gratefully.
"Thank you," he said earnestly. "And you're happy with this house? You're considering my wishes to such a degree that I could reconcile myself to living at Grantham House, even if it is a monstrosity of a mansion."
Mary laughed.
"It is, isn't it?" she agreed cheerfully. "The public rooms are so huge you can get lost in them, but during the season we are all packed like sardines. No, as much as I would like to live in Mayfair, this house is more practical. At least we won't have the whole family descending upon us straight after we come back from our honeymoon."
Matthew's eyes darkened as he stepped closer to her.
"Are you looking forward to our honeymoon?"
Mary swallowed, suddenly feeling rather heated.
"What do you think?"
"I'm looking forward to all sorts of things," promised Matthew, his eyes travelling slowly to her lips.
"Don't make me blush," she said, a little breathlessly. It was hard to think when Matthew was staring at her in such an intense way. Her hand reached nervously for her necklace, but she wasn't nervous, not really. She was just afraid that if she didn't occupy her fingers with something she wouldn't be able to stop them from reaching for Matthew's hair, like she did when they were kissing against a tree when she had met him at the station…
"My life's ambition is to make you blush," said Matthew, making another step forward, his eyes not leaving Mary's.
"Matthew!"
They both jumped, alarmed and blushing, at Isobel's voice, but thankfully she was calling for her son from the upper landing and didn't see how close they came to breaking decorum.
"Where are you two? We wanted to discuss the scale of the changes you want to introduce before you move in."
"We're just downstairs, Mother," answered Matthew, rolling his eyes and winking at Mary rakishly a moment later. "We're coming."
Mary stifled a fit of uncharacteristic girlish giggles which threatened to erupt from her mouth and followed him upstairs.