"I do believe you will be able to lock this away and not look at it for quite some time… unless you want me to have something to chuckle over."
Matthew looked over at Mary, who was lounging in her chair that had been positioned so that the rays of the morning sun would shine down upon her, warming her up. She was dressed in her sleepwear, one leg resting on the footstool, her bare foot slowly rubbing up and down her calf in a way that always made Matthew squirm. And she knew what she was doing, the minx. She had his list in her hand, the one he had made when he had first awaken in the past and needed to somehow keep himself sane and grounded.
"And what makes you say that?" he asked as he glanced back at the door, making sure it was locked; he'd asked Molesley and Baxter to give them both a bit of time before coming to dress them but it didn't hurt to be a bit careful.
"Well, you have nearly everything completed, don't you?" Mary asked. "Saved Downton, saved me…" she paused, his lips pressed together in that sneaky, pouty smile that he knew ALL too well. "Of course I have noticed that there is some things you decided to do that aren't on the list."
"And those are?" Matthew asked, leaning forward on the bed.
"Oh, very minor things… utterly corrupting my young innocent self in the ways of pleasure."
Matthew shook his head. "You might have been young but you were never innocent, Mary."
"In most aspects you would be right but in sex?" She shook her head before turning her gaze towards the window. "You took new fallen snow and made it so very filthy."
"Must you be so tawdry?" he teasingly complained.
"I was an innocent maiden and you had your evil way with me. Striping me down with the lights on so you could gaze at my nude body-"
"You beg me to have sex during the day all the time. And you kick Molesley out so you can 'dress' me yourself!"
"-whispering filthy, vulgar things in my ear-"
"And I believe you just last night were the one cursing like a longshoreman."
"-engaging in acts that certainly will not lead to conception-"
"Yes, Mary, and you were so upset and traumatized by that you wrapped your thighs around my head!"
Mary looked at him with a quirked eyebrow. "All your fault, my love, all your fault."
He let out an amused sighed. "You are quite right. I am a bad, evil, man."
"Mmmm," she motioned for him to come closer and when he did she began to run her foot along his leg, toes wiggling as they neared a certain part of him that had become her favorite piece of him. "I will have to find a way to punish you tonight for being such a filthy boy… and making me such a randy girl." And all at once the mood changed and she was back to looking over the list. "Nearly all of the issues that arose were during the War or before it. And what few you have aren't that much of a bother now thanks to your planning ahead." She smiled. "And you have me to make sure any little bumps are smoothed out."
"Yes, I suppose you are right," he said, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the forehead. "My death and Sybil's are the only major ones we will have to worry about, I believe, and we are taking every precaution."
By that Matthew meant that he wasn't allowed to even walk within 10 feet of a car and Sybil and Tom had been told, in no uncertain terms, that until Sybil had gone to Mary's doctor they were not to engage in any sexual acts that might result in little Baby Sybie's birth (even if, as Edith and Mary had both learned, calling her 'Sybie' was a wonderful way to get their sister to begin screaming irish curse words at them). It had led to some… awkward moments to say the least.
~Several Months Ago~
Sybil smiled as she came upon Tom tinkering with the auto. "What are you doing down here?" she asked.
"When we were coming back from Ripton I heard some banging… no one else heard it but I am sure there is something wrong."
"You just want to get all dirty and greasy, don't you?" she asked, lightly walking her fingers along his back as he continued to tinker with the motor. "Miss being a servant?"
"Moved past it in two lifetimes," he said.
"That didn't answer my question."
"Well… I suppose there was a peacefulness to it." He looked at her and smiled. "Though I do prefer the two of us being able to go out in public without any stares."
"There is that… but maybe we could go the other way as well? I could see if I could sneak away one of the maid's uniforms… let you pretend I am a new member of the staff that bumbled her way into the garage."
Tom pushed away from the car and smirked at her, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You don't-"
And then the two of them screamed as they were doused with a bucket of icy water.
"No!" Mary scolded them, dropping the pail. "No!"
~MC~MC~MC~
"I must admit," Matthew said, going back over to the bed and flopping down on it in a manner utterly unbefitting the heir to a grand estate, "it will be nice to have a year or two where we can simply relax. Allow me time to determine what I want to do with my life, where we want to live-"
"Mama and Papa want to take us to Downton Place, to see if it will fit our needs."
"You were rather against it in our last life."
"That Mary was a snob," she pointed out. "I think it is going to be far too large but I suppose no matter what we say papa will insist on an estate."
Matthew nodded. That had been a bit of a debate between the two of them and Mary's parents. Robert and Cora, feeling guilty for the rift that was still healing, wanted to give all the girls homes they might enjoy and in their mind home meant 'massive estate'. Edith was getting out of it because Michael, in a twist of fate, was buying Haxby Park, the estate that Carlisle had bought for Mary during her first life. And Sybil was utterly undecided on if she wanted to return to the country or move permanently to London so things were up in the air there… meaning that Matthew and Mary had to deal with the brunt of Robert and Cora's need to 'help'.
"It helps that we aren't at risk of losing Downton," Matthew said, getting back up and moving to stand behind Mary, hands trailing down her shoulders. "The estate is secure so no need to worry about that, no need to beg your grandmother for money…" he leaned down and kissed her neck.
"Oh god."
"Yes."
"No, Matthew!" she exclaimed, pushing away from him and leaping to her feet, pacing about. "Oh no… oh no oh no!"
"Mary?" he asked as his wife suddenly rushed out of their bedroom in her night clothes. "Mary?!"
Matthew gave chase, watching as Mary sprinted past startled servants all the way to her parents' room, bursting in without even knocking. He tried to keep up but she was rushing about like the hounds of hell were on her heels and he felt icy dread drop into the pit of his stomach as he hurried to reach her. What had happened…. Whatever could have scared her so much that she would flee as she was?
"Mary?" Robert said, quickly throwing on his robe while Cora pulled the covers up from where she lay in bed, still groggy from sleep. "Heavens, what is the matter?"
"Mama," Mary said with wide, panicked eyes, "tell me you told grandmamma that Matthew and I were married."
Cora's brow furrowed… before her face fell. "Oh no."
Robert looked at the two of them and then locked eyes with Matthew. "You two… you never…"
"We didn't think about it," Matthew admitted. "The War and leaving Downton and…"
"Oh no," Cora repeated.
Mary began to pace, running her fingers through her hair. "Maybe Edith or Sybil-?"
Robert nodded quickly and rushed to the door, sticking his head out. "EDITH! SYBIL!" Matthew heard servants leap and yelp in shock at the Lord of Grantham bellowing for his daughters and that was quickly followed by the patter of feet as Edith rushed in, Sybil following with Tom who was half dressed already a few steps behind, the poor man trying to tuck his shirt in.
"Papa, what is wrong?" Edith said, looking about. "Whatever happened?"
"Please… please tell me one of you have talked with your grandmamma and told her that Matthew and Mary got married before the start of the War."
Sybil's eyes went wide and Edith lost all pigment in her face.
"oh no no no," Cora began to softly wail.
"CARSON!" Robert roared.
"Robert!" Tom exclaimed.
"Maybe… maybe he talked with Cora's mother."
Tom shot him a look. "You think… you HOPE… that your butler talked to your wife's mother?"
"Versus all of us forgetting to tell her that her eldest grandchild got married? For several years?" Robert shot back.
Tom swallowed, having memories of the woman when he and Sybil had arrived at Downton. Matthew didn't know exactly WHAT had passed between them and Martha Levinson but whatever she had told them concerning the two marrying in Ireland and not allowing her time to come over… well, it was enough for Tom to stick his head out the door of the bedroom and BELLOW for Carson himself.
"There… there may be time to fix this," Sybil said quickly, wringing her hands together.
"How?" Edith asked.
"Maybe she won't care?" Matthew offered.
EVERYONE in the family shot him a look.
"Right, no, she will care and we are all doomed," he moaned.
" My Lord," Carson said, looking utterly befuddled to find the entire family in Robert's room. Ms. O'Brien was right next to him, face screwed up at the improper nature of their dress and gathering. "You… summoned me?"
"Carson… please tell me that someone, ANYONE, from downstairs has been in contact with my wife's mother."
"Why… why would we ever…" Carson paused, gathering himself. "The only communication we have had with Mrs. Levinson was preparing for her arrival in a month's time."
"She doesn't know," Mary fretted. "Oh she doesn't know!"
"My Lord?" Carson asked.
"It seems, Carson, that in all the confusion of War and the falling out… we all neglected to tell Mrs. Levinson about Lady Mary's marriage."
Matthew had never seen Carson's body slump as it did at those words.
"Damn it all," Ms. O'Brien exclaimed and it was a testament to the situation that no one reacted to such a curse coming from her lips.
"Everyone-" Sybil began to everyone began talking at once, babbling in worry. "Everyone…" she tried again. "WOULD YA SHUT YOR GOBS!?" she screamed.
Jaws clicked shut.
"Jeeyuz all of ya are have panic attacks and it ain't helpin' us none!" She frowned as her parents looked at her. "Wot?"
"Irish," Tom whispered and Sybil grimaced.
"I… needed a way to startle you," she said in her far more familiar natural accent. "Now that you are we can discuss how we are going to make sure this is corrected and everything is handled properly."
"And just how, dear sweet sister, do you propose we do that?" Mary asked sarcastically. "We failed to let grandmamma know I was married for years."
"We have three options," Sybil said, walking over to Carson and sharing a brief word before continuing, the butler hurrying off. "Yes, three options from how I see it. First… we lie. They aren't married."
"That will never work," Edith commented.
"Why not?" Sybil asked.
Edith waved her hands at Mary and Matthew. "Have you SEEN how they are together? They are already holding hands!" Matthew looked down to see that yes, he had grabbed Mary's hand at some point. "They are always so affectionate… they won't be able to stop themselves."
Matthew frowned as the entire family began to nod in agreement. "People that are courting can be affectionate."
"People. Not Mary," Robert stated.
"Papa!"
"Am I wrong, my dear?"
"…" Mary let go of Matthew's hand, folding her arms over her chest and stalking away.
"My love," he said, walking over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Please don't take offense to that. You must admit you did create an aura about yourself that makes it hard to imagine that you would be so openly… tender. And-" he leaned in and pressed his cheek against her's, "I think you'd admit you like having that reputation."
"I suppose-"
"You two can't even be mad at us without cuddling!" Edith exclaimed, causing the two to jump.
Sybil nodded. "Yes, I do see your point. Our second option then is the lie and claim that we did tell grandmamma but she clearly forgot."
Cora laughed at that but it was a mocking sound. "My mother has a mind like a steel trap! She would never go for that."
"Final option then, I suppose," Edith stated.
"And that is?" Mary asked, looking at Sybil.
Rather than answer Sybil turned towards the door… just as Carson came in with Lillian, who was already dressed for the day and looking at her family in bewilderment that they were all still in their night cloths. Sybil instantly rushed forward and grabbed Lillian, giving her a spin before presenting her to the family. "Oh grandmamma, do look at Lillian! Isn't she adorable? You should focus entirely on her."
"…you know that might actually work," Robert said, a smile slowly growing on his face, Lillian blinking in confusion.
"Mama has been asking about Lillian quite a bit," Cora stated. "Almost as much as your wedding, Edith."
"Exactly," Sybil said in delight. "Tom and I announce a date-"
"Do I get a say in this?" Tom asked with a slight smile.
"No," Sybil shot back, "Edith gushes about her wedding, and when Mary and Matthew do something to attract attention we thrust Lillian at her."
"Are you suggesting we lie to my mother for the rest of her life?" Cora asked. "Because she is going to wonder why Mary is a spinster."
"Its either that or we admit we all forgot about her and haven't told her about Matthew and Mary for years."
"…lie it is," Cora accepted.
Lillian looked at them all, lips puckered in annoyance that they were plotting without her input.
~MC~MC~MC~
"I am truly sorry, Richard," Allen said as he, Isobel, and Catherine followed Richard down the steps of the courthouse.
"It is fine- do we need to slow down?" Richard reached for Allen's arm and the general shot him a glare before finally nodding, allowing Richard to help him make the descent.
"It is amazing you are walking at all," Isobel stated. "A medical miracle."
"More that I'm too stubborn to stay at home lying in bed anymore," Allen said with a slight smirk. He knew he looked a fright as even with his suit on it was hard to hide all his injuries. It had been nearly six months since the dreadful party at Cavenham and he was still working on getting back to 100%. His leg was out of the cast, thankfully, but he was now working to regain the strength the limb had once had and he still suffered from soreness and flaring pain from time to time. The doctors were shocked that he hadn't broken his back but had still be scared about moving him about so for up until 2 months ago he'd been forced to remain in bed, entertaining by a parade of different visitors to keep him from losing his mind. The trip to London had been the first time he'd been allowed to leave his estate since he'd arrived on a gurney.
"You know not to overtax yourself," Richard asked as they finally reached the sidewalk. "Perhaps we should rest-"
"As humorous as it would be for the papers to find Lord Oakheart, Lady Oakheart, Lord Merton, and the mother of the future Earl of Grantham sitting on these steps like beggars I'll be fine. Let's just get to the restaurant and then I can sit there and let you all fuss over me."
"You seem to have a good spirit about all this," Isobel said as they began to walk, though a bit slower than they might normally in order to make sure that Allen didn't collapse in pain. "There are plenty of people who would grow angry and bitter over being coddled."
"You at least admit you are coddling me," Allen said with a slight chuckle only to wince. "Oh, there is the pain in my ribs. How I missed you old friend."
"As for why he's not being a foul grouch," Catherine stated, "it's because I have warned him about being a colossal ass."
"Now now," Allen said with a teasing smile, "Ladies do not curse like that."
"Do they smack their husbands for being fools that spout off nonsense?" Catherine challenged.
"Depends on the lady. I could see Violet smacking someone."
Isobel laughed at that. "Oh no, that would be too quick! She would take everything you did, hold onto it, and then plot her revenge a decade later."
"She did spend time in Russia and that is their method," Richard stated.
Allen smiled but it soon dropped. "I am sorry, Richard. I shouldn't have come."
"It isn't your fault. You were the victim."
"But Tim is still your son."
It had been the final day of Tim's trial. The last of Richard's sons, in the docket for murdering his own brother in order to try and claim his family estates. Tim's lawyer had tried to argue heavily that it had to be someone else, using the fact that there were so many guests at the party as evidence that it could be someone else. But the prosecution had torn that argument to shreds, especially after Tim had publicly admitted his guilt. 'Hysteria brought on by grief' didn't explain away admitting to killing your brother, nor the fact that when Allen had awoken he'd been able to confirm that the boy he had once snuck candy to had grown up into the man that had tried to kill him and Lillian Crawley after murdering his own brother.
Allen had testified, though he had suggested he try and get out of it, to at least make a statement and leave things there rather than make a public appearance. But the court had insisted and Allen, aching from having to sit on a hard bench for hours, had hobbled to give his statement, the court able to see the damage Tim had done to him and that lingered for now even half a year gone.
Tim's fate had been sealed.
Life in prison. No hope of parole.
When Tim had been asked if he had anything to add he had merely stated he did not wish to see his father ever again.
Catherine had nearly gotten her thrown out for hissing that Tim would not see any of them "in this life or the next to come".
"Tim did all this on his own, Allen," Richard assured him. "It is not your fault."
"It bloody well feels like it is though," Allen grumbled as they reached the restaurant.
"You are taking it well, Richard," Catherine said softly as they entered, waiting to be seated.
"Isobel had a thought on how to view this, knowing that Tim would not want to ever see me again."
Allen huffed. "He's a cruel fool. He expected you to help him escape to America?"
"He expected, like Larry, that wealth makes you untouchable," Richard said. "I should have never sent them to that school. It was their mother's idea. It was too private, too full of the highest of the high elite. They should have gone to our alma mater, Allen. Mingled with middle class sons, learned a touch of humility."
"What did Isobel suggest?" Catherine asked.
"As dark as it might sound… for all intents and purposes Tim is dead. I will not see him again… he has made it clear he doesn't wish for me to ever visit him in prison-"
"He may change his mind, when he sees how horrid it is," Allen stated.
Richard though shook his head. "He will not. It will only harden his resolve. He will never return to Cavenham. He will never dine with me. He is dead and we have just left his funeral." He sighed. "It sounds rather ghoulish but it is the best way to see things. I must view the world now as if we have left a graveyard. Mourn the loss but move on."
"And we will be there for you," Catherine said, placing her hand on his shoulder just as the waiter came to seat them.
It was after they had all ordered that the conversation picked up again, though it was clear all of them wanted to focus on happier things. "What you can count on is that you have good friends," Isobel said.
"Friends?" Allen said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You have family. Change your name to Lothrop. Be the twin brother I never got to have."
"That would cause a stir, wouldn't it?" Richard chuckled. "The papers would have a field day."
"Edith and Michael control the papers," Catherine stated. "They would only allow what you wanted them to allow. If you want a scandal I am sure they could create it for you." She sipped her water, having waved off the wine the waiter brought while Allen, the teetotaler he was, merely grunted to get the poison away from him. "Lord Merton found in the companionship of the most delightful women in the world. Hollywood starlets weep."
"I don't know if that's the best headline," Richard said with a chuckle.
"Of course not, it will make Isobel jealous," Allen said, not looking up as he stared at the table. "When are you two marrying?"
Isobel nearly choked on the wine she had just sipped.
"P-pardon?" she gasped out.
"Oh, we aren't still dancing about it, pretending none of us know, are we?" Allen complained. "It is clear as day the two of you are courting each other."
"Well… I think you might-" Richard stammered.
"Richard," Catherine said, "everyone knows."
"Everyone?" Isobel said weakly.
"Everyone but the Crawleys," Allen amended. "They tend to be slow on these kinds of things, Matthew included. But Thomas knows. I wager Michael knows. The waiter probably has figured it out."
Richard slowly licked his lips, nervous. "We… we weren't for sure anyone-"
"You two have been living together in the Crawley Town House. You have dinners all the time. If we invite one of you to something the other will tag along." Allen shook his head. "Tell me you've at least BROUCHED the subject, Richard."
"…in six months, after Edith and Michael are married, unless it interferes with Sybil and Tom," Isobel finally admitted. "We want it to be a small affair."
"And we also want to learn who my heir is," Richard admitted. "It is only right that the man be told, whoever it is, first."
"Noble to a fault," Catherine said. "But you two will…"
Richard slowly reached out and took Isobel's hand in his own, giving it a squeeze. "I know it must seem terribly sudden-"
"Not to those of use that have eyes," Allen teased. "We're happy for you. Thrilled you finally admitted it because it was tiresome pretending we didn't notice, but happy all the same."
Isobel gave a shaky nod. "Yes… it will be a relief to finally be open about all this."
"Especially to Matthew?" Catherine asked.
The way the couple's faces fell at that reminder had Allen laughing so hard he nearly rebroke his ribs.
