We are indeed back and missed you all as well. Life has just been hectic but we hope to catch you all up. I also want to hear from you all. Please tell me how you have been!
Normalcy was finally returning to Downton now that Tom and Sybil had brought Grace home from the hospital. It had taken a few days, mixed with the news that Matthew and Mary would be moving to the village but yes normalcy had returned.
Between getting caught up at the estate and visiting his new niece, Matthew couldn’t keep his mind from drifting to the arrival of their own baby. Mary didn’t know it yet but he had a plan drawn up for the nursery to include a window seat. Almost imagining his dark haired wife in it with his future son or daughter, reading as the sun glowed around them. Or perhaps it would be a rainy day and the drops with glisten and mesmerize the duo to sleep. It was almost silly the way his mind would wander but it was nice to have such pleasant ideas invade his daydreams over the bills of the estate and the business of the farm animals.
Mary had turned down the offer from her business to move to New York with Anna and work. Of course Anna would never have gone, not with Bates unable to leave the country but Mary could have said yes. Instead she weighed her options and with the baby and their life at Downton she said no. It bothered Matthew slightly that his wife was giving up something she enjoyed and he hoped one day it could be different. Maybe a few years down the line they could spend a few months there, taking in the busyness and culture.
Cora had been busy planning her latest duties to host a party at Downton, seeking the help of Mary to help decorate the library and dining room as well as the old music room. Matthew couldn’t help but chuckle and tease Mary as he helped with the decorations. The old music room had been their temporary bedroom as he recovered with his back injury. It was amusing to think of all the people that would be dining there when they had spent many moments alone, skin to skin in each other’s embrace.
“Matthew Crawley,” Mary smacked his arm as he whispered more hidden, teasing desires between them. She had leaned down to kiss him after the kiss, her hands letting loose of the fairy lights that were being strung. Moments like that made his heart stop and burst all at once; there couldn’t have been a luckier man on earth.
“Oh Mary, I forgot to tell you. The Gillingham’s replied that they will be joining us for the party and for a few days after.” Cora was proud as she mentioned the new guest, no doubt excited to show off the estate and her extravagant party. “Who is that?” Matthew asked in question, his hands sliding to Mary’s to help her. “Oh, one of Papa’s friends from the peerage. They are known as the Foyle’s really, I’ve known them since I was a child. They have a son around our age, Tony. I could see you two getting along.” The name sounded so familiar to Matthew, he racked his brain to figure out why but nothing was coming up.
How soon he would realize why the name sounded so familiar. Mary quickly suggested a cards table in the corner with Cora’s approval, mentioning how Tony enjoyed playing as well as her father. He knew it then; he knew exactly why Anthony Foyle had sounded so familiar.
Matthew hadn’t been completely honest with Mary about his past; well he had been honest but he had not told her everything about it.
University had been expensive for Matthew and all of the training he needed to become a lawyer. He watched month after month, his mum struggling to help pay for the tuition cost and inside it was killing him. She never had free time, instead working as many hours as possible and his tutoring job wasn’t paying nearly enough for what he needed as well. It was one of those times he wished his dad were still alive, cursing him for dying when he was so young.
“Matt I know how you can make some extra money,” Tom whispered to him in a pub after school one day. His best mate knew how much it bothered him to see Isobel working so much. “Yeah?” Matthew knew it would probably be something crazy, if not illegal but it was worth finding out. “A couple of those rich mates down in Yorkshire host card games every Friday nights, big pot to win. We could travel and see if it’s worth it.” It was every bit as crazy as he knew it would be and he hated the thought of spending any time with that type but money was money. “Alright, but the first sign of trouble and we leave,” Matthew wasn’t sure if he would regret agreeing but least he was trying.
He took it to the next level though, reading every book possible on cards before attending the next game. He learned to count each card, each value having a set amount before he knew to hit or bust. It was wrong but deep down he knew the others wouldn’t be able to comprehend the mindset to do it and just maybe he could help win a little money.
Week after week he began to attend the parties, winning slowly and knowing when to lose on purpose. He was good at counting, it slightly thrilled him to get away with it and before long he had enough to pay off his tuition. Matthew quit after he payed off the last semester, making Tom promise to never utter another word. No one seemed to ever notice except for once, he got away with it though considering the young chaps had been pissed out of their minds and forgot the next day.
What if Tony remembered him at the Party? How could he ever explain to Mary how he knew him and what he was doing? His intentions had always been so well but how could he explain that to someone who always had money and the means to go to school. He regretted never telling her, Mary loved him no matter what and would have forgiven him for something he did in his youth. It was too late now.
The event came too soon and the Gillingham’s arrived even sooner. Matthew wished he had anything to stop time or go back like the Doctor in his favorite show. It was too late though and as Tony looked him over he knew there would be arguing and explaining and a night of hoping Mary would forgive him.
We are at the private doctor to have Mary's first scan today! I'am very excited to see how things are with the baby. It's also my birthday ( I say this with hesitataion). I can't think of a better way to spend the day though. After we are going for a nice meal and then hiding from the family. ( I can try)
