Florence

season 1 episode 3

DISCLAIMER: All characters and locations in this story belong to Julian Fellowes except from my OC Florence Crawley. This story has been created for entertainment only.

A month later, the biggest news of the day was a visit by Evelyn Napier. It been arranged through Mary and Cora. Florence knew that this was another attempt by Mary to find a husband that had better standings than what Matthew will be when he inherits Downton Abbey.

Florence was in the library with a book when Evelyn Napier and his hunting party arrived. She could see the mass of horses and gentlemen from where she sat in the library. She could just about spot Mary in the mass of people, though she was surprised when she saw that Lynch had been sent back.

Florence dressed after the dressing gong and prepared for dinner. She was happy to see Matthew and Isobel entered the reception room. She waited patiently until Matthew walked over to her after greeting her father.

"Good evening. Have you had a good day?" Matthew asked.

"I have, though I suppose I should be asking you that. How was your church tour with Edith?" Florence replied.

Matthew smiled, "I think I quite wore her out and bored her slightly. Perhaps next time you should come with us"

Florence nodded, "I would love to."

"Great." Matthew replied before asking, "What did you do today while your sisters were out?"

"You'll find it ever so boring." Florence answered while dodging the question.

"Come on, I'm sure I won't. I don't think anything you do could be boring." Matthew encouraged.

Florence blushed and finally answered the question, "I was reading in the library and then spent some time speaking with Sybil."

"Ah, I seem to remember you saying that you would rather read than go hunting. I quite agree with that. See, I did not find it boring. You know I like reading myself." Matthew reassured her with a smile. "What were you reading?"

"Much Ado About nothing by William Shakespeare. It is my favourite play." Florence told him.

"What is your favourite part?" Matthew asked curiously.

"When Benedick and Beatrice admit their love for one another." Florence answered honestly.

"Do you not love me?" Matthew said, beginning to recite Benedick's lines from the scenes from memory.

"Why, no, no more than reason." Florence grinned and recited Beatrice's lines.

"Why then your uncle and the Prince and Claudio have been deceived. They swore you did." Mathew continued.

"Do you not love me?" Florence replied with a large smile on her face.

"Throth, no, no more than reason." Matthew said, still speaking in the character of Benedick.

"Why then my cousin, Margaret and Ursula are much deceived, for they did swear you did." Florence replied.

"They swore that you were almost sick for me." Mathew said, taking a step towards Florence.

"They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me." Florence countered, taking a step forward herself.

"'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?" Matthew continued.

"No, truly, but in friendly recompense." Florence finished with a grin, wondering where they would go from there.

"A miracle! Here's our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will have thee, but, by this light. I will take thee for pity." Matthew continued, skipping the lines of the other characters and reciting Benedick's next line from his memory.