Downton Abbey (English)

4. Stable meetings and first class events

The day later, Mary was standing at the window in the administration office. As so often, Tom came to discuss some things with her. As she kept looking outside, she couldn't see the look he was giving her. 'It's now or never', Tom thought for the second time. He cupped her body from behind, placing his hands on hers, which she had crossed over her stomach. Mary stiffened and was already taking a breath to rebuke him.

However, he knew her too well and whispered in her ear: "Mary, that on New Year's Eve wasn't a slip, it was intentional." He pulled her even closer to his chest.

"Tom, let me go. I don't want that and I already told you." was her calm and cold reaction. She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn't let her. Tom leaned down to her again.

"If you really want it, then I'll go again," he whispered while his lips deliberately brushed her ear. Mary got goosebumps, at the same time she felt an unbridled rage again.

She tore herself away and said at the same time coldly: "Go! I want that you go and I don't want you!" Tom looked at her for a moment and then left the office. However, he had noticed her goosebumps.

For the rest of the day, Tom felt confirmed in his suspicions. Mary was as snappy as she has seldom been. She even held her father accountable for Barrow again.

While the whole family had to endure their bad mood, Tom made every effort to hide his now rather good mood from the others. He was starting to enjoy the game now. After dinner he was already thinking about what he would do tomorrow.

However, the next morning he still had no idea when he went to breakfast. Due to Mary's mood, breakfast was very quiet. It was until Robert lowered the newspaper and addressed Tom and Mary simultaneously that an idea seemed to form in his head. There was a country show going on in York and Robert wanted to know if he and Mary were going there. With a slight smile on his lips, he replied before Mary could refuse, "Yes, Robert, that's a good idea. Maybe we'll find some ideas what we want to do on the estate." Mary, on the other hand, just glared at him. 'How dare he? Again HE decided what she wanted to do.'

In fact, Mary knew she was doing him injustice. Tom had never decided for her. He had always respected her wishes. 'Well,' she thought, more forgivingly, 'even yesterday at the office.' Sighing inwardly, she agreed with Toms suggestion and went upstairs to change her dress into something new. Throughout the drive, Mary waited for anything from Tom. An apology, a retry, anything. He instead, however, sensed her insecurity and grinned secretly. 'No', he thought, 'I'll make her wait a little longer'. He was sure he would get a chance either at the show or after.

The exhibition was very interesting and both spent a nice day together. No one mentioned what had happened. Increasingly, Mary relaxed in Toms presence, which was not hidden from him.

On the way home they both discussed plans for Marys horse breeding. Since Downton already had great success breeding pigs, she felt they could breed racehorses.

Since she herself liked to take part in a ride, she could well imagine it. Tom liked the idea too. He liked Marys attitude from the start and even then found it very interesting that she refused to ride side-saddle. Arrived in Downton, she said goodbye to him and went into the stable. However, he slowly followed her, knowing that she could be found in the stables.

Tom gave Mary time to pet her mare and then secretly crept up to her. While Mary gently stroked her mares neck, Tom wrapped his arms around her once more. Startled, Mary wanted to turn to him. However, he was able to cleverly prevent this. Again his mouth approached her left ear.

'Oh no, not again', she thought and tried to pull away. Before she could, though, Tom whispered, "No, Mary, go ahead and don't let me interrupt you. I like it when you show your vulnerable side sometimes. Even if you're just showing them to your mare." His grip on her stayed tight and if Mary was being honest with herself, it didn't bother her. Her body liked it, which proved the renewed goosebumps. Plus she liked Tom, at least once she stopped lying to herself. So Mary let herself sink into his arms and continued to stroke her mare.