Different Downton

Part 5

Matthew sat and worked in the guest room allocated by Rosamund. In general, he was just trying to distract himself from thoughts about Mary. Did she read his letter, how she reacted, where she is now and what she is thinking about. Trying unsuccessfully to concentrate on work, he leaned back in his chair and listened. Below, obviously something was happening, he heard footsteps, more than the steps of one person and completely unlike the steps of Rosamund. Muffled voices and someone's excited whisper. He decided to go down and check, anyway, he was not destined to work today. Matthew quietly opened the door of his room, and tiptoed to the stairs. He listened more. Mary. That was her voice. She whispered something inaudibly, her voice trembling. Giving himself the usual look, Matthew silently walked to the stairs and began to descend. He turned his head and met his gaze with brown frightened eyes. For a couple of seconds he could not force himself to look away, but Mary did everything herself. Matthew noticed that her eyes were dim and she fell, gracefully moving down the wall. Richard jerked in her direction, but suddenly his gaze fell on the stairs. He saw the young heir and stopped dead in his tracks. Having completely forgotten about Mary lying unconscious, Matthew rushed at Richard. They fell to the floor fiercely fighting. Matthew hit him in the stomach, and the frail but surprisingly heavy fist of the newspaperman laid on his face, forcing him to spit blood. They rolled on the floor, causing each other more and more serious injuries. The clothes were torn, everyone already had two serious abrasions, but they did not stop. Richard simultaneously cursed with disgusting words, but Matthew silently troubled him. I don't know how long this would have continued if Mary had not suddenly come to her senses and screamed, rushing to separate them:
- Matthew! Richard! Stop it at once! - She tried to separate them, but when she received a blow to the arm and she pulled it back, Mary rolled her eyes. Crown movement, making her even more attractive. On cotton legs, she moved to the wall, and leaned on. All the rules of decency were completely forgotten. The fight continued. Mary was afraid that they would not kill each other. Matthew's face was bloody, his lip was broken. Richard escaped with a fingal that glows under his right eye. Something had to be done, Mary swept around the room, shouting: "Enough, stop immediately!" unsuccessfully, all of a sudden, she remembered that Rosamund turned out to have servants, and why hadn't she thought about this before? Quickly running downstairs, she began to call the Smithson, the butler
- Smithson! Smithson! - called Mary, here, a middle-aged man ran out to meet her, it was a butler
- Did something happen, my lady? - He asked with concern
- Rather, take two strong lackeys, and run upstairs, help me separate the fighting! - Mary again ran up the stairs and, finding herself in the corridor, found everything the same as she had left. The footmen came running and Matthew and Richard were separated by force. They were exhausted by a fight, and immediately calmed down. Richard was soon pushed out the door. Mary approached Matthew, and was horrified to see his face. All beaten, in abrasions and bruises, he smiled through the strength. She took him to the drawing room and tried to heal the wounds with what she could find in the house. Oddly enough, Matthew was pleased. He glowed with happiness that he had piled on Carlisle. Mary looked at him reproachfully:
- And what's so funny? He could seriously injure you, you recently recovered from a serious illness, and you're already getting into a fight, apparently for no reason - Mary got angry. Who the hell invited Richard here? And why didn't Matthew say anything about stopping at aunts? And where is the elusive Rosamund itself? Where is Evelyn Napier, after all? All this was very strange. We need to find out who sent her a letter. Thinking, she completely forgot about Matthew, who was staring at her intently. Mary was afraid to meet his gaze, afraid to drown in blue eyes and give in to feelings, thereby hurting herself again. She again applied a compress to Matthew's cheek and her cold fingers accidentally touched his heated skin. She shuddered and drew back her hand. It was necessary to finish with this, otherwise he would try to kiss her again? Mary knew that if he took a chance, she could not resist. So she got up: "Matthew, I hope that at least somehow relieved your suffering, I think that you should lie down. Now." she tried to hint that it was time to say goodbye. She still has dinner with him, and if she's not lucky at all, then in private. The first time she prayed to God that her aunt appeared as soon as possible. But she was not there. Well, there's nothing to be done, she said, either addressing Matthew, felts to the wall:
- I have to change clothes for dinner, and you have to rest. I understand if you skip dinner, we all know what dinners are with Aunt Rosamund,-Matthew grinned, and Mary went upstairs to choose an outfit and just be alone
***

Dinner was drawing near; Mary was already dressed. She was wearing a blue fitted dress, long gloves and a beautiful hairpin that adorned her chic thick hair. She was visibly nervous, still hoping that her aunt would appear. She decided to check out the elusive Rosamund's room, and left early. Walking along the corridor, she prayed to God not to meet Matthew. Finally, the treasured door. At first she knocked softly, and then persistently. Suddenly, a voice came from the room: "Is Aunt really at home?" flashed through Mary's head
- Yes,- Rosamund sounded. Mary opened the door and ran into her aunt's surprised face. Apparently, she did not know that Mary had arrived.
- Mary! What are you doing here? Why didn't I warn you that you were coming? Rosamund asked in surprise and hugged her niece.
-Didn't you write a letter?What do I need to urgently come? What is Evelyn Napier waiting for me? - Mary handed the envelope Rosamund and she quickly ran through the text, more perplexed.
-It was not me at all, dear. I have a different handwriting, and I build sentences in a different way. Something reminds me of this style. She opened a drawer and took out another envelope, unfolded it and checked it with a letter. Mary came closer to look and was horrified to notice that the letter that her aunt got was the letter of her younger sister, Edith. Rosamund and Mary looked at each other. Surely it was Edith. Apparently, she also informed Richard, but she did not know about Matthew. Mary was seething with anger, Rosamund looked inquiringly at her niece. Mary invited her to sit down and told everything
- But more, I wonder how she could do this, knowing that I have information capable to destroying her, -Mary concluded. They sat opposite each other and talked. Rosamund was shocked, and could not connect two words. Nevertheless, it was necessary to go to dinner, it was impolite to leave Matthew alone. Going down the stairs, Mary became nervous again. Will he come? How are his bruises? Is he mad at her because she left? She have to be strong, it's all over between them and it's time for her to accept it. They entered the living room, where Matthew was already waiting for them. The swelling was a little asleep, but on the whole the face looked so-so. Rosamund saw him, demanded smelling salts, and Mary involuntarily laughed. Soon the three of them sat at the table, for dinner there was a duck with caramelized apples, white French wine and chocolate pudding, so beloved by the British. At dinner, everyone had a laid-back small talk: talk about the weather, politics, affairs in Downton and in London. Nothing really important. In this mood, dinner was held. Soon they went into the living room to have a cup of tea, but Mary, who was insanely hard to restrain herself, because she was terribly tired today, all this fight and the news about her sister tired her, decided that it was time to leave this warm company. "I'm sorry, I'm probably going to sleep. I'm tired today, - Mary said in an icy tone, and said goodbye went out of the room. Well, finally, she is alone. Matthew is no longer around, and even his presence does not cause her pain. She walked slowly enough, her head suddenly ached, and this is not surprising, she fainted today, and indeed, suffered a lot. Passing into the dark corridor in front of the room, Mary suddenly felt dizzy and she grabbed the wall, not to fall. Suddenly, someone's hands supported her by the waist, she turned around, startled. It was Matthew, which is not surprising. Unfortunately their rooms were in the same wing - the guest wing
- Are you all right?- He asked excitedly, Mary pulled away gently and stepped back.
- Yes, everything is fine,- her head was spinning, Mary hurried to her room, but Matthew grabbed her arm and turned her back to her. He approached Mary and ran a hand through her hair, Mary struggled not to do the same. Matthew put a hand on her cheek and ran a finger down to her neck. Mary sighed, so as not to succumb, she thought. She wanted to leave, but could not, so it was nice to be next to him, in the dark corridor. She against her will launched a hand into his hair. Matthew kissed her neck. "No no no!" flashed through Mary's head, and she abruptly stepped back and fled to her room, leaving a puzzled Matthew to enjoy the smell of her parfume.