But of course, as soon as the words left Mary’s mouth, George reached for Barrow, pleading with him.
Mary arched her eyebrows, but the boy didn’t seem to notice, or even worry about that, and Matthew chuckled, which earned him a glare a very straight-faced Mary.
Eventually, tho, she sighed, giving Barrow a slight nod. The under-butler smiled down at George then.
“Alright,” he said, before sweeping George in his arms and move swiftly down the hallway with him, his low hum mixing with George’s laugh.
Matthew smiled fondly and even Mary’s lips curved a little at the corners. When Matthew looked at her, however, she’d schooled her expression into one of mild annoyance.
Or so one who didn’t know his wife like he did would think.
“I’ll have you know that that’s highly inappropriate for the future Earl of Downton,” she told him, raising one eyebrow.
“Perhaps. But then again, it will be a long time before George will be earl, if your Papa and I have anything to say about it,” Matthew answered as they both started down the stairs.
Mary pursued her lips not quite managing to suppress her smile.
“It still seems almost ludicrous that George has taken such a shine at Barrow, all of people,” Mary said.
“It’s almost as if caring for one particular servant doesn’t run in the family at all,” Matthew said.
Mary huffed, turned towards him now that they were at the base of the stairs.
“Carson never did humour such childish behaviour, not even when I was a little girl.”
“Possibly,” Matthew said, “but I’m quite sure he wouldn’t have denied you, had you asked.”
Mary’s lips twitched at the side, then she shrugged.
“That might have happened, but no more than once or twice,” she said as they walked towards the library. “I was a lady even back then, Matthew, and ladies know how to behave properly.”
“Of course, darling. And at the same time, they know how to have the men in their life do exactly as they please.”
“Are you complaining?” Mary asked, once they reached the library door.
“Not one bit,” Matthew answered, leaning in to give her a small kiss on the cheek.
Mary’s hand sneaked to the lapel of his jacket and she held him still while she turned her head and kissed him on the lips, short but insistent.
Then she leaned back, looking him into the eye for one moment, as they smiled at each other.
“Good,” she said, opening the door.
They were still smiling when they entered the room.
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