#heircousin

     The timing of their meeting had been unfortunate for both parties involved -- with Anya being so new to England after escaping the site of her familiy’s execution, and Matthew returning from the front, but seriously injured. She wouldn’t have thought to find herself so attached to him, but here she was, completely and utterly in love. Perhaps it was because they had both found themselves in need of healing at the same time. 

@heircousin

     “Marry a man who can barely hold his knife like a gentleman? You’re an American, you don’t understand these things.” 

     That was the one of the last things she said to her Mama regarding Matthew Crawley the night they had invited him over for dinner. Beneath her distain for the man was a woman who held a deep admiration for him and yet she would never admit it, often hiding it behead a false demeanor and claiming “he was never one of them to inherit the estate,” and criticizing him for something as trivial as “not holding a knife properly.”

     However, despite that falsehood she hid behind, it was her Mama and Granny who seemed to see right through her facade. Over time, Mary decided to be respectful in her body language and speech, finding herself getting close to men to make him jealous. It was a trait she didn’t want to continue. Her Mama had a point about her behavior. Who would want to socialize with a young woman who flirts with every eligible guy available to her? She had the perfect man in front of her, a man who showed he cared deeply for her and yet she was too blind to see it.

     As days turned into weeks, Mary had planned on giving him some sort of sign that she was interested the next them their paths crossed. The cottages he had mentioned and wanted to show her that particular night came to mind. His recent arrival at Downton, however, was a pleasant surprise. 

     “Ah, Matthew, I wasn’t expecting you here today.” She was being genuine and welcoming in the smile she bestowed upon him up while entering the library. “I’m afraid my Father is out on business at the moment. Is there... something perhaps I help you with?”

Sybil hadn't known if she was in love with Tom like he was her, but there was no denying that the young woman did have feelings for the man- and it was that which occupied her thoughts, distracting her from most things. The war was over and she had promised him an answer once it was. Knowing full well she was unable to go to her sisters or mother about this particular problem, or anyone who had grown up in her world, Sybil had come up with an idea.