#nottheprincess

@nottheprincess

“Did everyone know about it?” The young blonde asked, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

__________ ✧             ❛   OH  MARY,    TOM  IS    not so   bad   when you give him a chance.    i actually think you two would get on rather   WELL.    he needs   ALLIES   before this family tears him apart    ...    did you see how   papa  &&  grandmama   looked at him in the library  ??    please say you’ll at least   TRY    ...   ❜

           Talking to Robert could be either of two things. Utterly enjoyable and liberating. Or sadly exhausting and draining. Upon his engagement to Mary, he had decided to call a meeting with her father to ask for his permission. But the prospect of Cousin Cora’s child and the uncertainty of how they would proceed and how they would live should the child be that of a male. Robert had exhausted it all, tried to twist the notion that Matthew would still be entitled to something. However, there was nothing more that Matthew knew than the law of the entail. The process would not allow it. Generations of Granthams had seen to that at least. He was glad when the conversation ended and he was able to leave to find his fiancee. 

          When he saw her, he could not answer. Instead he collapsed into the space beside Mary and let his head rest upon her knee, closing his eyes for a long moment. “Exhausting, pointless. And we went around in circles at least three times,” He said, running his hand across his face and giving a sigh. “He gives his consent but he is adamant that perhaps we do not make any life-changing decisions until the baby is born. Which worries me to think that perhaps he may ask us to post-pone the wedding.”

Perhaps if it had been anyone other than Sir Carlisle, Sybil would have kept on her path and left Mary to battle, but even an outsider would be able to see that the man was draining her sister of life. It was that thought that swayed the youngest Crawley to change her direction and begin heading towards the couple, "I hear Papa is looking for you Sir Carlisle." Sybil piped up once she was close enough, smiling kindly at the man as she stopped beside her sister and watched as the man took his leave before turning her gaze back onto her elder sibling. “Honestly Mary, any one from a mile away could see the two of you are ill matched.” 

                       Matthew raised an eyebrow as she declared that she didn’t want to impose on him. He shook his head, almost confused at her behaviour. He had stayed at Downton many times before.and he couldn’t understand why she could not stay with him at his. After all, they WERE engaged. There would be no harm. So long as she stayed in the guest room he saw no reason against it. “I can have Molesley fetch you new clothes in the morning. I’m sure there will be no worry for it.”