if you had a gun you could not kill me more than this fic did. holy feels. i never got the "evelyn's a weak pushover boring wounded puppy". he's very much an introvert and isn't willing to force his feelings on mary, or to make things awkward for her, certainly, but he's hardly a pushover. he was very debonaire when we first met him, and when he realized that mary didn't want him he simply bounced rather than compete for her because the dude knows his worth. he's a handsome, rich, titled bachelor in a society where men of his age and accomplishment are increasingly scarce. little wonder he was engaged by sybil's ball. then the war sanded down the slightly posh demeanor he displayed in his earlier episodes, leaving him more a refined and quiet gentleman, which i think is only natural since he was cavalry (i believe) and so would have seen death and brutality. i'm really, really glad your fic subtly captured that aspect of him; he's not dull but he is an iceberg, with so much beneath the surface.

i always loved how much he respected and cared for mary, how gentle (without being condescending) he was. i really would have preferred them to be endgame, especially after he implied he'd be willing to stay at downton (which not many men with estates of their own would have done). he knows what it all means to her, how hard she's worked, what she's had to overcome, and her happiness means everything to him. such an underrated character and relationship.

that last paragraph is a beast, i hope you know. loved it. you did a great job.

this is beautiful and heartbreaking and feels like them. you did a fantastic job with this!

I believe I told you how lovely I thought this was, but here I go again! Wonderful story!

Still waters run deep.
Count me in on Team Evelyn.

I so love this, even though I am solidly in the Mary/Blake camp, as you know. This is just stunning. Beautiful, painful, such uncertainty and full of surprises! You wrote both of their emotions so convincingly. If you were writing for poor Eve, he might actually stand a chance! ;) Great job.

This is really how I see Mary. Wanting, yet not ready. I cannot imagine myself moving on if I were to lose my husband. But Mary is still young enough to want more in life, to have more in life...more children, a 'career', life at Downton, raising a son & heir. I won't see episode 1 for another 2 months, but I realize that Mary is lightyears ahead of me...maybe I'm still pining for that cowboy from the middle west...someone to help Mary summon 'courage'.

This is just too beautiful! How do you know them so .. Perfectly!
This is what I want in the final.
Thank you
And Evelyn has loved for so long! He will be there for Mary I'm sure

Like you, I am a fan of Evelyn Napier. I like his honesty and steadfastness. He is also good looking. I love what you have written and I wish Mary would choose him when she is ready.