Downton Abbey, England, September 1912

"I've been studying the story of Andromeda, do you know it?"

"Why?"

"Her father was King Cepheus, whose country was being ravaged by storms, and in the end, he decided the only way to appease the gods was to sacrifice his eldest daughter to a hideous sea monster. So they chained her naked to a rock…"

"Really, Mary! We'll all need smelling salts in a minute."

"But the sea monster didn't get her, did he?"

"No. Just when it seemed he was the only solution to her father's problems, she was rescued."

"By Perseus."

"That's right. Perseus. Son of a God. Rather more fitting, wouldn't you say?"

"That depends. I'd have to know more about the princess and the sea monster in question."

The rest of dinner was no better than the unqualified disaster that it started out to be. Mary and Matthew seemed to retreat to neutral corners, and spent the rest of the meal talking to anyone else except each other.

Cora escorted the ladies through and gave her husband a concerned look as they left the dining room. Robert sighed as he shared a drink with Matthew.

"I must apologize for Mary. She's rather used to getting her own way most of the time, you see, and…"

"Lord Grantham," Matthew raised his hand, looking somewhat exasperated. "Please, there is no need to apologize. Cousin Mary has made it abundantly clear just what she thinks of me, as well as your bringing me here."

"Well," Robert sighed. "Things will get better, Matthew."

The two men could only muster token smiles.

Matthew spent most of his time with Cora and Isobel when they came through. Mary stayed with her sisters and did not even glance in his direction. After having sherry and playing bridge, Violet rose purposefully, holding her cane in front of her.

"It is time that I went home," she declared. "It's getting late and I'm afraid that there's nothing left for me here tonight." She looked pointedly at Mary, then to Robert.

"Of course. Good night, Mama, I'll see you out."

"Perhaps we should leave as well. It is getting quite late," Isobel explained.

"Just one moment," Robert replied. "Edith, please take Cousin Isobel to the door and tell Carson to have the motor brought around. Matthew, I wanted to give you a book. It's a short history of Downton and the Village. It belonged to my father, actually and we've been updating it every so often. It might help you get a better idea of the place. It's just over in the library. I'll have Bates fetch it for you."

"Darling," Cora called. "Why don't you let poor Bates off this once? I'm sure Mary can go get the book for Matthew."

"But why? Bates is perfectly capable," Mary protested.

Cora shot her a withering look. "You will get that book for Matthew, and while you're at it you will apologize to him for your ridiculous behaviour tonight! Now go and stop embarrassing your Papa and me!" Cora hissed under her breath. Mary gasped in shock and Sybil had to hide her open mouth with her hand.

"Mary may as well show you the library, Matthew," Robert agreed. "It's actually a rather enjoyable part of the house."

"Yes, Mary will certainly take you to the library, Matthew," Cora smiled.

Robert and Edith walked Violet and Isobel towards the Great Hall. Mary rolled her eyes and motioned for Matthew to follow her out another door. When the room was emptier, Cora sat down and shook her head. Sybil simply laughed and Cora gave her a stern gaze before smiling herself and shaking her head yet again.

Mary and Matthew walked down a hallway in silence. Mary's step was purposeful and quick, as though she were desperate to reach the library. Matthew, refusing to be seen following behind her, matched her stride for stride, neither of them looking at each other and each holding their heads high.

"In here," Mary mumbled as she pointed towards another door. Matthew reached it ahead of her, and, thinking twice, he opened it and allowed her to step into the room first. The library was already darkened as the servants had put out most of the lights, not expecting anyone to use the room the rest of the evening. Matthew closed the door behind them.

Mary walked over to a shelf where she expected the book in question to be located. She peered across the titles before finding the correct volume. She took it from the shelves and turned, handing it to Matthew.

"Here," she said simply. She looked up at him with a bored expression.

Matthew returned her indifference. He reached out and took the book from her outstretched hand. Mary continued to watch him and Matthew's eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a smirk.

Before Mary knew what was going on, he dropped the book to the floor. He crossed the two steps between them swiftly and grabbed hold of her. Mary gasped, her eyes wide and her pulse racing. His one arm slid around her waist and the other came up her back, his fingers resting against the nape of her neck.

His lips crashed against hers insistently, his grip pressing their bodies together. Mary's hands moved from his shoulders to his hair and she moaned as she opened her mouth to him and their tongues caressed, tasting each other as though they were each starving for the flavour of the other.

They kissed for several moments before he lifted his head and pulled back, holding her by her hips, her hands came down to linger on his chest. They were both breathing quickly and their eyes opened, seeing lust and need reflected back in each other's gaze.

"Matthew!" she said huskily, pulling him back towards her. He kissed her neck as she ran her gloved hands up his back. "Oh God, I have wanted your hands on me this entire evening."

Matthew smiled against her pale throat. "You, Mary Crawley, are merciless. Andromeda naked and chained to a rock? You told that story on purpose just to tease me!"

Matthew pressed light kisses to her jaw and neck, and Mary tilted her head to allow him full access.

"Why, Matthew, how dare you accuse a Lady of such behaviour?" she said mockingly. "I thought you would be impressed by my knowledge of Greek mythology. After all, you read me that story yourself," she purred as he ran his tongue along her neck and up to her ear.

"Your intelligence and the fact that you are so well read are only two of the many qualities that I find undeniably irresistible about you darling," Matthew whispered between kisses. "But you did not need to paint such a vivid picture in my mind so early into the evening."

Mary betrayed herself by laughing. "I don't see how the tale of Andromeda would make you so uncomfortable, Matthew. After all, you've already seen me naked and tied up, and I seem to recall you enjoyed it immensely."

Matthew groaned, his arousal pressing scandalously against her through their clothing.

"I've seen you almost naked," he clarified. "And you were tied to my bed with silk scarves, not chained to a rock. Besides the fact that it was entirely your idea in the first place."

"Details, details, darling."

They kissed lightly on the lips again before she pushed him away gently. "We need to get back Matthew, before they send someone to look for us. They'll know it won't take this long to find Papa's book."

Matthew sighed, turning and picking up the book as Mary straightened her dress. They walked towards the door hand in hand.

"Remind me why we are pretending to hate each other in front of your family? Surely we can tell them about our past now that Robert himself has invited me here."

"Well not all of it, certainly!" Mary replied with a smile. "Or would you like to regale my Mama with the details of how you seduced me in London while I was engaged to another man?"

"You make it sound far more scandalous than it actually was!" Matthew replied petulantly, taking her into his arms. "It isn't as if I preyed upon you, for heaven's sakes! I have more scruples than that."

"Oh I don't know, Matthew," Mary teased. "There I was in London in winter, an innocent Lady celebrating the holiday traditions with society. How could I have been expected to resist your charms? I was completely at the mercy of such an experienced and dashing lover."

"Experienced?! Neither of us has ever…" Matthew rolled his eyes and sighed at her grinning face. "It is going to be very difficult to scold you in the future when you are well aware of all the ways to keep me under your thumb."

"It's not my thumb that I want you to be under," Mary whispered, smiling again as his face contorted with the effort of restraining his lust.

"All right, maybe not everything about our past, but please Mary, you know I'm not good at these types of games."

"You don't have any regrets, do you?" Matthew swallowed. "About the entail, and Robert bringing me here, and the prospect of spending your life with me?"

Mary kissed him tenderly. "Do shut up. I love you, Matthew. We're going to be together, just as we wished. I don't have any regrets. How could I? I'm going to marry the future Earl of Grantham." She smiled genuinely and kissed him again.

"Darling, I know it's difficult, but please do try, for me," Mary said gently. "They want it to be their idea, you see. It wouldn't do to just run into each other's arms right from the off. They would never expect me to do that, which will make them curious, which will lead to questions. I don't want to have to explain how we already know each other. And I certainly do not want them to know about just how well we know each other. I'm sorry Matthew, but if they knew, their opinion of you would change rather drastically. Just play along, darling. It will only be a few short months, I promise. Then I'll miraculously 'come around' and we can start planning our future. Mama and Granny already want me to marry you, and Papa would be all in favour of it. Everything is coming along perfectly, we just need to play it out."

"I've missed you, darling," Matthew sighed.

"I've missed you too," Mary replied. "After everything we've been through to now have everything we could ever want. Matthew, I will make it all up to you, I promise." She kissed him quickly. "Matthew, you do understand that all of what I said in there was for show, don't you?"

"You mean the part about me being a sea monster or the part about me not being your type of people?"

Mary cringed. "Yes, all of that. I'm sorry, Matthew. You know I can get carried away sometimes. You are exactly my kind of man, and so much more."

He smiled and they kissed again chastely. "You will need to keep reminding me, I'm afraid."

"Challenge accepted. Come on, let's go." She kissed him again and they left the library.

When they returned to the Great Hall, Robert and Isobel were talking, the driver standing at attention outside next to the car. Sybil was standing to the side with Edith and Cora.

"Ah, there you are, Matthew. Mary took care of you did she?"

"I found the book, yes," Matthew said nonchalantly.

Matthew turned and bowed to Cora, before saying goodbye to Edith and Sybil. Robert shook his hand firmly and smiled to him.

"We'll be seeing much more of you very soon, my boy."

"Thank you for everything, Lord Grantham. Yes, I have a great deal to learn."

Matthew went to follow his mother to the car. He stopped in his tracks and looked back, catching Mary's gaze but trying to appear nonplussed.

"Cousin Mary."

"Cousin Matthew," Mary sighed and looked up at the ceiling with a bored expression.

Matthew walked out to the car and went back to Crawley House with his mother. He was quiet the entire ride home, giving his mother short and brief answers as she commented on the events of the evening.

The Crawley family retired once Isobel and Matthew left. Cora scolded Mary again and Robert added his ire. Mary scoffed.

"I don't see what the point is of being nice to him, or to her, when neither of them is of any consequence to us."

"Of no consequence? He is my heir, and he'll be the head of this family someday," Robert answered.

"I'm your eldest daughter! He's a distant cousin that you only met for the first time this summer!"

"Mary, please!" Cora said angrily. "All of you go to bed. We'll talk about it later, if I deem it necessary. You, Mary, will regain your manners in time for our next dinner with Cousin Isobel and Cousin Matthew!"

Mary rolled her eyes and stomped up the stairs. Edith smiled and Sybil shook her head.

"I'm ringing for Anna. Don't even think about trying to get her to come to you first," Mary hissed at Edith as she closed her door behind her.

Mary pulled the cord then went and sat down at her vanity. She looked at her reflection as she removed her earrings. She could not help but smile. She pressed her fingers to her lips and closed her eyes, remembering the touch of Matthew's mouth against hers. She could not suppress her grin even as Anna arrived.

"You look rather pleased with yourself," Anna said. "Did the dinner with your new cousins go well?"

"Not at all," Mary huffed. "She's nice enough, but he's very full of himself."

"So why are you smiling then?"

"Oh it has nothing to do with tonight's dinner. Nothing at all. I've just been thinking about something else."