Love Nor Money
Title: Love Nor Money
Author: mrstater
Characters & Pairing: Mary Crawley/Richard Carlisle
Rating & Warnings: PG for innuendo
Word Count: 300
Summary: Mary and Richard are introduced at Cliveden for an obvious reason.
Love Nor Money
After introductions, Lady Astor flutters off to see to her other guests, leaving Mary to acquaint herself with the man she's to dine with tonight.
"You look disconcerted, Lady Mary." Richard Carlisle lifts an eyebrow as he offers his arm. "Didn't you expect to be seated with so distinguished a guest?"
Mary returns his mocking look. "I was thinking notorious. But no," she adds, placing her hand in the crook of his arm, breath hitching slightly at the sensation of a muscle tensing beneath her gloved fingertips and his dinner jacket, "I'm well acquainted with Nancy's obvious matchmaking attempts. There are so few bachelors between thirty and sixty left to attend parties at Cliveden."
She glances at the guests mingling in the drawing room, evening gowns and jewels disproportionate to tailcoats and watch chains. Sir Richard's arm curls inward, drawing Mary closer against his side and into step with him as they follow their hostess through to dinner.
"I'll tell you up front," he says, glancing downward, "I rejected a proposal last month from a woman who wanted to marry me for my money."
"And I turned down a man who wished to marry me for love."
A dimple forms in Sir Richard's cheek as they find their at the expanse of table and pulls out her chair. Warm callused fingers brush the bare strips of skin between her sleeves and gloves as he seats her.
"That leaves only one reason why two people might marry," he murmurs.
"Indeed." Mary cannot help but return Sir Richard's smirk as he takes his seat, her heart beating quicker, more alive, than it has since Matthew walked away from her at the garden party and marched off to his likely death.
"In which case I look forward very much to our continued acquaintance."
Author: mrstater
Characters & Pairing: Mary Crawley/Richard Carlisle
Rating & Warnings: PG for innuendo
Word Count: 300
Summary: Mary and Richard are introduced at Cliveden for an obvious reason.
Love Nor Money
After introductions, Lady Astor flutters off to see to her other guests, leaving Mary to acquaint herself with the man she's to dine with tonight.
"You look disconcerted, Lady Mary." Richard Carlisle lifts an eyebrow as he offers his arm. "Didn't you expect to be seated with so distinguished a guest?"
Mary returns his mocking look. "I was thinking notorious. But no," she adds, placing her hand in the crook of his arm, breath hitching slightly at the sensation of a muscle tensing beneath her gloved fingertips and his dinner jacket, "I'm well acquainted with Nancy's obvious matchmaking attempts. There are so few bachelors between thirty and sixty left to attend parties at Cliveden."
She glances at the guests mingling in the drawing room, evening gowns and jewels disproportionate to tailcoats and watch chains. Sir Richard's arm curls inward, drawing Mary closer against his side and into step with him as they follow their hostess through to dinner.
"I'll tell you up front," he says, glancing downward, "I rejected a proposal last month from a woman who wanted to marry me for my money."
"And I turned down a man who wished to marry me for love."
A dimple forms in Sir Richard's cheek as they find their at the expanse of table and pulls out her chair. Warm callused fingers brush the bare strips of skin between her sleeves and gloves as he seats her.
"That leaves only one reason why two people might marry," he murmurs.
"Indeed." Mary cannot help but return Sir Richard's smirk as he takes his seat, her heart beating quicker, more alive, than it has since Matthew walked away from her at the garden party and marched off to his likely death.
"In which case I look forward very much to our continued acquaintance."