DA's series 2: The Ghost of 1914 - OR - Does Matthew have a mean streak? (part 7 - epi 2.05 cont'd)

[maryme2]

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And if they should just want to be with you? On any terms? - Another reverse proposal

The next day, Mary returns to the hospital to make amends. To tell Matthew that she doesn't care if he can't walk. To say the right things. But alas, it's too late. His whole demeanor

Comments

[sarapellow]

Interested in your thoughts on the timing of Mary's engagement and Matthew's knowledge of it. My reading of the sequence of events is that Mary had accepted Carlisle, but it hadn't been announced, and that's what she told Matthew in her letter before his ill-fated patrol and they also discussed it after the concert. It was announced in the paper the day after Mary goes to London, without Mary's knowledge, and I doubt Matthew would have been aware of the public announcement of it given his state of health (ie spending much of his time on morphine and coming to terms with his injuries). So I always interpreted those scenes as both of them having the knowledge that the other is engaged.

[maryme2]

When Mary goes to Carlisle, she explicitly calls their relationship an understanding: But I have no choice if I am not to be an object of ridicule and pity. If you wish to break off our understanding, I'll accept your decision. After all, it's never been announced. We may dissolve it with the minimum of discomfort. Therefore, I suppose Matthew hoped that she would do exactly that. Dissolve it with a minimum of discomfort. He himself had to struggle harder, and come up with solid arguments to make the dissolution legally valid