Gah! Angst! I love angst! I can't wait to see how you resolve this all.

It is quite shocking when canon is happier than a fanfiction lol

While I still have problems in accepting that Sir Richard can lay his hands on Mary (ugh ugh ugh - the thought of women having to sleep with husbands they not only do not love, but don't want nor respect has always striken me as rape culture. And it makes me sad that Mary, for obvious, heartbreaking reasons, has to endure that) I must say I find this story utterly interesting. Because we've been so close to this scenario, and what would've happened then? How could Matthew atone for his mistakes? So yes, I'm really becoming obsessed with this story, as one of the possible sad outcomes canon could've had.

About Sir Richard - his character (both in canon and in your fanfic) is fascinating to me: don't get me wrong, he's a negative figure and I despise him but it's worth analyzing him. Superficially, from the outside, you'd say Mary wouldn't have reasons to complain: he apparently loves and admires her, he tries to give her every comfort she might need, buys out her scandals, tries to be accepted by her family while knowing she will never love, respect or even bear the sight of him. But honestly, he's a bastard. He's a bully, he acts as if he owned her, he's violent, he's cruel, he's cold. He does scare me a little too. So there's all that, you might feel sorry for him (unrequited love?) but then you just want to punch him in the face while thinking that men like him ruined the lives of many women and unfortunately not just in the '20s! I despise him so!

Ahem. So. Yes. Your story is engaging. Please let Matthew punch him at some point. And can we hope in an happy end? That's what the tv gods want :P

It's odd reading angst when we've had such an abundance of fluff recently! It's good angst, though, and Mary's utter panic when Matthew came in was brilliant. All the same, I do hope this story has a happy ending in store. Now we know that they'll live happily ever after in canon, I'm not sure I could stomach a sad ending...

(But if it is a sad ending, write it anyway, cos I'll enjoy reading it nonetheless!)

TSG

WHAT! "Good-bye"! Noooooooooooooooooooo!

This is torture...blissful, blissful torture! You must write more.

How are you so brilliant?

Seriously, fluff, angst, smut, there is nothing you don't do to absolute wonderous epic magnitude. I LOVE this story. As much as I love your fluff (and i REALLY really do) I am ultimately an angsty sort of reader and in many ways I would prefer things to have gone this way for Mary and Matthew. Such tension, such marvellous marvellous angst. I love your tortured Matthew, so exquisitely painfully captured and tormented in his current powerless position. What can he do? I am so intrigued to see where you take this.

Also Matthew isn't the only one who appreciates a good argument, I love arguing M/M as much if not more than fluffy M/M and that is saying something.

More please, very VERY soon.

I agree with TrapperII that it is much easier to read the angsty fanfic now that Julian Fellowes has finally got M & M twirling in fluff. I really like how you write Isobel's point of view in this chapter. Isobel's holier-than-thou attitude irritates me but when she is shown as just being a mother of a son, my heart goes out to her, I guess because I have sons (now nearly grown and flown, as they say). Here's a random thought; I wonder if moms of girls have more sympathy for Cora because of the shared emotional baggage of raising girls.

Back to your latest chapter - I like how your Thomas keeps us guessing as to whether he can be a sympathetic character or is just looking after #1.

You know, knowing that they're happy now in canon really does make angst and separation in fanfic so much more palatable! :)

I loved this chapter. You captured Matthew so well in all three sections. His conversation with Isobel was perfection. The exchange with Mary was also perfection (they didn't say much, but you communicated everything fabulously).

I'm wondering if you're going to end it unhappily. I'm still hoping for a little adultery, I freely admit ...

Oh...OH. This fic cuts RIGHT to the heart in the most searing and beautiful way, ESPECIALLY now because...change ONE little detail and this would've been M/M at Christmas. :( Matthew's convo with Isobel is such a creative twist on the grave scene in the CS, but with an unbelievably sad caveat: that if Mary wasn't happy, there was NOTHING Matthew could do. His visit to Haxby has a similar sad aura of futility, and the fact that he knows about Pamuk now, but you just make our hearts BREAK for both of them, because they're both trapped. The last scene was STUNNING and made me gasp. :( On a lighter note, I do LOVE butler!Thomas and his uneasy relationship with Matthew. But this is just SO well-written and characterized, though I'm very happy it's only a "What if..." ;) PLEASE update soon! :D

Ah, I really love the anger on Mary's part at Matthew rushing in to make things "right" when it's a little too late for such gestures. As she thought in her head, how could he come to see if she's alright when he'd thrown her away months ago and indirectly forced her into her current situation?

Her anger is understandable, and I'm glad Matthew realized it, although belatedly.

And ah, say goodbye to go somewhere? To what?

Looking forward to seeing where you go with this!

'remember that IN CANON THEY ARE HAPPY'

*clings to that fact while weeping into a pillow*

I think I'm going to have to go read some fluff - or rewatch the Christmas special (I'm not fussy! P) to clear my head of this angst! Still fervently hoping that there will be a fluffy resolution to this fic though, so am just about remaining sane...

Whaaaat? Aaah omg what this story is doing to meeee! I'm taking your advice and going to go read some christmas fluff after that chapter!

But aah it was so good and angsty this chapter. Nooo maary don't say goodbyeeee

!

Saying that, great chapter, looking forward to the next! :-)

Oh no! Poor Mary and Matthew, everything's just going wrong for them!

This is such an amazingly brilliant piece - so well told and well paced. I can't wait to see where you take it!

Thanks for updating!

Oh WOW! You really have a handle on Carlisle and his motives here. Matthew and Mary's reactions to him are perfectly in character and I really wanted a punch thrown here :) And yes, Carlisle is reading this all wrong, just as he misread Anna :) Incredible and I can't wait for more!

I think I'm on my third read of this chapter which says something about the quality of this fic. On the show I feel Richard is such a missed opportunity on every front, however I think fanfic is serving him better. He's so unlikeable and yet you clearly see that he thinks buying Mary a lot of trinkets, making her tear up Matthew's picture, telling Matthew the truth will somehow secure her for him. The problem is Richard clearly has no clue how Mary and Matthew operate. Telling Matthew about the Pamuk bit is going to allow Matthew to better understand why Mary married Richard. And telling Matthew will in time lessen any hold Richard has on Mary. In trying to secure his prize, he's actually set up his defeat. That said he's terribly compelling and I think this story is your best work yet, which is high praise considering how many of your fics I love. But the characterization here is just astounding. Awesome job!