Check the definitions of "bear" and "bare." You keep mixing them up.

It's "they'll WRITE her off as eccentric," not "RIGHT."

"Reclining back" is redundant. There's no other way to recline. It's similar to saying "revert back." There's no other way to revert.

It's "How did you BEAR it," not "BARE it." "Bare" means "unadorned" or "naked." "Bear" in this case means "hold" or "carry," as in "bear a burden."

I cannot praise this story enough! At first I was reluctant to read any story in which Mary married Richard - but you bring such a realistic edge to it, you actually see this happening in canon. Your canon characters are right on target! Integration of actual canon events and memories twined with events 10 years forward. And so much character depth - the children are so wonderfully drawn, and Mary and Matthew’s undying love for each other, kept dormant for 10 years, acknowledged without out any real chance of being together - but then obvious to all including Emily even without action. Would love to see more in this universe. So so lovely!

This story was amazing! It was really well written and so beatiful (I even had to dry my eyes a couple of times) Thank you so much for sharing it with us :D

Live your story, I know it’s been years but please write a sequel. Would love to read about their tour through Europe, their shock of having 3 babies in 3 years. Trials and tribulations of becoming a family and later earl and countess .

This story was written so beautifully, Mary and Matthew’s undying love for each other despite choosing different paths. Emily and Peter drawn so beautifully and even Richard- really great!

This is such a wonderful story! Each character is so wonderfully written. Such a realistic alternative. Would love to read a sequel you would write about Mary and Matthew’s life together.

I’m a blubbering mess after reading this story... in less than 2 days, I must confess! Thank you for this beautiful AU of Downton. The characters were marvelous and the details were perfect. I wish I could watch this! I would’ve loved to seen Mary married to Richard. I don’t think he was a bad person and she would’ve become a tremendous woman if they writers decided to go in a different direction!

I have to say that I think MaryMatthew getting married was a tad fast and a bit forced. I love them together too and I liked how you set it up. I just wish there were more in between Richard dying and M/M getting married.

The last scene with Richard and the children made me cry like a baby! Emily saying ‘if I wasn’t as strong, would you stay?’ Absolutely murdered me.

There were so many more lines that were just beautiful. I could go on and on!

Thank you so much for putting your heart and soul into this story. I’m so glad I found it 3

Emily

Just finished reading this story! Thank you for sharing this!

Hello, I'm re-reading (for the 3rd or 4th time) your story and I wanted to repeat that you're really a wonderfull, wonderfull author, miss Kittyplank! thank you for taking the time to write this story and share it here with us! I hope we'll someday be able to read a new story from you! Hugs from Portugal, Célia

My joy for Sybil's return wasn't in vain (not that I was expectin it to be). What a wonderful scene, so emotional and raw but also tender and funny in some bits and the characters are handled so beautifully even when they are at their worst behaviour. Your writing made me miss Sybil. I know Jessica Brown Findlay wanted to leave the show and it's best to let go, but this made me think about how Sybil would have been such a support for Mary when Matthew died.
I had to stop myself from screaming as I read the scene with Isobel and Matthew. It brims with life and sentiment and worry and poignancy.
I continue to be fascinated by how you are drawing Emily and Mary's dynamics and I can't wait to see where it is going.
At risk of sounding repetitive, Sybil is the best. And what a joy it was to see hr put people in their place.
Violet's mental downfall is starting to creep up and it is heartbreaking.
The scene between Mary and Matthew was ripe with tension and so well developed. It may have gotten lost in the shuffle as the show went on but I think the entail informed so much of Mary's demeanour it was nice to see her relief at how her daughter would have to be put in the same situation.

This was sad and awkward and heartbreaking and tense and beautifully drawn until we get to dinner and it all goes up in flames.
At risk of repeating myself, I must congratulate you on your grasp of the characters and I really like the perfume detail.
Sybil is back! I can't wait to read the rest.

I don't like Richard much, never had, but you're leading me to sympathise with him and it's not just due to the fact that he's ill, but also to the way you present his feelings, particularly the humiliation and the wish to remain as independent as he can, even if in only small things now, and I like the detail of him relating better to Matthew's behaviour back then when he was injured.
I like the observation about how Mary's behaviour of taking it on could be her way of showing that she was as good as any son.
Wow - Emily's take on 'divine' cause-consequence regarding Matthew's presence and Richard's illness was quite something and a very interesting bit.
I am riveted by Mary and Emily's dynamics. They seem so real.
Your portrayal of Mary during these trying times has been wonderful to read. She's still Mary in the sense that she gets things done, but she's also vulnerable and feels burdened and even wistful sometimes. And the exchange between her and Matthew at the end of the «sweet shop» section was on point and felt so like something we could have seen on the show.
I loved the conversation between Richard and Robert. You managed to be faithful to the characters once again while giving them a new ground to stand on. They didn't become friends all of the sudden, but they can see each other in a different light now.
I never knew I wanted a heart-to-heart between Richard and Violet until I read your scene. How wonderfully it is written.

You convey everything burdening Mary so well and the bit about how she has already given Richard her forgiveness is beautiful and poignant.
I don't know what else I can add about how much I like your Mary x Matthew scenes without becoming too repetitive. I particularly enjoyed that bit when Matthew realises that he didn't like to see Mary smoking due to the action per se but because it reminded him of so many things about her he didn't know.
I think my favourite thing about the story so far is the grasp you have on how these characters react towards each other, for good and for bad. May and Richard's argument seems quite organic and truthful to what we know of them. Let's hope he doesn't write it in his will that she can't marry Matthew a la Casaubon in Middlemarch.
Oh no you didn't, Mary.
I've been feeling bad for Richard, but wanting to take Downton as a collateral in case Rober fails to pay his loan back is just too cruel.
You give him an earful, Violet. You keep doing that.
I think the reactions in light of Richard's news are quite in tone with what we know of the characters.
I was surprised by Richard's visit to Matthew and the reasons and I'm quite curious about how this will unfold.