Fic: A Girl in Black (16/?)

[mrstater]

Title: A Girl in Black (16/?)
Author: mrstater
Fandom: Downton Abbey
Characters & Pairings: Mary Crawley/Richard Carlisle, Gwen Dawson, Robert Crawley, Evelyn Napier, Anna Smith
Chapter Word Count: 4206
Chapter Summary: As the household cope with a death at Downton, Mary is reminded that the matters which concern her are of little importance to anyone else--

Comments

[erolyn2]

WHAT. HE JUST LEFT? After he fucked her?

OMG. ASSHOLE. I AM SO MAD AT HIM RIGHT NOW. I AM MUCH MADDER ABOUT THIS THAN ABOUT THE BLACKMAILING TO BE HONEST.

(There were many excellent things about this chapter but I'll have to gush about them later because right now I am TOO ANGRY.)

[mrstater]

Oh goodness! That is not quite the reaction I was expecting! LOL Though yes, a dick move for Sir Dick, for sure, though he doesn't realize it...HE HAD A SCOOP.

Looking forward to hearing what you did like! I hope it doesn't take you too long to calm down...

Thanks for reading, babe!

[phoenikxs]

I'm not sure I get all these angry, dramatic reviews here or on ff.net. Of course, I'm angry at Richard. How can you not be! He basically abandons Mary right after her first time. And after that last sentence (there you go once again, hon, killing me with your perfect last sentences), how can you not feel for Mary?!
But, as insensitive as his leaving seems, let's be honest. This is EXACTLY what Richard would do! There's a huge story to be told. A big story that he has exclusively! He is the only one with the inside scoop, so of course he wants to get that story written and published in his paper. And, to be fair, the reason he's leaving is because Robert has this weird thing for keeping with tradition and not installing a phone. Otherwise, he'd have called the story in, I'm sure.
All this is to say, I think you did an amazing job with this chapter in perfectly capturing both Richard and Mary's characters! I for one can't wait to read more.

[mrstater]

I think you should be shocked at Richard and angry at him, because Mary is, too and you're seeing this all unfold from her POV. But that's never the whole story is it, and Richard's been a newspaper man for much longer than he's been Mary's suitor/lover, and he's also never had the perspective of being a twenty-year-old earl's daughter who had sex outside of marriage and her reputation entirely hangs by that thread. She doesn't know whether he'll come back, whether anyone will find out, so of course she panics, but that never enters Richard's head. I'm very glad you think his quick getaway was in-character.

And so glad you mentioned the phone, too, because I'd hoped his little dig at Robert for not having one would come through. I still think he'd be off to London ASAP, but not quite so immediately, if Robert were a little more with the times. ;)

Thanks so much for reading, my dear. I'm thrilled you like and hope you continue to do so.

[erolyn2]

Sorry Ilka. :-P

[phoenikxs]

It's okay, Anna :)

[shimotsuki]

Oh, oh, oh! You've got me on the edge of my seat here, wondering where the danger and threats are going to come from! I suppose if this is S1, Daisy is still having her crush on Thomas, isn't she? So he'll still find a way to weasel something out of her...

Poor Mary -- it's exactly what Richard would do, rushing back to London with his scoop. But that doesn't make it any better for Mary, especially since she's just risked so much.

The little scene with Robert was heartbreaking, where Mary thought they were regaining some of their lost rapport, and then Robert grabs the chance for another twist of the knife.

[mrstater]

There are danger and threats from many corners, as shall be revealed...So very glad to hear you're on pins and needles here for how it all plays out. Evil Tater is evil...

[vladnyrki]

Great chapter, as usual, I might say. The interactions between Mary and Anna are particularly spot on: Anna doesn't miss anything, and, at the same time, she respects Mary's privacy and convey the feeling she has her back. A true big sister, like during the canon Pamuk scandal

[mrstater]

It's a fair question about Richard writing the article/going back to London himself--I toyed with him going into the village and phoning it/telegraphing it in. But that was why I had him do this interview with Pamuk, and I think he'd really have to/want to write that up himself--it's an exclusive last interview before his death, and as you mentioned the situation in the Balkans/the peace talks that have been going on in London at this point (and will conclude in December), and Richard wants to handle it himself, live and in person. I mean he was the eyewitness here, and his blood is up, on the scent of a big scoop... I'll get into some of that a bit more in the next chapter, which hopefully will eliminate any need to suspend disbelief about the publisher being so hands-on.

Very glad you liked the chapter, though; thanks so much for reading and commenting! Your feedback always means a lot. :)

[vladnyrki]

And maybe it would help Mary to understand he did not leave for just another juicy, but for scoop with political and international ramifications... That would be interesting indeed. Is it Friday yet (for AGiB, and because, next Friday, I will be settled in my new place, at last)?

[mrstater]

Alas for Richard and Mary, they're both a little myopic and not the most open people in the world. So...it doesn't occur to Richard that Mary might be feeling really insecure after taking this step she's just made with a man she's not married to, and Mary's not really the type to ask for explanations... So...this probably won't be resolved right away. ;)

[gilpin25]

Dearie, dearie me! Somewhat insensitive there, Richard, to put it mildly, but then he'd have done better in the actual series if he hadn't courted Mary like a business proposition. Which means it feels entirely fitting here that he'd never hesitate for a second to personally chase such a headline story, especially as he's probably totally convinced that Mary can have no doubts about the strength of his feelings for her. It's a shame he's skipped the realization that sometimes people need words to confirm this

[mrstater]

Yes, Richard and Mary have a really unfortunate combination of flaws, don't they? He's oblivious to the fact that sometimes, people need to hear certain words, and Mary of course will never tell anyone that she doesn't know what they believe she does. (But then, of course, if they didn't make these mistakes, it wouldn't be a very interesting story, would it?) I'm so glad you feel I captured both of their reactions to the situation! Though I realize I've gone and made half of the pairing I'm trying to sell with this AU...even more difficult to sell, LOL.

Poor Evelyn really gets the shaft, doesn't he? (And I'm still sad we didn't actually get to see him convalesce at Downton in S2 after they mentioned him!)

Ambiguous endings will not be quite so ambiguous in the next chapter... Which will hopefully be ready this week...we shall see!

As always, so happy you're enjoying. And I really appreciate your comments!