Drabble: Pearl of Price

[mrstater]

Title: Pearl of Price
Author: mrstater
Fandom: Downton Abbey
Characters & Pairing: Mary Crawley/Richard Carlisle
Rating & Warnings: PG for power dynamics in relationships
Format & Word Count: drabble, 383 words
Summary: An engagement ring brings Richard and Mary to agreement--though for very different reasons. [set after episode 2x5]
Author's Note: Written

Comments

[gilpin25]

I meant to comment on the pic of the ring and this is a timely reminder; the ring was lovely and a unexpected choice on first glance, when I might have expected something grander, maybe. Though maybe not...

Richard's planning and thoughts are so well-captured here; I really like the line about his pearl of great price, as he is yet to discover that both it and she will cost him dear. Love the hints of Mary's inward surprise and possible pleasure, as well as her outward disdain. You've made me wish we'd seen this moment onscreen now; it's easy to imagine it playing out like this.

[mrstater]

Eep! I've just noticed I left very important words out of that last sentence. They're back in there now but goodness, how did that ever happen?

It's a lovely ring, isn't it? I know I always assumed because of Haxby he'd have got her a gaudy ring but perhaps it was sort of a snowball effect of Richard going increasingly OTT to try and get some sort of reaction out of her but without getting anything but more frustrated himself. I, too, wish we'd seen more moments between them, if for no other reason than to shut certain people up. ;) And very pleased you think this seems believable! Thanks for reading and commenting. :)

[shimotsuki]

Gah, this is a perfect example of what must have been going on in S2 -- Richard thinks these rather endearing things, but he keeps it all so far inside that Mary has no idea...

And I do like the idea that Mary might have been secretly pleased with something Richard chose, even if she didn't want him to know. ;)

[mrstater]

I'm so glad it feels believable to you that Richard was actually quite romantic beneath the surface, but for a variety of reasons buttoned all that down. I think it must have been equal parts the nature of his business forcing him not to be sentimental, but also not wanting to feel unequal in the relationship, knowing Mary was only interested in a pragmatic marriage. If only he'd showed her more...though I think that's going to be a question in Something Worth Having, about whether it would have made any difference. ;)

Thank you so much for reading and for your lovely comments! Is this the start of spring break for you, or was that last week?