Come Dine With Me

[thirstforvice]

Slowly, life returns to normal.

Treves visits, regularly at first, then less so, helping Matthew to rehabilitate his leg to a level where he can walk without help once more, though he still relies heavily on the use of a cane. Bennet's memories continue to return, in steady dribs and drabs, and Edmund invites them both to return to their work before too long. Matthew's stomach turns at the thought of going back on the trains again, even the underground ones, and blames his leg for why he favours a carriage.

He's taking laudanum again, coca too, but that he keeps quiet. There's no need to worry Bennet with that, not yet anyway, not when everything is still so fragile.

They've been back at Leman Street just over a week when Matthew and Bennet return home to a frantically cooking Mrs Ramsay.

"There was a message, from your Inspector Reid," she informs them both as she moves around the kitchen. "He will be dining with us this evening."

Comments

[thegentlemanthug]

"Thank you," Bennet says.

Mrs Ramsay looks stern, an expression that sits ill on her face. She leans down to her charge's ear. "Just say the word and I'll pour one of the doctor's tonics in their tea."

"Too kind," he says, and almost smiles.

[thirstforvice]

"So what are you requestin'?" Matthew demands as soon as they are left alone again, dutifully serving himself from the platters in front of him even though food is the last thing on his mind.

[thegentlemanthug]

"A divorce," Susan says, dryly.

"The Inspector and I are getting married.

[thirstforvice]

Matthew is glad he's not yet started to eat, else he surely would have choked.

"You're... what?" His voice wavers more than he'd wanted it to.

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet glares daggers at Reid. He had thought better of the man he had called friend, than to covet another man's wife - especially a harpy such as this one. But then Matthew was living with him under his roof, so he could he really call it treachery?

"I think a divorce would be to our mutual benefit," Reid chips in.

[thirstforvice]

"Jesus, Reid," Matthew is less careful than Bennet at keeping his thoughts to himself.

"I'll sign whatever you want me to, but you're making a mistake. Trust me. Learn from my mistakes."

[thegentlemanthug]

"The Inspector is nothing like you," Susan says, her voice cutting. "He has no desire to shape me into something I'm not."

"Matthew deserved none of what you gave him," Bennet says, his voice quiet but steel-cored. "If Mr Reid wants to try his luck, that's on him, but you won't malign Matthew in his own house."

[thirstforvice]

"I never made you do nothin' you didn't want to do!" Matthew protests violently, hands slamming the tabletop as he gets up onto his feet.

"I never dared even try. You'd only have thrown something at my head."

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet stands and takes hold of Matthew's arm.

"Shall we step outside?" he murmurs in his lover's ear. "Let the tea cool, eh?"

[thirstforvice]

"No," Matthew shrugs off the support, sitting himself back down in his chair and staring defiantly at Susan and Reid both. He refuses to be cowed by this woman any more.

"You do what you want," he tells Reid once more. "But you'll regret it when the honeymoon fades."

[thegentlemanthug]

Reid shifts uncomfortably in his chair.

"I have arranged for a solicitor to handle the affair," he says. "We need not all be present."

[thirstforvice]

Matthew shrugs. He will do what has to be done, in the presence of whoever needs to be present.

"Whatever you think's best."

[thegentlemanthug]

"You will release me then?" Susan spits.

"He'll be free of you," Bennet counters.

[thirstforvice]

"Who's bein' released is entirely debatable," Matthew grumbles, but keeps his voice low. He is not free of her just yet, and he does not want to go out with bruises and bleeding.

"I'll do whatever you say," he says, louder, pushing food gone cold and mostly untouched around his plate.

[thegentlemanthug]

"Perhaps we might continue this discussion another time," Bennet says, shooting Reid a look of threatening intent.

"Yes, it is getting late," Reid says, understanding him entirely, and standing up from the table.

[thirstforvice]

But Susan has that glint in her eye, one Matthew recognises from across the table and instinctively tenses. Something is coming, something cruel, and he wonders whether she's at least remembered his warning about the best china.

"Darling," she looks up to Reid, resting a hand against his. "We've not shared our other news."

[thegentlemanthug]

Reid looks uncomfortable and it's that alone that makes Bennet move to stand closer to Matthew, his hand on his shoulder.

"What news?" he bites out.

[thirstforvice]

"Maybe now's not the best time," Reid tries to placate his intended, but of course she will not be swayed.

"Of course it is. Tell your friends, Edmund, why we are so eager to wed."

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet keeps a steadying hand on Matthew's shoulder.

Reid finally meets their eyes. "Susan is pregnant with our child."

[thirstforvice]

Matthew feels his legs go weak, and this time it's nothing to do with his injured leg. He's glad of Bennet's steadying hand as he stares at his soon-to-be-ex-wife, and his boss.

"You... you didn't hang about there, did you?" He hears the words leaving his mouth but his mind is a million miles away, swirling in sickening circles, and he thinks he might faint, or be sick, or both.

[thegentlemanthug]

"I think you'd better leave now," Bennet says.

Reid doesn't hesitate, quickly crossing the room to collect their coats without further prompting.

[thirstforvice]

Matthew doesn't wait to say goodbye, pulling free of Bennet and pushing past their guests, making a quick exit upstairs. The bedroom door slams behind him, leaving him blessedly alone in the dark to process everything that's just happened.

[thegentlemanthug]

Susan makes some tart comment, but the blood is roaring too loud in Bennet's ears for him to hear anything at all.

Reid ushers her out without another word and Bennet slams the door, leaning against it for a moment, before throwing the nearest object into the wall.

The petite vase smashes and he regrets it immediately, looking for the broom.

Mrs Ramsay appears and shoos him away. "I've got it, dear. Go and see to your doctor."

[thirstforvice]

Matthew sits in the dark on the edge of the bed, and whilst he furiously wipes at his cheeks as he hears footsteps on the stair, he knows that the tears will still be obvious to Bennet.

He doesn't even know why he's so upset, but he feels as though a brick wall has come tumbling down on top of him. He'd given up any hope of a happy marriage with Caitlin long ago, and the concept of having a child together had never even been discussed. Hell, he'd never truly wanted to be a father. But hearing that she's found someone else, someone who's giving her a happy marriage and a family of her own... he feels jealous, angry, embarrassed... anything but happy. No matter how much he loves Bennet and their life together.

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet doesn't knock, but opens the door slowly, bringing a lamp inside with him.

"Matthew? It's only me."