As the daughter of the Earl of Grantham you were forced to live a specific way, to not allow anything to ruin that image. You were expected to marry rich, even if love wasn't involved, told to remain chaste and to keep up an image of purity and beauty as to make sure you held onto a bright and wealthy future that your parents wanted for you.

You didn't understand why that was what your life was to be. You wished to find love and passion, be with someone who you knew cared for you as a person, not for the name and title you possessed.

For a while you had hidden the fact you were in love with a man. The two of you met secretly daily and you wished you would be able to marry him and be able to share a future. However, you were told to only marry nobility and he was the son of a farmer. You would consider him the most noble man you knew, but due to lacking a title you knew your father would never permit your union.

You hoped to have a while to come up with a way to reveal your relationship to your family, but you hand was forced when you had to go to Dr Clarkson. He revealed to you that your recent sickness, which you assumed was from bad food (not that you'd have ever said such a thing to Mrs Patmore), was actually due to pregnancy. You begged his silence, and he agreed for a short while, meaning you did not have long to figure out how to admit you had been having a secret relationship with your family's footman, William.

It terrified you to know you were to be a mother, especially when you were sure your family would disown you and fire William, leaving you to have no money or anyway to support your child.

Even though you knew that you should tell William straight away, you were too scared. You needed to turn to your sister, your twin sister.

You had never been the closest with Mary. You always got along with Edith and Sybil better, due to most of your life being brought up with a competition between you for everything. However, you knew Mary was the only one you could tell whom would not be able to tell anyone else of what was going on. Due to her infidelity with Mr Pamuk, if she were to tell your father about your relationship with William, you would tell him about the truth behind where Mr Pamuk died.

Knocking the wood of your sister's bedroom door, you were petrified by the fact that in moments you would admit all the lies you had told of the recent years.

The door opened to reveal Anna, the lady's maid for yourself and Mary.

"Afternoon, my Lady," She smiled.

"Hello Anna, could I speak with my sister please?" You smiled softly, trying to make it seem as though nothing was wrong.

You got along well with Anna and she knew of your relationship with William, but she promised she would never tell anyone.

"Of course."

With that Anna left the room, leaving you alone with Mary whom was sat at her vanity.

"Y/N?" Mary asked, moving her hair out of her face.

"Mary, I need to speak with you," you said softly, taking a seat at the end of her bed.

"What have I done now?" She sighed.

You shook your head, looking down at your hands.

She turned in her seat, giving you a sympathetic look.

"What's wrong sister?"

"I have done something that you shall not agree with. Something that Papa will never forgive me for. But even still I do not regret my decisions, I just do not know what to do now."

She reached a hand out to rest on yours.

"What have you done Y/N?"

"I have been in an intimate relationship with a man. A man of no title, but a man I love whole heartedly," you stated. "I have been under the weather for the last few days, however it isn't not just a sickness bug or the food, I am with child."

Mary's mouth opened as though she were to say something, but it took her a moment to compose herself and think through what you had told her before she could speak.

"How could you be so stupid?" She shouted.

"How am I stupid for following my heart?" You retorted.

"Your heart means nothing, if the man you bed is not your husband nor a man of status," she frowned.

"My apologies Mary but I love this man, I love him, and I am glad to have his child, I am just terrified to tell Papa. I need your help. You get along with him far better than I do. He will disown me straight away and fire him, we will have nothing. I know this will be the end of my life like this, but I do not wish for my child to suffer in poverty because of me."

She furrowed her eyebrows for a moment, before seeming instantly further annoyed.

"He works here? You have been a floozy with one of our servants?" She hissed. "Father will not just fire him, he will have his head for taking his daughters purity. You will never be able to marry a man of status, you will be branded a whore."

You raised a hand to your forehead, trying to think how to remark without giving William's name but you knew if you didn't Mary would lead a witch hunt.

"To you I may be a whore, I may be the scum on your shoe, but I love him Mary. Don't you remember what it is to love? I know it is not proper, it is not what Papa wanted of me, but I love him. And I would rather be poor and in love than rich and not."

She calmed down slightly, sympathising with your words.

"Who is the man Y/N?" She asked.

"William Mason the footman. I love him Mary, I could not imagine my life without him," you smiled softly.

She rose from her seat taking your hand. You questioned what she was doing but she kept silent, dragging you by the hand through the house, down to the servant's quarters.

As you walked into their dining room you saw William sat at the piano. When he noticed you, he smiled but quickly flattened his expression not wanting to give away what was going on between you. Luckily, he was alone, and Mary closed the door behind the two of you to have the slightest bit of privacy.

"You are William, correct?" Mary asked.

"Yes m'lady," he nodded, standing from his seat.

Mary walked towards him and let her hand strike his cheek. He flinched but tried to stay composed.

"That is for fraternising with my sister," she stated, her hand striking his cheek once more. "And that is for getting her pregnant."

Although the red on his cheek showed he was in pain, he looked happy.

"You're pregnant?" William asked, directing the question to you.

"Yes. I found out yesterday," you smiled softly.

"She has told me all about your time together and although I do not agree with my sister's decisions the way your eyes lit up at learning of her pregnancy and the fact you took that like a man, I cannot deny you care for her. Do you care for my sister?" Mary asked firmly.

A grin appeared on his face. "M'Lady I love Lady Y/N with all of my being. I would do anything for her. She truly is the best aspect of my life, she is the reason I smile every day and the reason I get out of bed in the morning. I cannot truly express my love for her, and I also cannot state my glee to know we are to have a child."

You couldn't help but smile or help the tears that brimmed in your eyes at such kind words.

"Papa shall not be as kind to such knowledge of your intimacy, but I cannot deny that the two of you a dearly in love. I will help you find a way to tell him Y/N, but for now I am sure William wishes for a moment alone with you. I shall keep anyone from coming in for a moment," she smiled gently.

"Thank you, Mary," you smiled as she left the room.

You turned to William, who made his way to your side with haste.

"You truly are with child?" He smiled resting a hand to your stomach.

You nodded your head.

He leaned in to kiss you passionately.

"No matter what your father says I shall do everything I can to give the two of you the best life I can."

"I love you William," you smiled.

"I love you too Y/N."

~*~

Written by Charlotte.

Requested by