Downton Abbey, The Dining Room

And so the dinner began. Conversation filled the room, chatter of the future, love, hopes and dreams. The past was also mentioned, only good times of course, a wedding was not the place to dwell on previous misfortunes. The staff were upstairs for once, quite the novelty for Daisy and Mrs Patmore especially, as the kitchen staff are so rarely seen above stairs.

There was no division of class, a decision complemented by Tom and frowned upon by Violet. Lord and Lady Grantham were seated beside Mr and Mrs Carson, Lady Violet wedged between the Bates's and the Goswami's, Lady Edith and David beside Dr Clarkson and Isobel, Lady Mary and Tom next to Thomas, and Baxter and Moseley next to Martha. Becky was close to Elsie. The children were huddled at the end of the table.

Edith was holding hands with David under the table. The Dowager was making some witty comments, while her American counterpart was discussing New York with David. Mary glared at her sister. She couldn't believe that ugly, boring, stupid Edith was sitting next to a handsome blonde American, while beautiful, exciting, intelligent Mary was drinking glass after glass of wine at the end of the dinner table with an under butler.

Edith was supposed to be the old maid, the spinster sister that no one liked. Mary was supposed to be the happily married, talented perfect daughter that everyone loved. And dearest Sybil was supposed to be the political, modern pretty daughter that everyone loved (not as much as they loved Mary though). Now everything was wrong. Sybil was dead. Mary was a young widow. And worst of all, Edith had a beau who wasn't an old man or married to a lunatic. The world had clearly gone mad.

Meanwhile, Mr Moseley was laughing with his bride to be. Phyllis was practically bursting to announce their engagement, but it was quite fun to keep such a secret. Mr Goswami was making conversation with Isobel and Dr Clarkson, while Anna and John clasped hands. Now was the time. John tapped his spoon against his glass. The guests came to silence. "Ahh, I hate to interupt everyone, but Anna and I have an announcement." There was a pause. "Anna is pregnant." The table erupted into applause and congratulations.

"Well, let us drink to that. To Mr and Mrs Carson and the baby Bates on the way. May they all live long and happily!" Lord Grantham exclaimed with joy. The guests rose their glasses and grinned, clinking glasses and laughing. Everyone was happy. Even Mary, kind of.

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Mr Bricker's Appartment, London

Simon sighed over his letter. He didn't want to wait much longer. He was planning to set off for Egypt the following month, and wanted Cora to be with him. If she didn't love him enough to risk it, then he would have to go without her. He refused to be the idiot who hung on her every word without any proof of her love for him.

He loved her, and she claimed to love him. But, her procrastination of the matter of telling Robert how she felt and her pregnancy, made it seem as though she was simply toying with Simon. Simon wanted to know where exactly he stood, he understood that Robert was the father of her three daughters, and that they had been married for more than thirty years, but he did no feel that it was a reason not to go with him. Lady Mary and Lady Edith were grown women now, they did not need to live with their mother anymore. As for Robert, well, he frankly didn't deserve Cora.

Simon was now terrified that Cora had changed her mind. Maybe she had decided that she really did love Robert. Maybe she never did love Simon, she was just bored. Maybe she was too comfortable with her life at Downton and her title as Countess, to venture into a world of camel rides and sand storms. Maybe to her, their entire relationship was a fantasy, unrealistic dreams of far off places. As real as her grandchildren's fairytales.

Simon sighed over his letter. He fastened the cap on his fountain pen and ran his palm across the page. He folded the letter and shoved it into the envelope addressed to his lover. He sealed it and lay back in his chair. In the morning he would post it. Then it was up to the Countess.

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The Ballroom, Downton Abbey

Elsie and her husband opened the dance. Charlie was quite the dancer, almost a match for Elsie. Almost, but not quite. Then Robert and Cora took to the floor, soon followed by other couples, including the Goswami's. Mahesh was, it seemed a very graceful dancer. The Bates's spun around the room, while one of the footmen danced with Daisy.

Dr Clarkson danced with Isobel, David with Edith. Tom was captured by Martha, while Mary sulked in the corner with a glass of wine. The Dowager sat next to her granddaughter. " What dark  cloud hangs over your head now?" She asked, narrowing her eyes slightly at the sight of the wine. Mary sighed. "Look at her. And that American." Violet almost laughed.

"This is about Edith? Why my dear child, what on earth has she done this time? Taken your doll again?" Mary continued to glare across the room at her sister. "You cannot expect her to be unhappy her entire life." Violet smiled sadly. "Can't I? It seemed to work until now." Mary replied, taking another sip of her drink.

"What is this really about?"

"I have no one. Everyone is happy and in love, and I am lonely and sad. All my allies have either left for America or died. The one thing that I could count on to stay the same, Edith's lack of love, has been crushed. I mean Granny, can you see him? He is gorgeous! A human angel. With Edith, Edith of all people."

" You have George. Is he not someone? That little boy needs you."

"He is a little boy. A complete copy of Matthew at that. How can I look at him when all I see is Matthew? And Edith practically lives in the Nursery, how can I escape from all this?"

"Do not dwell on this. And don't be defeatist either, it is terribly middle class." Violet said, before walking slowly away.

Phyllis had returned from putting the children to bed. Joseph met her at the doorway and didn't hesitate to pull her onto the dance floor. They laughed and giggled. Joseph felt that it was time. After the dance was over, the band were about to strike up another tune, when Joseph interupted them. He took Phyllis's had in his, the guests soon quietened down. "Sorry to interupt everyone, but I would like to announce that Miss Baxter and I are to be married."

Congratulations were given and applause and handshakes and smiles and laughter. Happiness and joy radiated throughout the room and smiles seemed infectious. Meanwhile Elsie and Charlie stood in the background. "This is a truly wonderful day, my dear wife." Charlie grinned. "I agree, my husband." Elsie smiled up at him.

"How do you like being Mrs Carson?"

"It will do, I suppose." Charlie laughed. "I do so love you Elsie." Mrs Carson stroked his cheek. "And I you, very much so, Charlie." She rested her head on his chest and held him tight. "Very much so...." she whispered.

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Upstairs, Downton Abbey

Thomas stood in the corridor. The party was almost over now, but music could still be faintly heard, 'Roses of Picardy' was floating through the house. The wedding had been  held just like an upstairs one, with all the privileges of upper class parties.

Thomas was alone. Having already danced with whom ever asked him, he was ready to begin his nightly patrol of the upstairs corridors. After a moment, Lady Mary appeared. She spotted him and advanced toward him. She wobbled slightly but managed to reach him safely.

There was a wine glass in her hand, half full, it was probably her third or fourth drink, judging from her undignified manner. She smiled when they stood opposite each other. Then, carefully and slowly she leaned in and kissed him. Thomas didn't know what to do.

Should he pull away? Should he indulge the drunken liking she had taken to him? Should he kiss her back? These thoughts raced through his mind like a whirlwind. Mary slowly drew away from him, tugging slightly at his lip as she did so. Not exactly ladylike behaviour, but she was clearly past all that.

Thomas was suddenly conscious of where he was. That is to say that he was standing right outside Lady Mary's bedchamber. Mary reached past him, and turned the door handle. She kissed him again, and pushed him inside.

So......

THAT JUST HAPPENED.

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CAST
Lady Grantham ~ Elizabeth McGovern
Mr Bricker ~ Richard E Grant
Lord Grantham ~ Hugh Bonneville
Charlie Carson ~ Jim Carter
Elsie Hughes ~ Phyllis Logan
Thomas Barrow ~ Rob James-Collier
Miss Baxter ~ Raquel Cassidy
Mr Moseley ~ Kevin Doyle
Mr Bates ~ Brendan Coyle
Anna Bates ~ Joanne Froggatt
Lady Mary ~ Michelle Dockery
Denker ~ Sue Johnston
Spratt ~ Jeremy Swift
Lady Edith ~ Laura Carmichael
Henry Talbot ~ Matthew Goode
Daisy Mason ~ Sophie McSherra
Mrs Patmore ~ Leslie Nicol