"You'll never guess what's happened now." "Mrs Bute's been taken ill, and she won't be back again for weeks." " What does that mean?" " They want me in London to take over." "And that's not all." "They've asked for you to go with me." "I thought they only needed us to help with Lady Rose's ball." "The plans have changed." "So you're coming with me and Ivy can stay to cook for Mr Branson and Lady Edith." "Why does Lady Edith look so tired?" "She goes away for eight months to Geneva and comes back looking more tired than when she left" "We're all tired, but not as tired as we're going to be." "I might go with them." "I must look in to Michael's office, now I'm back." " Come with me." " No, I have things to do." "Don't imagine for one minute you can get out of the ball." "Why wasn't Grantham House sold when Downton was in trouble?" "It would have been, eventually, but not for nearly enough to save us." "So thank God for Matthew." "Dear Matthew." "I do miss him." "Are you looking forward to it?" "Why would I be?" "What difference does it make if you peel potatoes in London or peel them in Yorkshire?" "Can you do me a favour when you're in London?" "Tell Miss Baxter that I'm looking forward to hearing the stories she's got to tell me." "That's an odd message." "What stories?" "Just tell her." "She'll understand." "I'm going up on Tuesday." "Robert's got me invited to the supper after the presentation." "Lucky you." " When are you going to London?" " Tomorrow, I think." "I must get some clothes, now I'm back to normal shape." "I..." "I know we never talk... about the baby." "But I realise it must be on your mind constantly." "Can we please say "she" and not "it"?" "I wish you hadn't been away so long." "They thought it helped the baby, to be weaned by her real mother." "Yes, well, I'm sure everything worked out for the best." "And after all, your French must be superbe." "That's right, Granny." "Let's get back to what really matters." "Do we have to go to this?" "Of course we do." "Lady Wimborne is kind enough to give a concert and a dinner and we should be grateful." "When does the American contingent arrive?" "And how on earth are we going to manage them?" "Don't be ashamed of my mother, Mary." "She's your grandmother, too." "I think it's very kind of them to come over for my ball." "You haven't met her yet." "And where will everyone sleep?" "This place isn't designed for house parties." "We'll manage." "Perhaps you could share with Edith." "You're joking." "Well, someone may have to sleep on the top floor." "With the servants." "I'd rather sleep on the roof than share with Edith." "Come on." "We're going to be late." "Carson, all this kerfuffle is making a lot of extra work for the staff, so I'd like you to plan some sort of outing for them, after the ball, before we go home." "Very good, Your Ladyship." "Oh, by the way, Madeleine Allsopp asked if I'd go on to the Embassy with some friends of hers, afterwards." " Tonight?" "After the dinner?" " You don't mind, do you?" " Rose, once we get past Tuesday..." " Oh, I know, but I don't think you have to be presented to go to the Embassy Club." "And I do love Ambrose and his orchestra." " Please." " Your niece is a flapper." "Accept it." "I'm not a flapper." "But can I go?" "Lord Merton, madam." "Oh, gully!" "Have I forgotten some plan?" "No, no." "I'm on my way to dine with the Scroops, and I'm early." "I was driving through the village." "Oh, thank goodness." "I thought I might have to rush upstairs and bedeck myself out in family jewels." "After thirty years with Lady Merton, I'm proof against teasing." "I'm sorry about my humble soup." "Is there anything I can offer you?" "No, thank you." "I just wondered if you were going to Rose's ball." " I'm invited, but I doubt it." " Pity." "I thought if you were, I'd make up my mind to go, too." "A debutante's ball in high society is really not my natural habitat, Lord Merton." "I'm much duller and more sérieuse than you seem to think." "You may be sérieuse." "The rest I would question." "Enough." "I'll leave you to the delights of your soup." "There they are." "Oh, no." " What is it?" "There's my father and he's seen me." "I think it's rather wild to find your father in a nightclub." "You wouldn't if it were a weekly occurrence." "Can't we just wave "hello" and leave it at that?" "Don't you see whom he's with?" "The Prince of Wales." "Your Royal Highness, may I present my daughter Madeleine?" "Mrs Dudley Ward." "My daughter Madeleine." "And, uh, this is?" "Lady Rose MacClare." " Your father must be Shrimpie Flintshire." " He is, Your Royal Highness." "Good old Shrimpie." "Won't you join us?" "We'd be honoured, Sir." " How's old Shrimpie getting on?" "Pretty well, I think." "Do you know he put me up in Bombay last year when I was touring India?" "He wrote and told me all about it." "Your visit was a great honour." "I don't know about that." "He was very hospitable, but I'm afraid I found it so beastly hot." "How in the name of blazes does he stand it?" "I'm not sure he has much choice in the matter, Sir." "No, indeed." "No choice at all, poor devil!" "I can't tell you how pleased I am to have some reinforcements." "He was getting rather grouchy, and now look what a difference you've made." " Have you got everything, Daisy?" " I think so." "Well, good luck then." "I'll see you in London." "Goodbye." " Any orders for Ivy, sir?" " Something simple for lunch, but I'll go down the pub for my dinner." "I don't want to make any trouble." "Hello." "What brings you here?" "I'm hoping to give Mary lunch." "And take her to the viewing today, of the Summer Exhibition." "It's a special one, isn't it?" "I think my niece is going." "What a nice surprise for Mary." "It's not quite a surprise." "We arranged it last week." "What's all this?" "Things for Rose." "They didn't dare take them down the cellar steps." "Some people have all the luck." "Make sure you're back in time for Grandmama." " Does Mr Branson want anything else?" " He says not." "And he's having his dinner in the village." "Marvellous, isn't it?" "One minute he's the chauffeur and in the normal way of things, he'd be below me now." "But instead I have to wait on him hand and foot, standing there while he decides what might please him next." "He never strikes me as being like that." "He always seems friendly." "But we still have to call him "sir"." "Oh, Lord, Mrs Levinson's arrived." "Who's that man with the fur collar?" "That must be Her Ladyship's brother." "Now, help me get everything down the stairs and don't make a noise." "Mr Stark will give us a hand." "Grandmama!" "You're here already?" "Mama said you were coming later." "Obviously she thought so, as did everyone else." "Carson tells me there's no one in the house to receive me." "Well, I'm here now." "How was your journey?" "How would it be when my maid turned in her notice just as we were leaving?" " Why?" " Who knows why these people do what they do?" "Carson, can we help?" "Shall we let Mrs Hughes get inside, My Lady?" "And then she can make a plan." "Mrs Hughes, I didn't know you were running this house, too." "Not as a rule, madam." "But Mrs Bute is ill, so I'm to take charge until she's better." "Well, I'm glad of that." "At least one person under this roof knows what on earth is going on!" "Come on." " You're Uncle Harold, aren't you?" " Oh!" "It seems mad that we've never met before." "Well, I haven't felt the need to leave America and, to be honest, I don't feel the need to leave it now." "Grandmama thought it might be fun for you to see a bit of the Season." "You may not know me, but I suspect you've heard enough to grasp that watching debutantes in a ballroom is not my kind of fun." "No, but every now and then it's nice to try something new, isn't it?" "Oh, maybe it is." "And maybe it ain't." "I'm Jimmy, one of the footmen." "Do you need a hand?" "How do you do?" "Ethan Slade, valet to Mr Levinson." "What about you?" "Do you work here?" "I work at the house in Yorkshire, but I'm up here for a bit." "Oh, are you a lady's maid?" "No." "I'm in the kitchen." "Because we're in need of a lady's maid, and pronto." "Preferably with skin like a rhinoceros." "Daisy is our assistant cook." "And I am Mrs Hughes, the housekeeper." "Do you know London?" " Oh, I've never crossed the Atlantic before." " Well, I hope you enjoy yourself." " Are you excited?" " I'm never excited." "Do I hear the sound of salvation?" "Oh!" "Salvation or chaos?" "I've just met Mrs Levinson on the steps." "She's here without a maid." "What happened to the last one?" "She had her head bitten off one time too many." "Miss Baxter, could you go up and settle Mrs Levinson in?" "I don't mind looking after her, but she and Her Ladyship will have to make allowances." "I don't think "making allowances" is what Mrs Levinson is famous for." "Oh, you're a sight for sore eyes." "We've a dinner tonight and an "at home" after." " So there's plenty to do." " What's an "at home"?" "People pop by for music and chat and so on." "We serve a light supper at 11:00, but we never know for how many, so you've got to be flexible." "Hello, Mr Molesley." "I hope life's treating you well." "Half the time there's nothing to do and then it's all hands to the pump." "But I don't mind that." "Thomas asked me to give you a message." "He says, he's looking forward to hearing the stories you're going to tell him." " What stories?" " I don't know." "That's what he said." "So what new scheme are you working on to beat down the upper classes?" "You think me much more of a Robespierre than I am." "Well, I suppose I must accept that in a post-war world, we toffs are the villains of every story." " And you think that's how I feel?" " Well, I hope you make exceptions." "Naturally I exempt all pig-rescuers." "Hello." "What's Tony Gillingham doing here'?" "Talking to Rose, apparently." "You never said you were coming to this." "Well, I'm glad I have some secrets." "Mary, do you know Mrs Dudley Ward?" " My cousin, Lady Mary Crawley." " How did you come across Rose?" "We met through Billy Aysgarth." "Madeleine Allsopp's father." "I've asked them both to come tonight." "Have you told Mama?" "I will when I get back." " Have you met Charles Blake?" " I know Mr Blake." "Are you going to this grande soirée, Gillingham?" " I am." " You kept that under your hat." "Dear me." "We seem to be the only people not invited." "What do you think we've done wrong?" "You'd be very welcome if you wanted to come." " Won't Lady Grantham mind?" " Oh, do I spy a dog in the manger?" "Not at all." "A dog in a manger tries to protect a thing he has no use for." "Whereas I'm looking forward to this evening." "Very much indeed." "Play nicely, children." "Do you know how these things work?" "There's a dinner first, then most people arrive after half past nine." "Then I shall do what most people do." "Am I glad to see you." "We've been struggling a bit without Mrs Bute." "And will Mrs Levinson's arrival make things simpler, do you think?" "As a matter of fact, I'd value your opinion." "Her Ladyship has asked me to organise a treat for the staff" "after the ball, as a thank-you." " Well, that's very kind." "They've started opening the new Science Museum in South Kensington, even though it's not finished." "And I can't decide between that and a visit to see the Crystal Palace on its new site at Sydenham Hill." "I see." "And this is a fun day, as a thank-you, is it?" "Yes." "I think it's very generous." "So do I. Very generous indeed." "Maybe you should try your ideas on the staff." "See what they jump at." "Mother!" "I'm so sorry." "I thought you said you'd be here after 5:00." "Well, we just got away early." "I didn't think I had to make an appointment." "I had a last fitting." " Hello, Harold." " Hello." " How are you?" " A long way from home, is how I am." "Harold and I will be spending some time seeing Europe." "Madrid, Rome, Paris, and we will enjoy ourselves." "I hope so, but somehow I doubt it." "I assume it's because you want to put a little space between you and the Teapot Dome business." " Oh, let's not bring that up again." "It should have worked." "I'm not much in a drawing room, but I am good at business..." "Harold, Harold, we, no..." "We came three and a half thousand miles so we could change the subject." "Oh!" "Can I help you with that?" "I was carrying too many." "You've been avoiding me." "No, I haven't." "I've just been busy these past few months." "Anyway, I'm here now." "I should get on with this marking." "I'm going to the pub to get something to eat." "Why don't you join me?" "I, I assume Edith got off all right?" "Yes, she did." "And she took Mrs Hughes and Daisy with her." "I'm just going to the Grantham Arms to get some dinner." "May I present Miss Bunting?" "She teaches at the school." "Does she'?" "I wanted to say goodbye." "I may not see you before I go." "My niece is being presented on Tuesday." "I'm joining them for the supper afterwards." "At the Palace." "How nice." "And you're coming up later for her ball, aren't you, Branson?" "Oh, Tom." "So sorry." " Well, I'll say my goodbyes." " Does the offer of dinner still stand?" "Right." "The first course is ready to go up." "The soufflé mix is done for the savoury and I'll make a béchamel for the cauliflower." "Thank God for you, Daisy." "I've never known your true value till now." "You seem to be in charge, not like an assistant at all." "Me and Mrs Patmore have worked together for a long time." "Ever thought of going it alone?" "Do you always try to change people's lives after you've known them half an hour?" "Mr Levinson, might I ask if you'd be willing to play the footman" "on occasion while you're here?" " What?" "Not every day, but when we have a big evening like tonight." "Or Lady Rose's ball." "It's normal in England for the valets to help out in this way, but it may not be in America." "We don't entertain much, but okay." "You're very kind." "I brought some spare liveries with me, if you ask James or Molesley to show you?" "I will." "And Mr Carson, my employer is called Levinson, not me." "In this house, you both are." "She was not seeing you off." "It sounded like it." "Have you found it very hard?" "Losing Sybil was hard." "Compared to that, everything else has been easy." " Will you show me the house?" " What?" "Oh." "Aren't you allowed to bring your friends back?" "It's not a question of being "allowed"." " Then what is it a question of?" " I wish Tom had arrived." "It's so nice to hear you say that." "No, I mean he's bringing Isis and I do miss her." "Do you know Lady Grantham's mother, Mrs Levinson?" "And her son." "This is Lord Aysgarth." " A pleasure." " Quite a crowd." "Yes, but plenty of old friends." "Excuse me." "That's Lord Harrowby." "They haven't seen each other for ages." "He clearly thinks that Lord Harrowby is more alluring than we are." "The Lady Rosamund Painswick and Mr Terence Sampson." "What the devil?" " I looked in at the Warwicks' on my way here." "And Mr Sampson was saying that he'd stayed at Downton not long ago, so I made him come with me." " She wouldn't take no for an answer." " We're happy to see you here, Mr Sampson." "Thank you." " Do you know Lord Aysgarth?" " I do." " Sampson and I are old friends." " How are you, Billy?" "Did you really keep it a secret from Charles you were coming tonight?" "Well, I didn't keep it a secret, I just...didn't tell him." "You certainly don't give up easily." "Well, I won't give up at all." "You're in for a dry night." "No bad thing around this family." "I had a nasty brush with them up in Yorkshire last year." "Who are they?" "Lady Grantham's mother and brother." " Over from America, I suppose." " Interesting." " Or it would be if he plays cards." " Why?" "They're absolutely made of money." "How do you think the Downton roof still keeps out the rain?" "Did you hear that, Madeleine?" "Would you care for one of these?" "I think they're quite nice." " Have you lost your mind?" " Why?" "What have I done?" "You're a footman, not a travelling salesman." "Please keep your opinions on the catering to yourself!" "Hows it going?" "Her Ladyship seems pleased." "We're taking up the food for the buffet now." "I only hope we've got enough." "Dinner, supper and no doubt a big breakfast tomorrow." "It's a wonder they're not all the size of a tub." "Oh, Anna, there's an appeal at the Scottish Church on Pont Street for old clothes." "They're collecting for Russian refugees." "I know you won't have brought anything with you that you want to throw away," "but you might spread the word." " Of course." "Actually, I've been on at Mr Bates to take advantage of being in London and get a few things." "The trouble is he does hate shopping." "That must be because he's a man." "Do you know England well, Mr Levinson?" "Eh, not really." "No, he hasn't been here since my daughter got married." "Yeah, but don't worry." "I'm well prepared for cold baths, warm drinks and, most of all, the food." "As I said, he doesn't travel much." "They're going in to supper." "Harold, why don't you take Miss Allsopp into the dining room'?" "You needn't if you don't want to." "Are you determined to put me off?" "Okay." "Well, if that's what you want." "So, shall we?" "I don't see why not." "Why not what?" "Some of us are going on to the Embassy later." "Oh, what fun." " Oh." "Well, you can come if you'd like." " I will." " Why is Sampson here?" " Aunt Rosamund brought him." "Papa's livid, but there's nothing to be done." "We can't make a scene." "I sometimes feel we should make more scenes." "About things that really matter to us." "It wouldn't be very English." " No, but I envy it." "All those Latins screaming and shouting and hurling themselves into graves." "I bet they feel much better afterwards." "I wonder." "I think once you've let it out, it must be hard to get it back in." "Let's go through." "Well, when do you use this'?" "This is our sitting room, really." "The drawing room's more formal." "This is for tea or writing letters, or anything like that." "I'd feel as if I were having tea in the Victoria and Albert Museum." "No, it's nice, when everyone's here and the fire's going." "And I'll bet you say you haven't changed." "So you've seen everything." "Well, the main rooms." "Let me just look down from the gallery." "Then you can take me home." "I'm sorry, I feel a bit awkward, to be honest." "With them all being away." "But I asked if it was allowed." "It's not that, really." "Are they all for the Crawleys?" "These are the marriages." "One side's Crawley, and the other is the arms for every countess." "And the present Lady Grantham?" "I don't see one with a dollar sign." "Can I help, sir'?" "Uh, no." "We were just going down." "That is, we only just come up and now we're going down again." "Whatever you say, sir." "I'm taking Miss Bunting home." "Please don't lock up till I get back." "Very good, sir." "You did well." "Everyone was saying how delicious the kedgeree was." "That were Daisy's work." "Mr Levinson had three helpings." "And he always thought he wouldn't care for English food." "Ey, you've convened him, Daisy, and that's something to be proud of." "What's so funny?" " Freda was showing us a letter." " What's so special about a letter?" "It's special because of who wrote it." " Rose!" "You must be tiddly." " I think I am a bit." "It's my fault." "I never should have mentioned it." "Isn't anyone going to dance?" "Mr Levinson, Madeleine's dying to dance." " Will you rescue her?" " Oh, I watch dancing, I don't do it." "I don't believe that." "Off you go." " And what about you, Freda?" " Very well." "But you have to promise not to step on my toes." " I'm afraid Father forced me on you." " Oh, don't worry." "I'm used to it." "Used to what?" "Fathers wanting me to dance with their daughters." "Would you care to dance?" "Oh, there's Nell Foster." "How topping!" "Can you look after our bags?" "Of course." "There's no need for you to stay." "I like to keep an eye on things, sir, do it Mr Carson's way." "Only last night..." "I was concerned you may have misunderstood." "Sir'?" "I was having dinner with Miss Bunting in the village, and she was curious to look around the house." "Mr Barrow'?" "She might perhaps see it to more advantage in the daylight, sir." "Yes, and I'm sure she'll be back." "The point is, we only went upstairs so she could enjoy the view down into the hall." "I wouldn't want you to think any different." "However you wish to command me, I am your servant, Mr Branson." "But I was not aware I was under orders as to what I might think." "I thought I might arrive and find you'd already left for London." "As a matter of fact, I'm going up this morning with Lady Grantham." "I wanted to say that you were kind to write." "That's all, really." "Well, when I decided to go to Rose's ball," "I felt it was wrong not to tell you, since you'd asked." " What changed your mind?" " Why, I suppose it came to me that these balls and presentations and comings out, are not just aristocratic folderol, but traditions by which members of this family measure their progress through life." "And you wanted to be part of that?" "Well, I felt, by dismissing it as trivia, I was being smug and intolerant." "Do they know what they have in you?" "I know what I have in them." "So?" "Have you decided whether or not you will come to the ball?" "Oh, how can you ask?" "Of course I will." "But I don't understand." "How can you suddenly be an editor'?" "I won't be." "Not in that way, but..." "Michael gave me power of attorney." "It didn't matter before, but now they need some decisions." "And you'll have to make them until he... well, until either he comes back or... ls there a will, do you know'?" "It might be useful." "To help you find out what he wanted." " Wants." " I'm sure there is, but..." "I don't know what's in it yet." "I'll find out." "But what about his child'?" "Doesn't she have some rights?" "His child is not his child any more." "Or yours." "She belongs to nice Mr and Mrs Schröder and lives in Geneva with the rest of her family." "It's all very well saying that, but..." "it doesn't change anything." " Only because you won't let it." " There was no formal agreement." " Maybe not, but it wouldn't be fair to the Schröders to go back on your word." "Dear Aunt Rosamund, I'm so grateful for all you've done, and I'm not pulling rank, but... the fact remains, you've never been a mother." " You'll never guess." " I won't try." "What is it'?" "Alfred's finished his course and they've taken him on." " What?" "Permanent?" "At the Ritz?" " As an under chef!" "But that won't be for long." "He's going to be famous!" " Who is'?" " Alfred Nugent." "He was a footman at Downton." "But he's working at the Ritz now." "He's on his way!" "That seems quite the American dream to me." "Poor boy from the sticks becomes famous hotelier." "Well, I don't know if it's American or not, but I think it's smashing!" "What's he doing?" " Oh, he just came to see me off." " Mmm." "Well, we mustn't lose any time or we'll miss our train." "Yes, I know I'm late." "It couldn't be helped." "Cora insisted I come without a maid." "I can't believe she understood the implications." "Which are?" "Well, how do I get a guard to take my luggage?" "And when we arrive in London, what happens then?" "Fear not." "I have never travelled with a maid." "You can share my knowledge of the jungle." "Can't you even offer help without sounding like a trumpeter on the peak of the moral high ground?" "And must you always sound like the sister of Marie Antoinette?" "The Queen of Naples was a stalwart figure." " I take it as a compliment." " You take everything as a compliment." "I advise you to do the same." "It saves many an awkward moment." "Goodbye." "Success." "I have finally persuaded Mr Bates to buy a new overcoat, so you can have this for the refugees." "That's just what they need." "Are you sure?" "Take it." "He'll only go on wearing it as long as it's in the house." " Well, they'll be very grateful." " I'd better get back." "I know." "There's always plenty of fuss before a presentation." "There is, but I think it's exciting." "It seems odd to me that a curtsy and a nod from the throne can turn you from a girl into a woman." "But that's the way they do it, so who are we to argue?" "May I help, Mrs Hughes?" "I was just looking for Anna, but it doesn't matter." "Now we have to go our separate ways." " I feel quite nervous." " Nonsense." "Onwards to the breach." "The Countess of Grantham presenting the Lady Rose MacClare." "Thank you, Lady Grantham." " I hope you don't want to powder your nose." "Why not?" "Because all that's on offer is a chamber pot behind that screen." "The glamour of court life." " Who's presenting you?" " My fathers eldest sister." "Aunt Violet wanted to present me, but we got round it." "She'll be at the supper, as a consolation prize." " Papa's coming to the supper." " So are my mother and my brother." "Mr Levinson's here?" "And Mrs Levinson?" "How did you manage that?" "Lord Grantham is our Lord Lieutenant." "And he pulled a string to get them in?" " Father will be so pleased." " Madeleine." " Gosh!" "That's me." " Good luck." "So she's in the library and she's on her own." "You're sure?" "What do you want with her?" "Nothing that would interest you." "Mr Carson, I wonder..." " I'm sorry." " Oh, don't mind me." "I'm just leaving." "Can I help?" "I wanted to ask you, man to man, if anything's going on between Daisy and the fella working at the Ritz." ""Going on"?" "Nothing "goes on" in any house where I'm in authority." "Of course not." "I didn't mean that." " What did you mean?" " I think you know." "The "fella" is called Alfred." "There is no romance between him and Daisy." "He has left our employ." "I doubt they'll meet in the future." "Because I wouldn't like to push in where I'm not wanted." "The Duchess of Margham presenting the Lady Elizabeth Bailey-George." "The Countess of Grantham presenting the Lady Rose MacClare." "Lady Rose is Lord Flintshire's daughter, sir." "Ah." "The Prince of Wales has spoken about your father's hospitality in Bombay." "He was honoured to entertain His Royal Highness, Your Majesty." "The Indian tour was a great success, thanks to Lord Flintshire." "The Prince did splendidly, sir." "He was so popular wherever he went." "Yes, the Prince is never short of popularity." "Lady Grantham." "The Countess of Derwentwater presenting the Lady Jane Radclyffe." "So Bates was in London that day." "You say it as if you already knew." "Does Anna suspect anything?" "Absolutely not." "She knows nothing." "So, will you tell her now, My Lady'?" "I gather you won't?" "No." "No, I'm handing this to you." "Meaning leave it alone?" "We cant know what happened on that street." "Maybe he was in London for an innocent reason and nowhere near Piccadilly." "But this I will say, if he was there to avenge his wife's honour," "I won't condemn him for it." "I'm sorry, but I won't." " Oh, all done?" " Presented, photographed, done." " You both looked splendid." "You didn't look so bad yourself." "The unfair advantage of a court position." "I thought the King was very talkative." " For him." " How was the Queen?" "Well, you know, she sort of sits there being Queen-Mary-like." " Any chance of meeting them later?" " Hardly." "His Majesty is not an admirer of the New World." "You might do better with the Prince of Wales." "I'm not one of those Englishmen who hates New York, but a great city can be a lonely place." " Can't everywhere?" " You'd only be lonely if you wanted to be." " Do you know Newport?" " Why?" "I stayed there before the war, with the Duchess of Marlborough's mother." "I thought it was wonderful." "As a matter of fact, I, I'm in Newport quite a lot." "I have what they call a "cottage" on Bellevue Avenue." "Really?" "I didn't know." "Didn't you?" "Huh." "I feel rather guilty about leaving Isobel behind." "Why?" "She brought a book with her." " That should keep her occupied." " What sort of book?" "I can only tell you that on the train it was far more interesting than me." "Your father is paying a lot of attention to my mother." "Do you think we ought to tell him she only has an income for life?" "You are funny." "Oh, that's right." "The English upper classes never talk about money." "We don't like to." "But you don't mind thinking about it." "Or at least your father doesn't." "We should tell him before he's in too deep." "When she dies, all the capital reverts to me." "He ought to know." "Oh..." "Rose." "Oh?" "Are you at all the presentation courts?" "You are good." "There are only four and David, I mean the Prince, likes me here." "He said you were very sweet about him." "Is something the matter?" "Do you remember that letter we were laughing about the other night?" " Yes." " Well, the thing is, when I got home, it was missing." "It wasn't in my bag, and I know I put it back." " I saw you." " I was so hoping you might have taken it." "As a prank." "I won't be a bit cross if you did." "I'm afraid not." "Try Madeleine." "It wasn't her." "It's just, if it falls into the wrong hands..." "No need to explain." "Has anyone been in touch?" " Asking for money?" " I wish they had." "At least then I'd know how to get it back." "Did they talk much'?" "The King and Queen'?" "They were very kind." "Well, you're not presented for conversation really, are you?" " This is Mrs Dudley Ward." "of course you are." "Have we met?" "No, I read about you in the American newspapers." "Gossip really, nothing to worry about." "But never give them a real story." "How do you do?" "Harold Levinson." "You are mistaken, sir. lam not Harold Levinson, whoever he maybe." " What?" "No, no, no, I'm Harold Levinson." " Then why did you say I was?" " Cousin Robert?" " Hmm?" "I've got such a funny question." "It seems an awful thing to say, but... do you think your friend, Mr Sampson, might be capable of something dishonourable?" "He's not my friend." "Why do you ask?" "Well, it was when we were at the Palace, at the supper?" " Go on." " Do you remember Mrs Dudley Ward?" "Did you notice how upset she was?" "He wanted Miss Allsopp to go on a picnic luncheon in the park?" "Well, the picnic was my idea." "He thinks he's offended her and he wants to make it up." "But he can't go on a picnic with a young lady on her own." " What is he thinking of?" " Why not?" "Because we're not in America and she isn't a chorus girl." "Don't worry." "He's asked her father and Mrs Levinson to come along." "And who's going to prepare this "picnic" when it's at home?" "Daisy can make it." "And come along to help me serve." "Don't be daft." "I work in the kitchen." "I don't serve." "Well, then I'll serve." "You get it ready and set it out and..." " I'll serve." "Oh, I see." "You see what?" "It's not set in stone that you shouldn't help at a picnic." "I can spare you. if you think they'll come." "Lord Aysgarth'll come, if he knows old mother Levinson's aboard." "Well, very respectful, I must say." "I'll be sorry if he means to revive the ways of his grandpapa, winking at every beauty in an opera box." "It must be a lonely job." " All the public want is a happy marriage at the Palace." "Is it so much to ask?" "And anyway, why did Mrs Dudley Ward have a letter from the Prince in her handbag?" "I expect it was a love thing." "Well, it won't be much of a "love thing" when it appears in the American newspapers." "Do you think that's why he took it?" "Sampson took it to make money." "The question is whether he means to blackmail Mrs Dudley Ward or sell it on to the foreign press." "Oh, no wonder she was in such a state." "I can't tell you what it said." "Don't." "I'm a monarchist, and that's why I would like the letter retrieved and why I do not wish to know its contents." "I feel so guilty." "If I hadn't joked about it, he would have never suspected it was in her handbag." "Good God!" "Then we have to do something." "At once." "If we're lucky, the letter will be at Sampson's flat." "We must get him away from there, and while he's distracted someone must go in and..." "Steal it." "You can't steal something that's already been stolen." "But how would we get in?" "We can't very well pick the lock." "James?" "Could you please ask Bates to come to the drawing room?" "Are we ready?" "We are, sir." "Only Ivy has a basket of kitchen things to carry." "And it will be a bit of a squash for her and me and the basket, if we're all in the front together." "You mean you want to sit next to me in the back?" "And if I were His Lordship, would you ask to sit next to him?" "Well, I doubt we'd be in the same car, sir." "If you were?" "We could just tie my basket on the back." "I think that would be the best solution." "Good." "That's settled, then." "You've made everything I asked for?" "It wasn't very complicated." "Mr Levinson does not go in for complicated food." "That's what he likes about English cooking." "How are you going to manage it now old Lady Grantham going and Mrs Crawley?" "It's a lot of work." "You'd better take James with you." "We can manage with Mr Molesley for lunch." " Would you mind?" " I'm a footman." "I don't have the right to mind." "Thank you, Wat Tyler." "Have you arranged where you're going to meet them?" "A place called the Albert Memorial, but, uh, will I know it when I see it?" "You most certainly will, I can promise you that." "Now, I've got rugs, cushions and folding chairs." "Come on, you'd better get started." "It's very good of you to spare her." "It won't kill me." "She deserves a bit of luck." "I'm afraid that boy's interest in her may not be entirely proper." "Mr Carson, all women need someone to show a bit of interest every now and then, preferably in a manner that's not entirely proper." "Bates, during your time away, did you ever meet a man who could copy someone's writing?" "Do you mean a forger, My Lord?" " Yes, I suppose I do." " What would he be required to do?" "We have to gain entry to someone's flat, so the porter needs to be told to unlock the door." "The order will come in the form of a signed note." "I see." "I assume we have a sample of this person's writing?" " Do we?" "He sent a bread-and-butter letter after our party the other night." " Then I can definitely get it done." " How long would it take?" "If I can have the letter straight away," "I believe I could supply the note by the end of the afternoon." " So the man is here in London?" " He is, My Lord." "What a stroke of luck." "I know this sounds rather dodgy, Bates, but I promise there is nothing underhand in what we're trying to achieve." " Quite the reverse." " Your word is enough for me, My Lord." "Please don't ruin everything now, my dear." "Not when it's over and done and nobody knows." " Granny knows." " Well, is she going to reveal the bastard child of her own granddaughter?" "Remember." "You were never going to mention it, even if he came back." "I know I said that, but I don't think I could keep to it now." "Why?" "ls there some news?" "Not really." "A bit." "It seems he got into a fight with a gang of toughs the first night he was in Munich." " A gang of toughs?" " They're quite well known, apparently." "They wear brown shirts and go around preaching the most horrible things." "Anyway, a man who was there says that Michael took exception to what they were saying." "He should've had the sense to keep out of it." "But surely, if they know these men, they can question them and find out what happened?" "You'd think so." "Oh, my dear..." "I can be normal most of the time, for weeks on end, but then I think I might never see him again and..." "I know." "But that's not the point." "If Michael is dead, if I do inherit, then I have to give at least half to the baby, don't you see?" "No, I don't." "But if you really must, do it anonymously." "It wouldn't be hard." "This is for the best." "If you'll only keep silent, there'll be other loves, other children." "Don't cheat yourself of that, I beg you." "I don't know." "Then trust me." "Because I do." "What's that you're doing?" "Something for his lordship." "Are you enjoying being in London?" "I am." "Makes a nice change." "It does for me, right enough." "I haven't been here since I buried my mother." "Which was halfway through the war." "Has it been that long?" "My, my." "Of course I understand why the letter must be recovered." "I don't see why it has to involve me." "Someone has to fetch the letter whilst we distract Sampson." "Can't Rose go?" "On her own?" "Have a heart." "Well, you, then." "I'm the one hosting the card game." "The question is, who else can play?" "At least one of them must be genuine or it'll smell fishy." "Tony Gillingham would come, but I suppose we'd have to tell him." "I know who'd play, and bring Sampson with him, and we wouldn't have to say a word." "Lord Aysgarth." "Grandmama can sit on his lap." "I don't want her here." "She'll make some crack and give the game away." "She won't be able to stop herself." "What can we do with her?" "Send a note to Rosamund." "Ask her to take Martha to a play." "And Mama." "And Isobel." "And tell her to give them supper afterwards." "They'll have to change almost as soon as they're back from their picnic, so we won't be stuck with them long." "I hate to lie." "I'll do it." "I don't mind lying." "In the meantime, we ought to give the men dinner." "It'll make it more normal." "But won't Sampson be suspicious?" "He must be aware you don't like him." "I'll tell Aysgarth that Harold will play." "The chance of fleecing your uncle will be too tempting for Sampson to resist." "Suppose Uncle Harold would rather go to the theatre with the others?" "He'll come if you ask Lord Aysgarth to bring his daughter." "I don't like the idea of you two setting off to burgle his flat all alone." "I can't allow it." "We could ask Evelyn Napier." "Well, he's in France." "Mr Blake, then." "He can do it." "But I have to go with him because I know what the letter looks like." "Suppose one of the porters calls the police?" "Do you want the heir to the throne to be lampooned across the world?" "With a story that will never sleep, even when he's safely crowned and married to a foreign princess?" "No." "But I can't help feeling he's brought it down on his own head." "Well, even if that's true, we introduced Sampson to Mrs Dudley Ward, and Rose as good as gave him the letter!" "The fact is, this family is responsible for the whole ghastly debacle." "The pâté was delicious, now the fish mousse is delicious, and all my life I've been warned off English food." "I'm glad we score in one category." "I'm afraid the menu is very unoriginal." "I like my food good." "I don't want it original." "So England is the right place for you." "So, I know you're a lord, but what kind of lord are you?" "There are different kinds?" "British peerage is a fountain of variety." "It's just a lowly barony, I'm afraid." "But, erm, it's quite old." "So you are not Lady Madeleine?" "No, but she's an Honourable." "Who would doubt it?" "So how long is it before you go home?" "Late Friday we leave, for Paris and then for Rome." "I envy you." "To see Europe as you will see it." "What do you mean?" "Drifting from great hotel to great hotel, no one to hurry you, no one to pester you." "Like the world as it used to be." "You mean with no expense spared." "I meant how charming it would be to see it with Mrs Levinson." "Another whiskey, would you?" "Is it going all right?" "As far as you're concerned." "But the old lady treats His Lordship like a bad smell." "Rose says you have quite a reputation at home." "As a playboy, you mean?" "I know it's hard to believe but, er, it's true." "I own a yacht and I like pretty girls." "And, er..." "Can I be honest?" "Please." "The best thing is those girls don't expect a thing from me beyond a good time and a diamond bracelet as a thank-you note." "And you like that, too?" "Nobody gets disappointed." "And I hate to disappoint people." "Is it why you never married?" "What a leading question." "I thought well-born English girls were supposed to be reticent and refined." "That was before the war." "Well, I would find it hard to respect any woman who wished to marry me." "But plenty of nice women would want to marry you, Mr Levinson." "You mean because I'm rich?" "You are strange." "You invite me here today as an apology and yet now you seem bent on offending me again." "Oh, no." "I hope not." "Because I like you very much, Miss Allsopp." "More than any, er, "lady" I have ever known, if I may use the term." "But you won't go along with Papa's scheme?" "No." "And when you've thought about it, you wouldn't want me to." "How do you know that?" "Because you're better than your father, Miss Allsopp." "Will you warn your mother off him?" "Oh, my mother can look after herself, believe me." "Can you really manage?" "Oh' yes." "You were going to be 10 anyway, now everyone's here, so 14 makes no difference." "I only hope Mrs Hughes can sort out the sleeping arrangements." "Mmm." "We're packed in like sardines, but I suppose it's not for long." "If the family's sardines, m'lady, the staff are like maggots." "Where's Bates?" "Erm, he were in the servants' hall earlier on." "Thank you, Mrs Patmore." "M'lady." "His Lordship asked if there's any news on the note for tonight." "It's here, m'lady." "But that's extraordinary." "But how did you get him to do it so quickly?" "He had nothing else on." "It's all quite proper." "Whatever it may seem." "As His Lordship assured me." "Good luck with the recovery plan when you get to Mr Sampson's flat." "I'll let you know." "Well..." "I'd better tell His Lordship we're all set." "It's a funny thing about London, isn't it?" "The way it seems to draw one into peculiar situations." "Like any big city." "I expect many people must regret things they got up to in London." "Is there anything I can do, m'lady?" "It's only that we've forced this dinner on Mrs Patmore without warning." "I was checking to see if she was on top of it." "Mrs Patmore is very resilient." "I'm not sure I can leave it alone, with the ticket." "We're talking about a man's life, Mrs Hughes." "Whatever we may think, do we have a right to do nothing?" "So Mr Bates must be ruined, or even hanged, because a vile, vicious monster is no longer with us?" "I'm sorry, but what you're asking me to do is wrong." "Whoever the man, whatever the motive, it's wrong." "Well?" "A card game?" "Here?" "And what are the ladies supposed to do?" "Put feathers in their hair and light the gentleman's cigars?" "You know, Rosamund wants to take you to the theatre." "Oh, I don't think so." "Oh, no, I'm too tired for an evening of second-hand emotion." "Oh, me too." "One outing's enough." "I'd rather stay in and play cards." "Oh, poker's not your game." "I hope you don't mind playing on your first night here." "Not at all." "If you don't want to go out, we'll sit and talk and leave the men to it." "So it doesn't strike you as odd?" "No, not really." "Well, not very." "And Mary's men?" "Why are they coming?" "Don't call them "Mary's men"." "They're coming for cards, Mama." "Except for Charles Blake, he doesn't play." "That is, he won't play tonight." "Well, we could play a different game?" "No." "He has to go out." "He's taking Mary and me to see a show." "Well, not a very long show." "I wish you'd say what's going on." "Well, now, Isis, old girl, you happy to find yourself in London?" "No, she's happy to see you." "I was no substitute." "Oh, well, the gang's all here, I see." "Is that American for "Hello"?" "Harold, I don't believe you've met Tom, Sybil's husband." "It seems strange we never met when she was here to introduce us." "Well, I'm glad to know you now." "How curious these phrases are." "Oh, could we get some tea, with milk?" "Well, I hope you enjoyed our picnic." "Of course we did." "Even if the combination of open-air picnics and after-dinner poker make me feel as though I've fallen through a looking glass, into the Déjeuner sur l'herbe." "Lucky you don't exaggerate, Mama." "Poker after dinner?" "There's a message from Rosamund that she's taking us to the theatre." "Not us." "You." "Why have I been selected for this honour?" "She was complaining she doesn't see enough of you." "Enough for what?" "Well, if I'm going to the theatre, then I ought to change." "Yes, I should." "Have you heard from Alfred again?" "Why would we?" "I don't suppose he can be bothered with us now." "Cooking for film stars and millionaires and the crowned heads of Europe." "Erm, I'll crown you if you don't get that back on the heat." "No, but he's escaped, hasn't he?" "Escaped from what?" "Oh, you know, ordinary life." "Oh, God..." "Er, before you go in, m'lord?" "What is it?" "I wasn't sure whether to tell you, but I was put in charge of Downton when you left." "Is something wrong?" "Not in that way, and you may think it's not my business." "But when the family's honour is concerned, m'lord, I feel it is my business." "Go on." "The other night I was patrolling the galleries, just making sure everything was shipshape before I turned in, when I ran into Mr Branson with a lady." "Upstairs?" "Just as I said, m'lord." "On the bedroom gallery." "What time was this?" "Oh, quite late." "I can't say which room they'd been in, or if they'd been in a room at all, except I don't know why else they'd be up there." "Anyway, they went downstairs and he drove her back to the village." "Who was this lady?" "He said her name was Miss Bunting, m'lord, a Miss Sarah Bunting." "Of course, Mr Branson is still a young man and he can't be expected to stay single for the rest of his life, but even so..." "Thank you, Barrow." "Yes, m'lord." "Do we have anything I can take up some ice in?" "Why do you need ice?" "Mr Levinson seems to want it in everything he drinks." "I'm glad you're all here." "I've something I want to tell you." "Her Ladyship wants to give us all a day out while we're in the south." "I've been thinking a visit to the Science Museum." "Or perhaps a trip to see where they've put the Crystal Palace." "Then there's the Royal Institution." "Or the Natural History Museum." "Of course, Westminster Abbey is always a good day out." "Well, I'm sure we'll come up with something." "Erm, could I have that ice?" "Mrs Hughes, did you get rid of that old coat?" "I did." "They were very grateful." "I wish you'd tell that to Mr Bates." "He's cross 'cause I took it without saying, and he never got a chance to go through the pockets." "But there was nothing in them, was there?" "Nothing that matters now." "Well, that's a funny answer." "Can I help you, Miss Baxter'?" "No, no." "I hope Daisy gave you my message." "She did." "Yes." "So what's going on?" "I know you." "There's something." "Are you free?" "Miss Baxter?" "I've a book I've been meaning to show you." "Thank you, Mr Molesley." "What was it you wanted to say?" "You must promise not to answer straight away." "Not to answer what?" "Mr Levinson wants you to come to America." "To cook for him." "We'll be touring Europe for a month or two, so you'll have plenty of time to decide." "Then, if you agree, he'll send you the fare and I'll meet you in New York." "Are you serious?" "He says he'll be teased in the clubs for hiring an English cook, but he loves your food." "He does." "That's not what I were expecting." "I'm terribly out of practice." "I haven't played since Downton." "It's rather sad poor Mr Gregson won't be joining us." "You've heard about that?" "Everyone has." "Quite a mystery." "I confess to a certain relief he won't be at the table tonight." "Did this fellow Gregson give you a difficult time of it?" "To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure he was playing strictly according to Hoyle, but we'll leave it, since the poor chap's missing." "Oh." "I hope I can trust everyone at the table." "I'm disappointed." "I was rather hoping to find Mrs Levinson here." "I'm sure you were." "I gather you've been entertaining in our absence." "Have I?" "Barrow mentioned that a friend of yours came up for dinner one night." "Not for dinner." "But I brought her to the house after dinner." "After dinner'?" "She... wanted to have a look." "Oh, we ought to concentrate." "Or Sampson will have his way with us." "This is so kind of you." "I'm sorry to hear that Mr Sampson has been taken ill, Miss." "I'm sure it isn't serious, but we do need to gather some things." "Well, let me know when you've finished and I'll come and lock up." "Thank you." "It's rather sad, to see the truth behind Mr Sampson's smooth facade." "Cheating at cards can't be very lucrative after all." "Never mind that." "Charles, you take the desk and, Mary, we'll search the bedroom." "They say men always hide things in their sock drawer." "Why is that, do you think?" "It's a deterrent." "What could be more revolting than to rummage through a strange man's socks?" "Oh." "You're very thoughtful, Miss Baxter." "Am I'?" "It's no use ganging up with Mr Molesley." "He can't protect you like I can and he doesn't know what I know, does he?" "He knows how to be kind, Mr Barrow." "He has the advantage of you there." "Erm, mine, I believe." "Sorry." "Do have the cards." "We must play more." "There you are." "You said Sampson would have a treat of it." "I haven't had a hand all night." "Gentlemen, have we had enough?" "Surely not?" "We've only just begun." "No." "No, I think that's it." "I gather we've failed to protect the Prince from his recklessness." "So now the press will go to town." "I'm afraid so." "But I dare say his lack of judgment would have tripped him up sooner or later." "Rather gloomy for a monarchist." "I'm a realist monarchist." "I think someone's waiting for you." "I should be off." "I'm so grateful." " Really." " Well, if it does all blow up," "I hope he finds out how hard we tried." "I can't be sad, though." " No?" " You were in trouble and you called on me." "That seems a very positive step, which I'd like to see repeated immediately, if possible." "Must I be in trouble again so soon?" "I mean it, Mary." "Give me a chance." "Are you sure?" "My lot's going down and your lot's coming up." "Is that a receipt for a peaceful co-existence?" "I wouldn't put it like that." "I'd say I believe in the future, and so could you." "I'd better go." "I'll see you at the ball." "Mr Bates," "Lady Rose is back and she asked me to tell you that the note worked, but they couldn't find what they were looking for." "Whatever that means." " What does it mean?" "James, when they leave, I'll need a hand with the coats." "I'd like to help, Mr Carson." "Well, if you mean it, that would be appreciated." "Thank you." "So, from tomorrow it's full speed ahead for the ball." "Could we tell them about the outing, to keep their spirits up." "Have you had any further thoughts?" "Well, I was wondering if we might go for something a little more obvious." "Madame Tussauds, perhaps." "There are interesting historical figures to be seen there, and not just sensational ones." "Are there?" "Are you all right, my darling?" "I never know what's going on inside that head of yours." "Not these days." "But you do know I would never do anything to hurt you, don't you?" "What an extraordinary thing to say." "Extraordinary or not, it's true." "Whatever I may do, it would never be to hurt you." "Good night, Papa." "Do you mean we've all been kept in the dark for nothing?" "I'm afraid so." "Kept in the dark about what?" "Oh, just some romantic scheme, nothing more." "Might it concern my old friend Aysgarth, who came here to see a certain lady from across the seas?" "Yes, a certain lady destined to go back across the seas, with any luck." "Lady Grantham, I'm very touched by your generosity to me this evening." "I know we English don't speak of such things, but I won't forget it." "That's quite all right." " Good night." " Good night." "It was nice of you to come tonight, after our conversation earlier." "I hope you'll be at the ball." "Why wouldn't I be?" "Good." "Another game tomorrow night?" " How well you know me." " Thank you." "Which is Mr Sampson's?" "Oh, don't worry." "I have it here." "Thank you, Mr Carson." "Lucrative gang." "Thanks." "There we are, sir." "Oh, I'm worn out." "I feel as if I've spent the whole evening trapped in the cast of a whodunnit." "Nobody's "dunnit"." "That's the problem." " Good night, Mama." " Night, dear." "I beg your pardon, m'lord." "What's this?" "It occurred to me, m'lord, that were I in possession of a very sensitive document," "I would not leave it unguarded in my home, but rather I would take it with me wherever I went." "So I helped the gentleman on with his coat." "He'd left it in his overcoat?" "It was in his inside breast pocket." "And now it is safely in your hands." "I'll see you upstairs, m'lord." "I don't believe it!" "But how'?" "Mr Sampson appears to have dropped it, and Bates picked it up." "He dropped it?" "Aren't we fortunate?" ""Fortunate" is one word for it." "So it was a happy ending, m'lady?" "A happy ending for the Prince." "A crisis for the monarchy has been averted." "Although given his character," "I wonder if we won't see another before he's finished." "But the next one won't be the fault of the Crawley family." "But seriously, we are so much in Bates' debt." "I'll thank him in the morning, but would you tell him how grateful we are'?" "He'll be glad to have been of use, m'lady." "He's very loyal to the family." "But you already know that." "I do." "And the family are loyal to him." "To both of you." "We should start the dancing, and I think it would be nice if you start it with Rose." "Family duty comes in many forms." "Wait a minute." "What's this?" "Lady Grantham, I know we're just crashers and we haven't been invited, well, I haven't anyway, but we hoped you wouldn't mind." "You honour this house with your presence, sir." "I don't know if the dancing's started yet, but perhaps His Royal Highness and Rose could..." "Would you permit me to open the ball?" "If she isn't a darling of London society after a kick-off like this, it won't be his fault." "Are you glad you came?" "I mean, these are your people now." "You must remember that." "This is your family." "This maybe my family, but these are not quite my people." "That sounds like a challenge." "Does it?" "Well, here's another." "Would you like to dance?" "Oh!" "Well, are you, are you sure?" "Well, then I accept the challenge." "I know I can trust you to steer." "How did you manage this?" "I told him, in his whole life, he'd never owe more to anyone than he does to Rose." "And did you tell him why?" "Certainly not." "But he trusts me, and he's a faithful little chap." "So am I, Freda." "Annoyingly, so am I." "What do you mean, "no"?" "What do you think I mean?" "It's not a very complicated word." "Don't you want to be Lady Aysgarth and rank alongside your daughter?" "Lord Aysgarth, I'm a modern." "I don't hanker for those days before the war." "And I don't really want to spend the rest of my life among people who think me loud and opinionated and common." "But I assure you they wouldn't..." "Well, yes, they would." "And you know, they'd be right, because I think they are narrow and pompous and boring." "Well, then why did you encourage me?" "Because I thought you would add to the fun of the trip, and I was right." "So, why don't you come and visit Newport?" "And I will rustle up old rich widows who want titles much more than I do." "Wouldn't that call it quits?" "No, this is not me." "London has remade me in a different image." "Maybe London has released you, to be seen as you really are." "Oh, Miss Allsopp..." "Madeleine." "And please don't think too harshly of us." "Father is frightened." "You see, he doesn't know how to live without money." "Ah." "Well, thank you for your honesty." "I'm only sorry I couldn't help." "You have helped." "I won't play his game again and you're the one I have to thank for that." "But now I'm going to help you." "I'm flattered you should want to." "There you go again." "You say you're only fit for good-time girls who see a profit in your friendship." "And you don't agree, huh?" "I know that any woman, no matter who she was, would be lucky to claim you as her husband." "You're kind, clever and much too modest." "And I speak without guile, because I know you've escaped my net." "Thank you." "When do you go?" "We get the boat-train Friday." "But you'll be pleased to hear I'm, er..." "I'm going to hire an English cook." "My valet appears to have recruited one." "Will you write, tell me how things are going..." "Madeleine?" "I should be delighted..." "Harold." "Can we stop without my having to hand you over to someone else?" "Let's hide." "Are you enjoying yourself?" "It's exciting to see the Prince of Wales close up." "We're going to watch him from the basement steps when he leaves." "I don't know what Mr Barrows got over you, and I don't want to know." "But he mustn't make you do things that aren't right." "And you can't let him bully you." "That's easy to say." "I know." "But if he draws you into his schemes, that's not going to be easy for you, either." "Sometimes it's better to take a risk than to go down the wrong path." "That's all." "Are you taking this, or should I carry it up to the ballroom myself?" "Sorry." "I gather it turned out well the other night, after all?" "That's why the Prince came to open the ball." "I'm glad." "I don't suppose there's any progress on whether or not it's going to turn out well for me?" "Oh, Tony, I wish I knew." "I feel so cruel dangling you and Charles and even Evelyn on the end of a string." "You didn't refuse Charles either, then?" "I tried, but he wouldn't have it." "But you're sure it's not him?" "My destiny is to save Downton, for George, by spending every penny and every waking minute holding it together." "Yes?" "Charles is on the other side of that struggle." "He's an outsider who resents the very people I come from." "Even if he loves me, how can we pull as a team?" "Of course I should sing and dance to hear you say that, but, er, you seem to have got the wrong end of the stick with Charles." "What do you mean?" "Charles is the heir to his father's cousin, Sir Severus Blake." "He is to inherit the baronetcy and one of the largest estates in Ulster." "Charles?" "But if that were true, surely I would have heard of him?" "Well, Sir Severus is a distant relation and Charles has always played it down, but he is not an outsider." "In fact, he's going to be a lot more eligible than I am." "Why did no one tell me this before?" "Does it make a difference?" "To know that he and I are on the same side, yes, of course it makes a difference." "You sound as though the tide is running against me." "Tony, a year ago I thought I'd be alone forever." "That I would mourn Matthew to the end of my days." "Now I know that isn't true, that there will be a new life for me, one day," "and even if I can't decide yet what life that should be, isn't it something for us to celebrate?" "It certainly is." "Oh, heavens." "What is it?" "Lord Merton." "And he seems to be headed in this direction." "Oh!" "No doubt to lead you down the primrose path of dalliance." "Mrs Crawley," "I hope you'll do me the honour of dancing this waltz." "I'm really not much of a dancer." "Oh, nor I, so we're a perfect match." "So did you enjoy it?" "After all?" "I enjoyed it fine." "But we need to stand up to them, you and I." "We may love them, but if we don't fight our corner, they'll roll us out flat." "You're right." "Thank you for that." "I'm going home in the morning, Mama." "You don't mind, do you?" "Of course not." "Is there a reason?" "Various reasons." "I might go to the Continent." "Not for long." "Really?" "Does this have anything to do with Michael Gregson?" "It has everything to do with Michael Gregson." "Couldn't someone else go for you?" "I'm afraid not, Aunt Rosamund." "I'm absolutely afraid not." "Oh..." "Oh, off to bed, are we?" "Well, that's very sensible." "A woman your age needs her rest." "You need a rest cure if you were taken in by that booby Aysgarth." "Violet, forgive me, and I don't mean to be offensive, but are you always this stuck-up?" "Oh, do tell me, do tell me, is the new Lady Aysgarth all set to hold London enthralled with tales of how the West was won?" "Well, actually, I turned him down." "Oh?" "You surprise me." "Mmm-hmm, I'm sure." "You see, I have no wish to be a great lady." "No." "A decision that must be reinforced whenever you look in the glass." "Violet?" "I don't mind looking in the mirror, because what I see is a woman who's not afraid of the future." "My world is coming nearer, and your world?" "It's slipping further and further away." "Good night." "Breakfast is done, but there are still quite a few in the ballroom." "No." "Go to bed, take the others with you." "I'll keep James and give him the rest of the morning off." "What about you?" "It won't be the first time I've gone without sleep." "We ought to have the outing settled if we're going on Thursday." "Oh." "I feel a little guilty about that." "I tried out my ideas on them and I couldn't fire up any enthusiasm, so I wonder if we should just settle for a day by the sea." "Yes, I know it's a defeat, but what do you think?" "We could take the Pullman from Victoria." "A day return ticket costs 12 shillings each." "It's a lot, but Her Ladyship's happy to pay." "Well, thank heaven you got there in the end." "We've danced all night." "Your mother's gone to bed, so do congratulate her on such a triumph." "I will." "Charles, why did you never tell me about your cousin or the estate in Ulster or any of it?" "I don't know, really." "At first, I wanted you not to assume I shared your prejudices because I came from a similar background." "And later on?" "Later on..." "Later on I think I wanted to win you by myself, alone." "Who told you?" "Evelyn?" "Well, I suppose it could have been anyone." "Tony Gillingham told me." "Oh?" "I thought it suited him for you to think of me as an alien being." "I think he wants it to be a fair fight." "Always assuming we're the only two in the ring." "So now, let battle commence?" "Let battle commence." "Thank you." "Just put it there." "So if you go tomorrow, how long would you be in Switzerland?" "Three or four days at the most." "So we've not got long to prepare." "I'll pay you for the first month this afternoon, but with three children you must have most of the paraphernalia already." "You're right." "We won't need much." "And you're quite sure your wife is willing to take this on?" "Margie dotes on children, m'lady." "In fact, I'm, er, not sure we've had our last." "She'll love it like her own." "We'll need a decent story." "That the parents are dead and... the mother was a friend of yours or something, and that's why you've taken her in." "Well, that's true." "Except, of course, it's my friend and not yours." "But you don't want her in the nurseries here?" "I can't have her here." "My parents disapproved of my friendship with her mother." "They'd feel uncomfortable for the baby to be in the house." "I see." "Which is why it has to be a secret." "I hope I can make you understand how important that is." "I'll pay you whatever you want, but it has to be a complete secret from my family." "I tell you what." "I think it should be our secret, m'lady." "Ours and no one else's." "I'll, er... send a letter to myself tonight and... tell Margie it's about an old friend of mine who's died and... asked in her will for me to take the child." "She won't question it." "Then nobody but you and I will know." "Mr Drewe, would you do that for me?" "For you and the little girl, m'lady, yes, I will." "How comforting it is that there really are a few good people left in the world." "I know you're hiding something from me." "I can tell." "No, I'm not." "Don't make me act harshly, Miss Baxter, because you know I can." "You must do as you think best, Mr Barrow." "Just as I must." "I have to thank you, Mr Molesley." "Oh, why is that?" "There are things in my past that have made me afraid, but..." "I'm not afraid any more." "I'm not sure what will happen, but whatever it is, it's better than being afraid." "You've made me strong, Mr Molesley." "Your strength has made me strong." "My what?" "What time do you go tomorrow'?" "The train leaves at 10:00." "I reckon Spain and Italy may be pretty hot, so when you see me again..." "No." "No, I won't be coming to America." " Don't make a decision too..." " I'm not coming!" "But thank you, and please thank Mr Levinson." "You know why I asked you?" "I think I do, yes." "I didn't say because I thought it might frighten you off." "But we could make a go of it." "Daisy?" "I suspect we want different things, Mr Slade." "But it means that much to me to hear you say it." "Thank you." "Could I try?" "Try what?" "To cook for Mr Levinson." "I know all the dishes Daisy makes." "I promise." "Yes, but it were to work with Daisy in New York that..." "But if Mr Levinson likes her style of cooking..." "Please." "Give me a trial." "I'll save up and pay my own way out if I have to." "Let her come." "You've told him you've got an English cook and he won't know the difference." "Okay." "I'll cable when I get back to New York and... you won't have to pay for your ticket." "But I warn you, he can be quite picky." "Don't worry." "This is my chance." "I swear I won't let you down." "That were kind of you, Daisy." "Why shouldn't she go to America, if it's what she wants?" "You're not upset, then, by Mr Slade making advances?" "Upset?" "Mrs Patmore, if you knew what it feels like to have a young man keen to court me." "I'd kiss him if it wouldn't give him the wrong idea." "Upset?" "I'm that chuffed, it'll take me through to next summer." "Did I ever tell you how glad they were to get that coat for the Russian refugees?" "Poor souls." "I just wish you'd let me go through the pockets first." "That's all." "I'm sorry." "Is there anything I can do to make up for it?" "Hmm." "Let me think." "You could always buy me a penny lick." "Come on." "I dare you." "But if I get my trousers wet..." "If you get them wet, we'll dry them." "Suppose I fall over?" "Suppose a bomb goes off?" "Suppose we're hit by a falling star'?" "You can hold my hand." "Then we'll both go in together." "I think I will hold your hand." "It'll make me feel a bit steadier." "You can always hold my hand if you need to feel steady." "I don't know how, but you manage to make that sound a little risqué." "And if I did?" "We're getting on, Mr Carson, you and I." "We can afford to live a little." "Oops." "Ooh!"