This week’s Downton Abbey kicks off on a more awkward note than usual. Here’s aunt Rosamund (sorry, Lady Rosamund) to stick her well-intentioned nose into Edith’s personal affairs. That is not strictly fair, as she was there for Edith the ten months (that flew by off-screen) during the whole baby business. Rosamund, then, would like to see Marigold, and, when they visit the farm, it causes even more friction. To be honest, it’s just painfully awkward now. With Violet now involved, the three of them discuss some drastic action regarding Marigold in light of Edith potentially being forbidden to see the child any longer.
It seems Mrs. Patmore has come into some money and seeks out Mr. Carson for some advice. Eventually, Mrs. Patmore decides to put money down on a cottage, and although that is not exactly what Carson advised, with Mrs. Hughes’ help, they thank him while maintaining his pride.
Robert, the Earl of Grantham and Tom, former chauffeur, speak frankly about how they see the country’s future and, of course, Miss Bunting. Later, Tom calls it off with the teacher since neither can accommodate the other’s views when it interferes with his family. When he finds out she is leaving for a new teaching job in Lancashire, Tom catches up with her as she is about to leave, thanking her for reminding him who he is and seeing her off. And here was me thinking this was the romantic “Don’t leave because I love you” scene. In fact, Miss Bunting tells him she loved him and could love him more if he let her.
The police are back, and this time Scotland Yard are along for the investigational ride. Oooh. “They have taken over the library,” says Robert elsewhere. The police are closing in on their suspicions, this time interviewing Mary and asking Anna some more questions. Thomas is still not looking well, as white as a sheet in fact, but his intrigue into why the police are questioning again suggests he is still looking for trouble. Mr. Bates speaks with his wife, Anna, and promises her that no matter what nothing bad will happen to her again. Right.
Mary is now off to lunch with Blake, but he brings along Miss Lane Fox (neither lady is amused by this) in an attempt to lure her back to Gillingham who he claims she is still in love with. Miss Lane Fox leaves promptly, unimpressed. What kind of game is this, Blake? And we fail to see if Mary is irked or dazzled by this right away.
Romance is blossoming for Rose. And looks like good old fashioned romance too when she is helped in the rain… by a gentleman no less. Rose wastes no time in inviting him for cake. His name is Atticus Aldridge, a descendant of Russia, which is greeted with dismay by a couple of the refugees at the church because he is, in actual fact, Jewish. Mr. Aldridge is further smitten with sweet Rose’s naivety on this matter. Can we hear wedding bells?
And finally, Mr. Bricker is back again, and we know his motives by now. As does Cora, but she still insists on teasing him by telling him he must behave. Robert is out of town (what a coincidence) supposedly for the night, but returns home early, just moments after Bricker has invited himself into Cora’s bedroom (what a coincidence). They square up to each other, and when Mr Bricker suggests Cora is being ignored, Robert hits him in the face. I say hit, it was more like a slap than a punch. Anyway, that disappointment dissolves in an instant when they start fighting. Again, I say “fighting” lightly. They roll around a bit like amateur wrestlers.
As we know on Downton Abbey, no one really gets their blood up in a boil too easily. Unless it’s over class warfare, that is…
