Edith had not been looking forward to dinner that evening, ever since she had decided on taking Marigold she had felt edgy and nervous, just waiting for the day to be over so tomorrow could begin. She had it all planned in her head, she would wait until Mrs Drew was collecting the children and would be distracted in the playground full of children, then she would swoop in and take her, hide behind the school and make her exit on the bus that passed a few minutes after the bell rang. It would all work perfectly; all she had to do was get through the evening without anyone suspecting what she was planning.

"Ready to go down" Toms voice awoke her from her daydreaming as he popped his head around the door. She smiled a weak smile and nodded. Tom noticed that she was pale and knew of course that something wasn't right but he couldn't push it, if she wanted to share she knew the offer was there, he had told her earlier. Instead he simply held open the door and escorted her down the landing. As they came up to the corner however Tom was surprised to hear shouts coming from the other end of the landing. It was his Lordship, that much he recognised and he quickened his pace to see if he could help. As he neared the stairs he could see that it was Lady Grantham who shouted back at him but the next thing he saw made him stop dead. To Tom it seem as though Lady Grantham was very upset, she made to descend the stairs but his Lordship lunged forward and grabbed her arm causing her to scream. He then threw her backward, away from the stairs and into the solid brick wall beside them. The noise of Cora's head against the stone made his stomach churn. Edith ran forward calling out to her mother but Tom could only focus on the cruel act he had just witnessed. He charged forward and punched his father in law squarely on the chin. In a moment, Mary was holding him steading and asking to be told what was happening. Tom kept his eyes firmly on Lord Grantham, who sat now, holding his jaw on the ground.

"He attacked her" he shouted, throwing his hand backward toward Cora's lifeless form "we saw him, he just attacked her"

"No" Robert cried out in response "I didn't I swear it, I could never, Cora!" he cried and tried to move toward her but Tom was in his way in seconds.

"You can't deny it, I saw you; you grabbed her and threw her against the wall. We both saw it" Tom was shaking with shock and anger, Edith had begun to sob now and the servants were beginning to gather.

"Tom you can't be serious" Mary answered him quietly "Papa tell him this is nonsense" Robert passed his hands over his eyes and took a breath

"I, I never meant to hurt her" he stammered out. Mary heard her own gasp echo round her as Bates, Baxter, Anna and Carson watched the scene before them.

"Papa" Mary whispered

"She was falling, she tripped on the stairs, I tried to catch her" he explained, his anger shining through his tears "I was only trying to help, I"

"I heard you arguing, she shouted at you to let her go, do you really…" Tom started again but was cut short by Edith's desperate plea

"Oh just shut up" she cried, now cradling her mother's head "can we please just send for Dr Clarkson and get Mama a bandage before things get any worse" even before she had started speaking Anna was half way down the stairs going toward the telephone

"I'll phone him" she called after her. Carson and Baxter moved toward Cora and instructed Tom to help them lift her back to her room.

"Let me" Robert said moving forward. For a moment he thought Tom might actually drop Cora to have another go at him but instead Tom just looked at him, then at Bates and said.

"I want to call the police, it would be better if you stayed away for now" this was the tipping point for Robert, the anger he felt toward the situation and now the anger at being accused of assault was more than he could bear.

"No" he shouted "I was trying to help, you can't stop me from seeing her, she's my wife" he charged after the group and made to take his wife from their arms but in a moment Bates had him secure. He addressed him loudly and firmly, looking into his eyes.

"This is not going to help" he said calmly "I know you didn't mean to hurt her, you were trying to save her and when she comes around she will say the same thing. But you have to show that you are trying to do everything you can for her now and that means, that means leaving her alone with Baxter to rest while the doctor comes, come on now, let's go downstairs. I'll get Carson to explain to our guests and get dinner served" Bates' calm, controlled voice seemed to piece the shroud of anger that covered Robert at that moment and he let himself be led downstairs to the library.

He knew of course that the guests in the living room would be wondering what on earth was going on by now but that wasn't bothering him at all. Now that the gathering and the panicking was away, he had nothing to do but give in to his thoughts. His thoughts offered him little comfort however as all he could think of was the scream and the image of Cora lying on the ground, blood seeping from her head.

"Will you go and find out how she is" He asked Bates almost immediately "and tell me when Dr Clarkson arrives, I need to know what it happening"

"Of course my lord" Bates replied and left swiftly. He didn't think for a second that his lordship would ever intentionally hurt his wife but Branson's account had been quite clear and he was very angry indeed. He thought it would be a little too far to call the police, they would be under no obligation to do anything anyway since it was not a criminal offence to hit ones wife. If she died however, Lord Grantham was in very deep waters indeed.