When the rally was over, Michael Gregson made his way among the crowd back to his hotel. He noticed that many people had their heads down and moved more quickly than what seemed normal for the middle of the day. However he didn't think much of it and continued navigating the crowded streets. Once, at a particularly crowded intersection he bumped into one of the men wearing a brown uniform who looked to be not much older than some of the younger servants back at Downton Abbey, and said "excuse me." Though in response he received nothing more than a glare which made Michael slightly uneasy despite the age. He averted his eyes and kept moving down the street.
He returned to his hotel and found the mornings post on the floor outside his door. There were only a few letters that he flipped through as he unlocked the door and hung up his hat. Mostly from his lawyer or the office, none from Edith. Michael sat down to respond and sighed as his mind wandered to her, he had been in Germany a little more than a week and he hadn't received any letters of any kind from her. She was the only person that he had ever truly loved. He loved his wife once for a short time but when her insanity started to become more pronounced he wanted nothing but to rid her from his life. He knew he had to go see her before the divorce became official, but he was going to avoid that for as long as he could and finish up all the remaining paperwork with the lawyers and the office of immigration.
He missed Edith terribly and was determined to keep to his promise that the process would go by quickly so that he could return to her and they would soon get married. Their last night before he left was incredible and he remembered every detail fondly. He sat at the desk in the hotel room and thought for a long time.
After she arrived in London they had tea in his office and sat talking for hours about the future and Germany before they got hungry and decided it was time for dinner. They went to the restaurant in a hotel across town from his office, one they had been to before and he knew was one of her favorites. He remembered that she had gotten a walnut and cherry salad with pecorino and also a poached salmon with a piccata sauce while he had a mushroom soup and filet mignon with mushrooms and a red wine sauce. They had sat and talked while they shared a chocolate almond cake with chocolate sour cream icing that Edith had found delightful. He even remembered what her hair looked like as it shone in the candelight. After dinner they went back to Michael's home and after his butler had taken Edith's coat she took Michael's hands and looked up into his eyes.
"What is it my dear? Did you have an enjoyable time tonight?" he asked her as he looked back at her.
"Oh yes it was lovely. I was just thinking how much I love you and how perfect it would be if we could stay in this moment forever."
He smiled and they stood in silence for a while until unexpectedly he picked her up and carried her upstairs to her bedroom while she laughed and protested halfheartedly the whole way. The rest of the night needed no explanation. In the morning they took their time getting up and sat in bed talking and laughing. Neither of them wanted to move because they both knew he had to leave the following day and she had to go back to Downton. Finally they got dressed and went downstairs to have breakfast.
As Michael remembered that night, for some odd reason he also began to think about the rest of the Crawley family. Lord Grantham, who Michael had finally won over in that card game when he cheated and won back the money that was lost. Lady Grantham, who was so charming and welcoming in her American way. Tom Branson, adopted into the upper class of the English and somewhat lost but kind nonetheless. The Dowager Countess, who looked down on the changing of the times but was wise and caring as she sat watched her family grow. Even Lady Mary, even though she was indignant and independent and stubborn, was loving in her own way. He had wanted so much for them to accept him despite the age gap between Edith and himself
Sitting at the desk in the somewhat dark small hotel room in a foreign country with not even a butler, Michael Gregson felt a sudden pang of loneliness. He missed all of them terribly but reminded himself he would back in England soon. He sat for a little while longer and finally changed his clothes, turned out the light and went to bed.