Stirring in her bed, Martha was immediately aware of her pounding head. Her heart seemed to be in overdrive as she listened to the dull thud thud thud in her eardrums. Feeling extremely groggy she rolled over and rang the bell, wondering how on earth she had been able to sleep with such a racket in her ears. She was having trouble focusing her eyesight and everything seemed hazy. Then it occurred to her that she also had no idea how she came to be in this state. Maybe she was ill? Martha rolled onto her back, trying to remember the preceding hours but found she could not. She didn't think anymore of it as someone would surely fill her in and she decided to go down to breakfast.

Martha arrived in the dining room feeling only marginally better though her eyesight had finally focused. Robert was sitting at the end of the table with Cora on his left and Edith and Sybil beside her. Martha vaguely wondered why Cora was downstairs for breakfast as she sat down on Robert's other side.

"Good morning mother, how are you feeling?" Cora looked up from her eggs across the table.

"I am very hungry and have a headache but it is nothing a bit of breakfast won't fix I am sure." Martha watched as Robert and Cora exchanged a look. Robert turned and nodded to Carson who hurried over with a breakfast dish and deposited two boiled eggs on her plate.

"Where is the rest Carson?" Martha asked as she examined her eggs.

"I'm afraid that is the rest Mrs Levinson," Carson replied grudgingly.

"How can this be?" Martha looked over to Cora who had just finished her eggs.

Cora put down her fork and glanced at Robert before returning her gaze to Martha's bewildered expression. "The last supply of food wasn't delivered remember mother? We are trying to make what we have stretch while we look for a possible solution."

"It wasn't delivered?" Martha repeated looking dazed. "How come?" Edith and Sybil were now paying no attention to their partly eaten eggs and were listening to the conversation.

"Because the estate was unable to pay for it," Robert replied. "I was sure Cora must have told you that considering what you did last night." Robert's eyes flickered from Martha to Cora.

"I did tell her," Cora put in.

"I don't remember that. And what did I do last night?" Martha was now totally confused as Robert and Cora glanced at each other again.

"You sang for everyone Grandmama so that everyone would forget about the lack of dinner and enjoy the improvised nibbles and they all loved it. No-one noticed the time passing and your acts were hailed as a great success," Sybil provided. "Don't you remember?"

"Well that does sound like the sort of thing I would do," Martha said as she shifted in her chair. "Oh yes, and then everyone started singing with me towards the end. They all looked so happy!"

"That's right mother," Cora said, relieved that Martha was regaining her grasp of the situation. "You were also very happy by the end of the night."

"Was I?" Martha's face showed her surprise.

"Yes, you had been drinking a lot in between numbers and Cora had to help you upstairs to bed before Reed could take over." Robert suppressed a smile as he recalled Martha's inebriated state.

"Drinking? Oh yes. Do you know the odd thing was, I cannot remember the contents ever declining in my glass? Funny really. I must have had a bit too much and imagined it wasn't moving." Martha shrugged her shoulders and finished her eggs. Cora caught Robert's eye and nodded slightly towards her mother, silently communicating her thoughts. Robert nodded and then flicked his fingers towards Martha as his hand rested on the table. He then shook his head as Cora nodded while Edith and Sybil watched them in silent bemusement.

"Right," Robert rose from his chair, "I must now beg your pardon ladies as I need to go to Ripon. I shall see you all later."

"I hope you have a productive trip Papa," Edith enthused as Cora quickly stood and followed him out of the room, making her excuses.

"Robert!" She quickly caught up and grabbed his arm. "So you think it was your mother who caused this too?" she said cautiously, wanting to be sure they understood each other.

"Yes, I saw her quietly having a word to Carson and then watched him topping up Martha's glass for half the evening while she was singing." Robert chuckled. "It seems Mama wanted to repay her kindness from years earlier."

"But we aren't-"

"-going to say anything to your mother? Certainly not!" Robert finished for her. "Now I really must be off. I'm going to speak to some of our farmers at the market in the square this morning about getting some food."

"Good luck." Cora took his hands and gently squeezed them before turning and walking back to the dining room.

It was mid afternoon as Cora sat at her desk writing a letter while trying to ignore her growling stomach. It was a beautiful day outside and the light was streaming into her sitting room casting a soft glow over the fine furniture. A knock on the door made her look up as Sybil appeared.

"May I come in?" Sybil looked at her mother hesitantly.

"Of course you can Sybil darling." Cora stood up and beckoned her youngest daughter over. Sybil slowed her walk as she approached and Cora suddenly sensed that something had happened. "What is it?"

"I am going back to Ireland tomorrow Mama." Cora stood motionless and her face betrayed nothing. "Tom writes that he has been given a big promotion at the newspaper agency. He isn't a journalist anymore, he is the second editor of all the stories that come in." Sybil smiled as she mentally recounted the surge of pride she felt for her husband upon receiving the information.

"I see. Well if that is the case then I am glad at least that we were able to spend some time together." Cora placed her hands on Sybil's shoulders.

"As am I," Sybil said solemnly. "And don't worry Mama, we shall have a lot more money with Tom's promotion. In fact, from what he says, we will be very comfortable now." Cora felt a flood of relief wash over her. At least she wouldn't have to worry about Sybil's financial situation.

"Well I wish him all the best with his new job," Cora said and she meant it. "I guess you had better start packing then. Let me know if you would like me to help." Cora's hands dropped to her sides and Sybil turned to leave. "And Sybil," Cora raised her voice.

"Yes?"

"Take care of your precious cargo on the trip back," she finished.

"Don't worry, I will. And I will see you tonight and in the morning, it isn't goodbye yet." Cora smiled faintly and nodded as Sybil retreated from the room.

Robert was having great difficulty ignoring his constantly protesting stomach as he sat in the back of the motor, bound for the Ripon railway station. For the past three days, they had all been having two boiled eggs for breakfast but there had only been one this morning and the situation was now critical. If he needed any more confirmation of that fact, he had received an urgent telegram from Murray last night requesting his attendance at a meeting at 11 o'clock sharp. As the countryside flashed past him, Robert's sense of foreboding grew. In no time at all, Jennings had pulled up outside the railway station and Robert found himself on the early train to London.

Once in London, Robert hailed a cab and reached Murray's quarters with ten minutes to spare. He swiftly ascended the stairs to his office two at a time and stopped outside Murray's door, considering the possibility of knocking even though he was early. He decided against it and instead took up a chair on the opposite side of the landing. He had barely settled himself when the door opened and Murray poked his head out to find Lord Grantham perched on the chair, gripping his hands together.

"I thought I heard you arrive. You may come in now Lord Grantham." Murray opened the door fully and stepped to one side as Robert passed him and made for the chair on the other side of Murray's desk.

"I am sorry if I disturbed you, I know I am slightly early," Robert remarked as he tried to keep his tone light.

"Oh don't be. In fact, it is probably better that you are," Murray said seriously as he took his seat. "You do realise that I have asked you here to address the situation at hand?"

"I understand." Robert's stomach made a particularly loud noise and his cheek's reddened. He partially crossed his arms across his stomach as Murray raised one eyebrow.

"Indeed." Murray chose not to comment, lest his ears were deceiving him. "The time has come that I must tell you what is about to happen." Robert sat up very straight in his chair and braced himself for Murray's next words.

Back at Downton Abbey, Cora suddenly tensed and the hand she held her cup of tea with shook, spilling some of the contents onto the saucer and onto her lap.

"Are you alright Mama?" Edith asked.

"I am quite well," she responded as the sudden, cold and prickly feeling began to subside. Trying to ignore it she handed her cup over to Jimmy and busied herself with cleaning up her dress. She tried to focus on the conversation that Edith and Isobel were currently engaged in but working with disadvantaged women in York could now sway her thoughts away from one word, one name. Robert. Cora smoothed over her dress and turned her attention back to her family, willing herself to reconnect with them and pretend everything was okay. It was soon apparent that willing was wishing in this case, and when were wishes ever granted? She looked over to the clock on the mantelpiece. 11:05 am. This was the moment in Crawley history that would be noted for years to come as the final act in a taxing battle. Cora shut her eyes. Robert!