A/N And so the plan begins to take shape. All the players are almost in position, and the stage is being set for the showdown... It's coming people, it's coming... worry not, when it is upon us I will give you full and proper warning so that you can take the appropriate precautions.

Btw: for those of you unfamiliar (and to avoid confusion with modern speech) Queer Street is in fact when something does not go the way you wanted it to, normally in cases of financial disaster or bankrupcy, but not always, and you are basically up the creek without a paddle!

Again, for the unprecedented support, views, reviews, re-reviews and general warm responses I would like to offer you a heartfelt thank you. So, this chapter... the calm before the storm.

Enjoy.

The earl of Grantham was already present at the breakfast table as his daughters arrived.

"Good Morning Papa." Mary said, giving him a small kiss on the cheek. Robert was vaguely surprised at such an unwarranted display of affection. She was followed soon after by her sister.

Sir Richard Carlisle finally felt himself to be in control. It had not been easy, but he finally felt he could face her. He had to pick the right moment. It would not do to play his hand too early, and certainly not in front of her family, but she would be sorry.

Arriving for breakfast and pleasantries exchanged, he too took his place at the table.

Mary, attentive for signs that Anna may have played her part, noticed Carlisle observing her from under hooded eyebrows. There was no doubt that the fuse had been lit.

"So what are your plans for today?" Robert asked his girls.

"I thought I might take the motor for a jolly around Ripon." Edith said. "Mama has some calls to make, so I said I would drive her in."

Her father raised his eyebrows in minor disapproval, before clearly deciding it was not worth an argument. "And what about you Mary?"

"I have a fitting for the dress today." She said with unbridled excitement, whilst simultaneously buttering a piece of toast. "Cousin Isobel will keep trying to throw frills and ruffles at me, but one does have to draw the line somewhere. Matthew was teasing me that he would run a mile if I turned up at the church looking like one of Mrs Patmore's cream puffs!"

She smiled expansively around the diners. "So, it is something elegant and simple, but that is all I am going to tell you. We must save some surprises for the big day."

Robert noticed Carlisle stiffen. "If you will excuse me a moment, I just need to speak to Brookes." The newspaperman said, before nodding curtly to the ladies and leaving.

The earl took his opportunity and leaned towards his eldest daughter. "Is it strictly necessary to antagonise the man with all this chatter about your wedding? Not so long ago you were about to be his bride and he still has certain information, or did you forget?"

Mary fixed her father with a cool stare. "No-one asked the man to come Papa. He wanted to visit; didn't he say bygones were bygones? I do not see why I should not enjoy planning my wedding just because he is here. Matthew and I…"

Her father cut her off. "That is another thing. You and Matthew. I know you have wanted this for a long time Mary, my god, one would have to be blind not to see the attachment between you, but I would appreciate it if you could refrain from quite so much obvious… affection, especially when we have guests in the house."

Before she could reply Carlisle had returned to the table. His knuckles were almost white as he took up his cutlery.

"Speaking of guests, has anyone seen Mr Gordon this morning?" Edith broke the uncomfortable silence.

It was a morning of surprises for Robert it seemed. The staunch advocate of the newcomer, this must have been the first time Edith had referred to the man as Gordon.

"Matthew has taken him for a tour of the estate." Mary said, "He felt that until things are settled it might at least get the man out of the house, as long as he doesn't frighten the horses! You don't mind do you Papa?"

Robert shook his head. "Why would I?"

She continued, her tone mischievous, "Perhaps he will not be so keen to be an earl when he sees what he'd be letting himself in for."

"Does Crawley really know what he is letting himself in for?" Sir Richard said, fixing Mary with cold eyes.

She met his gaze without flinching. Her tone was equally icy. "Richard... Matthew and I have known each other for a very long time. He is under no illusions as to my character, I assure you."

"Your character perhaps, but can you say the same for your conduct?"

"I think I may take a walk down and meet them later." Robert said pointedly. "Both myself and Isis could do with the exercise. Would you care to join us Sir Richard?"

The spell broken, Carlisle took a sip from his coffee cup. "No thank you Lord Grantham. I am planning to take a drive over to Haxby Park. My plans there are almost completed.

O'Brian was coming up the back stairs as Thomas was going down.

"Everything is all set." He said.

"Set as in?"

"I have delivered the stuff. All I have to do now is wait for the cash and the fitting for the butler's uniform." He said smugly, brushing down his livery.

The Lady's maid was incredulous. "Do you never learn? Did the black market fiasco teach you nothing?"

Thomas looked about him nervously. "All right, all right, keep your voice down!"

"All I'm saying." O'Brian continued in an exaggerated whisper. "Is that you don't hand over things before the cash is in your hand. What if this man decides not to pay you, not to give you the fancy butler job, you will have taken all those risks for nothing?"

"He won't. He's a gentleman. It's not like I met him in a pub this time is it? If you're worried about the housekeeper job…?"

The Lady's maid shook her head. "I'm not. I've thought about what you said, and I've decided that I am not going to leave my lady." She said primly.

"Are you mad? She wouldn't give a toss about you. Think about it. Nice sitting room, maids at your beck and call…?"

"That's as may be." She said firmly. "But I have made my decision. What you need to do is make sure that this gentleman makes good his promise, because if anyone finds out what you've been doing you'll be in Queer Street and no mistake!"

Their tour of the milking sheds complete, Matthew and Gordon were walking down one of the farm lanes. The former had found the morning so far trying at the very least. He could not quite manage the same enthusiasm for cows and indeed farmers that Matthew seemed to adopt so effortlessly.

Matthew stopped and leant against a dry stone wall. Taking a small pewter flask from his pocket he slowly undid the top before taking a sip.

"A habit acquired in the trenches I'm afraid, keeps out the chill." He said by way of apology. "You don't mind?"

In truth Gordon could have kissed the man! "N…not at all." He stammered taking out his own flask and gratefully drinking deep. He half choked as the burning liquid reached his throat.

"The ladies wouldn't understand." Matthew said conspiratorially.

"N…no indeed not." Gordon agreed, eyeing his flask suspiciously.

"Is something wrong?"

"No… it's just…"

"Oh, have they filled it?" He tapped his nose. "Carson will normally top mine up if I'm staying at the Abbey, especially if I am out and about early. It's Lord Grantham's special blend, something of an acquired taste."

"Hmm." Gordon said, before tentatively taking another swig.

They sat in companionable silence as the red sun struggled into the sky and cast a glow over the frost covered fields.

"Y.. your injury… you seem to you have… recovered." Gordon said.

"Thank you. Yes, I was extraordinarily lucky. To go from thinking I may never walk, never do anything of the things that make life worth living, to getting married in just over a month. The alternatives do not bear thinking about."

"Hmm."

"I'm sorry, that must sound terribly selfish of me given..." How could he equate to the man's injuries? "But to be marrying Mary, after everything, I suppose I can't always quite believe it."

"No… not at all… hmmm."

"Passchendaele wasn't it?" Matthew said. It really wasn't easy trying to engage the man in conversation. "That was a bloody mess from what I hear?"

"W…wasn't it all?" Gordon said distractedly, taking another pull from his flask and lapsing into a morose silence.

"Anyway." Matthew said more brightly. "Lots to see, shall we go on?"

Gordon left the safety of the wall and wobbled slightly.

"Steady old chap!" Matthew said catching his arm. "I'd go easy on that stuff. I did warn you it takes some getting used to."

"Robert?" Cora peered around the door to Lord Grantham's study. He looked up from his desk, where he had been writing letters, but said nothing.

"Are you still terribly angry with me, because if you are going to scold me again I shall leave directly?" She said.

"No," He said in resignation, "I am not going to scold you. I know you mean well, but sometimes you can be curiously unfeeling."

She stepped further into the room. "I only want what's best for our girls Robert."

"As do I. But you should have heard Mary this morning talking about the wedding. I don't think I have ever seen her so excited about anything. Can you not see that whatever happens, she and Matthew will not be separated? She loves him and that is all there is to it."

"As Sybil loved Branson?" Cora raised an eyebrow. "You would have done anything to stop that match my darling. Is the only difference here is that you approve of Matthew?"

Robert nodded. "I suppose so. I am trying to word a letter to Branson now, to ask him for his help, but it is not exactly coming easily."

Crossing the room, Cora laid her hands upon her husband's shoulders. "I know, but it will be for Bates, just try to keep that in mind."

"And swallow my pride you mean?"

"If that's what it takes."

Stealing a few precious moments in her room, Anna unfolded the documents that Sir Richard had given her. She felt her heart beating faster. This could be it, finally, she could have the proof that she needed to obtain her husband's liberty.

Just the thought of John free and safe made her so happy.

She read through the first page and the second. This couldn't be right! They were simply transcripts of the trial. Didn't she already know what had been said? She had been right there!

Scanning through the rest of the paperwork, there was nothing… absolutely nothing that would do anything to help John's case. Sir Richard had cheated her, played her like a fool.

Ever soft hearted, Anna had actually begun to feel sorry for Carlisle as she told him of her private conversations with Lady Mary. It was not part of the plan to pull any punches as to what had been said, but still; it was not in her nature to cause another person pain.

She looked again at the useless document in front of her. But he had cheated. Any qualms she may have had about Lady Mary's scheme now completely melted away. That man deserved everything he was going to get.