June 1918
Matthew and Mary
"Do you think he really is Patrick Crawley?"
"No. I meant what I said in the sitting room. He must be an imposter."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes.
"What makes you so sure?"
"What I said. Every memory he has of his childhood here with us is, I don't know, exchangeable. We had a governess we didn't like but that is not unusual. We celebrated birthday parties by the pond. That isn't unusual either as you can see by your idea to have a party for George down there. He remembers the Grecian temple the moment he sees it. If you took me to Manchester pointed at a building to me and told me that's where you used to live, I could claim to know it and just point out a few prominent features of the building. That is all he does. And then there is the fact that the real Patrick Crawley did not like Edith. Not at all. But I couldn't say that in front of her. She's been telling herself for years that had Patrick survived, she would be in my position now. Just not with you but with Patrick. But that is utter rubbish. He didn't love me either, but he almost hated Edith."
"You should tell your father."
"I'd much rather not. He loved Patrick. Not as a son, but as a very dear cousin he felt responsible for. It would break his heart. I'll tell him only if I really have to."
"Should he turn out to be Patrick"
"I will still love you and not regret marrying you."
"Kiss me."
Cora and Robert
"Do you think it's Patrick?"
"No. Something about him doesn't sit right with me. I don't know what it is."
"What would you do if it was Patrick?"
"What could I do? We'd have to accept him back. The question is what would we do with Matthew? I can't stop thinking about it. If this fellow turns out to be Patrick, everything will be taken away from Mary and Matthew. I know we've faced this thought before, but then it would have been because of our own son, not because of a cousin we haven't seen in six years."
"Even if it was Patrick, you'd still prefer Matthew to be your heir."
"Yes. Wouldn't you?"
"Yes. And not just because of Mary. I love Matthew as much as you do."
"Kiss me."