Authors note: The first time Matthew is on leave in London, not yet engaged to Lavinia, Mary and Matthew have a one-night stand and in shock, Mary leaves the next day without saying goodbye and returns to Downton.

Downton Abbey-S2E1-Mary's Bedroom scene preparing for the concert-

SYBIL- Glad to be back?

MARY: I'm never sure. When I'm in London, I ache for Yorkshire, and when I'm here, I ache to hear my heels clicking on the pavement. I've forgotten about this nightmare concert. Why didn't you warn me? I'd have come back tomorrow.

EDITH: But you'd have missed Matthew.

CORA: I was going to tell you, Matthew's on leave, and he's in the village, so papa and I had thought it would be a good time to mend our fences. He's coming tonight with Isobel.

EDITH: And his fiancé.

Mary: What?!

CORA: Edith, I don't know how helpful your being.

SYBIL: Matthew's engaged. He's brought her to Downton to meet his mother.

MARY: Well how marvelous!

SYBIL: You don't mind?

MARY: Why should I mind? We're not going to marry, but I don't want him to spend his life in a cave.

CORA: Exactly what papa and I feel. Please try to be happy for him.

MARY: Of Course I'm happy. Good luck to him..!

The ladies begin to go down to join the welcome party for the Army support concert. After Mary announces she will be down momentarily. Anna, who can see that she is struggling with the revelation pauses. She could always tell when her mistress was particularly upset, more often, she felt, than her own mother.

"M'Lady, are you sure you're alright?"

Mary closes one of her many jewelry boxes, looks up at Anna in the mirror, and begins to tear up.

"Anna, may I ask upon your utmost discretion? Especially from my family, you cannot even reveal what I have to say to Mr. Bates." Anna takes a fallen strand of hair that had fallen and gently placed it back into Mary's hair clip, and somberly nods.

"Of course, M'lady. A proper Lady's made always maintains discretion."

Mary's lips curl slightly into the smallest grin she could muster, then fall as she turns to look Anna in the eye's.

"I shouldn't hope to disappoint you, but I fear I have, and most importantly will have brought shame upon this family, and Downton. I would hope by now that you know I cherish you, not only as my lady's maid but as a dear sister, more than my god given one's I dare say. That is why I feel as though I can trust you with this secret."

Anna smiles at the kind gesture, and then returns to her serious stance. Prepared to handle some major news by the look upon Lady Mary's despair, she nods, gently, for Mary to continue.

"I must speak of it into your ear. No one outside of this room can know of my shameful actions," Mary responds. Anna nods and bends to her mistresses level.

Mary swallows hard, and sniffles in a failed attempt at composure and begins to whisper into Anna's ear.

"I knew Matthew was in London. Matthew and I ran into each other while I was visiting Aunt Rosamound. We…We each did not spend yesterday's evening, nor the sunrise alone."