Base hospital 25, 1918
Everyone was running around the hospital preparing for the wounded that would soon arrive from the Amiens. Soon the ambulance arrived and everyone flocked to them. One by one the wounded were carried out and into the hospital, but two of the wounded made Eve freeze. It was Matthew and William. She was broken out of her trace when one of the nurses placed their hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright, Eve?"
"I'm fine, Annie. Thank you for asking," She answered.
After getting all of the wounded off the ambulance and into the hospital, Eve went to find Colonel Blake getting ready for surgery.
"Colonel Blake, sir."
"Yes, Matron De La Cruz?"
"I have come to ask if I may take leave just for five days?" Eve asked
"And why is that, Matron?" Colonel Blake inquired.
"Two of the wounded that arrived are Captain Crawley and Private Mason," She answered, "And I hoping that you will allow me to tend to them as they return to England and stay with them a few days."
"I suppose it can be allowed, but I want you back in five days as you said. We'll let your family know of your arrival as well as Captain Crawley's and Private Mason's."
"Of course, sir," Eve nodded before going to prepare for surgery.
When her shift in surgery was over, Eve gathered what she would need before joining William and Matthew, both unconscious, and they were taken away in the motor.
After almost two hours at sea, the three of them arrived back in England. Eve informed the army medics and drivers there of Matthew's and William's condition before helping them get the wounded onto the ambulances to be taken to the hospitals. Eve joined Matthew in the same ambulance to be taken to the hospital in their village.
When they had arrived at the hospital, Branson had informed her that the Dowager Countess had demanded that she return to Downton Abbey the moment she arrived. Eve debated for a movement before following him to the motor to be taken to Downton.
Upon her arrival at Downton, Eve stepped out of the motor and went inside, but was stopped by her Grandmother and her cousin, Edith.
"Oh, good. You're here," Violet said, "We need to leave right away."
"Leave? But I just got here?" Eve questioned, giving her grandmother a confused look.
"I had just talked to Shrimpie. He helped us get William transferred from the hospital in Leeds to here. Quickly, Mr. Mason and William are waiting for us," She answered before walking outside to the car. Eve and Edith looked at each other before following their grandmother to the motor.
In the Leeds General Infirmary, Mr. Mason sits by his son's bedside while Violet, Eve, and Edith speak with Doctor Morton.
"And has Lord Flincher's order been acted on?" Violet asked.
"It has. There's an ambulance waiting," Doctor Morton answered, "Although, no one quite knows how you managed it."
"What exactly is the matter with him?" She inquired.
"His body's sustained too much damage. He cannot recover," He informed her.
"But he looks so normal."
"Appearances can be cruelly deceptive. The force of the blast has fatally injured his lungs."
"But if he's lived this long…" Edith began.
"William is a fighter, but there are some fights no one can win," Eve said.
"Would it make any difference if he stayed here? Or are you just making him as comfortable as can be?" Violet asked Doctor Morton.
"That's it. There's nothing more we can do for him," He told her.
"So, you agree with our plan."
"I don't know about you, but I'd rather die in a familiar place surrounded by familiar faces," He informed Violet.
Mr. Mason steps away from his son's bedside and approaches them.
"There you are, Mr. Mason. It seems we have everything settled. We'll be away before long," Violet inform him.
"He'll be forced to do better if we can just get him back to where he knows. I feel sure of it," Mr. Mason said.
"I shouldn't-" Doctor Morton began before he was interrupted by Violet.
"Shouldn't worry too much. We'll know much more when he's rested.
"I'm very grateful, milady. To all of you," Mr. Mason said.
"Let's get him ready," Edith said before she, Eve, and Mr. Mason walk over to William.
It was later in the day when they arrived at Downton, Eve and the ambulance driver picked up the gurney and carried William to a guest room upstairs.
After getting William settled, Mr. Mason and Mrs. Patmore stand aside while Edith and Eve tend to William.
"Why don't you go home now, Mr. Mason? We'll see you tomorrow," Edith said.
"Are you sure you don't mind sitting up with him?" Mr. Mason asked.
"He won't be alone. Not for a moment. I promise," She assured him.
"He looks so perfect, lying there," He said before taking his leave.
"But he does look perfect. Are you sure they've got it right?" Mrs. Patmore asked while looking down at William sleeping peacefully.
"I'm afraid so. If only I weren't," Edith said.
"There are times when we have patients at the base hospital who look as though they were perfectly fine and were not injured badly, but in truth, they are trying not to let death win," Eve said.
The next day, Eve and Mrs. Hughes were in the village waiting for the bus to arrive. Mrs. Hughes picks up a basket and they get onto a bus. After a while, the two arrive at a house and Mrs. Hughes knocks on the door. The door opened, revealing Ethel holding a baby in her arm. Eve and Mrs. Hughes walk into her house and hand her the baskets of food. Ethel takes food out of the basket Mrs. Hughes bought, a baby in her other arm.
"If he could only see the child," Mrs. Hughes said.
"He won't. I've written again and again. I've offered to bring him to any place he wants," Ethel told her.
Mrs. Hughes and Eve shared a look before Mrs. Hughes informs Ethel, "I wasn't going to tell you this, but he's coming on a visit this week to see his old pals."
"Help me, Mrs. Hughes, Milady. Let me come to Downton and show him the baby!" Ethel pleaded with them.
"Oh, certainly not! I won't have that," Mrs. Hughes denied before Eve could say anything.
"Well, then ask him to meet me! I know he'd listen to you. I'll give you a letter. One more can't hurt. Make him read it in front of you."
"I-I'll do no such thing," She told Ethel.
"But please!" Ethel begged Mrs. Hughes.
"He'd say it was none of my business, and he'd be right. Besides, don't think I approve of what you've done, because I don't," Mrs. Hughes said.
"Haven't you ever made a mistake?" Ethel asked.
"Not on this scale. No, I have not. Sorry to disappoint you."
"So, you won't do anything?"
"I'm feeding you out of the house, quite wrongly, I might add. I have a good mind to stop that," Mrs. Hughes said.
"No, I'm the one who's sorry," Ethel said.
"Ethel, Mrs. Hughes, and I will try with the Major, but we don't know if we can change a vile man like that," Eve told her.
After returning home, Eve and Edith went up to Wiliam's room to see how he is doing and to give him his medicine. It was not long before Daisy came into the room.
"There she is. Come over here where I can see you," William holds out his hand and Daisy takes it, "By' eck, it were worth it, if I get to hold your hand."
"Don't be daft," Daisy told him.
"I've never slept in a room as big as this. Where are we?" William asked.
"At the end of the south gallery," Edith answered.
"Here take this," Eve hands William a tonic.
"Any news of Captain Crawley?" He asked her.
"He's doing much better. Thanks to you," She answered before William drinks the tonic.
"Dad'll be here in a bit. Can you stay for a minute?" William asked Daisy.
"I ought to go down. It's not fair on Mrs. Patmore," She answered.
"She won't mind, Daisy. I'll take the fall should it come to it," Eve told her.
"Because I did want to ask you something. Daisy, would you ever marry me now and not wait for the end of the war, like we said?" William asked Daisy.
"You mustn't worry about all that for the moment now, William. You're here for rest, not excitement," Edith told him.
"That's right," Daisy agreed, "There's no need to worry about it now. First, let's get you better."
"But would you think about it?" William asked her.
"I must go. They'll be sending out a search party soon. Just rest," Daisy told him before she leaves the room.
Later that day, Mrs. Hughes and Eve are in the grand hall watching Major Bryant playing cards with his friends. Mrs. Hughes takes a breath and then she and Eve approach Major Bryant.
"Major, might Miss Eve and I have a word?" Mrs. Hughes asked him.
The Major makes an expression to his friends and follows Mrs. Hughes and Eve to the front hall.
"What is it?" He asked.
"We have something for you," Eve holds the letter with his name on it. Byrant looks at the handwriting of his name on the letter she holds out but doesn't take it.
"Thank you," He said.
"I wish you would read it," Mrs. Hughes said.
"Do you know who wrote it?" He asked them.
"Yes, I do," Mrs. Hughes answered while Eve nodded, "And I know how anxious she is for an answer.
"All due respect, I don't believe it's any of your concern," Major Bryant told them.
"I do believe it is my concern, Major. Seeing as I was the midwife who helped deliver your son into this world and I'll be damned if I will stand by and do nothing as you neglect your responsibilities as a father. And know this, Major, you will get what your just deserts," Eve said before walking away to attend to her duties.
That evening in William's room, Daisy comes into the room.
"Will you leave us a moment?" William asked, his voice hoarse. His father, Eve, and Edith leave the room to give the two some privacy. Mr. Mason, Eve, and Edith wait in the corridor giving William and Daisy some privacy.
Mr. Mason and Edith wait in the corridor. Some time passes before Daisy comes out, Edith and Eve then enter the room. Mr. Mason stayed out in the corridor and talked to Daisy before coming back into his son's room.
The next morning, Eve is having breakfast with her uncle who is reading the newspaper, and cousins.
"Good God Almighty," Robert exclaimed, "The engagement is announced between Lady Mary Josephine Crawley, eldest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and Sir Richard Carlisle, son of Mr. and the late Mrs. Mark Carlisle of Morningside Edinburgh." Is this why you went to see him? Why didn't you say it'd be in today's paper?"
"I didn't know," Mary responded.
"Well, surely he asked your permission?" He asked her.
"I don't think asking permission is his strongest suit."
"That's very high-handed. You can't let him get away with it," Robert told Mary.
"Well, it's done now," Edith told her father.
"And not very much we can do," Eve added.
Mr. Carson steps forward and Robert asks, "What is it?"
"William's wedding, my lord. If it can be arranged for this afternoon, the indoor staff would like to attend."
"We don't yet know if Mr. Travis will agree to do it," Robert told him.
"I'm afraid he has very little time to make up his mind," Mr. Carson said.
That afternoon, Mrs. Hughes and Eve visit Ethel at her home and inform her about Major Bryant.
"You can't have expected much more. Not when those letters all went unanswered," Mrs. Hughes told her.
"I don't know what I expected, but you can't help hoping," Ethel said.
"Have you found any work?" She asked.
"Bit of scrubbing. There aren't many places I can take the baby," Ethel answered.
"I can ask some people I know if they are looking for help and won't mind about a baby?"
"No, milady," She answered Eve.
"What do you tell them?" Mrs. Hughes asked.
"That my husband died at the front."
"It's funny, we have a new maid, Jane, who really is a war widow with a child and we respect her for it. But then, we believe her story," She told her.
Later that day in the servent's hall, Daisy stares into space, dressed for her wedding. Mr. Carson enters with a bouquet.
"His Lordship asked Mr. Vassit to bring these in for you," Mr. Carson gives Daisy the bouquet.
"Aw, how lovely," Anna commented, "Here. Daisy, sit down."
Daisy sat down on the chair, "I shouldn't be doing this. It's just a lie, you know it is."
"You're doing it out of the goodness of your heart," Mrs. Patmore consoled her.
"The falseness of my heart, more like," Daisy said.
"You look lovely, dear. Just to say, the vicar is ready for us," Mrs. Hughes informed.
"Let's go up, then," Mr. Carson said.
Mr. Carson offers Daisy his arm. Anna hands her the bouquet. Daisy slowly stands up, takes the bouquet and Carson's arm, and allows herself to be led to her wedding. The bed is woven with vines of flowers. Daisy and William hold hands. Edith, Eve, and Violet attend along with Mr. Mason, Anna, Mr. Bates, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Carson, Mrs. Patmore, Thomas, Miss O'Brien, and another maid.
"Dearly beloved," Mr. Travis began, "we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained. If any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace. Hand me the ring."
Mr. Mason pulls the ring out of his vest pocket and gives it to Travis. Anna and Mr. Carson are also on the verge of tears. William puts the ring on Daisy's finger. Edith sees Violet crying and puts her hand on her shoulder.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Daisy leans over the bed and kisses William.
A little while later that day, Mrs. Patmore came into William's room. Daisy is sitting on the bed, Mr. Mason on the chair next to it, and Eve stands on the other side of the bed. They all kept their eyes on the sleeping William.
Mrs. Patmore takes Daisy's hands, "You must be so tired, my love. Why not let me take over for a while and go and lie down."
"No thank you, Mrs. Patmore. I'll stay with him. I won't leave him now, not while he needs me," Daisy told her.
"He doesn't need you no more, Daisy," Mr. Mason said. They see that William has just stopped breathing, "He doesn't need none of us no more," He takes Daisy's hand.