Tom stayed alone in the library for a few minutes, and allowed himself to partake of another drink before he went upstairs to dress himself.

Mary was upset – but for once, he realized, it wasn't him that she was upset with – she was upset with herself. She was embarrassed at having been caught kissing him. He allowed himself a moment to grin privately over that. If all truths were told, he hadn't been completely awake that night either… it was something that had just happened between them while they were both exhausted and needing comfort…

Why then, couldn't he stop smiling?

If Mary was really mad at him she would have tried to patch things up with Henry and explain. What had happened wasn't so beyond forgiveness that it couldn't be explained away… and yet, she hadn't even tried. On the contrary, she had asked Henry to leave. Why did she do that?

"She loves me," he said out loud without meaning to. He suddenly looked around the room anxiously to see if anyone had overheard, but then laughed at himself for that reaction. Dear Lord, I've become a Crawley, he thought to himself with a grin as he went upstairs to change for dinner.

"Milady, will Mr. Talbot be joining you for dinner?" Anna asked as she helped Mary into her dress.

"Oh, no!" Mary almost groaned. "He most certainly will not."

"But he did just arrive?" Anna pressed. "Beg pardon milady, but Mrs. Patmore was concerned…"

"Tell her there is no need to worry. Mr. Talbot did come, and he has already left." She fixed her gloves. "I think we have seen the last of Henry Talbot."

"Oh." Anna was surprised to hear that. "You'll forgive me, milady, but are you alright then?" Anna looked at her with genuine concern.

Mary thought for a moment. "Oh Anna, I suppose I should be upset, and yet, I'm not. Not at all!"

Anna smiled with approval. "I never thought he was right for you, milady," she confided.

"I agree with you," Mary grinned. Anna nearly laughed out loud. She stifled it a bit with her hand. Mary looked at her in surprise. "What is it?"

"Apologies, milady, but for someone that's just ended things with a suitor, you seem so happy!"

Mary allowed herself to smile. "I am!" she confided to her maid. "And I know it makes no logical sense, but I am very, very happy right now!"

"Could it be that there's someone else your ladyship is thinking of?" Anna teased, not really expecting an answer.

Mary still couldn't stop smiling. "You never know," she answered. She soon left the room and Anna watched her go with pure admiration.

What was it that made Lady Mary so happy? she wondered to herself. She had seen Lady Mary dismiss many a suitor before, but usually she had a bit of guilt, a bit of sadness, a bit of regret mixed in. Anna observed none of this tonight. What was so different? What in the world made her so happy?

Surely it couldn't be… no, she wouldn't allow her mind to dwell on that idea. After all, the man had once been below stairs with all of them! Lady Sybil might have been able to put that aside, but Lady Mary? That seemed very unlikely. Without allowing herself to entertain the thought that she was nonetheless thinking, she folded up Lady Mary's afternoon dress and headed downstairs.

In the kitchens she found Daisy scrambling about like mad and Mrs. Patmore about to have a nervous breakdown. "Will someone PLEASE tell me how many for dinner?" she cried. "Nobody seems to know! Nobody is giving me a straight answer and they expect their soup in ten minutes!"

"No need to fret, Mrs. Patmore," Anna comforted, "Mr. Talbot has already left the house and there will just be the usual for dinner."

"Oh saints preserve us and hallelujah," the cook answered. "I dare say I could have made it work, but I'm glad to know I don't have to."

Anna smiled and left the kitchen. Her husband caught her arm in the hallway. "Mr. Talbot has left?" he pressed her affectionately.

"Since when are you for one for gossip, Mr. Bates?" she teased him.

"I'm not – but you have a knowing smile on your face. Something's made you happy. And whenever you're happy, I like to share in it."

She kissed him. "I honestly don't know anything," she confided. "Except that Mr. Talbot is gone and Lady Mary is happy."

"And when Lady Mary is happy, you are happy," he observed.

"Generally speaking," she thought to herself for a moment. "Yes, I'd say that's true a large percent of the time."

"Then may Lady Mary be happy the rest of her days," he answered, and kissed his wife on the cheek.