Mary had spent the entire month of November trying NOT to be upset about Tom's proposal. She hadn't succeeded. She just could not understand his behavior, and seeing him acting so cheerful and carefree every day was making her more and more crazy. Night after restless night, she couldn't sleep, she couldn't relax, she finally decided that enough was enough. She made a resolution.

The following morning, as Anna was dressing her, she announced her decision. "I'm sorry to upset your schedule, Anna, but I've decided to go to London."

"London?" Anna repeated. "When?"

"This afternoon."

"This afternoon?" Anna was so surprised she couldn't even come up with a reaction.

"Yes. I'm sorry, I know it's a bother for you, but I can't stand being in this house any longer. I simply have to get away for a couple of days."

"I do understand, milady," Anna said with some sympathy. "Will we be staying with Lady Rosamund?"

"She's out of town but she won't mind," Mary decided aloud.

"Isn't this rather a sudden scheme?" Anna asked.

"Yes, it is," Mary agreed. "But my mind is completely made up."

"Alright," Anna said slowly. "I will start making arrangements."

"Thank you, Anna. And tell Bates I'm sorry that I'm stealing his wife away – but I promise it won't be for very long."

"He won't mind," Anna tried to make light of the situation. "A few days for him to smoke in the house and leave dirty dishes lying around, it will probably do him good."

"Excellent." Mary smiled in the mirror as it was all settled. She left the room to announce her decision to the family.

Anna watched her go in wonder. She sat down on the bed and thought it all over. London. Lady Mary is leaving for London. Now. No plans, just going. She thought over what her husband had said to her... Tom Branson was probably still in love with Lady Mary, and enjoyed watching her go crazy. Well, if that is his plan, he seems to be succeeding...

"Today? You're leaving for London today?" Tom asked, as soon as Mary had given her announcement to him and her parents.

"Yes. Anna is making the arrangements as we speak, I intend to catch the three o'clock."

"When will you be back?" her mother asked.

"I don't really know," Mary answered. "I just want to take a few days, clear my head, and take a break from work and everything." Both of her parents' eyes traveled to Tom.

"Well," Tom said, clearing his throat and willing himself to smile. "We'll all miss you."

"Thank you, Tom," she responded without emotion. "I'm sure you can carry on the management duties without me?" it wasn't really a question, more of an assumption.

"I'll do my best," he answered readily.

"Good. Well then, if you will excuse me, I have a few preperations to make and I will be on my way." With that she excused herself from the room and returned upstairs. Her family all stared at each other in amazement.

"Well," Tom said as cheerfully as he could manage, "I suppose that's settled." He bowed and left the room. Robert and Cora watched him go.

"Robert," Cora said quietly, what do you make of that?" she asked.

"I don't know," her husband answered honestly. "But why do I feel as though a bomb is about to drop?"

Mary arrived in London with little fanfare. She and Anna went to Rosamund's house and made themselves perfectly at home.

Anna was more than a little disturbed by these actions. She did not like being away from her husband, particularly when Lady Mary was acting strange. And at Lady Rosamund's house she had no confidantes to talk to. All she could do was just watch and wonder.

Mary spent her first two days in London shopping and visiting the theatre. There was a production of Oiver Twist with some newcomer named John Gielgud that seemed to be all the rage… but Anna could tell beneath it all Mary was painfully unhappy. She was putting on a show of being on holiday, even for her benefit. Anna didn't believe it for a minute. Lady Mary was not happy, and she wasn't doing a good job of hiding it.