Thanks for your reviews ! This chapter is a bit shorter.

Mary

Several days had passed since Lady Shackleton and Henry Talbot came to Downton. In spite of the time that went by, the memory of the latter in Mary's restless mind remained as ardent and intense as when they had seen each other.

She still had a hard time understanding why this man, whom she had met only twice in a lifetime, had so much effect on her. It was obviously not love, because Mary could not feel what she had felt with Matthew, and it seemed absurd that she could fall in love with a man she barely knew. However, she could not help wondering about this strong and sudden attraction, a multitude of questions colliding in her head. How could I be attracted to a man who likes cars ? she repeated to herself tirelessly, trying to convince herself that all this was perfectly foolish. Moreover, Henry had no rank among the aristocracy and represented only a vulgar race car driver exposing himself ridiculously to unnecessary risks. Out of respect for her family, she could not simply attach herself to a man of such low class, on pain of devaluing the Crawley.

She immediately regretted the odious thought that had crossed her mind when Tom entered the room.

"Good morning" he greeted as he went to get a cup of coffee.

Then he took a seat at the table, in front of Robert and between Mary and Edith, who had not spoken a word so far. As usual, Tom's arrival at their side during breakfast had a knack for radically relaxing the oppressive climate that reigned between the two sisters.

"Are we still going to inspect the work of the new houses south of the estate this afternoon ?" he asked, turning to Mary.

"Of course," she replied, her eyes on the tea she was stirring. "It is important to me to see how our money is used."

Tom let out a slight laugh, then took a sip of coffee.

"It is time for me to go to the library," Robert said, getting up from his chair wearily. "I have a lot of tedious letters to write."

"I follow you," Edith added, hastily finishing her tea. "I'm going to see Marigold and the children in the nursery."

He nodded and the two headed for the door that Carson had just opened. Before crossing the doorway, Robert turned to them.

"I'm counting on you to keep me informed of the progress of the work."

"Of course" Tom assured him confidently.

Then they disappeared, leaving only Mary and Tom at the table. After a few minutes of silence, the latter questioned innocently :

"Any news from Henry ?"

Mary almost choked on the sip of tea she had just drank, but luckily she managed not to show anything. Instead, she displayed her usual haughty expression, her eyebrows arched.

"No" she answered, detached. Not the least.

"Curious" he simply said.

"Why do you say that ?"

Tom did not have time to open his mouth to answer when Carson hurried into the room, seeming to have some information to convey.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you," he apologized to them.

"It's nothing Carson," said Mary kindly. "What is it ?"

"Mr. Talbot is on the telephone for you, my Lady. "

Mary's heart took a dizzying leap in her chest. She glanced around at Tom, who was delighted to sound her reactions, before drying her lips carefully with her napkin and getting up from her seat.

"Thank you Carson" she told him as she passed by him.

The butler inclined his head reverently.

Mary then went toward the small furniture in the hall where the telephone was installed off. With an inexplicable hint of apprehension, she grabbed the telephone and placed her ear to the speaker. Once again, her heart was excessively racing and beating wildly.

"Henry ?" she said in a voice she wanted to pretend unperturbed.

"Lady Mary," he said pleasantly through the phone. "How are you ?"

"I am good, thank you. What about you ?"

"I am doing well too," he replied without much conviction. "Apart from the fact that I miss you terribly."

It seemed that Mary was going to have trouble keeping her intonation impassive.

"You flatter me, Mr. Talbot" she admitted, half amused and half charming.

She heard him laugh quietly in the microphone, then paused before resuming :

"How about meeting in London this afternoon ?"

"This afternoon ?" she exclaimed more spontaneously than she would have liked.

"You heard me right" Henry said. "It would be impossible for me to wait until tomorrow, not after hearing your voice."

Dozens of thoughts jostled in Mary's mind. She was so absorbed in the charming words of the man with whom she was holding the conversation that she could not properly think. However, she managed to remember without much effort - as they had just mentioned it at breakfast - that she planned this afternoon to go south of the estate with Tom to inspect works. Having no desire to abandon the latter, she prepared to politely refuse Henry's proposition when a brilliant idea came to her mind.

"It will be with great pleasure, Henry," she finally replied. "I will take the eleven o'clock train and arrive at Belgrave Square at four o'clock."

"Perfect," he concluded kindly. "I can not wait to see you."

"Likewise," she admitted. "See you later, Henry."

"See you later, Mary."

Then she hung up the phone, smiling. Nervously adjusting her pearl necklace, she turned around and headed back to the lunch room, her eyes lowered thoughtfully on the floor. As she stepped through the doorway, she hit someone coming from the opposite direction with full force.

"Sorry, it's my fault," Mary confessed just as Tom was about to apologize. "I was not looking in front of me."

The two stared at each other with confusion for a split second, then Tom quickly got back his teasing expression.

"So ? What did he call for ?" he asked, eager to learn more about the phone call.

"He was just asking for news."

"Oh, I see."

Mary paused for a moment and continued, a slight smile on her lips :

"And we see each other this afternoon in London."

At this news, Tom raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth, disconcerted.

"Have you forgotten our –"

"On the contrary, I have not forgotten," she cut him bluntly. "However, it occurred to me that we have plenty of time to inspect the estate when we are here so we can go another day."

Waiting for the rest, Tom gave her a questioning look, not seeming to grasp where she was coming from.

"Which means ?" he asked, puzzled.

"Which means you'll join us in London."

Tom then planted his dazed eyes in hers, and, unexpectedly, burst out laughing. In view of his ironical reaction, Mary thought it right to add :

"And you better not refuse. I would take it as a treason."

The Irishman then progressively stopped laughing.

"Mary," he explained in a calmer tone. "You can not expect me to join you while Henry intends to seduce you all afternoon and night. It would be more embarrassing than anything else for the three of us."

"I don't want to hear it," the Lady objected categorically. "If Henry wants to seduce me, he will have to get used at the idea that he will not take over my family, especially not my brother-in-law and partner. He must be aware of Tom Branson's place in my life."