I am sorry for the grammar mistakes in this chapter, this one was quite hard for me to write. Hope you'll still enjoy it !

Mary

When Mary set foot on the station platform, she was relieved to feel a fresh breeze brush against her cheeks. Although she greatly enjoyed the London getaways, the several hours trip by train proved to be quite exhausting. While she was adjusting her hat properly on her hair, the porter who was waiting in front of the door grabbed the few luggages that Mary and Tom had taken with them for this short stay in the capital. The latter got off the train just after her. He still had a preoccupied look and looked like he had just woken up from a long sleep.

From the moment Tom had got her understand that something was bothering him, Mary had been wondering about the reason for this anxiety. She was replaying the events of the day over and over in her mind, trying to find some clue as to the reason for his strange behavior, but to her great frustration, she found none. This morning, however, he had not shown the slightest sign of distraction, so she deduced that something had happened between the moment Henry called and their getting on the train. Although the question had been bubbling in her head for a while, she had not approached the subject again for the rest of the journey. Though, she certainly did not forget the fact that he had to explain all this to her when they will be arrived at Belgrave Square, which would not be far off.

Strangely, she was now feeling more concerned about Tom's preoccupations than the fact that she was going to meet Henry, the man who had haunted her dreams and thoughts for several days.

"A taxi is waiting for you on the main avenue, my Lady" the baggage handler informed her.

"Thank you" she replied, motioning Tom to follow her.

The latter complied and they walked side by side towards the indicated place. The hubbub at King's Cross Station was a great contrast to the complete lack of conversation between the two partners. Only the sound of Mary's heels on the cobbles animated their walk.

They both entered the taxi waiting for them.

"Belgrave Square" the Lady announced.

"Very well" the driver answered before starting the engine.

At that moment, Mary instinctively thought back to the distant time, where Tom was the person who was driving her and her family to Ripon. It was still today really hard for her to realize the evolution of their relationship, from simple cordial relations, to a family tie by his marriage to Sybil. And finally, they were having today a sincere and deep affection for each other, in a proximity that Mary would never have thought to share with anyone - except for Matthew. The fact that he had gone to Boston for several months had only strengthened their bond, this distance having made them realize that they were incomplete one without the other.

To this day, Mary never imagined herself to be apart from her brother-in-law again. He was by far the one with whom she got along best in her family, and they also had a great deal in common.

Sometimes, she was thinking about the fact that he would not going to stay alone forever, and that he would end up marrying again one day or another. The very idea of Tom leaving Downton gave her a strange feeling of loneliness, a feeling that was not unknown to her. Indeed, she remembered particularly the period during which Matthew was engaged with Lavinia Swire as a period of great isolation, and a great sadness.

However, the comparison was not really appropriate, since she was in love with Matthew, which was obviously not the case with Tom.

She shivered.

"Are you looking forward to seeing Henry ?"

The question suddenly pulled her from her thoughts and her mind returned to the present time. She took a moment to understand that Tom, still sitting beside her in the taxi, was waiting for her answer. Noticing that she was not answering and that she was only staring at him intensely right in the eyes with a distraught look, he arched the eyebrows.

"Are you feeling well Mary ?" he asked, concerned to see her so troubled.

"Yes, I just – "she began.

She had no idea what she was going to say. Hundreds of thoughts were racing in her head. Her heart was starting to race as well. Her hands were becoming clammy.

Could it be –

"Do you want me to call a doctor when we arrive ?" Tom asked in a worried voice.

"No," Mary replied abruptly, gradually regaining control of herself. "I think it's just all this travel that makes my head spin."

"If you are sure."

Yes, just the travel.

During the remaining few minutes, Mary felt Tom's concerned look on her. She must have looked so stupid, even mad. To be honest, she herself had been surprised by her own behavior. An uncontrollable nervousness had suddenly seized her. She had rarely experienced such a state of misunderstanding.

No, it was simply unthinkable.