Series 2, Episode 6 has a very slight reference to Bates, Carlisle and Branson all in the same place at the same time. The conversation takes place between Carson and Carlisle. I try to avoid repeating script from the show. Thanks for all the comments and follows. Murder mystery is a new one for me! Please comment if you can.

In the Library

The dining room was awash in voices all talking at once and all addressing their questions directly at Tom Branson.

"Are you sure?"

"When?"

"How did it happen?"

"How can you be certain?"

Sybil was the only one who was remaining silent. Tom stood up walked to Sybil and laid a hand on her shoulder. She covered his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before she returned to her meal.

"Lord Grantham, Matthew, perhaps we should continue this conversation in private," said Tom. "Mr. Carson would you please join us."

And with that he headed for the dining room door to wait for the other men. The Dowager Countess rose as well.

"If you think I'm missing this, you have another thought coming. This will be even better than when Sir Richard left," she said with a look of glee in her eye. If there was gossip or a scandal coming, she wanted to be the first to hear it.

"Where do you get off, ordering me about in my own house," said Lord Grantham.

"Do you really want the servants to hear what I have to say," said Tom.

"You're quite right," Matthew chimed in and headed out the door for the library.

Once the five of them were in the library and the Dowager Countess was seated Lord Grantham finally spoke.

"What is the meaning of this? Why didn't you speak up before now?"

"I thought John Bates would have told you himself. I see now he didn't. It wasn't my place to tell you. Besides at the time I was in your employ. Who would you have believed the man who was engaged to your eldest daughter at the time, or a servant?"

Lord Grantham could only grimace.

"He has you there, Robert," said the Dowager Countess.

"I see your point," said Matthew. "You had better tell us what happened. Try to remember as much detail as you can."

"The night before I took Mr. Bates to the train, Mr. Carson told me quite late that I would be taking Sir Richard Carlisle to the same train. I had planned to use the town car because I had the Renault apart. I remember it because I had to work late to get the car repaired. Lady Violet had to be driven home and I used the town car which was unusual," Tom recounted. "Mr. Carson, do remember that."

"Yes, now that you mention it, I do," said Mr. Carson.

"I took both Mr. Bates and Sir Robert Carlisle to the London train in the morning. I don't remember exactly which train it was. When we got there I let Sir Richard out and went around back to get his bag. As you know Mr. Bates is rather slow getting out of the front of the car because it has a high step. I could hear them talking. Carlisle was shouting actually. So I stepped around the corner of the car to see what was going on. That is when Carlisle hit Bates. Bates lost his balance and fell on the gravel," Tom paused at this point.

"Good God," said Lord Grantham. "Bates has never said a word about this."

"There's more," said Tom. "When Carlisle was standing over Bates he said, "You will rue the day Vera Bates tries to cross me. You both will."

"Are you sure that is exactly what he said?" Matthew inquired.

"Yes its not something one would forget."

"Did you over hear their entire conversation?" asked the Dowager Countess.

"I did, but it didn't make any sense to me at the time. It still doesn't really. Something about Bates wife and Lady Mary."

"You had better stop there," said Matthew. "I want you to swear out an affidavit describing what you heard and saw. Are you free the beginning of this week?"

"I don't have to be back in London until Wednesday when parliament reconvenes."

"Good, I'll telephone George Murray in the morning to set something up. Don't discuss this with anyone else. The rest of you don't repeat this. I don't want any accusations of evidence tampering. Does everyone understand?"

There were head nods all around.

"Well all this drama has quite worn me out," exclaimed the Dowager Countess. "Carson, please have the car brought around."

"I'll see you out, Mama," said Lord Grantham.

As the senior Granthams left the library, the two younger men could hear the Dowager Countesses' voice.

"I knew this would be better than a novel. You never know what will come out of that husband of Sybil's. Rather like a box of Belgian chocolates. He is always a surprise."

"Usually a radical surprise."

"Now Robert, one must make the best of things. I was talking to…"

Tom walked over and closed the door. He was trying hard not to laugh but wasn't having much success. Matthew's face was also turning red as he tried to hold in his laughter. At the sound of the click of the door latch he almost doubled over laughing.

"I wonder what she says about me when I'm not around," Matthew said while still laughing.

"Plenty," said Tom who had given up on trying to hold back his laughter. "Remember I drove her around for five and a half years."

When their laughter finally subsided Tom's face got more serious.

"There was something else I wanted to tell you, but please don't repeat this to Sybil. It will only upset her."

"Alright,"

"The first time Bates wife showed up she was staying at the Grantham Arms. She came out of the house after seeing Bates. I was working in the yard behind the kitchen. She came up to me and asked me if I wanted to join her for a drink later and keep her company."

"Crickey!"

"How did she put it? I could use some company to keep me warm tonight, she said."

"What did you say?"

"What the hell did you think I said? For one thing John Bates is one of the few people who ever treated me like an equal around here and the other the woman was a scab. Reminded me of a snake. I respectfully declined her invitation."

"I can see why you would want to keep that piece of information to yourself. I've got some thinking to do."

"Well, I had better go and find my wife. I want to check on the little one before bed."

"Right, I will call over in the morning. Once I have something set up."

Tom and Matthew headed to the drawing room to rejoin the women. They received expectant looks from Lady Grantham and all of her daughters.

"Tom has remembered a fairly significant event that may help Bates' case. I have advised everyone not to discuss it," Matthew said.

Sybil rose to go and check on the baby. Tom went with her. As Mary and Matthew prepared to leave the Abbey for Crawley house, Matthew inquired, "What do you know about a connection between Bates' wife and Richard Carlisle?"

"More than I would like to," came the reply from his wife.