As to be expected, Mary easily convinced Violet to stay at Downton while construction was in progress. She was about to head home but then decided that she would visit Isobel to extend the same invitation.

"Mrs. Crawley, Lady Mary is here to see you," her housekeeper announced before Mary entered the room. She quickly exited to give them privacy.

"Mary, is everything alright?" Isobel asked, surprised by her visit.

"Yes, I know you were not expecting me," Mary began, trying to assure her that everything was fine. "I hope you don't mind my sudden visit but I thought it's been a while since we've seen each other."

"You are always welcome here. How are Matthew and William?"

"They're both doing well," she replied. "Dr. Clarkson just checked on both of them today." She deliberately omitted informing her about Matthew's recent headaches. She didn't want to worry Isobel just yet.

"Oh, where are my manners, I should order us some tea." Isobel stood up to ring for her housekeeper, suddenly feeling remiss in showing hospitality to Mary.

"It's not necessary. I won't be staying long. I just came to ask if you would like to come stay at Downton while the construction is going on."

"I don't mind staying here," Isobel insisted. "I think it's quite exciting to see changes happening around here finally."

Mary smiled and realized that Matthew was right about Isobel welcoming the changes.

"Are you happy about the changes?" Isobel asked.

"Of course," she replied. "Especially since Matthew is making them."

"With your help he tells me," Isobel revealed to her. "I'm so glad you're supporting him on this."

"It's my duty," Mary said sweetly. "I must go now before Matthew and William miss me too much. I hope we'll see you soon at the house."

Isobel nodded and watched Mary leave with a knowing smile. She knew it was much more than duty although she knew Mary wasn't about to admit it openly.

...

Mary returned home quite pleased to have accomplished what she set out to do. She knew Matthew would be equally pleased and was eager to let him know.

"Hello Lady Mary," Carson greeted her when she arrived.

"Hello Carson," she acknowledged him. "Do you know where Matthew is?" She half-expected him to be in their sitting room but asked to confirm.

"Mr. Crawley is actually waiting for you upstairs in your room," he replied.

Mary's smile faded and was replaced by a concerned look. She thanked Carson and headed up the stairs quickly.

"Matthew," she called out to him when she didn't find him in their room.

"Mary," he answered back from the dressing room. "You're back." He walked in wearing his riding clothes.

"Where are you going?" she asked, wondering why he was dressed so. "Did Molesley mix up your clothes?"

"No he didn't," he responded, chuckling softly. "But I suppose he had a surprised look when I told him I wanted these. And I've asked Anna to bring your riding clothes as well." He pointed in the general direction of their bed where he expected Anna had laid the clothes on.

"So, why are we wearing these?" she asked tentatively.

"I've decided what your reward would be," he announced. "It's been a while since you've ridden your horse so I thought we should go together. I will rely on you to guide my horse though."

"So you were quite sure I would return to claim my reward," she said with amusement.

"I had no doubt," he said, equally amused. "Although you were away longer than I had expected, did Cousin Violet put up resistance?"

"Not at all but I did stop by to see Isobel," she explained, changing into her riding clothes as she spoke.

"Oh? Why?"

"I thought it was the dutiful thing to do to extend her the same invitation to stay at Downton. You were right, she wants to stay and witness the changes to come at Crawley House."

Matthew was surprised but touched by her gesture to his mother.

...

Mary truly enjoyed riding around Downton on her horse. She hadn't realized how long it has been until she got atop her horse. She had to constantly rein in her horse to stop it from going faster lest Matthew's followed suit being led by hers.

"Can I rest for a while?" Matthew called out when they've been out for a while.

"Is your head hurting again?" Mary asked, turning her horse to face him. "We can go back if you like."

"No, I just want to rest for a while," he assured her. "You can go ride faster on your own for a while."

Mary realized what he was doing and that he was well aware of her routine. She happily took him up on the offer and went on her own for a while. When she returned, she saw that he had dismounted and was sitting on the ground. He stood up when he heard her approaching horse.

"How was the ride?" he asked with a smile.

"It was wonderful," she replied, dismounting quickly to give him a hug. "Thank you for that."

"Can I assume that you liked your reward?"

Instead of answering him, she gave him a long kiss on the lips.

"Mary," he panted. "Someone might see us and think you're taking advantage." He knew that was highly unlikely but couldn't resist teasing her.

"I'm a married woman and if I'm not mistaken, you made me so." She was enjoying their time outdoors and alone.

"I suppose we have to head back," he suggested.

Mary guided him back to his horse and helped him mount it. She didn't notice that his foot caught part of her riding habit and so when she turned away, the cloth ripped against the stirrup. They both heard the ripping sound and froze.

"Mary, what happened?"

Mary sighed and looked at her torn clothing. She explained to Matthew what had happened before mounting her own horse.

"I hope Anna can mend it," he said quite contritely. "I didn't mean to ruin your clothing."

"Don't worry about it, I'll ask Anna to see what can be done."

...

"Well, Anna says she can mend the riding habit," Mary informed him when he entered their room after changing out of his riding clothes. "So no harm done." She knew Matthew felt bad about ripping her clothes.

"Mary, I think you should go to London," he suggested.

"What? Why?" She turned to look at him as he sat on the edge of their bed.

"So you can buy a new riding habit," he said. "And maybe some new frocks from the latest fashion styles."

"I told you, Anna can mend it and I don't need new frocks."

"Mary, just because I can't see you, doesn't mean you shouldn't keep up with the fashions."

"Who said I wasn't?" she challenged him. "I get the magazines and if I find something, I can have it made."

"It's been a while since you've had something made," he pointed out.

"I'll have something made when I see something I like," she assured him. "Now stop feeling bad about my riding habit." She kissed him on the cheek to make her point.

...

"Mama," Robert greeted Violet when she arrived.

"So this is the price we all have to pay for the future," she noted, watching as her baggage was brought up to her room.

"Changes must happen according to Matthew," he reminded her. "I'm beginning to see his vision and it's pretty good." He remembered the plans Matthew had shown him and he was quite impressed how much care he had placed in keeping some traditions.

"Lord Grantham," Arthur greeted him on his way out. He was quite in a hurry that he only briefly tipped his hat to acknowledge Violet.

"Who is that?" she asked, quite unsettled by a stranger coming from upstairs.

"That is Mr. Blackwell. Matthew hired him to help make the plans and invited him to stay with us while he is working for us."

"Heavens, are we to host all the workers as well? And I thought Mary said this was going to be a sanctuary."

"I don't think Matthew will be inviting any more workers," Robert assured her.

"I sure hope not," Violet said. She decided there and then that she would have a word with Matthew.

...

"Matthew," Violet called out to him when she saw him walking towards the library.

"Hello Cousin Violet," Matthew greeted with a smile, turning towards her voice. "I'm so glad you're here. I hope it's not too much trouble."

"I will manage," she assured him, ever the trooper. "But I wanted to speak with you about that man you invited to stay."

"Mr. Blackwell," he informed her.

"How long will he be staying? I'm afraid I won't feel at home with a stranger among us."

Matthew listened to Violet voice her concerns. He wondered why Mary hadn't made the same sound arguments before knowing that she probably felt the same discomfort as Violet.

"Mary hadn't said anything," he noted.

"Of course she wouldn't go against your decision, she's your wife," she reminded him.

"Then be assured I will make it right," he said. "I would like your stay to be as pleasant as possible."

...

"Matthew, what are you doing here?" Tom asked when he arrived at the construction site.

"I thought I would check on the progress of our project," he replied, stepping out of the car. "I may not see it but at least I can hear it."

"It's progressing quickly," Tom said. "I think we can finish this before next spring." He was quite surprised at how enthusiastic the villagers had accepted the changes they proposed.

"I'm glad to hear that. Is Arthur here?"

"I'll get him for you," Tom said and went to find Arthur.

"Mr. Crawley," Arthur greeted when he approached him. "Tom tells me you wanted to see me."

"Yes, Arthur. I needed to speak with you about your accommodations. With family coming, I'm afraid we would have to send you to live in the village inn after all. I'll pay for all of it of course."

Arthur stood quietly beside Matthew thinking of how to respond.

"Are you still there Arthur?" Matthew prompted him when he took too long to reply.

"Have I offended anyone at the house? Perhaps Lady Mary would reconsider?"

"Mary?" Matthew repeated with obvious surprise. "Mary doesn't even know about this."

"Oh," Arthur realized his mistake.

"I hope you don't mind. It's just best for the family to have it all to ourselves again. And you're still welcome to come to the house when you have ideas about the estate."

"I'll miss people at the house," Arthur said sadly.

"If by people you mean Rose, I think it's for the best; the distance might help you understand your true feelings for her."

"I'm sure about my feelings," Arthur admitted. "I just haven't told her because I don't know how she'd receive it."

"Sometimes you just have to say what you really feel," Matthew said encouragingly.

...

Mary hadn't realized the time and wondered where Matthew had gone off to. She didn't find him anywhere in the house and decided to go out in case he had gone into the gardens on his own.

"Lady Mary," Carson greeted her as she was heading out.

"Hello Carson. Have you seen Matthew?"

"Yes, milady. He asked for the car to be brought around a while ago and said he was going to the construction site."

Mary felt a sudden wave of cold rush course through her body.

"Is something wrong?" Carson asked, seeing the distress in her eyes.

"Have someone fetch him at once," Mary ordered, trying to stay calm. "And send him to our sitting room when he arrives."

Carson nodded an acknowledgement and watched as Mary quickly walked away from him.

...

"Mary?" Matthew called out to her as he hurried into their sitting room. He rushed right home when one of the servants informed him Mary needed him.

"How could you do this to me?" Mary said, sounding every bit upset as she looked. "Why would you do it?"

"What?" Matthew asked, clearly confused as to what she was referring to.

"You left the house without telling me and of all places you had to go, you went to the construction site! What if you fell or hurt yourself? Did you think of that?"

"It was safe," he tried to assure her. "Tom was there and so was Arthur."

Mary gasped audibly before finding her voice to continue speaking. "And you expect them to protect you from any danger?"

"Mary, I was in no danger," he replied, trying to calm her with his words. "I am not foolish to put myself in harm's way."

"I think you're not only foolish but careless!"

"Mary, please stop treating me like a child!" He didn't mean to shout back but he felt he had to if he was going to get through to her.

"Then stop acting like one!"

"Mary? Matthew? What's the matter?" Cora asked in succession when she entered the room. The door had been left open so she heard them arguing when she passed by.

"Ask him, he seems to have all the answers," Mary said angrily and stormed out of the room.

Matthew explained to Cora what had just transpired before her arrival.

"Matthew, you know Mary just wants you to be safe," Cora said. "Let me talk to her."

After Cora left, Anna arrived with a tray of tea and biscuits. She wondered what had happened having seen the look on both their faces.

Matthew turned to the sound of the rattling tea set.

"It's just me Mr. Matthew," Anna announced herself.

Matthew sighed and held his head.

"Mr. Matthew, are you alright? Is your head hurting?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I think all the excitement and arguing has just worn me out." He carefully found a seat to sit on.

"If I may speak freely," Anna asked permission.

"Certainly, you may."

"If your argument is because you went to the construction site, then you must understand sir that she is only afraid for your safety. The last time you were out of her sight and in a car, she almost lost you."

Anna's words were eye-opening for Matthew and he felt he had to make it right with Mary.

...

Mary sat on the bench by the tree and tried to see it from Matthew's side as Cora had suggested but she just kept thinking of how frightened she was when she learned where he was. She heard footsteps approaching her and saw that it was Matthew.

"Mary?" he called out, ambling his way to her. "Are you there?"

"I'm here," she replied and stood up to guide him to the bench.

"Are you still angry with me?" he ventured, hoping she had calmed enough to listen to him.

"What do you think?"

"I'm sorry if I have upset you," he apologized.

"What possessed you to go?"

"I just wanted to hear the construction since I couldn't see it and I needed to speak with Arthur."

"You couldn't just summon him to the house?"

"I had to tell him that I was kicking him out of the house," he explained. "I thought the site would be neutral ground."

Mary was silent for a moment. "Please promise me that you won't do this again. You gave me such a fright I didn't know what to do." She reached out to squeeze his hand.

"On one condition," he replied. "That you spend a day in London."

"Why are you so intent on sending me to London? Were you planning to go to the site while I was away?" She remembered he was insisting she go the day before.

"I just want you to spend a day doing what you want," he replied. "You've been taking care of me and William non-stop and I don't want you to neglect yourself."

"What will I do in London? All I need is at Downton and the village."

"Buy Christmas gifts then," he suggested, trying hard to get her to agree. "It is in a little over a month and you should get a lot of things."

"Why don't you come with me? We can buy presents together."

"That wouldn't be fair," he warned. "I wouldn't see what you're getting me and I'll need you to get my gift for you."

"It wouldn't be fun going alone," she said and laughed which indicated that she no longer was angry with him.

"Why don't you take Edith with you?"

"Unless we take separate cars, I think it is best I don't."

"How about Rose? She probably would like to get out of the house for a bit."

"Alright, but you must promise that you won't leave the house while I'm away."

"I promise that I won't. But sometimes you'll have to let me go out on my own. I'm not completely helpless."

"I'm just afraid that you'd be hurt," she said thoughtfully. "Especially when I'm not there to watch over you."

"I'll try not to put myself in danger and I promise that wherever I go, I'll always come back to you."

Mary still worried but knew he was right, she had to let him be.