Matthew had just dropped off Murray at the train station after their trip to see Blackwell when he noticed Edith on the platform about to make a telephone call. He guessed that she was going to call to have the car sent for her.
"Edith," he called out to her as he approached.
"Matthew, what are you doing here?" she asked, surprised to find him there. "Did Mary send you?"
"No, she didn't," he clarified. "I just dropped off Murray and was about to go home when I saw you. You can ride back to Downton with me." He picked up her bag and started walking towards the car.
"Shouldn't we get a porter to carry that?" she hesitated not wanting him to carry her bag for her.
"I'm quite capable of carrying this for you," he assured her. "And we won't tell Mary." He gave her a quick wink before escorting her to the car.
"How are things at home?" she asked once they were in the car and headed home.
"You missed seeing William start to crawl," he revealed. "And a few other things but I'm sure you'll be caught up quick enough later. How was your extended stay in London? Did you finish what you set out to do?"
Edith forced a smile and suddenly wary of facing her sister when they arrived. So to fortify herself, she talked about more pleasant things like William's recent milestone which Matthew happily accommodated.
...
Mary was at her usual spot outside looking at the photographs Edmund gave her when Matthew arrived. He came around the house instead of into it as Edith did when Alfred told him where she was.
"What are you looking at?" he asked when he was near her.
"Goodness, you shouldn't sneak up on me like that," she complained almost dropping the photos in her hands.
"That wasn't my intention," he said as he sat next to her. "But I was hardly sneaking up on you because I could hear my footfall on the path; you weren't paying attention."
"Well, I suppose it's because I was admiring these photos," she admitted and shared some with him. Isn't it just wonderful to be able to take pictures in more casual occasions?"
"Indeed," he agreed as he went through them. "Oh, this is the one I took of you; what did you think of it?"
"It is lovely," she confirmed. "I'm glad Edmund brought them today and I'm sure papa and mama would love seeing them, too."
"So Edmund came by today?" he asked. "Is he still thinking about a polo match?"
"As a matter of fact, he's waiting for you in the library," she said realizing then that he hadn't seen Edmund yet.
"Then I suppose I should go see him and formally accept his challenge," he said with a smile before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Would you like to come with me?" He stood up and offered his hand for her to take.
"I think you can manage without me," she replied with a smile. "Besides, I want to speak with Edith as soon as she arrives."
"She's already here," he revealed. "I saw her at the train station and offered her a ride home."
"That's sweet of you," she said as she got up finally taking his hand. "Let me guess, you carried her bag for her as well." She knew him well and kissed him on the cheek to show her appreciation. "By the way, how was your day? Did you accomplish what you set out to do?"
"It went as we expected; he jumped at the opportunity presented to him," he reported. "There's something I need to discuss with you but it can wait until after I speak with Edmund." He hesitated to report the whole encounter with Blackwell and hoped she wouldn't be alarmed. He was relieved when she brushed it off and walked back to the house with him.
...
"Hello," Matthew greeted Edmund when he entered the library. "I didn't know that you were here until Mary told me; I hope you didn't wait too long."
"Not at all," Edmund assured him. "I took the opportunity to catch up with Edith and ask her to invite Gregson back. I was thinking it would be nice to have him around when you and I play polo."
"Mary did mention that you were planning a match. When would it be?"
"In a month perhaps so we can form a team," Edmund suggested. He watched Matthew consider the time and was glad he agreed.
"I look forward to it," Matthew said and shook the other man's hand.
"Would you like to make it a more interesting match?"
"What do you mean?" Matthew asked not sure what he meant.
"I was thinking of a wager. If I win, I'd like you to give me some pointers on how to court Miss Wallace."
"And if I win, what do I get?" Matthew asked clearly interested in the side wager.
"Anything you want," Edmund boldly offered.
"I'd like to think about it if you don't mind. But what makes you think I can help you with Miss Wallace?"
"I can think of no better proof than the fact that you won Mary's heart."
...
Edith was headed to her room when she saw Mary heading towards her. She knew there was no avoiding it any further so she waited.
"Are you hiding from me?" Mary asked when she was close.
"Of course not," Edith said defensively. "I just thought I should freshen up before I looked for you; the journey was quite tiring."
"I would have thought that spending the extra time in London would have invigorated you. Anyway, stop stalling and tell me what you've discovered."
"Not much I'm afraid. Michael and I looked everywhere for any information about her including searching the birth records at the General Register Office but came up empty."
"That's impossible," Mary said in disbelief. "It's beginning to sound like she doesn't even exist."
"Michael thinks that she's either using an assumed name or may not even be English," Edith passed on his speculation. "He suggested getting a photo of her so he could make more inquiries outside of England."
"That's a great idea; let's ask Edmund before he leaves."
...
"Edmund," Mary called out to him when he was about to get into his car. She was glad he heard her when she saw him walking back to see what she wanted.
"What's the matter?" he asked wondering what she needed from him.
"Do you have a photo of Miss Wallace?" she asked. "Edith mentioned that you wanted Gregson to come for the polo match and I suppose that's because you want to get on the society pages. I thought it would be better if we announce it beforehand with some photos of the venue and potential attendees."
"To be honest, I don't," he admitted running his hand down the back of his head.
"Didn't you bring your camera with you during your recent excursions with her?"
"I did but she said she didn't feel comfortable having her photo taken. I didn't insist on it so as not to displease her but perhaps if I told her what it is for she would allow us one photo."
"No, you wouldn't want to upset her," she cautioned. She found it so convenient for Eliza but chose to go along. "Perhaps she has a valid reason to shy away from publicity so let's respect her privacy."
Edmund smiled and was pleased that Mary seemed to warm up to her.
"Have you told her about the polo match yet?"
"No I haven't," he replied. "I was considering surprising her with it. I wanted it to seem like a spontaneous thing."
"I don't think she would believe a polo match can be spontaneously arranged much less with the presence of the editor of The Sketch."
Edmund frowned obviously not having thought it all the way through. "What should I do now?"
"Let me think about it and I'll let you know what I come up with," she offered her help. At that moment, she appreciated Matthew's thoroughness and hoped he could help her.
"I knew I could count on you," he said happily and hopped into his car to head back to Locksley House.
...
Mary found Matthew in their sitting room looking over the photos. "Admiring your work?"
Matthew looked up and smiled. "I still can't believe I took these pictures. I've always thought it was a difficult thing to do."
"Careful not to let professional photographers hear you say that," she warned gently. "They may abandon us when we need their services."
"I didn't say I could do their work," he clarified. "I'm sure there is still much I don't know about photography."
"What are you doing?" she asked sitting next to him and looking at the piles of photos on the table.
"I thought I'd sort them by family, by staff then everything else," he explained. "That way, I can share them with Carson and the servants after the family have viewed them."
"I hadn't realized you took so many," she noted.
"I took some during the picnic and then I took some when we got home," he revealed. "And I managed to talk Edmund into lending me the camera a few more days."
"I'm surprised that the servants let you take their pictures," she said as she went through the pile.
"Actually they were very willing," he said. "I even got one of Carson in his office." He picked it out and showed her.
Mary was casually looking at the rest of the photos until something caught her eye. She couldn't believe it and had to take a second look. "Matthew, when did you take these?" She handed him a photo similar to the one she was studying.
"That was when we dropped Gregson off at the train station," he said. "I thought it would be nice to see people going about their business at the station."
Mary was glad he did and chose to keep the other photo to share with Edith later. "By the way, have you mentioned the polo match to Tom yet?"
"I'll mention it when he gets back,"' he said. "I suppose I'll have to form a team soon."
"Would you consider letting Evelyn play for your team?"
"Napier?" he asked to clarify. "I could invite him to come; it would be nice to play with friends."
Mary was glad he considered Evelyn his friend as well. "He's written that he will be in the area visiting and wondered if he could come see us to catch up. You can ask him then. That makes three so you just need one more player on your team."
"I could form a mixed team; would you like to play on my team?" he asked.
"And have Edmund think we're ganging up on him?" she teased. "I think I'll sit this one out. Do you have anyone else in mind?"
"I do have a friend in London who might be interested in playing with me," he considered.
"Is he good at it?" she asked.
"We played together while we were in the army and he did quite well. I can't tell if he rose through the ranks because he was good at polo or at fighting."
"Maybe both to merit the rise," she supposed.
"Alright then, I will ask Julian to come to play and see what country life is like. I must warn you, he is very middle class."
"I will overlook that if he helps you win," she said. "Is there anything else you want to talk about?" She could sense he wanted to discuss his day with Murray with her but couldn't wait to see Edith about the photo.
"It can wait," he said still uncertain how to tell her and also noting that she was eager to leave. He could use the delay to better prepare his arguments.
...
Mary knocked on Edith's door to announce herself. She waited for her sister to come to the door and followed her in.
"What's the matter?" Edith asked sensing her sister's purposeful visit.
"Matthew took this photo from the train station after the picnic," Mary began showing Edith the photo. "That is Miss Wallace right there." She pointed to the woman at the train station.
"So that's when she arrived but didn't Edmund say that she just got here when they met?"
"Yes, which means she lied about that."
"Will you tell Edmund?"
"There's no point to that," Mary said. "But we now have a photo of Miss Wallace to send Gregson to make further inquiries. Will you send it to him when you send in your next article?"
"I'll write to him right now," Edith offered. "Hopefully this will help us learn who she really is."
Mary couldn't help but feel more optimistic now.
...
"A polo match, that is a wonderful idea," Robert said when he was told about it at the dinner table. "I can't remember the last time we had one."
"Neither can I," Violet added. "And I don't usually forget things."
"Oh dear, you may need to start writing things down before you completely forget things," Martha teased. She smiled when she saw the expected indignant reaction from Violet.
"It's just been that long," Violet countered. "I'm quite capable of remembering things especially people who annoy me."
"Have you decided who will play with you?" Cora asked Matthew trying to dispel the tension forming.
"I've asked Tom to join my team and Mary said Evelyn will be in the area so he might, too," Matthew replied.
"And Matthew has a friend from his army days who might be persuaded to play with him," Mary added.
"So you have all the members you need," Robert said with a hint of disappointment.
"When is this match supposed to happen?" Martha asked.
"A month from now," Matthew revealed. "Edmund and I need to form and train our respective teams."
"That's a shame because I'll be going home soon," Martha noted. "Is there any chance to have it sooner?"
"I'm afraid Edmund and I won't be ready yet," Matthew admitted. "But you are more than welcome to see me and Tom practice until the rest of our team arrives."
Martha seemed content with that. "Just make sure to let me know how it turns out when you come visit me in America." She took that opportunity to remind Matthew of his promise.
Matthew smiled nervously as he turned from her to Mary.
"Mama, Edmund asked me to invite Gregson to watch the match," Edith said. "Will it be possible to have him stay with us while he's here?"
Mary thought it very bold of Edith to suggest it. She exchanged a loaded look with Matthew as they waited to hear what Cora thought.
"Well, I don't see why not," Cora agreed. "Did Edmund say if he was planning on inviting him to Locksley House?"
"I don't think so," Edith said. "I suppose he assumed Gregson can stay here just as Evelyn and Matthew's friend will for the match."
"I'll tell Mrs. Hughes to prepare rooms for our visitors," Cora said.
...
Robert entered the sitting room to find only his mother and his wife there. "Where are the girls?"
"They decided to go to the library to pick out books," Cora said.
"Isn't it a bit late to be doing that?" Violet observed.
"Probably they want one to take to bed," Cora speculated. "And mama wanted to spend some more time with the children. What's the matter?" She had noticed Robert had been agitated since dinner.
Robert looked from Cora to Violet and decided he could confide in them. "I was disappointed that Matthew didn't consider to ask me to play polo with him. I was quite hoping he would when he first mentioned it instead of having to teach Tom how to play."
"He might have to teach you since it has been so long since you played," Violet chimed in.
"Mama, I haven't forgotten how to play polo," Robert reminded her. "I've won quite a lot of matches and have trophies to prove it."
"I'm sure you are quite capable," Cora confirmed giving Violet a warning look not to annoy Robert further. "But if he had asked you, wouldn't you have wanted to be the captain of the team?" She wanted to show him the reason why Matthew may have chosen not to ask him.
"I wouldn't mind letting him be captain," Robert said. "I've shown that I'm capable of taking a back seat with regards to running the estate haven't I?"
Just as Cora was about to say something, Mary entered the room and noted the awkward silence. "What's the matter?"
"Your papa feels left out of the upcoming polo match," Cora explained when he didn't speak up.
"Oh papa, it's not that he doesn't want you to," Mary began to pacify him. "But you must see that if you were on Matthew's team, Edmund would think he ran to you for help to win."
"Didn't his father play polo with you?" Violet asked. "Maybe Edmund can call on him to make it a fair match."
"It just would have been nice to be asked," Robert said finally accepting the exclusion.
"Perhaps you can be a referee," Violet suggested. "They can certainly benefit from your experience and skills."
"That's a great idea mama," Cora said in appreciation. "You'll still be a part of the match without actually playing."
Mary looked gratefully at Violet for the suggestion. She certainly didn't want her father upset with her and Matthew over something that trivial. When Violet decided that it was time for her to leave, Mary offered to walk her out so she could thank her properly.
"Oh don't mention it," Violet assured her. "You'll learn to manage these things once William gets older. I'm surprised Robert has forgotten how many times he excluded his father when he was playing polo preferring men his age."
"Did he?" Mary asked more for gaining insight than actually confirming that he did.
"I can't count the number of times he was off on his own with his friends," Violet confirmed.
"Cousin Violet, leaving so early?" Matthew asked when he saw them in the hall waiting for her car.
"I've done my duty," Violet said. "Now it's up to you to prove me right." She saw her car pull up and started to leave.
"What was that about?" Matthew asked Mary as they watched her go.
"About many things that I hope we both learn together," she replied with a smile.
...
"Darling, will you be inviting your friend to stay with us?" Mary asked as she waited for him to join her in bed.
"Would you rather I put him up at the inn?" he asked cautiously. "I know you're not comfortable having another stranger in the house."
"You're right about that," she confirmed. "But I suppose you know him well enough to let him be your friend."
"Although war makes for strange bedfellows, I think he's an honorable man," he said. "But if it will make you feel better, I won't mention the living arrangements until you meet him and decide whether he deserves to stay here."
Mary appreciated his effort and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek to let him know that. "By the way, I need your help on something. You see, Edmund has a small dilemma now that the polo match is set."
"What kind of dilemma?"
"He hasn't told Miss Wallace about it and given her proclivity to privacy she might not want to attend it if she knew ahead of time which defeats his original intent of having her there."
"How was he planning to get her to the match then?" he wondered. "He can't just stroll into it."
"To be honest, I think that's exactly how he intended to do it," she said. "So you see his predicament?"
Matthew thought about it a moment. "Perhaps if he tells her that the match is for a charity it won't appear that it was specifically arranged for her. It can even explain why Gregson is there."
"That's a brilliant idea," she said turning on her side to face him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "We can even make it a true charity event and invite more attendees."
"It's up to you my darling," he agreed. "I'm sure you'll make it a success."
"We will make it a success," she corrected. "It's your idea remember. I wish Isobel could be here to help and be involved."
"She'll be proud of you nonetheless when she hears about it," he said. "Since you're in a charitable mood, I wondered if you would consider another thing that I've been meaning to discuss with you."
"What is it?" she asked suddenly wary and pulling her hand away from his shoulder.
"I've told you that Blackwell accepted the deal," he began carefully. "But he did ask for one little thing; that he be able to speak with you before he leaves to apologize to you."
"Certainly not!" she declared adamantly. "I will never forgive him for what he did."
"I know that," he said trying to calm her. "But I'm not asking you to forgive him but to just hear him out so he can leave not thinking he still has a hold on us. He is obviously deluded enough to think that."
Mary let out an exasperated sigh because she knew he was right. "Are you going to make me go?"
"When have I ever gotten you to do anything you didn't want to?" he teased unable to resist.
"It doesn't stop you from trying," she countered. "You always try to change my mind about the matter."
"Only on things I feel strongly about," he pointed out.
"So how strongly do you feel about this?"
"Not strong enough to try to sway you," he admitted. "I'd rather use my power of persuasion on another more important occasion."
"I'll think about it," she committed. "I make no promises that I'll agree with you."
"Fair enough," he accepted. "I just wanted you to know why I think you should show him that you're in a league of your own."
"I thought you weren't going to influence me," she complained.
"You're right, I think it's time to snuggle," he suggested kissing the top of her head when she complied.
...
"Good morning Anna," Matthew greeted her when she brought in Mary's breakfast. "How are you feeling today?"
"I'm fine, sir," Anna replied with a smile. She turned an inquiring look at Mary to learn why he was concerned.
"Mr. Crawley is concerned about your pregnancy," Mary explained. "And so am I so if you feel the need to rest, just let us know."
"Thank you milady," Anna said in appreciation. "I suspect I'll be fine until my baby is ready to join us."
"But you will let us know if you need anything," Matthew insisted.
"Yes sir," Anna agreed. She finished up her tasks and gave Mary a quick nod before leaving the room.
"How will you spend your day today?" Mary asked knowing that she won't see him until much later.
"I thought I'd spend the morning teaching Tom how to play polo and maybe check on some estate matters after lunch."
"Perhaps you can ask papa for some help," she suggested. "He is very good at it you know."
"I'm not sure Tom will feel comfortable having Robert watching," he noted. "But if he agrees, we'll both ask him."
Mary couldn't ask for more and hoped that Tom wouldn't mind so her father could be involved.
...
Anna was helping Mary get ready for the day after her breakfast.
"How is Bates?" Mary asked looking through her mirror and noting Anna's glowing appearance.
"He's still over the moon," Anna said. "Although he is quite overly protective since he learned I'm carrying our baby."
Mary smiled knowing exactly what she meant. "I think all men turn to mush once they know their wives are pregnant. Don't you remember how anxious Mr. Crawley was whenever I even mentioned stepping out of the house then?"
"Mr. Crawley is always protective of you," Anna commented. "Even when he couldn't see the man who was threatening you."
"Speaking of that man, he's asked to see me to apologize," Mary revealed. "What?" She wondered what Anna was thinking given her reaction to what she just said.
"I'm surprised that man is even capable of remorse," Anna said in disbelief. "But perhaps his impending punishment has finally taught him a lesson. So will you go see him?"
"Mr. Crawley thinks it would be a good gesture on my part but I really don't see any good from it."
"Sometimes to end a war it only takes getting the opposing sides to face each other and let bygones be bygones."
...
Robert returned home just before lunch. He found Cora and both their mothers in the library.
"Where have you been?" Cora asked when she saw him.
"Matthew and Tom asked me to help them practice for the polo match," Robert said happily.
"Why wasn't I invited?" Martha inquired. "Did Matthew forget?"
"He hasn't but I think he is giving Tom a chance to get used to it first before inviting you to watch them. I must admit that I'm impressed how well Matthew teaches Tom."
"Tom is a quick learner," Cora noted.
"As he should be," Violet said. "It's about time he transformed and take his place in this family."
Robert was indeed glad that Tom has grown more comfortable with the family with Matthew's guidance.
Carson announced that luncheon was ready and the three ladies prepared to head to the dining room.
"Are you coming my dear?" Cora asked when Robert remained motionless. "Are you waiting for the boys?"
"No, they've decided to eat in the village," he replied. "I was just thinking how nice it is to see them getting along so well like true brothers. You should have seen them today."
"Mama, papa, are you coming to lunch?" Mary interrupted them from the door. "Or were you planning to have a private one?" She couldn't help tease them and got the expected reaction. She stifled a laugh when she saw her father's stern look.
Reference :
wiki/Birth_registry#United_Kingdom
pologirlssociety-dot-com/polo-the-sport/history/
wiki/British_Army_during_World_War_I#Officer_selec tion
Author's note: The choice of Julian as the name of a new character is obviously an acknowledgment to creator Julian Fellowes. :-)