The Bransons arrive a few days before the wedding to be surrounded by pre-matrimony chaos. Sybil and Billy arrive at a similar time. Sybil is coming along with her pregnancy nicely at 6 months.

Lady Grantham gives them an old bassinet and other baby equipment like a pram that she had moved from the attic. There was the initial offer of having the Nursery set up but Emma doesn't feel comfortable and asks for it to be moved to her and Tom's room. Though she does accept one of the maids, Anne, keeping an eye on Ivy now and again.

—

The servants prepare the Great Hall for the wedding reception. The room is full of flowers and glasses and servants bustling about. Emma had decided to assist Lady Grantham and Gemma with arranging the gifts in the Drawing room.

The Dowager and Edith enter the room later on. Emma is happy to see the beaming smile on Edith's face. Emma still feels nervous in the matriarch's presence though.

"See, I told her everything would come right, but she wouldn't believe me." The grandmother remarks.

"I still can't. Something happening in this house is actually about me." Edith grins as she excitedly looks around the room. Her mother smiles at her. "The dress came this morning."

"I was rather sad you decided against Patou. I would've paid." The Dowager replies.

"Lucille was safer. We don't want her to look like a chorus girl." Her daughter-in-law argues. Edith smiles and shares a chuckle with Emma.

"Either way the dress looked lovely," Emma adds though she had internally cringed at the price considering the family predicament.

The Dowager hums. "How is Anthony? Excited, I hope."

"Desperately." Her granddaughter replies. "Just when he thought his life would never change, he's going right back to the beginning."

"Oh. What an invigorating prospect." Lady Grantham gives the Dowager a look. Emma tries not to give away her own thoughts. She personally does not see the appeal of Sir Anthony Strallen though he did stand up for Billy and Tom after Larry Grey's prank.

—

Emma is walking through the upstairs corridor, after checking on Ivy and giving her a feed, to join the family in the Library when she comes across Thomas and Mr Molesley. The latter, she had learnt, had been brought in to look after Mathew after previously having been left at Crawley house and Alfred had begun to look after him. Emma wonders if the change had anything to do with Alfred being Miss O'Brien's nephew.

She frowns as she sees Thomas helpfully pick up some clothes that Mr Molesley had dropped. Thomas is usually not that helpful. Then Thomas opening the servants' door for Molesley with a smile, really seals the deal. Emma hopes she gets to the bottom of it.

—

Emma walks into the Library to find Lady Grantham arranging flowers while Lord Grantham sits at his desk and Tom, Billy and Matthew read on the settees. Emma plonks herself next to Tom while Matthew and Billy sit opposite.

Tom turns to her. "How is she?"

"She's fine, though a little fussy but she settled," Emma replies.

"I take it Ivy has settled in?" Lady Grantham asks

Emma nods. "As well as a newborn baby can."

"How will they advertise it?" Lady Grantham then asks her husband.

"I don't know exactly." Her husband replies. ""Desirable nobleman's mansion with surrounding estate and properties.""

"Where will you go?" Billy asks his father-in-law as he closes his book.

Lord Grantham leans back in his chair as he answers him. "We have some land further north at Eryholme, on the border with Durham. It came with my great-grandmother. The house is pretty and we might make something of it. We could always rename it "Downton Place."" Lady Grantham sits down next to Emma.

"Who lives there now?" Matthew asks.

"A tenant. But we can come to an arrangement that keeps him happy." Lord Grantham replies.

"Let's take a picnic there tomorrow. Take a break from the wedding on Edith's last day of freedom." Lady Grantham decides. "Tom, Emma and Ivy can come too."

"Are you sure? Isn't it a family affair?" Emma asks.

"Of course, this was once your home too." Mary and Sybil enter. Sybil goes to sit next to her husband while Mary continues standing.

"Molesley's in the Hall. He wonders if he might have a word." She tells them.

"I'll come through in a minute," Matthew says as he continues reading.

"Not with you, with Mama." Matthew looks up from his newspaper in surprise. "Molesley." She moves to sit next to Matthew.

Mr Molesley enters with a smile. Then his face falls when seeing them all there. Emma winces in pity. "Your Ladyship, may I have a word?" Mr Molesley asks.

"Of course." Lady Grantham nods with a smile and a nod but doesn't move.

Mr Molesley proceeds nervously. "Milady, might I be allowed to put forward a candidate as Miss O'Brien's replacement?"

"What?" Her Ladyship blurts. Her husband turns around in surprise. Emma blinks in surprise. Miss O'Brien didn't love being here but Emma doubts she would just leave without having a bigger opportunity and Emma doesn't believe she does.

"When the time comes." Mr Molesley continues.

His Lordship walks over. "Is O'Brien leaving?"

Mr Molesley looks unsure. "I hope I've not spoken out of turn. Only, I didn't want to let it go and miss the chance. I thought you knew."

"Of course, I know. Thank you, Molesley. I'll be happy to listen to recommendations when, as you say, the time comes." Her Ladyship answers.

"Thank you, milady." Mr Molesley bows to her and the rest of them and exits.

"Well, I must confess, I will watch her departure with mixed emotions." Lord Grantham remarks.

"Mine are fairly unmixed." Mary retorts, causing Emma and Tom to smile in amusement.

"Did you have a clue?" Sybil asks her mother.

"Not a clue."

"This is Miss O'Brien. She's not exactly the most honest." Emma says.

Lady Grantham sighs despondently. "It is very disappointing."

"But, in a way, it raises the big question: when do we tell the staff that the end is nigh?" Lord Grantham wonders.

"It makes it sound so final," Mary says

Her father takes her mother's hand. "I'm afraid it is final."

"Well, don't spoil Edith's day. Let us get through the wedding first and then tell them afterwards." Mary declares. Honestly, Emma is enjoying this newly harmonious relationship between the elder two of the Crawley daughters.

—

The next day, they all head out to the new house. Sir Anthony is bringing the Dowager and Mrs Crawley, who said Emma should stop calling her Mrs Crawley and instead call her Isobel, while the rest of them leave from Downton.

Anna had told Emma that she is heading up to London to speak with Vera's friend and Emma hopes it goes well.

Matthew and Mary exit the house first, followed by Edith, then Lord and Lady Grantham. Sybil, Billy, Tom and Emma bring up the rear. Emma carries Ivy while the pram is being loaded into the back of the car by Alfred.

"We'll see you there," Mathew says to them as Alfred goes to open his car door.

"You want to come with us?" Mary asks Edith.

"Yes, thank you."

"This is us," Sybil says. Emma climbs in first to get comfortable with Ivy on her lap. Tom gets into the car seat as, since there's only one chauffeur, he had offered to drive their car. Sybil and Billy sit next to Emma and Ivy while Alfred climbs in the front with Tom.

—

Tables are set for luncheon on the grounds, the large house sits in the background.

"Won't it be a bit cramped?" Mary remarks as she, Mathew, Billy, Sybil, Tom and Emma walk around.

"You do realise that for most people it looks like a fairy palace," Tom says. Emma walks beside him, pushing Ivy along in her pram.

"You'll be able to run it with a much smaller staff," Sybil says as they circle the table Isobel, Edith, Sir Anthony and the Dowager sit at.

"This is it." Lord Grantham says as he stands near the table. Mary and Mathew continue walking while Sybil, Billy, Emma and Tom stop. "I doubt we'll need more than eight servants, tops. So, it'll be very economical. A—" His Lordship puts a finger over his lips as Alfred steps forward to place something on the table, then steps away back to the serving table.

"What about me? Where am I to go?" The Dowager asks.

"We still own most of the Village."

"Oh. Perhaps I could open a shop."

Edith chuckles. "Good idea, Granny. What do you think Eryholme needs?"

"Well, if it's like everywhere else: good manners and some decent conversation." Her grandmother replies.

"Well, there you are then. You should have a roaring trade in minutes." Isobel remarks. Edith chuckles.

Ivy begins to fuss so Emma walks away from the tables to get her in the shade and once she is, Emma does a quick loop around the house. When she makes it to the front, she notices that Mathew is storming away from Mary, who has a confused scowl on her face.

"Mary?" Emma calls, walking over to her. "What's the matter?"

"Mr Charkam, Reggie Swire's lawyer, came by this morning with a letter from Mr Swire now that Mathew is officially his heir," Mary explains. Emma internally winces. The fact that Mathew is officially receiving the money is definitely going to cause conflict between the two.

"A letter? What does it say?"

Mary huffs. "He will not open it."

"No?"

"No," Mary grumbles, "he believes that Mr Swire does not know the truth about his daughter's heartbreak and the letter will only praise him."

"And Mathew doesn't want to read it." Emma states rather than asks.

"Exactly. What do I do?"

"Well, opening it is one idea," Emma says not too seriously.

Mary, however, looks interested. "Not a bad one."

"Uh, no Mary, I was joking," Emma says hastily. "You can't break his trust and privacy!"

"I'm his wife. If I do not have the right, who does? Even so, is it right to destroy a man's last words without reading them?"

"I suppose," Emma answers reluctantly.

—

Gemma, after assisting Edith, had popped into Emma's room to help get ready for dinner but since Emma had mostly done it herself, they take the chance to gossip as Gemma tidied up Emma's hair. Tom had slipped away to play billiards with Mathew and Billy before dinner.

"Mr Molesley seems to think Miss O'Brien is leaving," Gemma reports.

"Isn't she? He went to Her Ladyship, asking if he can put candidates forward for her replacement." Emma replies. It seems her suspicions are coming into fruition.

"No, it seems to be a misunderstanding but now Miss O'Brien is mad at poor Mr Molesley," Gemma argues.

"Well, he doesn't deserve that."

"No." Gemma steps away from Emma to sit on the bed.

"I think this is Thomas' doing," Emma tells her, turning away from the dresser.

"Mr Barrow?" Gemma frowns.

Emma rolls her eyes. "Yes, Mr Barrow. I saw him being quite generous and chatty with Mr Molesley yesterday then this, he's behind it. I hope it doesn't escalate or he'll get hurt."

"I'll never understand your care for him. He can be so cruel." Gemma wonders.

"He lives in a cruel world," Emma argues. She can't say anymore but it all irritates her that no one seems to understand.

—

After dinner, Edith regales them with details of her honeymoon as they sit in the Drawing room.

"He thinks I don't know, but of course I do. We'll spend two weeks in Rome, then Florence, then Venice. So, I couldn't be happier." Edith smiles happily as she sits between Emma and Sybil.

"And what about Locksley? Is there lots to be done?" Emma asks.

"It's not too bad."

"It's not too bad downstairs. The bedrooms are kill." Mary says from her seat as she rolls her eyes.

"Well, don't do anything too fast. It takes time to know how a house works." Isobel warns Edith, who smiles excitedly. Sybil smiles with her along with Emma, who can't fight Edith's infectious happiness.

"I really think you should go to bed. No bride wants to look tired at her wedding. It either means she's anxious or she's been up to no good." Her grandmother tells her.

Edith sighs happily. "I won't sleep a wink."

"Tonight, or tomorrow?" Sybil remarks as she sips her tea. Emma lets out a quiet snort.

The Dowager gives her a disapproving look. "Sybil, vulgarity is no substitute for wit." Edith chuckles.

"Well, you started it." Her youngest granddaughter counters. Emma quietly sniggers.

—

Emma gets dragged out of bed by an anxious Mary. This surprises Emma considering none of the family are usually up at this time. Tom smirks as he watches, a book in his hands.

"You read it?!" Emma hisses as they stand in the upper corridor. Mary had just told her that she had gone and read Reggie Swire's letter.

"Yes, and I was right to," Mary replies determinedly. "Lavinia must have written to him on her last day, only hours before she died after she tried to persuade him to call off the wedding and he wouldn't."

Emma catches on. "So, Mr Swire knew the truth when he made Matthew one of his heirs?"

"He still won't listen though," Mary complains. "He believes that it is all faked as it's impossible for Lavinia to send a letter without us knowing."

"There's someone who could've sent the letter without anyone noticing." Emma ponders.

"Who?"

"One of the servants." Emma answers. "One could've found it in her room or she handed it to one of them."

"Of course." Mary gasps, realising.

—

Emma and Mary enter the Servants' Hall while the servants are eating.

"Are we interrupting?" Mary asks. The servants all stand. "No. Please. We just want to ask you all something."

"Milady, I'm sorry I've not been up." Anna apologises.

"Don't worry. I'll change properly after luncheon." Mary dismisses.

"But we had to catch you when you were all together," Emma adds.

"How can we help, my lady, Ma'am?" Mr Carson asks.

"It's a funny thing. Mr Crawley has heard that Miss Swire sent a letter on the day she died. If so, someone must have posted it for her, and we wondered if it were any of you." Mary explains. The servants all look at each other, but no one speaks up.

"I'm afraid not. Given that the poor lady passed away that same day, an incident of this sort would have been reported to me or Mrs Hughes." Mr Carson replies.

"That's right, milady."

Mary looks disappointed. "I see. Well, thank you very much." Emma and Mary turn to leave and the servants sit just as Daisy enters with a tray.

"What were that about?" Emma hears Daisy ask.

"Lady Mary and Emma wanted to know if anyone posted a letter for Miss Swire," Gemma explains.

"Oh, I did that." Emma and Mary pause on the stairs and turn around.

"Daisy? What did you say?" Mr Carson asks as Emma and Mary re-enter and the servants stand back up.

"Poor Miss Swire's letter. She'd written it and she asked me to put it into the box in the Hall." Daisy turns to the stunned looking Mary. "Why?"

"What were you doing in her room?" Mrs Hughes demands to know.

"Making up the fire. We started talking and she said she'd written a letter." Daisy answers. "She was ever so nice. I still get sad when I think about her."

"And it didn't occur to you to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"Never mind. We're grateful to you, Daisy. You cannot know how much." Emma replies warmly while Mary smiles at Daisy.

—

Emma leaves Mary to tell Matthew the news. She herself eagerly tells Tom as she doubts Mary will mind.

Edith stands in her room, in her dress with the help of Anna doing the final touches. Her sisters, mother and Emma smile as they watch on. Emma holds a wriggling Ivy.

"You look beautiful." Lady Grantham tells her daughter.

Edith sighs happily. "All of us married." Edith turns to look at her sisters. "All of us happy." Edith looks at Sybil. "And the first baby on the way. Why don't we get the photographer to take a picture of the three of us… when we get to the Church?"

"What a beautiful idea," Emma says, grinning.

—

On the way to the wedding, Mary quietly lets Emma know that Matthew had agreed to take the money to save Downton but they won't say anything so as to not steal Edith's thunder.

Once at the Church, Emma goes to her pew to sit as the sisters take their photo outside. Mary and Sybil soon walk to their pew and as they take their places, the guests stand as the organ begins to play. Edith and Lord Grantham begin to walk down the aisle and Sir Anthony steps up to the altar with a grim look on his face. Emma smiles as Edith passes her. Edith steps up beside him all smiles. Edith and Sir Anthony murmur to one another and Sir Anthony gives her a small smile. The guests watch with pleasant smiles. The music stops.

Reverend Travis begins, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered—"

Sir Anthony looks up at the minister. "I can't do this." Emma looks at him in alarm. Edith and Lord Grantham turn suddenly to Sir Anthony and the guests murmur.

"I can't do it." Edith's smile fades. Sir Anthony looks at Lord Grantham. "You know it's wrong. You told me so yourself several times."

"My dear chap."

"No. I never should have let it get this far. I should have stopped it long ago. I tried to stop it." Emma can't believe she's hearing this.

"What are you saying? I don't understand what you're saying." Edith says, sounding upset.

"Edith..." Sir Anthony looks at the guests who are staring in shock. Sir Anthony turns back to Edith and speaks in a lower voice meaning Emma can't hear what's being said.

"What do you mean? We're so happy, aren't we?" Edith takes Sir Anthony's hand. "We're going to be... so terribly, terribly happy."

Sir Anthony says something else in a low voice. Edith looks into his eyes, mortified.

"Anthony, it is too late for this." Lord Grantham interjects.

Reverend Travis butts in, "Might I suggest we all take a step back?"

The Dowager steps forward, stopping Lady Grantham from doing the same. She murmurs to her granddaughter, who looks up at Sir Anthony, her lip trembling. Sir Anthony looks offended by something the Dowager then says.

"But... Granny..." Edith cries out. Her grandmother speaks but Edith just shakes her head. "I can't." She is becoming more upset by the moment.

Sir Anthony speaks quietly again and then leans close to her ear. He then walks back up the aisle and Edith turns to him, but her grandmother holds her back. Emma reels from the shock as Edith is led out by her mother and grandmother by the side door. Emma can see the family feeling the same and Sybil looks close to tears. Emma feels Tom wrap an arm around her.

—

It's a speedy return to Downton. Edith storms ahead, crying and running up the stairs. The rest of the family follows, the sisters and Emma going after Edith while Lord Grantham, Matthew, Billy and Tom bring up the rear but stop in the Hall. Edith throws her veil over the stairs.

Lady Grantham, Mary, and Sybil enter Edith's bedroom to find Edith crying on the bed. The laurel tiara has been pulled out, ruining the neat hairstyle.

"Is there anything I could say to make it better?" Her mother asks.

"No." Edith sits up and her mother sits next to her on the bed. Edith looks at her sisters and Emma, who lingers at the back. "Look at them. All with their husbands. Sybil pregnant, Mary probably pregnant and Emma probably pregnant again." Sybil is crying. "Oh, just go. I mean it, go!"

"Perhaps you should go." Lady Grantham says. They leave to let her comfort her daughter.

—

Evidence of the wedding is removed. The servants clear away the champagne, the cake, and the flowers, and re-lay the carpet in the Great Hall. Emma watches them all sadly as she cradles Ivy in her arms as she watches from the upper floor. Despite the choice, Emma was glad that Edith was finally getting her happiness.

Anna had also told her that she didn't get anything worthwhile from her visit to Vera Bates' friend but Emma had advised that maybe she should write everything down in her letter to Mr Bates in case he notices anything.

The more positive news is that Matthew has told Lord Grantham that they no longer have to leave Downton. Lord Grantham only accepted when Matthew accepted the offer that he be an investor and joint owner of Downton. Emma feels quite pleased with how that's turned out as hopefully Matthew will stop any more stupid business ideas.

—

Dinner is very quiet that evening. Everyone focuses on their food, taking in the day. Emma glances up to the ceiling now and again, thinking of the upset woman upstairs.

"Has she had something to eat?" Isobel asks.

"Anna took up some sandwiches, but she didn't touch a thing." Mary answers.

"That reminds me. Carson, I don't want Lady Edith to see any of the wedding food." Lady Grantham says.

"Mrs Hughes and Anna are taking what's left down to Mr Travis tomorrow, my lady, for the poor." Mr Carson replies.

"If the poor don't want it, you can bring it over to me." The Dowager says. Emma looks up at her in surprise. Honestly, what kind of statement is that?

"How can we help Edith?" Matthew ponders.

"You can help her by finding her something to do." His mother answers.

—

The next morning, Emma enters Edith's room. She picks up Edith's laurel tiara from the floor. Edith is still lying in bed.

"Is there anything I can get you?" Emma asks softly.

"A different life." Comes the despondent response.

"Let me get them to bring you up some breakfast," Emma says.

"No." Edith sits up. "I'm a useful spinster... good at helping out. That is my role. And spinsters get up for breakfast." Edith gets out of bed and Emma watches her sadly.

She hopes Edith will be able to recover and move forward.