Downton is in mourning. Everyone is dressed in black and Sybil's funeral has brought upon a new wave of sadness to those within the house.
They are gathered in the Drawing room. Emma is sitting with Tom, their hands intertwined as she watches Billy, worried. He has barely spoken, barely eaten ever since Sybil passed and although Emma is struggling too, she wishes she could take away his pain. They are best friends and he doesn't deserve to lose his wife.
"I know we all sound like parrots, Billy," Emma catches Matthew saying, "but I really would like to help if I can. And so would Mary, Emma and Tom."
"My wife is dead. I am past help, but thank you." Bill quietly replies.
Lord Grantham enters the Drawing room, addressing Lady Grantham, "The Southesks looked for you to say goodbye."
She gives him a short answer, "I was here," before turning away from him. Emma sighs. Lady Grantham still blames him for Sybil's death.
Isobel stands and Emma, Mary, Tom and Edith stand with her. "I hope you'll let me know if there's anything I can do. Anything at all."
"Thank you," Mary murmurs.
The Dowager stands. "I'll come with you. Save him getting the car out twice."
"You're both very welcome to stay for some dinner." Lord Grantham says.
"I don't think so." His mother replies. "Grief makes one so terribly tired." She turns to her daughter-in-law and bends down to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Goodbye, my dear. Now that it's over, try to get some rest." She glances over to Billy before kissing her granddaughters and Emma, which she's surprised by, goodbye.
Lord Grantham sits in the chair next to his wife as the woman speaks, "Is it over? When one loses a child, is it ever really over?"
—
"I spoke with Lady Grantham this morning; she wants me to call her Cora now. Shall I call Lord Grantham Robert?" Emma jokes as she walks with Billy in the grounds the next day. She had insisted he needed some air.
"She said the same to me." Billy quietly replies.
There's a lull in the conversation as Emma tries to find something else to say. "What will you name her?"
"Sybil." He answers.
Emma smiles. "A way to remember her. It's lovely."
"Lord Grantham doesn't seem to think so. He says it will be too painful." Billy explains.
"Oh, who cares what he thinks?" Emma dismisses. "I think it's a brilliant idea. Little Sybil can remember her mother and so can we. She deserves to be remembered."
"Indeed she does. She was a better person than I will ever be. I just hope her daughter can be too." Billy confesses.
"Billy, with you as a father, that little girl will be just fine." She comforts.
"Thank you, for being here. You make me feel less, empty, Emma." He admits. "I guess that comes with being best friends."
"Of course, Billy. I love you, you know that. You're like a brother to me." Emma sombrely thinks over the other brother that she lost.
Billy pauses, stopping his stroll. "I was thinking about staying in Downton for a while. Sybil deserves to be with her family."
Emma nods. "Tom wants to move to Liverpool." She blurts.
"What do you want?"
"I want to be happy, and if that's in Liverpool then so be it," Emma replies.
—
Later on in the day, Emma takes Ivy on a walk into the Village when she hears someone calling her.
"Emma, Mrs Branson!" Emma stops and turns to see Ethel of all people running up to her and carrying a basket and handbag in each hand.
"Oh! Ethel?" Emma splutters. "I didn't know you were back." The last time she had seen the woman was the day she came charging into the Dinning room with Charlie on her hip. Emma wonders where he is now though she wonders whether she should ask when she sees the sad look on Ethel's face when she looks at Ivy.
"I work for Mrs Crawley now at Crawley House," Ethel explains.
"Oh, I hadn't heard."
"She's been ever so kind to me and I'd hate her to suffer for it. You see, she's hired me as cook-housekeeper, but to be honest, my cooking's a little rusty." Ethel explains. "I wonder if I could ask for your advice?"
Emma blinks at her in surprise. "Well, I..."
"She's giving a lunch party, to help her Ladyship in her sorrow." Ethel hurriedly continues. "I know she'll tell me to keep it simple, but I'd like to surprise her with something really nice."
"Well, that's lovely to hear but I'm not the greatest cook. I could ask Mrs Patmore for you, if you would like?" Emma offers.
Ethel smiles gratefully. "She just needs to help me prepare a few dishes. Just tell me how to make them, I'll do the work."
"Right, of course." Emma nods and continues on her way.
—
Emma returns to Downton; she drops off Ivy at the Nursery and heads downstairs to the Kitchen. She hadn't liked Ethel when she was here but considering everything, Emma feels like she should help her.
She steps into the Kitchen to find Daisy and a girl she doesn't know.
Emma feels awkward when she walks in. Daisy gives a small polite smile though looks slightly startled while the unknown girl, Ivy the Kitchen maid she assumes, stares at her wide eyed.
"Um, hi Daisy." Emma greets. "I am looking for Mrs Patmore. Do you know where she is?"
"I'm here." Emma turns to see the woman she is looking for. "How can I help you, Mrs Branson?"
"Ah, Mrs Patmore. I was wondering if I could talk with you for a moment." Emma says.
"All right then." She turns to the two girls. "Right off you go." They quickly leave the room. Mrs Patmore looks at Emma expectantly.
"Well, I saw Ethel this morning, she works at Crawley house now." Emma begins.
"I had heard."
"Well, apparently Mrs Crawley is hosting a luncheon for her Ladyship and she wants help with making some meals and I suggested I'd ask for your help," Emma explains.
Mrs Patmore looks uncomfortable. "Look, I don't mean to be rude or personal, Ethel, but Mr Carson has made it very clear that none of the servants should go anywhere near Ethel."
Emma frowns, confused. "Why not?" She asks.
"She has a tarnished reputation. She's had certain… dealings with other people. Improper." Mrs Patmore whispers, looking around anxiously. Emma finds it kind of funny.
Emma realises what she means. Ethel has previously worked as a prostitute and now Crawley house is 'tarnished' because of this. Oh, Ethel.
This doesn't deter Emma as she recalls what Sybil would do. "But surely, you're not afraid she'll corrupt you, are you?" She argues.
"I am not!" Mrs Patmore huffs.
"Then why should Mrs Crawley be punished for showing Ethel kindness?" Mrs Patmore sighs reluctantly and Emma knows she's given in.
"I'll go to her before dinner." Mrs Patmore tells her.
Emma beams, thanks her and walks out of the Kitchen to go back upstairs.
"Mrs Branson! You're a sight for sore eyes." Emma turns to see Thomas walking up to her with Jimmy and Alfred walking behind him.
"You too, Mr Barrow," Emma smirks at him. She can see the two footmen are surprised by this.
"What are you doing down here?" Thomas asks with a smile.
"None of your business." Emma retorts with a grin. "Now I best be going." She turns to the two footmen. "Alfred. Jimmy." Then turns to Thomas. "Mr Barrow."
She goes up the stairs, sniggering to herself. Emma can hear Jimmy go, "What was that?" as she reaches the top.
—
Lord Grantham had invited Mr Travis for dinner to discuss baby Sybil's christening.
Emma walks into the Library with Tom, Mary and Matthew, dressed for dinner to find Isobel in there with Cora and the Dowager.
"Hello, Mother. What brings you here?" Matthew asks.
Isobel goes to answer but the Dowager speaks instead, "She's just invited Cora and Edith and Mary and Emma to come to luncheon on Thursday." Oh, Emma didn't know she had been invited as well.
"Oh, how kind," Mary says to her mother-in-law. "Thank you."
"Isobel?" Emma turns to see Lord Grantham walk in with Edith and Billy trailing behind him. "Have you come for dinner?"
"Oh, no. I'm dressed quite wrongly and I know you have a guest." Isobel replies. Emma thinks she's perfectly fine but these people's customs do not say so.
"I doubt Mr Travis has much of an eye for fashion." The Dowager remarks.
"Oh, do stay. We need cheering up." Emma insists.
—
There was pleasant conversation at dinner when discussing the details of baby Sybil's christening but the conversation then moved on to Ivy having been christened a Catholic.
"But isn't there something rather un-English about the Roman Church?" Mr Travis remarks. On his left are Cora, Matthew, then Edith, Tom, the Dowager, Robert (she had decided she might as well call him Robert; he hadn't pulled a face yet), Mary, Emma, Isobel and Billy.
"Since I am an Irishman, that's not likely to bother me." Tom counters.
"I cannot feel bells and incense, and all the rest of that pagan falderal is pleasing to God." Mr Travis continues.
"I see."
"So, is He not pleased by the population of France or Italy?" Billy challenges.
"Not as pleased as He is by the worship of the Anglicans, no." Mr Travis answers tensely.
"South America? Portugal? Have they missed the mark, too?" Edith adds.
"I do not mean to sound harsh. I'm sure there are many individuals from those lands who please Him."
"And the Russians? And the Spanish?" Mary pushes.
"There must be many good Spaniards."
"And we haven't even started on the non-Christians. There's the whole Indian subcontinent, to begin with." Matthew speaks.
"Doesn't the bible say 'love thy neighbour'? Shouldn't that include all denominations? Shouldn't that include everyone, even if their beliefs don't align with yours?" Emma adds.
"Yes, but—"
"And the British Empire. Does He approve of that?" Isobel questions.
"If you mean does He approve of the expansion of the Christian message, then, yes, I think He does." Mr Travis answers.
"And so do I." Robert defends.
"But isn't it erasing other's beliefs just because they do not agree with yours?" Emma challenges.
"Poor Mr Travis. You're all ganging up on him." Robert scolds them before she can continue.
"Well, you and Granny are ganging up against Tom and Emma," Mary argues.
"Not me." Her grandmother counters. "The Dowager Duchess of Norfolk is a dear friend. And she's more Catholic than the Pope."
"I doubt Tom even asked Emma how she felt about the baby being baptised into a different tribe than her own." Robert remarks. At any other time, Emma would have been pleased he has come to her defiance.
Emma wants to say that her father's side was catholic so is she though she does not practice so their daughter isn't in a different tribe but remembers she isn't supposed to remember them.
"It was my suggestion I have you know." Emma retorts. Robert grumbles.
—
Matthew's POV
Tom, Billy and Matthew walk around the grounds. Matthew had wanted to show the two men his ideas and it did no harm to get Billy out of the house. They observe one of the farms.
"It's badly run and it makes no sense to manage it separately," Matthew complains. He wishes his father-in-law would understand.
"What about the tenant?" Billy asks.
"We'd look after him."
"He's growing barley and wheat. I'd say he'd do better with sheep." Tom tells them as he looks around the farm.
"Exactly. We'd merge the grazing. How do you know that?" Matthew questions him in surprise. They all stop.
"How do you," Billy counters, "after spending all your growing years in Manchester?"
Matthew huffs out a laugh at his brother-in-law's response. He has a point. "I've been on a steep learning curve since arriving at Downton."
"My grandfather was a tenant farmer in Galway, with black-faced sheep," Tom explains.
"So, there's a country boy inside the revolutionary," Billy remarks. They begin walking again.
"Not much of one."
"You both must hate it here." Matthew frowns at the man sympathetically. He must greatly dislike not being able to provide for his young family.
"No, I don't hate it," Tom replies, shaking his head. "But I don't belong here either."
"I feel the same," Billy adds. The three of them stop their walking.
"What will you do?" Matthew asks. He does not know what else to say.
"I've thought of Liverpool. There might be something for me there." Tom explains.
"How does Emma feel about this?"
Tom smiles softly. "She wants me to be happy."
"Billy? Where are you to go?" Matthew asks, turning to his brother-in-law when realising he had not answered.
Billy shrugs. "I do not know. The jobs I've looked at so far are out of the county."
"And the baby?"
"I'll hire a woman or get a cousin to take care of her. I don't know. But what else can I do?" Billy replies. Matthew gives him a sympathetic smile. Poor chap.
"You could leave her here. Emma would be thrilled." Tom suggests.
"No. I'll not be separated from her. She's all I have left of her mother." Billy declares before walking on.
End of Matthew's POV
—
Isobel sits at the head of the table while Cora and the Dowager sit on either side of her while Emma, Mary and Edith sit on seats further down.
"This was very good." Cora compliments as they finish up the course.
"It was. It really was." Isobel replies in disbelief.
"Don't sound so surprised." The Dowager remarks.
"I am surprised. I owe Ethel an apology. I've underestimated her." Isobel says. Emma smiles, pleased her plan had worked.
"I sometimes wonder if I should learn to cook." Edith contemplates.
"Why?" Mary asks in a very Mary way.
"You never know. It might come in handy one day." Edith replies, not letting her sister put her off. "And I've got to do something."
"What did you say to that editor who wanted you to write for him?" Isobel asks her. Emma looks to Edith in interest.
"I haven't said anything yet. It's probably too late now, anyway." Edith answers despondently.
"Surely not if he was serious." Emma insists. Edith gives her a small smile.
"Matthew tells me Robert was against it," Isobel says. Emma tries to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Cora's next remark shows she's not alone in her irritation with the man.
"What difference does that make?"
"Oh, really, my dear, shh." The Dowager says in surprise.
"We're all family. I'm not letting the side down. I'm just saying that Robert frequently makes decisions based on values that have no relevance anymore." Cora argues.
"Do you think I should do it?" Edith asks after a brief but awkward silence.
"I wouldn't countermand your father," Isobel replies.
"Then why bring it up?" The Dowager remarks.
"Well, I do. And so does Matthew." Mary says.
Suddenly Robert Crawley bursts into the room with a furious look on his face. Emma jumps in her seat in surprise.
"And so does Matthew what? What else has Matthew decided for my family?" Robert spits out.
"Robert!" Isobel greets, standing up.
"Don't worry. I don't need to be fed. We're going. All of you. Now." Robert replies.
"What are you talking about?" His wife asks. It's the most civil Emma has heard her when Robert is involved.
"Do you know who has prepared this luncheon for you?" Robert questions.
"Yes. Ethel. Our former housemaid." Cora answers in disbelief.
"Who bore a bastard child!"
"W-what?" His mother stammers. Emma herself is surprised by his statement as she was not expecting it to come out of his mouth.
"Robert, Ethel has rebuilt her life." Cora retorts.
"Has she? Do you know what she has built it into?" Robert remarks.
"What do you mean?" Mary asks.
"I think Cousin Robert is referring to Ethel's work as a prostitute." Isobel calmly answers. They all, except Robert and Emma, turn to look at her in surprise. Isobel continues staring at Robert.
"Well, of course, you know, these days servants are very hard to find." The Dowager remarks. Emma knows she'll laugh about that statement one day but right now, with Robert angrily staring them down, she knows this isn't the time.
"I don't think you understand the difficulties she's had to face." Isobel begins.
"Robert, Ethel had a child and the fact that she had to turn to such a life says more about the world we live in than it does about her," Emma adds.
"I couldn't care less how she earns her living! Good luck to her! What I care about is that Isobel has exposed my family to scandal." Robert bellows.
"But who would know?" Isobel questions.
"I can't tell you how people find out these things, but they do. Your gardener, your Kitchen maid..." Robert immediately stops talking when Ethel walks in with the pudding on a tray. Ethel pauses in surprise then places the tray on the side table.
"I suppose she has an appropriate costume for every activity." Emma hears the Dowager murmur.
"We're leaving." Robert states.
"Is this because of me, milord?" Ethel timidly asks, clinging the tray to her front now the pudding sits on the table.
"No, it's because of his Lordship. And we are not leaving." Cora replies. "Is that a Charlotte Russe? How delicious."
"I hope it's tasty, milady. Mrs Patmore and Mrs Branson gave me some help."
Emma shifts uncomfortably when she feels Robert's stormy gaze on her.
"I'm glad to know that both of them have good hearts, and do not judge," Cora says, looking directly at her husband, challenging him.
"Is anyone coming?" Robert asks. Everyone continues sitting, not moving.
"It seems a pity to miss such a good pudding." The Dowager pipes up.
Robert turns and slams the door behind him as he leaves. Emma sighs in relief now that he's gone.
—
Emma notes that evening that Robert is not in the Drawing room after dinner.
She joins Tom, Matthew and Mary when they go up to the Nursery. They walk in to find Billy there, cradling baby Sybil.
Emma walks in first, giving him a smile before walking over to pick up her own daughter. She's awake and gurgling. Tom reaches over to stroke her cheek.
"How is she doing?" Matthew asks Billy.
"She's blooming," Billy replies, handing over his daughter to his sister-in-law. Emma smiles as she watches Matthew place a hand on baby Sybil's head. She knows the two seem to be beginning to worry about conceiving though Emma knows they have loads of time before it becomes a real concern.
—
The next day Emma is walking the grounds with Edith and Mary when Anna comes running up to them with a beaming smile on her face, a piece of paper clutched in her hand.
"Milady! It's arrived! It's here! I wanted you to be the first to know." Anna cries gleefully.
"Know what? What's arrived?" Mary asks.
"He's done it! Mr Murray's done it! He's got her to make a statement! Witnessed and everything!" Anna explains.
A smile breaks on Emma's face. "So, when will Mr Bates be set free?" She asks.
Anna looks down at the letter. "It will take a few weeks, for the formalities." She reads. "But he'll be released. Mr Murray's quite clear about that. So, Mr Bates is coming home."
"Oh, I am so, so happy for you." Mary cheers.
"I know you are."
"Have you told Papa?" Edith asks.
"Not yet, milady."
"Oh, do. Please do. He's very low just now. And it will be wonderful for him to hear something good." Mary says.
They all hurry back to the house, beaming. Finally, something good!
—
They enter the house through the front door and enter the Library through the entryway there. Robert stands by his desk, looking forlorn.
"I'm ever so sorry to interrupt, milord," Anna greets, "but Mrs Bartlett has given a statement that'll clear him." She reads from the letter. "At least, Mr Murray says 'it will make the verdict unsafe'. So, Mr Bates is coming back to Downton."
"Isn't it marvellous?" Mary adds.
"Yes. That is absolutely marvellous." Robert agrees with a smile. "Do you want to telephone Murray? If you do, tell Carson. He'll manage it for you." He walks away.
"Why? Are you going out?" Edith asks.
"Your grandmother has asked us to call." Us? Him and Cora? Emma wonders if the Dowager has a plan. "But I'll hear what he says later. I really am so very glad."
He leaves and they get to work with getting Anna on the phone with Mr Murray.