Downstairs, Daisy is under the illusion that she's not playing right into Mrs. Patmore's hands by confronting her about "not responding to my protests." Mrs. Patmore merely laughs at her relatively exalted language before "asking" if she's been talking to Thomas and Daisy's face lets us know that she'd never be suited even for gin rummy, let alone poker. In the face of a cross, red-faced woman who's figured out her game, Daisy lasts for about two seconds before agreeing to dry the dishes and Mrs. Patmore tosses it at her with a satisfied expression. All in a day's work, Daisy... not that you'd know.

Mary -- still distraught and having changed for bed -- has told Anna the whole story, and while Anna thinks Matthew has to be true to himself, Mary argues that that's just the point: he puts himself about the family unit. I'm pretty sure that Lord Grantham would agree with Matthew's position if he knew it, but Mary probably would think that's irrelevant; she'd need a woman in the family to disagree for her to have any chance of seeing it Matthew's way. Anna, however, tells Mary that Matthew's a good man and they're not like buses, i.e. "There won't be another one along in ten minutes' time." I might get rid of my car if I lived in a place in which that was a serviceable metaphor; regardless, Anna's words look like they are having an impact on Mary.

True to his word, Branson has come to Crawley House, wherein the brooding master is saying that he won't be able to do what Mary wants should the money come to him. Branson is like, I don't care much about any of that, but take it from someone who knows a thing or two about love conquering practical considerations: you two are meant to be together and your soap-opera obstacles are getting tiresome for everyone, so man up and go through with it. "Because I'll tell you this -- you won't be happy with anyone else while Lady Mary walks the earth." Rather clever of Branson to use Matthew's betrayal of Lavinia for his own purposes here, don't you think? Given his new profession, I'm glad to hear he has a way with words and Matthew smiles with a new respect for his own choice of best man.