Last week’s episode of Downton Abbey season 4 ended with a twist that rocked downstairs. Check out our recap of episode 3 where pieces begin to be picked up.

Downton Abbey season 4, episode 3 kicks off on a somber note: Anna is still bruised, and Bates comes in to ask why she’s avoiding him. She says nothing is wrong, and then walks over to breakfast and sits right next to Mr. Green, the man who raped her. She quickly leaves. Mary later notices the change in Anna and asks her what’s wrong, but she won’t answer.

Anna approaches Mrs. Hughes later and asks for a room at Downton so she can be away from Bates. Mrs. Hughes wishes she would just be honest so they can begin moving on, but she can’t do it because she thinks Bates would kill Green. As we’ll discuss later, a room frees up and allows Anna to move in like she wishes.

We see all of the guests who came to the party begin to leave. Before Gillingham leaves, he asks Lady Mary if she’s sure they can’t meet again soon. She insists they can’t.

Tom and Mrs. Hughes solve a problem

Tom encounters Edna, who wants to know if she can see him again that night. He regrets the night before (seen in episode 2) during which they hooked up. She then comes in to his room while he’s packing for a trip and suggests she may be pregnant. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he says. She wants to be sure he’ll marry her if she’s with child. He’s regretting the hook up very much.

Tom brings his dilemma to Mrs. Hughes, who brings Edna down for a meeting. Mrs. Hughes reveals that she found a book in Edna’s room that teaches how to avoid pregnancy. She goes on to threaten Edna with no reference when she leaves, and this does the trick. After Edna leaves, Mrs. Hughes explains to Tom that all she did was share some scary words.

London calling

In the drawing room, Mary is with the family and says she and Tom are going into London the next day for a meeting about Downton’s taxes. Lady Rose asks if she can tag along and they say yes.

Flashing forward to London, Lord Gillingham makes a surprise visit to Lady Mary at Lady Rosamund’s home in the city, and everyone heads out for a night of fun. Gillingham and Mary share a dance while a singer named Jack Ross performs. Mary admits that she’s glad Gillingham made the visit this evening, but warns she won’t be ready for a new marriage for a few years.

Lady Rose is dancing with Sir John Bullock when the latter gets too drunk and runs off to throw up. Jack, the singer, steps in and dances with her, which puts off her family because he’s a “black band leader.”

Back at home, Bates approaches Anna again, who’s still resistant to his touch. She still will not reveal what’s the matter. Carson comes in during this tense talk and says that Gillingham is back. Anna immediately asks if his valet is with him too (he’s not).

Gillingham and Mary meet, and he asks for her hand in marriage. Mary is taken aback by the question because even though they’ve known each other since childhood, they only started seeing each other regularly the other day. He says he loves her and is in love, which he can’t say for the other woman in his life.

Out on a walk together, Gillingham is getting ready to leave Downton and warns her that he has to marry Mabel because of how the system works. Mary is a bit upset about this, but she insists that she can’t get married so soon because she’s still not free of Matthew. He asks for one favor: A kiss. “I’ll never love again as I love you in this moment,” he says. She grants him his wish. Later, she tells Tom that she may’ve made a big mistake in turning down Gillingham’s proposal.

Also in the episode

– While on a walk, Isobel and Violet discuss Lady Mary’s potential new suitor. The former admits she didn’t like seeing Mary moving on from Matthew, but later in the episode we see she’s starting to accept Gillingham’s presence around Mary. It’s a pleasant surprise for Robert and Violet.

– Edith meets Michael Gregson in London where he’s getting ready to leave for Germany. He asks her to sign a document that will give her authority over his affairs. Lady Rosamund notices that Edith returns to her home in London late at night, and lectures Edith about getting close to Michael.

– Alfred learns of a cooking opportunity in London that he wishes to take up, and Mrs. Patmore encourages Daisy to move on from him because he’s more interested in Ivy.

– Mrs. Hughes offers Carson a photo of his old love interest after having a discussion about her early on in the episode. She wants him to put it on his desk so that the staff is reminded he’s of the human race.

‘Downton Abbey’ season 4, episode 3’s best lines

“I always think there’s something wrong with high spirits at breakfast.” – Carson

“Edith is about as mysterious as a bucket.” – Mary

“I don’t dislike [Michael Gregson].” – Robert, “Oh, what a recommendation.” – Violet

See a preview of next week’s Downton Abbey below: