DOWNTON ABBEY

Tom's not the only one to put on weight. Bates was quite fit and tasty when he was in Lark Rise. I hardly recognised him when he turned up at Downton.

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here you Lona a consolation prize in the meantime

Listen very carefully, I will say this only once!

Tom the ex chauffeur is NOT available for Lady Mary, Barbara Castle or kittylester, because he is mine, all mine!

So get yer sticky mitts off!

Brilliant Iam64 - she will become the very interfering mother of the Earl!

Does Tom have any Irish peasant parents who can come and show Sybbie that there is a bit more fun to life rather than being in the nursery or allowed down into the stuffy drawing-room for half an hour?

Isobel Crawley is, of course, grandmother to wotsisname (George?) the future Earl; however, I have never seen her speak to him. Of course, she is the MIL and not allowed to have any influence (see other thread )
Do you think that Prince William and Kate are Downton Abbey fans, is that where they got the name George from?

I think the Dowager Countess was born in 1842 so that makes her um er 83!!

Distinct lack of grandparents there- Donk and the Countess of course, and Cousin whatever she's called, but otherwise none (not socially acceptable ones anyway)
Oh and how old is the Dowager Countess now?

I do hope Mary and Tom continue to develop a proper friendship and don't get romantically involved. It just wouldn't be right on so many levels. Firstly, the family tree/incestuous type relationship issue, he was married to Mary's younger sister so it's be wrong wrong wrong. Secondly, they just aren't suited for romance but they're well suited for an excellent and productive working relationship.
Mary is modelling herself on the wonderful Dowager Duchess and I can imagine her heading into middle and old age, becoming increasingly self centred and eccentric. Tom can stand for parliament as a Labour MP and marry Barbara Castle or similar. Sorted.

I am preparing a family tree

just in case

Oh gawd yes - what a name, affectionate or not...

Yes, and of course Tom would be George's step-dad.

But I can't see it happening, there's no hint of a spark between Lady M and Branson (sorry, can't help it!) and I bet there'd be complaints from viewers about the moral and legal aspect of such a union!

'Never mind.....They'll all have the same 'Donk'

Step-mum I suppose.

(in reply to your post of 18.21)

Sybbie wouldn't have the same mum, merlot!

George and Sybbie will also be step brother and sister

If Lady Mary marries Tom, (they mustn't call him Branson anymore on account of his elevation to their ranks) George and Sybbie will still be cousins but they'll be half brother and sister to any future children and they'll all have the same mum and dad apart from Marigold who will be cousin to all of them but they won't know that unless LM susses it all out and that could take some time as I think her brain is shrinking at the same rate as the rest of her.

No, please don't let Lady Mary get the ex chauffeur, I want him all to myself
Yes, he is the best of the bunch I must say, although he has got a bit tubby, must be all that American junk food

Did they have proof that he was killed by the brownshirts?
I thought there was evidence, but perhaps I am wrong. Whatever, she will decide to marry this other poor sap then Michael will re-emerge from the shower two minutes before she is due to take her vows and Edith, Michael and Marigold will all live happily ever after.

whatshername Yes - Lady Edith - no she doesn't ignore Marigold (well, no more than all of them ignore their children, they must see them when they are bathed and clean for half an hour before bed ), she does seem to adore Marigold but I suppose has to be a little bit furtive about her besottedness in front of LM.

If Lady M marries the ex-chauffeur and they have a child what relation will that child be to the others in the nursery? Can you have double-cousins or something?
Don't complicate things trisher my brain is addled enough as it is trying to work it all out

Oh no, Lona, he's all mine!!

OMG I hope not. Goodness knows what Carson will find fault with in that area. Cold plates and underdone chops are bad enough.
If Lady M marries the ex-chauffeur and they have a child what relation will that child be to the others in the nursery? Can you have double-cousins or something?
I think Lady M will try to scupper Lady E's latest romance by blabbing about Marigold.

merlotgran - you make me laugh.

Do you think the Carsons will end up divorced by Christmas? That room they eat in, is that the cottage they bought (didn't they?) or is it a room downstairs at DA? I'm confused. Also, will we ever find out how things are for them in the bedroom department?

Oh crikey....no wonder I'm confused!! I had no idea.... what a tangled web!!!! Thank you for your help ladies... can't wait for Sunday!

Marigold is Lady Edith's (aka whatsername) ward - as far as those not in the know (Lady Mary for one) are concerned.

It was assumed that poor 'on the shelf' Edith would never have a child of her own so nobody minded when she nicked one from the Drews (tenant farmers but peasants really) only Marigold wasn't their child at all. She was dumped on them by Lady Edith who had smuggled her back from Switzerland or France or somewhere where she'd gone to have her so nobody would know she was up the duff by Michael.

Edith is dotty about Marigold but luckily her family is so dense it took ages for the penny to drop so only a few know who her real mother is which makes it even more daft.

Mary is just plain thick.

No, she doesn't ignore her, Marigold's supposed to be her 'ward' and gets treated like the rest of the DA children (i.e. played with at set times and not in front of the servants! ).

Has anyone else noticed that Tom the former chauffeur seems to have put on quite a bit of weight during his time away...?

Oh thank you NoTooOld.....that makes sense, but if Marigold is now living at DA, who does LM think she belongs to? and does the other sister (is she Lady Edith?) ignore her own daughter? I should pay more attention, but we spend time overseas and I miss more than I see.... but I love it (especially LM).