It was the hottest day of the year. In fact Mary could scarcely remember a day filled with such sweltering heat. The house was almost deathly quiet, and she had retired to her room for a spot of light reading. Lord and Lady Grantham were in London staying with Rosamund for a few days and Mary, at Tom's suggestion, had given most of the servants leave for a few days holiday while they were gone. It hardly made sense to have the full staff waiting on so few people. Even Henry was gone, having only just moved in a month previously. Mary had been beginning to get sick of him complaining about having nothing to do when an old friend of his had invited him to Italy to look at some new car models. He'd left the day before.

Mary lay on her bed and flicked absently through the pages of her magazine, trying to ignore the stifling temperature of the room and wondering if Edith was still sitting in the library. Perhaps it would be cooler down there, but Mary wouldn't dare go down if it meant having to share the room with her sister. They were on speaking terms again after the Bertie Pelham incident, though Edith had become less and less cheerful as the months passed.

It was then she heard a small knock and looked up to see Tom sticking his head round the door. She smiled and he took that as an invitation to enter the room. He isn't wearing his jacket, just a waistcoat over a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Mary can't help but think how disapproving Carson would be had he not been given a few days leave to go to the seaside with Mrs Hughes

"It's strange to have the house so empty. I came to see how you were doing"

"Without Henry?" Mary turned back to her magazine "Marvellously"

"You don't mean that" said Tom dismissively.. "I'm sure you miss him"

Mary shrugged "What is there to miss? I'm just grateful to have a few days where I don't have to divide up my attention to include him."

And then without really thinking she added "I miss the days when the only things I had to focus on were George and the estate".

She hadn't really meant to say it, but over the years she'd gotten used to speaking her mind with Tom without fear of judgment or repercussions. Tom gave her a weak smile. The one he always gave her right about he was about to disagree with her about something.

"It just takes some getting used to, I suppose. You haven't had much time to get used to each other."

"Do you miss him?" asked Mary sharply.

"Not especially, no"

"And here I thought the two of you were best friends"

Tom sat down in the chair by Mary's dressing table and was quiet for a moment, as though trying to find the right words before speaking.

"I admit it's nice to be around someone who shares my enthusiasm for cars. I can't say we have much else in common to talk about. He asked me to go to Italy with him you know?"

Mary hadn't known. She and Henry hadn't talked about Italy much after she had flatly refused to go with him.

"Why didn't you?" she asked.

Tom shrugged "I didn't think I'd enjoy it that much. I'd much rather stay here"

"And listen to Edith's pining over Bertie Pelham and stories about her newspaper?"

Tom shot her a disapproving look. They hadn't spoken about it but she could tell there was still a part of him that was angry with her for how she had treated Edith.

"Is there anyone's company you enjoy?" he asked. Mary turned back to her magazine, not wanting to meet his eye. He must've thought she was very invested in the article, but the truth was she hadn't read a word since he had entered the room.

"I don't mind you" she said nonchalantly. Tom gave a small laugh.

"That was almost a compliment there"

Despite herself, Mary glanced up and allowed herself a smirk.

"Well you always did say I was nicer than I wanted people to think".

They smile at each other, and for a moment it almost feels like old times. And Mary can't help but feel that these moments have been few and far between since her second marriage. Something in her face must have betrayed her line of though, because Tom's tone is more serious when he next speaks.

"Are you really so unhappy?" He doesn't add "With Henry". He doesn't need to. Mary closes her magazine and sits up on the bed.

"Not unhappy, no...just not quite comfortable. It's as though things aren't fitting into place the way they should"

"You mean Henry isn't fitting in "says Tom carefully, pushing his shirt sleeves further up his arms.

"I did tell him he'd be bored here, but he refused to listen" replies Mary with a sense of relief, glad to finally be able to voice her thoughts on her marriage. "And besides you and I, he doesn't make any effort to talk to anyone. Not unless it's about something he's interested in. I've suggested he go up to the nursery and spend some time with George, but he just keep saying he'll get round to it at some point. He keeps complaining that he has nothing to do. I know he gets terribly bored when you and I are busy with the estate all day"

Tom is quiet for a moment, as though he's struggling with himself over whether or not to say what he's thinking. If anything, the temperature seemed to have gotten even warmer. Mary can see the sun glinting furiously through the window. When Tom speaks, this time it's him who looks away, avoiding eye contact.

"Do you think he's jealous?"

This catches Mary off guard, and she laughs in spite of herself. The conversation was taking a turn she hadn't expected. This was something she hadn't even considered. Though she does smile as she continues, the implication that her and Tom would be up to anything less than appropriate was rather amusing.

"Why should he be? It's not like there's anything improper in it. You and I have been working on the estate together since long before I even met him."

"No reason really, it's just that most men wouldn't be too pleased if their wife spent the majority of her time with another man".

"He knew how it was going to be when he married me" says Mary firmly. "Besides if he doesn't like it then that's his problem. Downton comes first...heavens, it is hot in here".

With the subject changed, the mood in the room instantly becomes lighter. Tom seems to sense there's no point in pushing the matter of Henry Talbot any further. He stands.

"I thought we could take a walk, maybe take the children down to the stream"

"Nanny's taking them down to the village for luncheon at Isobel's. It'll just have to be you and I".

"I can live with that" says Tom, as Mary says standing and going to her closet to choose a hat. She stops herself. To hang with the hat, she thought, in this weather it will just be unnecessary.

"I warn you though" says Mary as they leave her room, unable to resist teasing. "This better not be an attempt to get me alone and involved in some scandalous affair".

Tom laughs "And what would you do if it was?"

"Well I suppose we'll just have to find that out won't we".