Downton Abbey: Season 4

February 1922. Lady Mary deeply mourns Matthew, feeling little motherly love for baby George. Lord Grantham and Branson dispute the estate's management and struggle to pay death duties on Matthew's half of the estate. Miss O'Brien abruptly leaves Downton to serve Lady Flintshire. Needing a maid, Cora hires former servant Edna, who has since trained as a lady's maid. Cora fires Nanny West after overhearing her disparaging baby Sybil. Mr Molesley has lost his job following Matthew's death; the Dow

March 1922. A letter written by Matthew is found that appoints Mary his sole heir; Lord Grantham prefers that the estate instead pass directly to young George to avoid paying additional death taxes when he inherits. He also does not want Mary involved in managing the estate. Violet secretly supports Mary, and urges her to learn the business from Tom. Discovering that Molesley has fallen on hard times, is working as a labourer and has debts, Bates gets money from the Dowager Countess, and pretend

April 1922. A large Downton house party features famed opera singer Nellie Melba as a performer. Lady Mary renews her acquaintance with the suave Lord Gillingham, who romantically pursues her. Another guest, Terrence Sampson, is actually a card sharp who fleeces the gentlemen in a poker game. He is later fleeced by Michael Gregson, who returns everyone's I.O.U.s, earning Lord Grantham's gratitude and respect. During Melba's performance, Lord Gillingham's valet, Mr Green, isolates Anna downstairs

April 1922. Edna claims she could be pregnant and wants Tom to marry her. Mrs Hughes confronts her and Edna leaves Downton. Lady Rose accompanies Mary and Tom to London where they stay with Lady Rosamund, who has sneakily invited Lord Gillingham and Bullock to join them. They go to a jazz club where Jack Ross, the club's black singer, dances with Rose, to the others' discomfort. Anna, feeling unworthy of Bates, grows distant and moves back into the main house. Michael Gregson prepares to depart

May 1922. Carson considers re-hiring Mr Molesley if Alfred leaves for a chef training programme, but Molesley, unhappy at being demoted to a footman, dithers too long over the offer, and loses the opportunity. Thomas puts pressure on Cora's new lady's maid, Baxter, to spy on everyone for him. Cora has to persuade a reluctant Mrs Patmore to exchange their icebox for a refrigerator. Edith visits a London doctor. Tom considers moving to America. Bates continues pressuring Anna to explain her behavi

June 1922. Alfred leaves for the Ritz chef training programme, and Carson is not keen for Molesley to replace him. Edith learns that she is pregnant. Bates and Anna go to dinner at a posh hotel where a snobbish maître d'hôtel snubs them; fortunately, Cora is there, and ensures they are admitted. Rose arranges for the jazz club band to play at Robert's birthday. Carson is scandalised to see Jack Ross, the black singer, at Downton Abbey. After the party, Mary sees Rose and Jack kissing in the serv

July 1922. Robert leaves for America to try to bail Cora's playboy brother out of trouble. Told by Mrs Hughes about what happened to Anna, Mary persuades Robert to take Thomas with him as his valet, rather than Bates. The Dowager Countess falls ill with bronchitis, and is nursed by Isobel. Tom attends a council meeting and meets a chirpy young woman, Sarah Bunting. Edith and Rose go to London, where Rose continues to pursue her romantic relationship with Jack. Edith arranges to have an abortion,

August 1922. Edith and Mr Drewe, Downton's tenant farmer, devise a scheme for him and his wife to care for Edith's baby, Marigold, staging it as the baby of his late friend. Lady Rosamund suggests Edith go to Switzerland and find an adoptive family there. Alfred proposes to Ivy, but begins appreciating Daisy's loyalty after Ivy refuses him. Daisy is confused over her feelings, but gives Alfred up, and he departs for good. Lord Gillingham, who is ending his engagement to Lady Mabel Lane Fox, visi