The Crawleys live in comfort on their country estate, but when Robert Crawley dies, his entire fortune and estate is left to the nearest male relation, Matthew Crawley, who promises to support Cora and her three unmarried daughters. Although he allows them to remain at Downton, Cora is anxious to marry her daughters off, perhaps one of them to Matthew. The eldest, Mary, is initially resistant to the notion, but before long she quickly befriends Matthew. The others begin to speculate if Matthew will propose, and more importantly, if Mary will accept.
While taking a walk on a wet evening, the youngest Crawley sister, Sybil, slips and turns her ankle; it is the stablehand Tom who rescues her. They fall in love, but knowing that it is not an appropriate match for either of them, Tom decides it best that he part ways with Sybil so that she can be married into financial stability. Understanding this to mean that Tom did not love her, Sybil sinks into a depression and falls seriously ill. When she reveals to Mary that she loved Tom, Mary and Matthew implore Tom to return to Sybil, with Matthew assuring him that he will financially support both of them despite Tom’s humble background. Thus Tom proposes to Sybil, and she accepts and recovers from her illness. Not long after, Matthew proposes to Mary, and she accepts without hesitation.
Musings of a Yankee Countess 