Things heat up for Lady Edith in season four of Downton Abbey while her sister Lady Mary still grieves after Matthew's death
By EMMA LOWE and HANNA FLINT
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The last time she was on screen, viewers saw her resist the urge to fall in love with her married newspaper editor.
But Lady Edith Crawley has now clearly decided to throw caution to the wind as she leans in to kiss one Michael Gregson in new images from the forthcoming series of Downton Abbey.
But while Lady Edith shows her more illicit side, her older sister Lady Mary Crawley is struggling to come to terms with the death of her husband Matthew.
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Role reversal: Lady Edith Crawley embraces London life while her sister Lady Mary mourns the death of Matthew in the new series of Downton Abbey
Heating up: Lady Edith Crawley enjoys a romance with Michael Gregson in the new series of Downton Abbey
It marks a switch in character for the two sisters, who were first introduced to the ITV audience as the free-willed eldest Mary whose first time in the sack with a man ended with his death, while Edith quietly pined for the future heir of the Abbey.
But with so many changes, loves and loss leading to their present day in 1922, the roles have reversed for the two women as they negotiate life in the Roaring Twenties.
Viewers will watch Lady Edith transform from dowdy to glamorous as she embraces her new life and romance in London as a newspaper columnist.
Passion: Having moved to London, Edith sheds her former shy self to become a free-spirited newspaper columnist
Roaring Twenties: The middle child of Lord and Lady Grantham also takes on the trendy flapper style while working in the capital, and gets the chance to meet Virginia Woolf
Romance: After falling for her newspaper editor in the last series, Edith begins her life again in The Big Smoke, arriving at London St. Pancras
Trying his hardest: After Lady Edith discovers Gregson has a wife in a mental asylum, he does his best to win the Downton daughter back
In the previous series, a despairing Edith, played by Laura Carmichael, had appeared to resist the charms of Mr Gregson, played by Charles Edwards, insisting there could be no future for them as a couple after discovering his secret – a wife in a mental asylum whom he cannot divorce.
However Gregson refuses to give up and in the news series which starts later this month he pursues Lady Edith.
Grieving: Lady Mary on the other hand still suffers after the death of her husband Matthew at the end of the last series
Servant support: Anna Bates is there to help Lady Mary through her troubling time
Fond reminder: The widow only has her son George as a living memory of her deceased husband Matthew
Solidarity: Tom Branson also lost his wife - and Mary's sister - Sybil so can support his sister-in-law
His little girl: Branson - played by Allan Leech - named his daughter for his late wife, but may be finding a new love in this series
The pair enjoy a rendezvous at St Pancras station,London, in the first episode before embarking on their romance as they enjoy dinner in a London restaurant.
In contrast Lady Mary, played by Michelle Dockery, is now a mourning widow with a baby after her husband Matthew was killed in a car crash.
And while new male characters have been introduced as potential love interests for the eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Grantham, from the initial photos, it looks as though no man could tempt her in her widowed state.
Still living in finery: Despite the new decade, Lord and Lady Grantham enjoy the richness of their wealthy life
Promotes: Daisy Mason (Sophie McShera) is still doing her thing in the kitchen but may move on to pastures new
Loved up: Following his traumatic time courtesy of his ex-wife, Mr Bates can enjoy life with wife Anna
However she will find some solidarity in Tom Branson, played by Allan Leech, who also lost his wife and Mary's sister Sybil, and is now the single parent of a little girl.
Returning for season four are Lord and Lady Grantham - played by hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern, as well as the downstairs staff favourites.
Downton Abbey will premiere on ITV on September 22 at 9pm.
Young guns: Alfred (Matt Milne), Jimmy (Ed Speleers) and Thomas (Rob James-Collier) brig some handsome faces to the Downton staff
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2418272/Downton-Abbey-season-4-Things-heat-Lady-Edith-Lady-Mary-grieves.html#ixzz2efbKBMOD
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