First look: Downton Abbey episode four - Isobel Crawley upset to see Lady Mary happy

Isobel Crawley admits she found it hard 'to watch Mary come alive again'

Following the shocking events that ended Sunday’s Downton Abbey, this week’s trailer gives nothing away about how Anna approaches Bates after being raped.

Instead, the teaser shows a hurt Isobel Crawley, who opens up to the Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham about seeing Mary dance with Lord Gillingham so soon after Matthew’s death.

Violet approaches Isobel after church to ask how she found Dame Nellie Melba’s concert.

“Did you enjoy the concert, and the evening generally,” she asks.

Isobel Crawley replies: “You mean did I find it hard to see Mary come alive again? Yes I did, I confess it. But I don’t think my feelings were at all defensible.

“I’m fond of Mary, I love her. I don’t want her to be alone and unhappy. It makes no sense, even to me.”

Violet replies: “I don’t criticise either you or her. But I hope you find a way to make friends with the world again.”

Following last week’s attack and rape of Anna Bates, which drew over 90 complaints from viewers, Julian Fellowes has hinted how the storyline between Anna and Bates will develop.

He said: “We know Anna is a strong personality but it doesn’t mean she will be able to be strong through this.

“The whole rest of the series, for her story and for Bates’ story, is seeing how she negotiates her way through this. I don’t think we ever have a sense that she leaves it behind.”