Agreed about Gillingham. Can't stand Blake for Mary. The thought just bugs me so much. And it's just so forced, and repetitive almost like they're trying to recreate Matthew and Mary. I'm afraid if it isn't Evelyn, it will be Blake. Ugh. JF will have Mary's husband be someone who can help her manage the estate and adapt to modern times. Only options would be Evelyn and Blake. Gillingham is old aristocracy like Robert and therefore probably not that useful. And I don't see why he'd choose Gillingham as her husband over Evelyn. He doesn't 'challenge' her anymore than Evelyn does.

Yes, I find it odd that Evelyn wouldn't be at the debutante ball, but Charles would be. Then again, Charles is obviously there to impress Mary and to woo her...

As for him looking unhappy, I don't know...Mary (in her blue dress) looks quite intently at him in that picture with her, Charles and Tony.

Crossing my fingers that is the case. I just don't like that there are so many pictures of her and Charles Blake...But maybe it's a red herring as you say ;-)

By the way, why do you think Mabel Lane Fox will be in the episode?If you think that woman standing next to Charles is Mabel Lane Fox, it isn't. That is the actress Janet Montgomery who plays the Prince of Wales (Oliver Dimsdale)'s mistress: Freda Dudley Ward.