June 1925. Carson continues to moan about practices at the cottage not being 'up to standard', to the increasing annoyance of Mrs Hughes. He even complains about how she makes the bed, and suggests she get some cooking pointers from Mrs Patmore. The Board of the Downton Cottage Hospital decides to approve its merger with the Royal Yorkshire Hospital and invites Cora to be their new president, replacing the Dowager Countess to avoid similar situations in the future. Daisy continues to try and sabotage the growing romance between Mrs Patmore and Mr Mason, but is too blatant, and both realise what is going on. Mary takes Tom to London, where they meet Henry, who invites them to a motor-car race at the Brooklands circuit. Henry tells Mary he is falling in love with her.
Mary and Tom open the house to the public for a day to raise funds for the hospital. Edith's beau, Bertie, persuades Cora, Mary, and Edith to act as guides, but they are woefully ignorant about the house's history and its contents. Violet, learning about her demotion, arrives in a frightful temper, imperiously sweeping aside the hoi polloi, and angrily berates both Cora and Robert for their deceit. Carson questions Thomas about his meetings with Andy, causing him more distress and reducing him to tears of self-pity.
