"It matters little in the heat of the moment what skill you might have," Jonathan pointed out. "But instead how well you manage to hold yourself together."

Which was an important matter for himself as well; all his training as a physician would be utterly worthless if he could not find a way to control his need for blood. But it was a concern of another time, instead he smiled at Lady Crawley's mention of her sister.

"I'm certain both of you have done everything you can in your own ways to help during the war," he said. "And the unfortunate aftermath. Are you both from London?"