We were all horribly heartbroken when Lady Sybil died in childbirth during last season's Downton Abbey. But guess who cried the most? I did. Her husband, Tom Branson. And while bereaved spouse number one, Lady Mary, has two potential suitors waiting in the wings, poor Tom seems to have been forgotten. Until now! Actress Daisy Lewis has just been cast as the new nanny -- and as the woman who will mend Tom Branson's heart.
It looks like Tom's romance with the new nanny will be hot. A source tells the Daily Mail, "Her romance with Tom will be one of the main story lines of the series. He will begin to develop feelings for her and they start a secret affair." Did someone say secret? Delicious! We love secrets on Downton Abbey.
So that's Daisy Lewis the actress, by the way, not Daisy Mason the assistant cook (Daisy and Tom, that would never happen).
Supposedly, part of the attraction between Tom and his new lady friend lies in her resemblance to Sybil. I guess we'll have to wait and see how they pull that off on the show, though with those bee-stung lips, it shouldn't be too hard. Daisy Lewis looks a hot mess in her two photos in the Daily Mail, awkward hairstyling in the top photo and an inexplicably fuzzy see-through skirt over taupe shapewear in the other. (Fetching bob, though.) But okay, I get it: She's supposed to be carelessly sexy. Ooh, Tom, you lucky devil, you. Can't wait to watch how the chemistry works between Daisy and Allen Leech.
I hope it's sizzling! Tom was at his best when he was seducing Sybil -- not so much when he was speechifying for the in-laws. Leech gets that fire in his eyes and we all just want to run away with him to Ireland and have his babies. I can't imagine that a romance with "the help" will do Tom any favors with the Crawleys, especially now that he's part of the family and caretaker of the estate. They surely will not approve. But that's going to be half the fun, of course.
Are you excited to hear Tom Branson's love life will heat up in season 4?
Image via Masterpiece Theater