‘Downton Abbey’ Season 5 Spoilers: Is Michael Gregson Alive? Edith’s Lover’s Fate Revealed In Episode 6 [RECAP]

“Downton Abbey” Season 5, episode 6 finally gave audiences some answers. Anna (Joanne Froggatt) discovered Bates (Brendan Coyle) had an alibi for Mr. Green's murder, and Lady Isobel (Penelope Wilton) finally had an answer for Lord Merton’s (Douglas Reith) proposal. Unfortunately, not every mystery had a happy answer. Edith (Laura Carmichael) found out what happened to Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards).

Edith’s editor sent a letter to say he was coming to visit. He revealed Michael Gregson was killed by Germans, and Edith had inherited Gregson’s publishing company. She was grieving, but everyone else seemed to have accepted Gregson’s fate long ago. Edith couldn’t believe Mary (Michelle Dockery) chose that week to cut her hair into a scandalous bob and plan a picnic for the horse race.

Lady Violet (Maggie Smith) also had some bad news when she went to see Prince Kuragin (Rade Sherbedgia). The prince noted this wasn’t their first secret meeting. It seems they had an affair long ago. “I always feel more comfortable leaving the past in the past,” Violet said.

Prince Kuragin seemed ready to start their affair again, but the Dowager Countess couldn’t let that happen. She told him his wife might be found. She sent Rose’s father after the princess.

They weren’t the only married people with secrets. Bates was looking in Anna’s room for her button box. He wasn’t pleased to find a book about birth control. He didn’t realize Lady Mary had given it to Anna when she’d been sent to buy contraceptives. Anna asked him why she would use birth control when they wanted babies.

“Because you think I’m a murderer,” Bates said.

Bates revealed he always knew Mr. Green (Nigel Harman) had raped his wife. He said he wanted to kill him and even planned to do it. He revealed he had bought a train ticket but never got onto the train. The untorn ticket Mrs. Hughes found in his pocket in “Downton Abbey” Season 4 was his proof he didn’t travel and couldn’t be the killer. Anna was thrilled he was innocent, but she was angry with herself for giving away his coat without letting him check the pockets. “I gave away the proof of my husband’s innocence,” she said.

Scotland Yard wasn’t interested in questioning Anna and Bates anymore. They were looking for Miss Baxter (Raquel Cassidy). She had some information about a trip to London, but she wasn’t even sure if it was Mr. Bates. “I couldn’t swear to any of it,” Miss Baxter said of what she knew. She potentially could be sent back to prison if she is hiding information.

Barrow (Rob James-Collier) needed the maid’s help. He showed Miss Baxter he had an infection. He had been giving himself injections and the area was clearly infected. “I’ve done something I shouldn’t have. If you knew what it was, you wouldn’t want to be a part of it,” Barrow admitted. Miss Baxter knew he was the one who led Scotland Yard to her, but she helped him anyway.

Barrow admitted he underwent electrotherapy and was taking pills and injections to make him straight. The medicine was “to change me, to make me more like other people, other men,” Barrow said. The doctor informed him nothing would change him, and Barrow realized he’d been duped into buying saline solution and a dirty needle.

Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) was also working on deceiving people. Mabel Lane Fox (Catherine Steadman) managed to snag an invite to Downton for the horse race. She would stay there the same night Blake and Tony Gillingham (Tom Cullen) were staying. It seemed it was part of Blake’s plan. He wanted Lord Gillingham to be distracted so he could be with Lady Mary. While Mary claimed she was done with Tony, she didn’t seem to like Mabel’s presence. She made sure to beat her in the horse race.

Rose (Lily James) met Atticus Aldridge (Matt Barber) at the race, and his parents were introduced. The Dowager Countess was pleased to see Rose's and Atticus’ relationship progress, but she wasn’t as happy when Isobel revealed the Aldridge family was Jewish.

Meanwhile, Isobel revealed she was ready to give Lord Merton a final decision. She told Violet she would accept his proposal.

The downstairs staff was planning for the future as well. After Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) bought a cottage, Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) realized he should prepare for the future with Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan).

“Do you think we should invest in a property together?” Mr. Carson asked. He clarified that it was just a business venture, but Mrs. Hughes seemed very pleased.

While others made plans to settle down, Edith wanted to leave Downton. “I can’t stay, Tom. Not if I’m ever going to be happy at all,” Edith said.

She went to take back Marigold. Mrs. Drewe (Emma Lowndes) was pained to discover Marigold could just be taken away. Edith showed her Marigold's birth certificate and revealed she was the child's real mother. Mrs. Drewe broke down in tears and was angry with her husband, but she let them go.

Edith was hiding in a hotel with her daughter, but her family had no idea where she was. Violet even went to the Drewe farm to see if they had any clues. Without any idea about Edith's whereabouts, she was likely to remain missing for a while.

“Downton Abbey” Season 5 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on PBS. Do you think Edith will return to Downton? Sound off in the comments section below!