Video: Downton Abbey's Carson comforts a grieving Lady Mary After the death of her husband Lady Mary is in a period of mourning, Jim Carter explained how this tragic time for the family affects the head servant. "Of course Carson loves Lady Mary and after a while he sort of over steps the mark and tries to bring her back to life," Mr Carter said. I spend a lot of my time in public scenes, being a butler on duty. so when you do get a quiet personal scene they're nice to play it sort of accesses a bit of emotion in this rather buttoned up character.