Daphne Bryant was the mother of Major Charles Bryant. Her husband wrote to the Countess of Grantham in 1918, telling her their son had been killed in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. Later she and her husband stop for luncheon at Downton Abbey en route to Maryport. Mrs. Hughes attempts to get Mrs. Bryant alone to tell her about Ethel and her son, Charlie, thinking if either of the Bryants would want to help it would be her. When Ethel bursts in claiming Major Bryant is the father of her son, Charlie, Mrs Bryant is more receptive of her whereas Mr. Bryant demands proof, then demands she leave at once. Mrs. Bryant asks questions about Ethel before she and her husband leave abruptly.
Mrs. Bryant writes to Mrs. Hughes to arrange a meeting between the Bryants and Ethel. The Bryants have accepted that Charlie is their grandson. When Ethel comes, Mrs. Bryant asks to be introduced formally to her grandson. She hopes Charlie can call her "Gran" and comments on how she thought from the first moment she saw him that he looked like her son. She also apologizes for herself and her husband from their first encounter, but Mr. Bryant is more eager to "get down to business" about what he and his wife will do for Charlie. He offers to raise Charlie as his heir since Major Bryant was an only child. He would educate Charlie at Harrow and Oxford. He would tell Charlie that his parents married during the war and his mother died from Spanish flu, Mrs. Bryant commenting that many have died from it. Ethel offers to be Charlie's nurse and never tell him that she is his mother. Mrs. Bryant is open to the idea, but Mr. Bryant rejects it calling Ethel "a drudge" and that she will not be able to kept her secret. Ethel appeals to Mrs. Bryant about her husband wanting to separate her from Charlie, saying she knows Mrs. Bryant has a heart. But Mrs. Bryant says nothing more. Mr. Bryant offers Ethel time to consider his offer and he and his wife leave. Later Ethel tells Mrs Hughes she is keeping her son.
Mrs. Bryant returns to Downton along with her husband in 1920. She receives Ethel once again more kindly than her husband, hoping to be friends with her and offer her money. Ethel has fallen on hard times, and ultimately decides for the sake of her son's happiness to let the Bryants take him back with them.
She later returns to Downton again.