William's mother is ill and he says the family farm is too far away for a visit, he has to wait till he has some time off to go there. Yet in season 3, the farm is all of a sudden so close that Daisy can walk there to visit William's father. And he shows up at Downton frequently.
Isabelle tells Cora and Mary that Williams mother is in the hospital at Downton. William says going to their house would be a bit far.for his half day. If it was so far one would think there would be closer hospitals to were the Masons were living.