Hi, sorry it took for me so long to respond but I think the DW notifications no longer work. You probably won't read this response anyway (it really took forever, I know), but in case you ever find your way here again:
I didn't really notice that Bertie was particularly close to cousin Peter. True, he talks about his a lot, but I think it's more of a case of a shock Peter died so young and so far away from home. Also the case of them being good friends and probably close in age and thus - perhaps when they were kids and had to attend any family gathering, they could only play with each other. Or perhaps they lived close by (or what constituted as "close by" at that time). I don't remember the latter being mentioned in the canon, but it is a possibility.
In any case, I don't think Bertie is bi. If he and Peter were friends, why would he want to distance himself from him? He clearly doesn't share the opinions of his mother and that shows him as being very open-minded about certain things. Maybe a lot of things, but that doesn't make him bi (and to be honest, I can't see any evidence in the canon that would, even vaguely, support this theory). Anyway, I do think he and Peter were friends and Bertie is not the sort of chap who turns away from his friends even if how they feel/live makes them unacceptable to "proper' society.
I'm looking forward to the new film as well, BTW. We'll see what Mr Fellowes has come up with :)
Re: Bertie/Peter relationship
I didn't really notice that Bertie was particularly close to cousin Peter. True, he talks about his a lot, but I think it's more of a case of a shock Peter died so young and so far away from home. Also the case of them being good friends and probably close in age and thus - perhaps when they were kids and had to attend any family gathering, they could only play with each other. Or perhaps they lived close by (or what constituted as "close by" at that time). I don't remember the latter being mentioned in the canon, but it is a possibility.
In any case, I don't think Bertie is bi. If he and Peter were friends, why would he want to distance himself from him? He clearly doesn't share the opinions of his mother and that shows him as being very open-minded about certain things. Maybe a lot of things, but that doesn't make him bi (and to be honest, I can't see any evidence in the canon that would, even vaguely, support this theory). Anyway, I do think he and Peter were friends and Bertie is not the sort of chap who turns away from his friends even if how they feel/live makes them unacceptable to "proper' society.
I'm looking forward to the new film as well, BTW. We'll see what Mr Fellowes has come up with :)