Molesley looked around frantically for his razor. He absolutely needed to shave, he couldn't go without doing so. Not only did he have to look presentable at all times, because Mr. Carson would not have a footman with stubble; he had Miss Baxter to think of. She wouldn't want to kiss a man with stubble on his cheeks. He didn't want to look like a drunkard, or a man who didn't shave, he wanted to look reasonably attractive for her.
Finally, he gave up, deciding to leave shaving until later. He went down to do the footman's rounds before going to breakfast. He sat next to Miss Baxter, smiling. They made eye contact with one another, smiling, neither one caring that Mr. Barrow was watching them. "Can you both stop? We're trying to eat here," Mr. Barrow piped up.
"Thomas, mind your own business, they're not bothering anyone," Mr. Bates snapped. Mr. Barrow simply huffed and continued with his breakfast. After breakfast, Miss Baxter led Molesley out into the hall, where she looked around quickly before kissing him.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't find my razor and I couldn't shave," he said, regretfully.
"It's okay," she replied quietly. "I like the stubble."
"You do?" he asked. "I think it looks horrible and unattractive."
"I think it's adorable," Phyllis joked. "I really do. As long as you don't grow a beard or moustache, I like it."
"Alright, well, you have to go up to her ladyship, I'll see you later," he said, kissing her again, her hand drawing up to his face to run her hand along his cheek. How she loved that stubble. She broke the kiss and bit her lip, raising her eyebrows before going to the kitchen to retrieve the tea tray. Joseph watched after her, smiling and thinking about how great it was to be with someone so wonderful.
Once Phyllis was back downstairs after getting her Ladyship ready for a walk with her husband, she embraced him eagerly, pulling him into a corner with him. She ran her hands over the stubble on his face before kissing his cheeks gently. "Oh, I love you so much," she whispered, placing a gentle and brief kiss to his lips.
"So you really like the stubble?" he asked.
"Of course I do," she replied. "I love it, I love you, I love everything about you." Baxter got quite quite towards the end. She was still quite shy in this relationship. She had never loved any one before she had met Mr. Molesley. Silently, she was thankful to Thomas for getting her a job here, since she met the greatest people in her life here. Mr. Molesley was the greatest thing that had ever happened to her, Anna was her other best friend, she got along well with Mr. Bates, Daisy and of course, Her Ladyship.
"You know, Phyllis, you're the greatest thing to happen to me in a very long time," he whispered.
"Well, I don't know about that," she whispered. "You must have had someone to love, because you're so much better at it than I am."
"Never, I'm simply doing what feels right," he replied, putting his arms around her and holding her to him. Phyllis grinned and put her arms around him. "And with you, what's right seems to flow right from me." Phyllis looked up at him.
"Thank you," Phyllis whispered.