A/N: Okay first thing's first - DON'T HATE ME! The reason I say this is because my opinion of Thomas is pretty against the grain. In fact, I think it's probably safe to say that I don't know anyone that agrees with me.
And now you're thinking, "What, pray, is your opinion?", am I right? Something along those lines. Well, here goes: I think Thomas is not a bad person, merely screwed over by life and is now bitter and takes it out on everyone else. WAIT, WAIT - LEMME EXPLAIN. So a gay man in the early 1900s - he would have been so completely rejected and abused by society that it's hard to imagine these days. Now, I know that he did some terrible things - and frankly I will never forgive him for treating dear William like shit - but he's also done some good things.
Yeeeaa-no...is what you're thinking, right? Well we all know that he's starting to soften towards the end of the second series - don't deny it, he definitely is. But what about his ordeal with Lieutenant Courtney? Or when he let Mrs Patmore pushed the ouija board around so that Daisy would go to see Mr Mason? He didn't say anything then. He could of, and probably would of earlier on, but he didn't. And let's not forget that he has been to war. And before you say anything about 'chickening out' let me just ask - did you go to war in WW1 then? I've never been to any kind of war, let alone the horrible trench warfare of the first and second world wars. I can't say how I would have acted. Actually, I'm kind of annoyed that they let it happen like that. They should have injured him properly, then sent him home. But I've never been shot through the hand, either, so there we go.
Okay so I'm expecting a whole bunch of abuse now, before you've even read the story. In case anyone still cares, it's set after the christmas special. I wanted someone to get under Thomas's skin and release any niceness left after years of bitterness. That's why I made it a woman, not a man. This doesn't mean I have problems with it being a man, I just wanted a gentle woman's touch haha. There will be a man later on, I imagine. Because, as we all know, there is no longer a footman while Thomas is his Lordship's valet. Keep an open mind when reading, that is all I ask.
Wow, this is possible the longest author's note I've ever written. I shan't delay any longer - on with the show:
Kitty Jones nervously followed the head house maid, Anna, around Downton Abbey, learning her duties. The last house she had worked in was significantly smaller than this one and had only had two people living in it. Her duties there had been much less and she was struggling to remember her new ones. Her expression must have shown these thoughts because Anna was quick to reassure her.
"Don't worry," she said, "you'll catch on quickly and there are plenty willing to help you out. In fact, I think that's everything, why don't we go and meet everyone?" Kitty nodded, still a little baffled. Anna led the way downstairs to the servants hall, where all the servants were sitting down for tea while there was a lull in their duties. Sitting at the head of the table, Kitty assumed was the butler. Anna had already mentioned he was Mr Carson, and she had already met the housekeeper Mrs Hughes when applying. Mr Carson introduced the rest of the staff to Kitty and told her that Mrs Hughes would be taking her to meet Lady Grantham when they had finished their tea.
"Speaking of tea," said the kindly cook, Mrs Patmore, "would you like some, Kitty?"
"Oh yes please, Mrs Patmore," Kitty replied politely.
"Oh isn't it wonderful to have some manners around the place for a change?" Mrs Patmore said, directing a glare at the dark-haired valet. Thomas, Kitty remembered. He smirked back at Mrs Patmore then took a drag from his cigarette. He hadn't said anything when introduced, merely nodded in her direction. Kitty had thought him handsome but he wore something of a sneer and it was clear already that he wasn't liked amongst the staff. Miss O'Brien, the lady's maid sitting next to Thomas, glared back at Mrs Patmore.
"Manners! Huh, I never thought I'd see the like in this hall!" she leered. Right, Kitty thought, now I know exactly who to avoid. Anna showed Kitty where she might sit and Daisy, a kitchen maid, put a cup of tea in front of her. She thanked her and then turned to Miss O'Brien, who was questioning her.
"I can tell by your accent that you're not from around here," she drawled, "have you ever worked in the north of England?"
"No, I was born in London and lived and worked there until now," Kitty replied, addressing the whole table as they were all listening keenly, "but when my mother died, I decided the city was too much for me and wanted to move away to the country."
"And right you are," Anna gave a smile, "in my opinion, London pales in comparison to the beauty of northern countryside."
"Hear, hear," said Thomas. He caught Kitty's eyes for a moment and, looking back, Kitty couldn't possibly know what he was thinking. She broke the moment by looking coughing slightly and taking a sip of her tea. Miss O'Brien looked between the two before continuing her stirring-up.
"What was your previous employment, then?"
"I was a maid in a house a little smaller than this, and there were far less people living there – only two – so the work was different," Kitty smiled optimistically, "But I'm glad for the new and harder work. I didn't have many people to talk to then, either. No-one my age, certainly. I'm glad for the new company." She smiled around the table at the new faces.
"Well we're glad to have you amongst our number, I'm sure," Mrs Hughes responded, standing. "Have you finished your tea, Kitty? I can take you up to see her Ladyship now."
Kitty nodded and gulped the rest of her tea, standing up as well. "Yes, of course, Mrs Hughes." She nervously patted down her hair.
"She's very nice, Kitty, don't worry," Anna said kindly. Kitty smiled at her and went to fetch her apron off the hook. She didn't notice that Thomas had followed her until she turned, tying her apron up.
"Everyone down here likes you already, so you needn't worry about her Ladyship." Kitty was taken aback and stood gaping at him for a moment but she quickly recovered.
"Thank you...Thomas, isn't it?"
"Yes. And you're Kitty?"
"That's right," she smiled at him and was surprised by receiving one from Thomas in return. Then he stepped aside and gestured to the stairs, where Mrs Hughes was standing and waiting for her. She flashed him one last nervous smile then followed Mrs Hughes. Once they were out of earshot of Thomas, Mrs Hughes turned to Kitty.
"I should be careful of that one, my girl," she warned, "he isn't one for women and he likes to cause trouble."
"Oh, I see," Kitty did see, "Thank you for warning me, Mrs Hughes."
"It's my duty as housekeeper to look after my maids." They smiled at one another then continued on.
Unbeknownst to the both of them, Thomas was getting a similar talking to from Miss O'Brien.
"And what are you playing at?" she whispered fiercely, "What've you to gain for befriending her?"
"So suspicious," he smirked "She's nice to look at, is all. Wouldn't hurt to make friends."
She stared at him disbelievingly. "You, after a woman? I thought-"
"You thought what?" he glared at her stunned silence, "Exactly. You thought nothing." He stalked off abruptly, leaving Miss O'Brien in his wake staring after him. She was nothing other than stunned.
In truth, Thomas himself couldn't explain his behaviour. All he knew was that he didn't want this new maid to dislike him as everyone else did.
"I hope you'll find Downton to your liking, Kitty," Lady Grantham was as kind as everyone had promised.
"Yes, your ladyship," Kitty smiled, "I'm sure I shall."
"Good. Thank you Kitty. Mrs Hughes," she dismissed. They were almost at the door when Lady Grantham's voice stopped them. "Oh and Kitty? Welcome." She smiled kindly.
"Thank you, your Ladyship," Kitty bobbed a small curtsey and left, feeling considerably lighter than when she had entered the room. When she entered the servants stair, she almost ran into Thomas.
"Oh, steady," he said, laughing, "You've seen her Ladyship then? Did you like her?"
"Yes, you were right. She was very kind," Kitty remembered Mrs Hughes's warning, but she couldn't possibly imagine it to be true, looking at him, "Do you know where Anna is? I still feel like I'm running around like a headless chicken." He chuckled and she grinned in return.
"She's downstairs, waiting for you. You'll catch on, don't worry," he assured, "Although, I have to admit, I still feel like that some days."
"Surely not," Kitty smiled. "Well, I'd best get on. Maybe Anna can find my head." Thomas laughed again and Kitty decided she liked his laugh. And his smile.
No, don't get involved, she scolded herself, you know what happened the last time.
Kitty spent the rest of the day bustling around after Anna, getting into the new routine. Throughout it all, Anna told her of the residents of the house and of the servants. Kitty was shocked and enthralled by turns and couldn't decide what to make of it all. In the end, she thought it was perhaps best just to keep her head down and try not to remember anything but names. But every time she thought this, her mind returned to Thomas, the dashing young valet. And every time, she reminded herself not to get involved. She couldn't help some curiosity though and so when they were finally allowed to go to bed, Kitty asked Anna about it, as subtly as she could manage.
"So Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes have spent nearly their whole lives in service here?" she began, trying not to let on her ultimate goal, "And Mrs Patmore. Miss O'Brien has been in service for 20 years or so? What about the younger staff? Like yourself. And Daisy and Thomas? I would have thought he was more suited to being a footman – which you don't have any of, I've noticed."
"I had been in a few houses before I came here but I've been here long enough to become head housemaid so it must be...golly, coming up to fifteen years now. I hadn't really stopped to think about it. Daisy really started from scratch here, when she was fourteen. She's worked hard and done well for herself, though. Working her way up with minimal complaint and plenty of abuse from Mrs Patmore," she laughed, "And Thomas? He came as a footman not long after I came on and worked his way up to first footman before the war. He left then, to fight, and was at something of a loose end when the war ended. He's only recently the valet..." Then Anna went on to explain the story.
When she had finished, Kitty regretted asking her about it for such trivial reasons and suddenly felt the full force of Mrs Hughes' warning from earlier that day. She felt you had to express some kind of apology.
"Oh dear, I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry..."
Anna shook her head. "Don't be. You would have to find out one way or another and I'd rather tell you it all now than catch you giving me pitying looks later on when you heard a woeful ballad from someone else. And besides, how were you to know that asking simple questions about the rest of the staff would lead to such a can of worms?" She laughed good-naturedly and Kitty was amazed by her strength and optimism in spite of it all.
"Nevertheless, I'll endeavour not to bring it up in cheerful moments, now that I do know. There's no point dwelling on tomorrow's rain whilst today, the sun shines," Kitty replied solemnly. Anna looked at her with something in her eye that Kitty couldn't decipher.
"That's quite a philosophy, Kitty. Who said that?"
"No-one. Well, I suppose I did."
Anna smiled. "Yes, I suppose so." She looked at Kitty just for a moment longer with that strange look that Kitty took could only see as not being something bad, before bidding her goodnight and turning off her bedside light. Kitty switched her light off not long after but she couldn't sleep for some time; her head was buzzing with information to process.
