I stood there and watched you walk away from everything we had, but I still mean every word I said to you. She will try to take away my pain and she just might make me smile but the whole time I'm wishing she was you instead.

-Haunted, Taylor Swift

The expectant faces of the servants peered up at an ecstatic Ivy who was bursting with her good news and clutching the arm of Thomas Barrow, who leant nonchalantly against the door frame. "Do you want to tell them or shall I?" Ivy asked breathlessly, gazing up at Thomas excitedly.

"I don't mind. I suppose you should tell them, technically." He told her. "Darling." He added after a moment's hesitation, an atypical smirk painting his handsome features.

Ivy nodded quickly and taking a deep breath, turned to address her expectant audience with wide eyes. "I'm pleased to announce to you all that Mr Barrow and I are to be married!"

There was a heartbeat of silence as the news sunk in before the kitchen staff erupted in elation.

Ivy's cheeks flushed pink as Daisy threw her arms around her friend and babbled excitedly about how beautiful the wedding would be. Daisy had always been the hopeless romantic of the downstairs staff. "Are you pleased?" Ivy asked, taking both of Daisy's hands.

"'Course I'm pleased! Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, I know you used to- You know- "

Daisy smacked Ivy's arm playfully. "Oh come on Ivy! You know I don't think of Mr Barrow like that anymore, silly!" Ivy sighed in relief and pulled the other maid into a tight embrace.

"She'll be good for you Mr Barrow." Alfred gave an awkward half smile. "As long as you remember she could've been my girl first!" Alfred patted Thomas' shoulder slightly more forcefully than he meant to, and pulled his hand away quickly when Thomas gave him a look.

"Now, now Alfred. Let's not get jealous shall we? Respect your superiors." Thomas raised his eyebrows at the younger footman, who shuffled off to escape the cool, withering stare of the under-butler. The whole event would be worth all the fuss just to get under Alfred's skin, Thomas thought. It seemed like sufficient payback for the way the footman had behaved towards him following that ruinous night. How did people so often forget that Thomas had feelings too? Feelings which, upon seeing Jimmy- James- Kent amidst the commotion, leaning, arms folded against the wall, all came rushing back at him like a tidal wave.

No. Thomas tried viciously to push his thoughts away. He'd made his bed where Jimmy Kent was concerned. He was marrying Ivy. He was marrying Ivy. Thomas mentally repeated the statement, trying to stop his mind- and heart- from rebelling wholeheartedly against the idea. Better to not feel anything than to accept and submit to his reality.

Still, it looked as if Jimmy couldn't care less- and Thomas had always the master of the poker face, no matter what hell he was fighting. Hell. He nearly laughed out loud at his mind's metaphor. If this was his hell, Jimmy was his devil; determined to make things difficult, yet Thomas' attempts to resist the temptation only resulted in him getting burned. Ivy might be a nice girl. She was a nice girl,and extremely pretty too. Not to mention that she was entirely devoted to Thomas. But she isn't Jimmy. A betraying voice in the back of Thomas' mind insisted.

Anna's voice cut through Thomas' thoughts, pulling him sharply back into focus. "We should have an engagement party!" She was saying, looking over at Thomas. He knew that Anna was just trying to be kind, but being forced to celebrate what was happening would only cause more damage than good. "Oh that would be wonderful!" Daisy chimed in.

"Come on Mr Carson, it's not everyday people get engaged." Alfred added.

"It's an excuse to have a drink too." Jimmy piped up cockily from the back of the room. Thomas looked up in surprise at Jimmy's contribution.

"That's quite enough of that, thank you James." Carson gave him a disapproving look and raised a hand for silence. Thomas looked away again. "Need I remind you that I am the head butler here? I am in charge, and I will make the decisions."

"But I am the housekeeper!" Mrs Hughes countered. "Now Mr Carson, I think we can let this one go. Don't be so uptight!" Carson tried to find a suitable argument but, on failing, sighed in defeat. "Friday." He agreed reluctantly. "Can you arrange a sufficient amount of food in two days Mrs Patmore? Daisy?"

"Oh, I think we'll manage." Mrs Patmore grinned, looking over at Daisy, who nodded. Then, brandishing a spatula at Ivy, "You can take this one off!" She told the kitchen maid, who beamed and latched onto Thomas' arm once again.

"Now get to bed the lot of you!" Mrs Hughes shooed the maids out of the door after seeing the time depicted on the large clock mounted on the wall.

"Goodnight everyone!" Anna, the head housemaid, called. And congratulations to Thomas and Ivy."

There was a momentary bustle as everyone followed Anna's lead and bid each other goodnight, before the kitchen fell quiet once again.

Mrs Hughes was the last to leave, but as she reached for the light switch, she noticed Thomas still standing in the doorway, concealed in shadow.

Thomas, remembering the way that Jimmy had waltzed past him without a glance, saw Mrs Hughes approaching him. "Aren't you going to congratulate me then Mrs Hughes?" Thomas drawled, looking up.

"You should get to bed Thomas. These next few days will be busy." Mrs Hughes offered in answer.

"I think I'll survive. I might go for an evening smoke."

"Thomas…" Mrs Hughes met the under-butler's eyes for a moment, searching for her next words and how to place them.

"Mrs Hughes?"

The housekeeper sighed. "Congratulations." She placed a hand on his arm, hoping to convey somewhere in her worried expression that Thomas could trust her with whatever was on his mind. Thomas nodded briefly to her. "Goodnight Mrs Hughes." He spoke quietly, before he turned and strode through the door behind him.

A/N I'd first like to say a huge thank you to everyone who clicked on this story and took the time to read it. So thank you! Secondly, please please please review, I'd love to hear what you all thought! I know it's short but the following chapters will be longer, provided you all enjoyed it! -Abbie xxx