Disclaimer: I don't own any Downton...sadly.
By the age of 40 Molesley accepted the fact that there was not much more to look forward to in life.
He had no wife to outlive him; let alone any children. Even during his prime he was never able to catch the attention of women. This never surprised him considering he never thought he was above average looking and he shied away from attention. What's more is that he knew that all the women he met weren't right for him. For that he never felt ashamed or embarrassed about not having a wife.
He only had a servant's job as a butler to a widowed nurse yet, in a way, it was a job he aspired to. Being the butler meant he held the highest position in the household and regardless of how small the house was, it was an achievement in his trade. He felt pride in his achievements, but he would freely admit that it wasn't what he wanted.
He would have given anything to have become a teacher.
It wasn't the lack of intellect that stopped him as it did others, it was the lack of money. His mother was struck by a crippling illness, when he was aged just seven. This meant that she could no longer work and needed near-constant care. Despite the subsequent lack of income and difficulties that came with looking after his wife, Mr Molesley encouraged Joseph's dream of becoming a teacher. He knew his son was of above-intelligence at a young age and he had an aptitude for learning of which other parents were envious.
Molesley let his father pay for his education for a short while but couldn't bare seeing him struggle with 2 full time jobs whilst caring for his mother. Joseph knew that the only choice was to leave his studies and find small jobs to do here and there in the village.
Years on he still didn't have much in wealth or prospects, but he never regretted his decision to leave school and help his father. Whilst the unfairness of his situation could have made any man bitter and angry, it was not so for Joseph Molesley. When he grew up he remained kind, humble and selflessness, which made him into a good man. And though that meant he wouldn't get far in a competitive working class world, it did mean he was true to himself and that was all that really mattered.
It would surprise him, years later, when he wakes up to be happier than he ever thought possible. He never would have accounted for the fact that the honesty of his character would lead him to become a teacher with the woman of his dreams by his side.
Please r&r I'm quite new to this and any advice is appreciated.