Chapter 1:
"My Lord, the new caretaker has arrived. Shall I send him in?"
"Ah yes Carson send him in." The aging butler slightly gestured for someone to come into the room. A very tall, well built man walked through. He was wearing a grey tweed suit that was well worn but had been taken good care of. He had dark hair that was swept to the side and very dark eyes that made his face look even more handsome than it already was. Carson walked ahead of him and stopped abruptly when they were close enough to the Earl. This almost made the man walk straight into the butler but he narrowly managed to stop himself.
"My Lord, this is..." Carson quickly glanced at a piece of paper in his hand. "Dafydd Thomas the new caretaker." Carson clearly struggled with the pronunciation.
"Ah yes, so we have a Welshman now then, so we've go the set then Carson." The Earl still sat at a desk craned his neck up to look at the new comer and grind. "Is there something easier I could call you though I do have trouble with all those funny names." For the first time the tall stranger opened his mouth.
"Some English people call me David my Lord ... I don't like David."
"Why's that David is a welsh name isn't?"
"Yes my Lord, but it is not my name." At no point did the new comer's face change his voice was soft and calm but there was an instant authority to it. Carson was almost as red as a tomato ready to explode. Grantham merely fidgeted in his chair and coughed.
"Well yes, Daa...fydd. Thank you for your speedy acceptance and arrival ... ah Carson shall show you around." Both of the standing men nodded their heads.
"Thank you my Lord, for having me." The young man turned an followed Mr Carson out of the room and made their way downstairs. As soon as they reached the bottom Carson turned his face looked as if it had not taken a breath since before they left his Lordship.
"What on Earth do you think you are doing?"
"Mr Carson?"
" Speaking to his Lordship in that manner!"
"I am sorry if I have said something out of turn Mr Carson but I like to be call by my name. I do not think that is wrong to ask Mr Carson." Now befuddled by his quick and calm answer and probably because he had said "Mr Carson" so many times the butler turned unwilling to say any more on the matter. As they continued down the hallway to what he recognised as Carson's office Dafydd noticed head popping around doorways and eyes following him as he walked. "Come in, come in. Sit there." He pointed to a single chair in front of his desk as he closed the door. "Now as you were employed so quickly your overalls I am afraid have not arrived yet and I dare say we do not have any to fit you."
"I have a set with me Mr Carson until yours has arrived, will navy be alright?" Dafydd was well used to this problem because he was much larger then the average man. In both height and size, he was broad shouldered and muscular.
"Ah yes, yes that will be fine for now Mr Thomas." Dafydd quickly noticed how he avoided saying his first name. Just then a few taps came at the door. "Yes."
"I am sorry Mr Carson, Anna said our new comer is here with you and I just wanted to say hello before he was stolen by everyone else." Dafydd stood as the women spoke and immediately stuck out his hand to shake hers.
"Miss Hughes this is Mr Thomas, this is Miss Hughes the head housekeeper. So if you ever have a problem and cannot find me then I am sure Miss Hughes shall do all she can to help."
"Hello Miss Hughes, I'm Dafydd."
"A Welshman how lovely I have always loved the sound of a welsh accent."
"Ah yes Miss Hughes fascinating." It was clear that the Butler did not share his housekeepers views.
"Come along now Dafydd its time to meet the horde." The warm woman beckoned Dafydd back out into the hallway and into the servants hall, were a number of the servants had gathered in anticipation of his introduction. "Everyone this is Dafydd Thomas the new caretaker. So be nice." A small woman was first to introduce herself.
"Hello, I'm Anna. I am Lady Mary's Ladies maid and this is my husband Mr bates his Lordships valet." She pointed to a man with a walking stick. Dafydd stuck out his hand to greet them both but they noticed a shocked look on his face. "What is it?"
"Oh I'm sorry I just didn't that servants could get married and stay in service..."
"His Lordship is very kind."
"He is indeed." Miss Hughes interjected. Miss Hughes then moved on through the group. "This is James and Mr Mosley the footman." The first a handsome young blonde man was no surprise to Dafydd but the second who they call "Mr Mosley" was. He was a much older man how should be far more ahead than footman at this point in life but without a word he stuck out his hand again in greeting smiling warmly. "And this is Mr Barrow the under butler."
"Hello Mr Barrow." Again his hand was straight out and swiftly taken. Miss Hughes touched him slightly to make him turn to notice a very small women half hidden in the door way to the side of them.
"And this is Daisy the assistant cook."
"Hello Miss Daisy." She giggled and went slightly red at the sight of him sticking out his arm again which she meekly took and then ran away.
"Well I think that is everyone who is available to say hello to you right now, you will most likely meet everyone else soon enough and I suspect that you would like to get yourself settled in before you start work, if that is alright with you Mr Carson?"
"Perfectly Miss Hughes."
"Mr Bates, can you spare a moment to show Dafydd to the men's quarters he shall be staying in your old room?"
"I most certainly can Miss Hughes if you like to follow me sir." Dafydd followed Mr Bates to the hallway were his two solitary bags were still waiting for him. "This way Daa...fydd?"
"Dafydd, Mr Bates."
"Dafydd thank you."
"You do not live in the house anymore Mr Bates?"
"No I live in one of his Lordships cottages with my wife Anna."
"I see ... very kind then." Bates smiled at the young man and replied.
"Very kind."