Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading my story! This is the first fiction that I have ever posted. I realize this story is starting out VERY slow and I'm sorry but just want to see if anybody else is interested.
This is based in an AU where there are 4 Crawley sisters and Thomas is BI. Hope you enjoy!

Pure Beauty
Chapter 1:

The sun had barely crested the horizon when Scarlett Anne Crawley, Fourth Daughter of the Earl of Grantham padded silently down the hall steps in her most precious home Downton Abbey. As soon as she reached the bottom she took off for the morning room and the door that led out onto the grounds behind the Abbey. As soon as she relatched the garden door and her socked feet touched the damp grass she hastily dumped her boots on the ground and yanked them on. Supple and comfortable from near constant use, they pulled on easily and she took off at a very unladylike sprint across the grass.

Thomas had not slept the night before and so he leaned against the wall outside the kitchen long before anyone but the scullery maids and the hall boys would be down working and enjoyed his early morning (and blessedly) quiet smoke. He watched a familiar blonde blur race across the drive on its way to the stables with no thought to anything else along the way. Much to both her parents' (and Mr. Carson's) chagrin the youngest Crawley daughter was headstrong, wild, and certainly the most fun out of any of the upstairs family. Thomas took a few more deep drags on his cigarette and watched the sun fully rise over the land of Downton and saw the mist slowly vanish as the sun touched it and the tree tops on its way up. The kitchen door opened and Daisy stuck her head out telling his breakfast was on the table and he better hurry or Mr. Carson would miss him. Just as he stubbed the last of his cigarette out he saw a black horse gallop away from the stables and off towards Downton's woods.

"Now, we have quite the preparations to be starting on with the wedding being so near upon us," began Mr. Carson as they all quickly tucked into their breakfasts. "We have several of the county families coming to dine tonight as well as Lady Rosamund who will be arriving to stay until the wedding. Anna, I trust that you can still manage Lady Mary and Lady Scarlett both."

"Yes of course Mr. Carson."

"I realize that Lady Scarlett can be a handful occasionally, but I am confident in your abilities."

Everyone at the table stared pointedly at the table and secretly shook their heads knowing that no matter what either Lady Scarlett or Lady Mary did the two sisters were Mr. Carson's absolute favorite family members.

-

Mary's bedroom door opened slowly to reveal her youngest sister in all of her disheveled glory. "Well there is certainly no need to ask where you have been this morning," said Mary as her sister came in and sat down on a chair behind her. "You really mustn't antagonize Papa so much."

Mary watched her sister shrug in the mirror and she sighed gently. Even she could be headstrong at the best of times, but Sybil and now Scarlett were truly testing the family's patience, particularly their mother's.

"Are you going down to meet Aunt Rosamund at the station or waiting with all of us up here?"

"I will wait here with everyone else as I am sure that by the time I have gotten ready she will be nearly here."

Mary nodded and Scarlett arose and led the way with Anna out the door.

-

An hour later and the family and staff stood waiting for Lady Rosamund Painswick as the car slowly ambled up the drive.

"Can that car drive any slower?," whispered Jimmy into Thomas' ear.

Thomas' lips twitched ever so slightly at this but his eyes never moved from their position straight ahead. Mr. Carson hadn't heard Jimmy's whisper (which was often not quiet enough to count as a whisper) which was good for both of them. The usual grand fuss was made for a new guest although the greeting between Lord and Lady Grantham and his sister appeared to be very strained. Thomas glanced one last time over the family before turning and following Jimmy back into the melee that was the downstairs of a Downton Abbey dinner party preparation.

Reviews are appreciated... Any feedback is good feedback. Thanks for reading!