It's about Miss Baxter, Milady.

A/N Just something that popped up.

~oOo~

'Milady, might I have a word?' Mr Barrow asked Lady Grantham while assisting her with her coat. He knew he was in her good books since he had made sure nanny West had been sent away, but today it seemed he caught her at the wrong moment.

'Not now Barrow, I am going out as you can see,' she said impatiently.

'I'm afraid it concerns your ladies' maid Milady,' Barrow insisted.

'Baxter? Well, whatever it is I'm sure it can wait. Good day Barrow!'

And off her Ladyship was, leaving Mr Barrow sulking.

~oOo~

In the servant's hall, miss Baxter wiped away a tear.

'I can't tell you Mr Moseley, really I can't,' she whispered. 'It's too embarrassing. It's a dark period in my life that Mr Barrow knows about, and he used it to blackmail me to spy onto the household for him. I never wanted to, I only agreed because I was so in need of a job, and he told me what a sanctimonious lot you all were…but I won't do it anymore Mr Moseley. I find I like her Ladyship and all you lot downstairs too much.'

'But that's a good thing, isn't it?' Moseley said gently, taking her hand. She gave him a watery but very fond smile. 'It is not, because Barrow will reveal my past to her ladyship and I will be dismissed,' she said.

Moseley stroked her hand, not knowing what to say, and she grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. 'Thank you,' she said.

~oOo~

'Will that be all, Milady?'

'Yes, Baxter, thank you,' the countess smiled.

'Good night then Milady.'

'Good night….oh, Baxter?'

'Yes, Milady?'

'This morning Barrow asked me for a word, he said it concerned you. I haven't spoken to him yet, but have you got any idea what this might be about?' Lady Grantham asked gently.

She felt herself freeze over. So he had already begun…and there was no way she could stop him. Back to the street is was then, back to the workhouse…

'Baxter?'

She turned in shock, had forgotten about her ladyship. Her eyes shone with fear and her hands trembled. 'I…I don't…I don't…' she stammered.

'Sit down Baxter,' Lady Grantham ordered and poured her a glass of water. 'What's this all about?' she couldn't help it, she burst into tears. Lady Grantham gave her a handkerchief and sat down beside her, gently patting her hand.

'Now, now Baxter…it can't be all that bad?' she said.

Knowing it was that bad and that her days at Downton were numbered, miss Baxter told her ladyship everything about her agreement with Mr Barrow.

~oOo~

'Mr Barrow, his Lordship wants a word with you in the drawing room,' Mr Carson boomed and scowled at his under butler the next morning after breakfast. Whatever it was about, his Lordship had to be displeased by sending for Barrow and he would not have that! It was the second disruption of the day, the first had been her Ladyship asking for Anna to see to her. Miss Baxter was unwell and was to take the morning off, the message was.

'Anna! Did her ladyship mention anything about Miss Baxter's sudden illness?' he barked at the young woman. 'No Mr Carson, not a word,' Anna replied.

The only one who noticed Moseley's pale and tense face was the housekeeper.

~oOo~

TBC if you like. Tell me…..