Chapter 2:
"Ah there you are Dafydd, come with me and we can see if Miss Patmore has some of the luncheon left for you before you start anything."
"Thank you Miss Hughes your very kind." The warm faced woman chuckled to herself.
"It is not that kind Dafydd, I just do not want you passing out because you haven't eaten and believe me you will there will be nothing easy to do." Dafydd understood what was so funny and returned the chuckle and followed Miss Hughes to the Kitchen.
"Miss Patmore have you saved something for our new friend." As he walked through to the kitchen he saw a curly red headed woman turning around. She smiled at him once she caught his eye.
"Of course Miss Hughes as you asked me to. Go into the servants hall and Daisy will bring it in to you when it is ready."
"Thank you Miss Patmore, Miss Hughes." Dafydd turned and walk straight to the table in the servants hall, where he found Anna, Mr Bates, Mr Barrow and James.
"Oh hello again. Please come and sit down." Anna's and Mr Bates warm smiles were very welcoming. He took the free chair next to Mr Barrow who quickly turned to also smile at him. However, James who was sat the other side of Mr Barrow sat scowling into a magazine he was reading. "So what has brought you so far from home then Dafydd, wouldn't you prefer those green welsh hills I have heard so much about?"
"A man must go were he can make a living for himself and I have already seen as many green hills here as there."
"Quite right too." Mr Bates response was quite reassuring.
"What is it like growing up there then?"
"I guess it is much as it is anywhere Mr Barrow. Just that ..."
"Just that, what?" Barrow smiled.
"Just that it seems a welsh mother is far more ... scarier for what I have seen." The group laughed, all but James.
"Oh cheer up Jimmy." Mr Barrow's tone was somewhat odd or so Dafydd thought.
"I don't see what all the fuss is about he only a caretaker." James or Jimmy as Barrow called him continued to scowl.
"The fuss is that we do not have new people in our company very often and everyone is excited the thought of it. In any case you didn't much mind when it was you being made a fuss of." Dafydd thought that Bates and Anna's reaction to Mr Barrow's words were ones of shock. Daisy then interrupted the group and placed a bowl of stew in front of Dafydd.
"Thank you Miss Daisy." The young woman giggled and ran away again.
"And look at him flirting with Daisy."
"Coming from someone who flirts with every maid that he can." Anna smirked at Jimmy as she said this and he puffed in frustration.
"I wasn't flirting with her." A look of concern crossed his face.
"Never mind that now eat your lunch and then go to Mr Carson to see what it is your doing today. We need to get on." They all shuffled and left him alone. Rather content with his new lot, Dafydd ate his stew alone only thinking of his luck when he was disturbed.
"Have you seen Carson?" He quickly turned to see two young women stood behind him. He stumbled to his feet and then the dark hair one smiled at him. "Ah so your the new one."
"My Ladies what are you doing down here?"
"Ah Carson we were looking for you when we found ..."
"This is Daa..fydd Thomas my Ladies. This is Lady Mary his Lordship's daughter" Carson pointed to the dark haired woman that had spoken to him before and then to a younger blonde haired woman, "and Lady Rose his niece." Dafydd nodded his head.
"My Ladies."
"Well Carson..." Lady Mary smiled again and turned away. Dafydd then caught Lady Rose starring and him and she turned away quickly.
"Are you finished with that?" He once again spun around now to find Daisy stood behind him.
"Ah yes Miss Daisy. Please let me help you with that." He followed her back to the kitchen, plates in hand.
"Thank you Miss Patmore. It was lovely."
"Yes yes, how are you with chairs?" Dafydd was rather confused by the question.
"Miss Patmore?"
"My chair, its wobbling, can you fix it?"
"Ah... It shouldn't be that difficult." He stepped over to chair to take a look when Mr Carson returned.
"There you are. If you follow me, there are a few jobs his Lordship has asked for you to do as quickly as you can."
"Of course Mr Carson. I shall come back to fix your chair Miss Patmore." Dafydd quickly followed Mr Carson upstairs. Once Carson had shown him what needed to be done he left him alone in the drawing room.
"Oh I'm sorry ... I didn't mean to disturb you." This made Dafydd jump because he hadn't heard anyone come in at all. When he turned around he saw Lady Rose stood in the doorway. He immediately jumped to his feet and bowed his head.
"Forgive me my Lady, Mr Cason told me that no one would be in here."
"No, no, I just think I left something in here earlier on. I came to look for it."
"What was it my Lady, I could help you find it." She smiled at him rather girlishly.
"Just a book. Thank you." They both walked around the room looking here and there. "I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to speak with you before. How are you settling in?"
"I don't really know my Lady, it is only my first day."
"Oh, yes, how silly of me." The girlish smile returned and it seemed to embarrass Dafydd. He looked down at the table and saw a little blue book. He picked it up and turned to Lady Rose.
"Is this the one you were looking for my Lady?" She sought of hopped with excitement, her smile grew stronger.
"Yes thank you. Ah... sorry what was your name again?"
"Dafydd, Lady Rose."
"Thank you Dafydd." He softly stuck out his hand to pass on the book. He then was then very aware of Lady Rose's gentle fingers brushing across his tough ones. "I hope you settle in well then Dafydd. Good bye." Her girlish smile was blazoned across her face once again and she bounced out other room with a swan like grace and Dafydd could not help to watch her. It was only when she had left the room that he was able to open his mouth once again.
"Good bye."