Chapter 2
The side to side motion of the train relaxed him, letting his mind run. It had been an eventful few weeks. All of his cunning had been challenged and he had come out the better for it. O'Brien and Barrow had tried their best to get rid of him.
She had used her influence over Lady Grantham to whisper words of his inadequacies to Lord Grantham. It had almost worked. If he hadn't known how to manipulate Robert so well it might have done. But you don't spend time in a war side by side with a man without learning how to twist him to your needs.
Robert had never known it was happening. He'd thought his old friend was being gracious, noble even. Accepting the news he was to be let go with dignity. Oh he'd dropped hints he wouldn't be able to obtain another job due to his affliction but in the end he'd simply accepted the Lord's dictum.
He laughed to himself when he remembered Robert running after him, stopping the car. It had taken longer than he'd expected but it was funnier for it. What Robert hadn't know was the small fortune of baubles in his bag. Thirty days pay was one thing but in his bag was at least several years worth of salary. They were gone now, of course. Pawned in the city on the trip Robert brought him along.
It had been an unexpected pleasure when Robert said he needed to go to London for a meeting. He could have slipped into the city on his half day but this way no one would ever question his presence. Pawning items in the surrounding cities was too dangerous and could end him back in prison. In London, he knew people. Those people could make sure the items were never traced back to him. And, on the off chance they were, he would have Robert as his alibi as to why he was in the city.
O'Brien and Barrow returned to his mind. He'd need to do something about them. Barrow had lost some of his influence when Robert had so publicly kept him. That gesture would make the stuffy butler fall in line. Carson worshipped the family and whatever they loved, he loved. As long as he wasn't overtly out of line the butler would leave him be. Still, it wouldn't hurt to figure out a way to make Mr. Carson indebted to him.
O'Brien was a bigger problem. The lady of the house adored her and he had no way to get to her ladyship. Cora mostly avoided the male servants, except for Carson. He thought briefly to the housekeeper, she didn't really seem to trust him. She respected his work but there was still a hesitancy. If he could get her on his side he would feel more secure.
The young blonde, she might be the key. The housekeeper was especially fond of Anna. He was too, although for entirely different reasons. She haunted him, came to his dreams each night. He imagined what it would be like to touch her, mark her skin, restrain her, do what he wanted to her. The urge had been so strong he'd found a woman who resembled her while he was in London. It had cost him a pretty penny but at least it had calmed his urges. At the end, she'd threatened to report him. A few quietly whispered words as to what he would do to her if she did had shut her up.
Anna was on his side. He could see in the way she looked at him she was falling in love. He hadn't really even tried, a few kind words, here or there. Standing up to O'Brien and Barrow. Of course, that last bit had ingratiated him to more than a few members of the downstairs staff.
He laughed to himself, perhaps he should do nothing about the two of them. With them skulking about no one cast a second glance to him. They were so overt in their scheming he seemed innocent by comparison. Yes, perhaps it was the better way to go. Calm and steady, step in to bash those two, from time to time, and let everyone think he was harmless.
He smiled to himself and the idea of his plan. He would leave O'Brien and Barrow to their own devices, for now. Anna would be his focus and the housekeeper. He would have to do something about the housekeeper. And he didn't imagine putting Barrow and O'Brien in their places would suffice. No, he would have to take more drastic measures to get her on his side.
Pushing all thoughts except Anna from his mind, he thought back to his evening in London. A visceral thrill ran through him as he imagined Anna's face over the face of the woman he'd chosen. He closed his eyes and let the rocking of the train lull him into a peaceful sleep.