His Lordship slept in his dressing room last night; that's the buzz downstairs this morning. This news comes to Thomas through the maids and is unknowingly confirmed by Bates himself when Thomas overhears him discussing it with Anna. Interesting. His Lordship had been acting strange last night. Though he'd said nothing was wrong. It takes Thomas a moment to remind himself that he is only a servant and if anything is indeed wrong, there is absolutely no reason His Lordship would feel the need to share it with Thomas. Thomas pushes all thoughts of it away, something he's become very adept at over years of being subjected to constant disappointment and distracts himself with his duties.
xxx
Dinner requires his presence. Lately Carson's relinquished his hold on the household enough that Thomas is allowed to preside over dinner when it's just the family present. He's still not trusted enough to handle guests. Suppressing the memory of His Lordships wanderings last night is a little more difficult in the man's presence. Several times Thomas has to check himself for studying His Lordships behaviour too intently.
It would be fair to say that Thomas knows His Lordship quite well. He's been at Downton for over ten years now and as a valuable servant it's his job to be attuned to the needs and wishes of his master. Watching the man now Thomas senses that something's not quite right. Maybe it's more a feeling than anything visible, because no one else seems to have picked up on it, or then again maybe it's his imagination. You'd think Thomas would've learned his lesson by now but he's always been prone to wild flights of fantasy and he spends most of the evening beating them down and telling himself not to get carried away. His rational mind is supported by the fact that he sees nothing amiss with His Lordship's behaviour tonight. Add to that, that His Lordship didn't know Thomas would be downstairs last night, which means he didn't come looking for him. And His Lordship most certainly does not want Thomas in his bed at Downton Abbey. Last night was a lapse on Thomas' part. He should know better than to get upset about the indifference of aristocracy. Thomas needs to get himself under control now.
xxx
"It's nothing dear," Robert says in an attempt to reassure Cora. "I've just been having restless nights lately and I don't want to disturb you is all." It's a flimsy excuse at best but Cora seems to accept it. Robert withdraws to his dressing room to sleep alone and ponder why on Earth he should want to do so. It's quite ridiculous and eventually Robert falls into an uneasy slumber. Sometime during the night he jolts awake, the echoes of a troubling dream about unfeeling, pale eyes and a full ashtray linger on the edge of his thoughts.
