Chapter 6
Sorry for the slight delay… My holidays start tomorrow though ^.^
'Mr Barrow, you do not have the right to be telling the maids to shine your shoes for you, no matter how naïve they may be!' Carson's booming voice was projected all through the bottom floor of the house, and Thomas winced slightly. Despite himself, he couldn't help but smirk. Those maids were indeed naïve, wanting to warm up to him like that. He had them right in his pocket.
'I am terribly sorry, I assure you I won't think of doing it again,' he replied smoothly, although they both knew he would definitely do it again. However, Carson made no comment, simply shaking his head and sighing before sending the man out of the room to have dinner.
Jimmy caught Thomas's eye as he sat down, and the two friends smiled at one another as the stew was served up. They had to eat quickly, for the household was hosting a dinner tonight, for a Lord Reid. Thomas had never heard of him, and, quite frankly, didn't care, but he was always one to impress.
Everyone ate in silence, before simultaneously getting up to get ready, Mrs Patmore screeching orders at the top of her voice, Carson practically throwing fancy items at Thomas to be polished for what had to be the fifth time that evening.
This, Thomas thought, was going to be a long night.
*NEW SCENE THING*
Jimmy stood awkwardly behind Lady Edith, completely oblivious to the mild conversation going on at the large table in front of him. Beside Edith was Mary, and then Lord Reid was by her for whatever strange reason. He wasn't bad looking, Jimmy thought, though nothing on Thomas.
Again with those thoughts. He gritted his teeth but otherwise did nothing.
It was true though. He had slightly curly strawberry blonde hair, which looked as though it should have been slicked back, and was probably around ten years older than Jimmy. His face was smooth and pale, apart from a bit of unshaven stubble at the bottom of his chin that made him look a little messy, but the overall effect was not unpleasing. He was probably there to be presented to Mary as a possible substitute for poor Matthew. Not that anyone could replace him in her eyes.
Jimmy risked a glance across the other side of the room, where Thomas was serving gravy to the Dowager, who was harping on about something Jimmy would probably never care about even if he paid attention.
He, of course, had focused all of his attention on the man now standing bolt upright behind her, dark hair slicked back, that smug look on his face that was partly emotionless and yet said that he thought he was better than everyone else in the room.
Thomas looked up and his eyes met Jimmy's, and both men felt a shiver go down their spine, but neither of them acted like anything was happening.
*NEW SCENE*
It must have been around 9pm, but Thomas didn't really care. The dinner had, of course, been a success. Carson had dismissed him about half an hour ago, deciding that he and Jimmy could handle the round of drinks afterwards, and that Thomas really did deserve a break. Which he did.
This was why he was now lying on the grass at the edge of the small woodland about a hundred metres from the grand house, enjoying the cool evening and the weak sun on his face.
He didn't have a cigarette. It probably wasn't a good habit, and he didn't like smoking out here where the air was so pure, rather like Jimmy's voice, he thought, that voice was so nice, it was smooth and even when he was stuttering it still sounded nice-
'Would you mind if I joined you?'
Thomas jumped out of his skin, and sat bolt upright, looking up to see – lo and behold – Jimmy standing there, looking perhaps a bit nervous, but Thomas smiled.
'Absolutely. I didn't realise how much time had passed, if you're out here so soon,' he stated.
'Yes, well, I wasn't really paying much attention to what was going on,' Jimmy started hesitantly as he sat down next to Thomas,' but from what I gather, Mary wasn't getting on as well with Lord Reid as much as Lord Crawley was hoping.'
'Why weren't you paying attention,' Thomas said in an almost sarcastic tone,' what could have possibly been more important in your mind than their petty problems?'
'Um…' Jimmy blushed – Jimmy was blushing? Thomas had seen a lot of that lately – 'I don't know, just… things I guess.'
Thomas smiled sympathetically. 'I have things on my mind, too.'
It was only now that he appreciated the soft sunlight basking Jimmy in an orange glow, his eyes glittering slightly in the light, his hair fluttering slightly in the breeze. Thomas knew if they stayed here like this much longer then something very bad was going to happen, but all of a sudden he didn't care.
Jimmy turned and looked him deep in the eye, and smiled softly. Thomas smiled back, then looked down and tried to force the words out of his mouth. 'Jimmy-'
But whatever he had been about to say was quickly cut off as Jimmy leaned forward suddenly, capturing Thomas's lips with his own. Thomas froze for a moment, and didn't have time to react before Jimmy leant back, his face a mask of horror.
'Oh god, Thomas, I'm sorry, I…' he leapt to his feet and backed away. Thomas jumped up too.
'No, wait…'
But Jimmy had already turned and was sprinting away back to the house, and Thomas was left standing alone, knowing that he shouldn't run after him, even if he wanted to.
Ooh tensions galore