Deviousness….
Thomas was annoyed to find himself taken to the study as well.
"What the hell's going on?" he whispered to O'Brien.
"No talking!" barked the inspector.
Cora was sitting with Lord Grantham, twisting her handkerchief in her shaking hands.
"Lady Grantham says you left this bottle in her dressing room," said the inspector to O'Brien.
"No! I- I-"
"But you are the only one with access to that room, apart from her ladyship."
"How do you know it wasn't her ladyship?" interrupted Thomas.
Cora gasped.
"Be quiet Thomas!" snapped O'Brien, trembling.
"My wife would never do such a thing!" boomed Lord Grantham.
"So, Miss O'Brien. Was it you or Lady Grantham?" The inspector towered over her, his expression grim and forbidding.
"I- er- I- it was me. Not her ladyship."
"And why did you do that?"
"I- er- needed it to poison the rats."
"Rats?" said the inspector, Thomas and Cora at the same time.
"In my dressing room?" added Cora.
O'Brien looked at her feet.
"I have a better idea. You obtained the poison, and your accomplice, Thomas Barrow, administered it!"
"Eh? Don't drag me into it!" retorted Thomas. "Nowt to do with me." He looked to O'Brien for support but she avoided his eyes.
"Constable! Handcuff them!"
"Hold on, you can't do this!" Thomas resisted. "I didn't do anything to the bloody man!"
O'Brien however, meekly submitted, while Cora clutched a handkerchief to her face.
"Just cos we're servants, we get the blame while those with money get away with it!" shouted Thomas, struggling with the constable.
"Silence!"
"What's your proof that I'm involved?"
The Granthams seemed about to speak, but they didn't.
Thomas and O'Brien were hustled out of the room and taken towards the hall.
#####
Everyone else watched, some puzzled, some smiling, some exclaiming in surprise.
"I didn't do it!" shouted Thomas, still wrestling with his captor. Just as the group reached the front door, Mary, Matthew, Alan and Edith hastened in, red in the face and out of breath.
"Stop!" commanded Mary. "You can't blame this man for killing Sir Richard!"
"Why not?" The inspector paused.
"Thomas was with me the night of Richard's death!"
Gasps of shock from the onlookers. Matthew and Guy exchanged glances.
"A footman!" gasped Lady Violet. "Whatever next!"
Mary's lip was trembling but she bit down on it.
"He stayed with me all night, so he can't have killed him."
Thomas hastily rearranged his surprised features into an affectionate glance at Mary.
"Are you sure, Lady Mary?" demanded the inspector.
Mary drew herself up to her full height.
"Of course. I may not be virtuous but at least I can recognize my suitors."
Thomas tried his hardest to suppress a laugh and sneaked a look at Guy, who was smiling, and Matthew, who was frowning.
"I told you so," he couldn't resist saying to the inspector.
"Thomas!" warned Mary so he went to stand by her, trying to gaze adoringly at her, but he was too affected by giggles of relief. Her frosty glare did subdue him a little however.
"It's all becoming clear now," said the inspector, stroking his beard. "Lady Mary wanted to murder Carlisle so she could continue with her affair with Barrow, and Miss O'Brien was their accomplice."
Everyone gasped. Matthew and Guy exchanged despairing glances.
"My daughter would never murder anyone!" shouted Lord Grantham.
"Mary would never reject a rich suitor for a footman!" cried Edith, clutching Alan's arm.
"It's all complete supposition!" exclaimed Lady Violet.
Miss O'Brien suddenly pulled away from the constable and ran for the door, despite her handcuffs. The constable chased after her but was intercepted by Molesley, getting in the way.
The onlookers shouted and gasped.
"You won't take her! She's innocent!" Molesley shouted, but the younger man pushed him aside and caught Miss O'Brien easily.
"Don't interfere with justice, sir," warned the inspector.
"Be strong, Sarah." Molesley pressed her hand and she smiled weakly.
"It's nothing to do with Thomas or Lady Mary," muttered O'Brien to the inspector. "I used the poison, but if it's anyone's fault it's that cripple's!" She pointed at Bates, whose jaw dropped.
