"Pretty, aren't they?" The new chauffeur had come to stand next to William as they watched the Crawleys bid goodbye to the night's guests. William was holding coats and assisting the gentlemen, and Branson, he assumed, was waiting for the Dowager Countess. Which might in fact take a while.
"Who's pretty?" he asked absently, brushing dust off some viscount's jacket.
"The Crawley girls," Branson said, chuckling. "Who else?" William stared at him. His face showed absolutely no hint that he knew how inappropriate his question was.
"I don't know that I've noticed," William replied tightly. He felt heat rise on his neck. "They're just my employer's daughters, sir."
"Come on, don't call me sir," Branson admonished him cheerfully. "I'm what, two years older than you? Three maybe?"
"A chauffeur's rank is higher than a footman's, Mr. Branson." Branson crossed his arms and frowned at William.
"So you really believe in all that, do you? Huh."
When he got a chance, William stopped to talk to Gwen the next evening, and inquired whether she thought Branson was quite…nice.
"Nice?" she gave him a strange look. "Sure, he's nice enough. Just don't get him started on politics or he won't stop until he's bored you into an early grave!"
"Only… he made a comment about the Crawley girls last night. He said they were… pretty."
"Well, William," Gwen smiled at him as though he were a very young boy. "They are pretty."
"Maybe, but they're still ladies, and we're their employees! It doesn't seem right. And anyway, they're never as pretty as -" He broke off, embarrassed.
"Daisy?" Gwen said kindly. "I know. I wouldn't worry, William. Mr. Branson just sees the world differently from the rest of us, that's all. It's a bit like… in fact, it's exactly like…" Suddenly she came over distracted, even slightly nervous.
"Like what?" William prompted. She shook herself.
"Oh, sorry, it's nothing," she replied. "Just had a funny thought. You know, Lady Sybil asked me to bring her… something, earlier. I should be… going." She gave him a little pat on the cheek and strode away through the kitchen. Gwen was an odd girl. Sometimes William didn't think she quite saw the world the way rest of them did either.