A/N This is the second update today. I don't own them.

"Really, Mr. Bates," Anna giggled, "there's no need to be so cheeky."

Mr. Bates only smiled at her as he helped her off with her coat. He hung it by the servant's entrance with his things before following his wife down the hall to the servant's hall for breakfast. He held her chair for her as she sat and said her hellos before moving around the table to his seat beside Mr. Barrow.

"Good morning, Mrs. Hughes," he smiled at the housekeeper as he passed. To his surprise she grunted at him and rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't say that, Mr. Bates."

Bates narrowed his eyes at her rudeness and odd accent. She wasn't normally this rude to anyone. His consternation was complete when Mr. Barrow practically elbowed her.

"I mean, good morning, Mr. Bates," she said in a farcical Scottish accent.

"Is everything alright, Mrs. Hughes," Anna asked worriedly.

"Of course," again in the odd accent. Mr. Barrow interrupted before any more questions were asked.

"Please excuse, Mrs. Hughes. She has a bit of a headache."

Mrs. Hughes gave a pained smile as Anna exclaimed, "Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Hughes. Can I get you anything?"

"No, thank you, Anna."

Mr. Barrow's explanation of her odd behavior seemed to placate everyone else around the table, but Mr. Bates didn't buy it. Mr. Barrow never stood up for anyone in the house since Jimmy left. His behavior didn't match. There was something more going on with Mrs. Hughes than a simple headache. He was pulled from his musings by the arrival of Mr. Carson followed by Mrs. Patmore. The left side of the table was forced to shift a seat so that Mrs. Patmore could sit.

"You're eating with us this morning, Mrs. Patmore?" Mr. Molesley asked the cook as she took her seat beside Mr. Carson.

"I fancied a change, Mr. Molesley," she said rather gruffly causing Ms. Baxter beside her to bite back a grin.

"Daisy, can we start breakfast?" Mr. Carson called. "We'll have to start our day soon enough."

Daisy set the kitchen maids to handing out breakfast as Mrs. Patmore muttered, "The sooner this blasted day is started the sooner it'll be over."

Mr. Bates looked on in bemusement as Mr. Barrow, Ms. Baxter, and Mrs. Hughes tried to suppress giggles which turned to mild shock when he noticed that even Mr. Carson had a small grin on his face.