A/N Wow thank you for the reviews they're giving me life and all sorts...Thomas is appearing a lot more here and he takes a sweeter role...I have a lot written on this story and an awful lotta craziness is gonna go down...Enjoy this...

"There we are Mrs Carson…this should help warm you up." Thomas set about making some tea.

"Mr Barrow…Thank you...I honestly can't thank you enough...I sincerely hope that you believe me when I say that I'm grateful for all you have done. Not just rescuing me now but I know it was you who helped put together the necessary for somewhere for me to sleep...For us to sleep." She looked at the younger man fondly. "Mmm..Tea is lovely." She smiled.

Thomas smiled back "Its my pleasure Mrs Carson, I wanted to do it...I know I can be a bit of a pain in the backside sometimes and I maybe like to poke a bit of fun at someone else's expense. But…I went to town last week, you remember when the family were away that day?" She nodded at him "How could you forget...I'm sorry." He hung his head at the mere thought of his words.

"No Thomas...No bother...It's hardly like I would be able to forget besides it's over now...Go on you were saying." Elsie smiled encouraging him on.

"Well, I asked if anyone wanted to come with me you know to the village?…Not one person even looked up and said they would like to join me." He sipped his tea. "I left without a care in the world and stuck my nose up at the others. There was a nice little market in the village and they were selling all sorts of things and toffee apples and sweets silly things really...But I was by myself without anyone to share it with. I brought all that upon myself with my behaviour...How could I be so daft to realise why on earth anyone would want to join me? Thats when I sat and looked around me...All these people in groups of two or three...No one but myself as a single figure. I wanted to change that, so I bought some chocolates for everyone and made my way back to the house thinking maybe this could be a start...Except thats when I saw you in Mr Carson's arms...I had no idea what was wrong only that it wasn't good...I stopped Mr Carson and told him that I would take care of everything and he need not worry only to look after you...I realised then that if something ever happened to me I would want someone to take care of me too." He looked at his feet while saying this "I've changed Mrs Carson since that day and as awful as this sounds...You being unwell has helped me realise that and I need to be better. So its you I have to thank." Thomas looked up at Elsie and she had unshed tears in her eyes.

She couldn't hold them in any longer and reached for her pocket to wipe her eyes. "Thomas I want you to know that you are welcome here in our home whenever you want to be..So much even if you just want to have a breather...You are a kind man, I knew it. You're a sweet boy and with your new found decisions you might have a happier life...It suits you Thomas it really does." She beckoned for him to sit closer to her and took his hand.

"You're very cold Mrs Carson, let me get a proper fire on" Thomas had turned on some lamps so it was brighter but he was yet to build a fire. Thankfully Charles had stocked up the firewood bucket and he set about laying some kindling in the fire and expertly lighting it.

"Thomas all this drama and I've totally forgotten about my husband!" Elsie exclaimed as Thomas bent down by the hearth "I would take it he's having a whale of a time with Lady Mary!"

"Actually, I thought he was here strangely enough…Thats why I came with a pie delivery...Mrs Patmore thought he left and didn't take it with him. But I know otherwise because he went out with Lady Mary in the car…Something about wine and his expert advice...Not that I was listening in mind…You know she's moving out once she's married that bloke" Thomas said over his shoulder. "I'd been upstairs all afternoon and I know full well they hadn't come back..."

"They hadn't come back? So definitely thank goodness you came otherwise I would have been here crossing my legs for a whole lot longer!" She wondered "Where could they have got to, thats been a long time and it's unusual for Charles...Since my situation he's not wanted to stray too far..."

"I know, thats what confusing me more…I'm taking it Lady Mary has more to do with this mystery...If I knew better she would be doing this on purpose." He got up and dusted his trousers. "I don't really want to leave you on your own since he isn't here...I'll put in a call to the House for Mr Molesley to take over for this dinner I'm sure he's realised that I'm not back…We'll wait together for him to come home, besides…There's a whole meat pie to get through!" He laughed "Don't worry Mrs Carson he'll be back." Noticing her worrisome face he put a hand on her shoulder and went to make a telephone call.

"Thank you Thomas." She said smiling.

"Lady Mary, its a long way from here to York and its late, I'm just a little worried about Mrs Carson I had said I wouldn't be long." Charles said as the car door was closed.

"Carson, it will be fine and besides I want to show you my new abode and get your opinion...There's no one else's that would make a difference anyway…Plus they need someone to be there if they are to deliver all these crates of wine that Mr Wirral had kindly offered to have sorted…It makes perfect sense I am already here…You can help them decide where everything goes."

"But, Mrs Carson will need her medication….Its been a whole day and I only told her I would be a couple of hours...I'm just concerned that she would be definitely on her own." Charles lamented.

"Carson I'm sure Anna would have gone to visit her since i've been out all day...She would have thought about her."

"But thats just it, there is a dinner party this evening that you are supposed to be at...I heard Mrs Patmore said yesterday that all the staff were needed to help and I dare say Mrs Bates filling in for housekeeper would be keeping her preoccupied."

"Oh yes…I'd forgotten about that seems I'll miss out then...Heaven knows what trouble I'll be in...Never mind I'm more concerned about my first dinner party in my new house. I want everything to be perfect as I have many to impress...Especially if they'll refer to me as The Marchionesses sister the one without the title…Surely you can understand that Carson?" She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

"Well yes of course I agree but…." Charles said but was cut off unable to finish his sentence.

"Good then that's good I knew you'd agree with me Carson…Don't worry we'll put in a call to the House once we get there and we'll have someone check on her it will be fine." She said settling herself into the seat further.

Charles was completely redundant. He had no way of leaving the situation he was in and was berating himself inside for even agreeing in the first place to go out with Lady Mary. He should have stood his ground like he did before damning all consequences. He knew exactly what her plan was and the light really shone now, he could perfectly see exactly what his wife could all the years before when he would put her on a pedestal. He was really worried that Elsie was on her own and what if anything happened to her he would never forgive himself.

Fairfax house was in the heart of York, a whole hour away from Ripon. They were just pulling up to the front of the house when a man came to open the door. Lady Mary had put a call in from Mr Wirral's office to alert the dormant staff she had at the house that she was coming. At present there was only a Butler, two footmen, two chamber maids who would help the cook in the kitchen.

"Good evening Milady."

"Evening Banks this is Mr Carson the Butler at Downton." She said as she went up the steps. Charles wanted to correct her on former Butler but she was ahead of him.

"Evening…Will you be dining Milady?" The young man said taking her coat.

Mary turned round removing her gloves. "Well, it is time for dinner so we may as well? You'll join me won't you Carson? I'd hate to be alone." she went off in the direction of the library "Come Carson we'll wait for the delivery to arrive in here and have a pre dinner drink."

When he saw her disappear through the door Charles sagged and realised that his hope had ended and went in search of a telephone. He most desperately wanted to alert someone of his whereabouts and that it was not his intention to be there but most importantly he needed someone to check on his wife. He went in search of the door to go downstairs. Finding it he searched undetected by any of the small staff for the Butler's Pantry. He couldn't ascertain where anything was as it looked nothing like it should to him.

He stood still in the middle of hallway trying to ease his racing mind when out of nowhere behind him "If you are looking for a telephone as her Ladyship mentioned...There isn't one installed yet." The very thin young Butler announced looking snootily at him.

Charles grimaced walking back towards the stairs and up to the library.

Oh no what is going to happen now! I will update as soon as I can I won't leave you hanging here! As I said up top, reviews keep me going leave me a thought...As ever Love You Guys x