Brancaster Breakfast

Breakfast was an informal affair, a large buffet of silver chafing dishes liberally spread across the massive sideboard that practically covered the back wall. As the other guests were not arriving until later in the day, Stowell left Barrow in charge of overseeing the breakfast for the younger members of the Crawley family, with plans to resume the post before the final hunt the following morning. So as Stowell kept to his private office, which no one minded, Barrow filtered in and out of the smaller morning room as Tom walked in, he kept a discreet eye, knowing Tom would not make a fuss, although he did note Tom was wearing a nice heather tweed this morning. Tom glanced at and acknowledged Barrow, remembering his humiliation from Lord Sinderby the night before and offered, "Good morning"

Barrow's jaw was clinched, he stood stiff and straight just inside the room and replied tightly, "Good morning sir, is there anything I can get for you?"

Tom was usually the first member of the family that came down even at Downton, only occasionally Lord Grantham would be down first but only if he had business or had to go into Thirsk or up to London. Lord Grantham was always next, except on holiday when he took his breakfast in his rooms with Lady Grantham. Then Lady Edith would arrive usually half past giving Carson or in this case Barrow, time to enjoy their own coffee in the servants dining.

As Tom selected from the buffet Barrow picked up the heavy coffee server walked to Tom's place setting and asked, "Coffee sir?"

Tom said over his shoulder, "Yes, please."

When Tom finished with his selection and returned to his seat Barrow quickly checked that all the utensils were resting and all the covers were in place on the chafing dishes. Tom asked,

"Do you have the newspaper?"

That question already anticipated Barrow pulled out a newspaper as if from thin air and presented it to Tom, to which he said, "Thank you Barrow, that will be all for now. I'll ring when Lady Edith and the others come down."

Barrow gave a half smile and the meagerest dip from the waist saying in response, "Very good sir." And he stiffly withdrew, but appreciated Tom's continuity even though they were away from Downton, because Barrow had a little affair in London to work out. He would post a footman to stand in the hallway though just in case anyone unexpected came down.

Tom admired the unspoken cues, the familiarity of a routine he adapted at Downton. His part was to look over the paper, depending on his interest level though his mind often strayed to more pressing or interesting matters and the paper became more of a disguise of his private reflection. And that's what it was this morning part of a disguise as he thought about the previous night. Everything had been highly irregular and yet vastly exciting. If either of them had been seen there would be strong censure for certain, and last night's comraderie would have been impossible at Downton, but on holiday there were all types of advantages and possibilities. The guardianship was more relaxed. It wasn't possible for Tom to live in a box forever, perhaps his actions were proceeding logical thinking, but he had enjoyed being with Edith. Last night he spent time with a different Edith, stripped of duty, relaxed, happy, unguarded, fun. They were equals, and Tom felt happier in those few minutes with her than he had in a long time. They had both been happy, and Tom decided that was worth pursuit. Just reaching these conclusions filled him with such positive energy his cheeks were flushed and his eyes brilliant. But in his resolution he felt a nagging do but deep in the pit of his stomach, an unseen obstacle that threatened his newest resolve. He turned the page of the newspaper, his eyes not even reading the headlines, either he look this unseen dilemma in the face and address it, or ignore it and deal with it later. Tom considered only a moment, his life had turned him from an idealist into a realist. So he drew in a deep breath and looked the troublesome self truth in the face, surprised at his own realization. .There wasn't just an equal friendship beginning, Tom had discovered last night how beautiful Edith really was, and if the whiskey was a truth serum, he also felt the first pull of attraction.

Without being aware of the crooked little smile on his lips he guilty looked up to see if he was still alone in the room, feeling his thoughts might publicly betray him. His secret was safe, and so he decided to master his own feelings, in pursuit of what he foresaw as a very excellent, and enjoyable friendship. It was on these deliberations that Edith in a soft cream color blouse and robin egg color skirt entered the morning room. Tom's smile was broader than normal and he said with excellent cheer as he graciously stood up,

"Good morning!"

Edith paused by his chair, much more reserved than Tom had expected, her voice a counterpoint to all of his enthusiasm ,"Good morning Tom."

As on cue, Barrow entered the room swiftly as if he had been there all along, and pulled out the chair for Lady Edith to sit, as she did so he expertly picked up the coffee server and poured. He brought the silver toast rack to her place setting and slightly adjusted the distance of the cream, spread, and jelly. As she quietly settled in Barrow checked the temperature of all the food in the chafing dishes as he lifted the lids on each, the steam rolled out. Satisfied he neared the door, looked back at Lady Edith, as per routine she would be buttering her toast and then stir her coffee, and that was exactly what she was doing. The cue that all was well, and this was an average morning. Barrow exited the room and gave a pert nod to the footman within earshot to keep sharp.

Tom's exuberance was not deterred, by Edith's seriousness. He knew now that just below that strict surface was the real and most likable version of herself. So he started the conversation,

"I enjoyed last night, I hope you slept well."

Edith looked at him, worry lines etched on her face, but Tom with a beaming smile of no regrets looked her squarely in the eye. He saw her uneasiness teeter on his sheer happiness. And she went changed from anxiousness to saying doubtfully, "I did sleep well, thank you."

Tom got up from his seat with more energy than expected in such morning peace and approached the buffet again, putting more food on his plate and making more noise than usual. Edith looked at him curiously, he seemed so different and she was validated by his next words as he waved the footman away who had rushed to look into the morning room with the first clang of the covered dishes,

"It occurred to me last night, my plan for the duration of this holiday is to enjoy it, I mean really enjoy it!"

Edith looked at him skeptically and quizzed, "Are you so miserable the rest of the time?"

Tom with a full plate turned towards the table facing Edith and answered, "Not miserable, but I'm ready to live life, not wait for it to happen. Do you agree?"

Edith smiled, she did understand, and Tom was so full of expectation, she had never seen him so eager, and she acquiesced moving from anxiousness to cautious, "I do agree, aren't you worried you may miss out on a real opportunity while chasing another?"

Tom was caught off guard but was undeterred, "Who's to say only one opportunity is the right one, maybe they're both gifts just in different ways?"

Edith acknowledged, "That is an interesting outlook."

Tom looked at her fully as he moved to his seat, "Try it, while we're here."

Edith challenged in a low voice as he sat down, "Like last night? Some choices become irreversible."

Tom liked her challenge and met it by leaning forward saying with whispered conceit, "What? Are you saying you're afraid you'll find me irresistible?"

Edith blushed deeply while her eyes mocked him, "Quite the other way around."

Tom grinned, replying as Rose and Atticus's voices were heard approaching the morning room, "Yes, but by then, I'll be in America."