Part XLVII:

The rest of the day went by without any extra drama as everyone seemed to avoid each other. Shrimpie and Robert spent the day together away from everyone as they made plans and talked with each other. Cora kept Edith company as the two relaxed in the drawing room while Susan complained to violet and Mary and Tom spend time together talking about the estate. Even Rose avoided the others as she spent the day with the kids in the nursery. The only thing of importance that happened was when O'Brien was writing letters.

O'Brien sat in the servants' hall with several sheets of paper spread out in front of her. She wrote to each of the three maids' mothers and one letter to her family. She knew her sister would demand Ella get out of the abbey immediately but if she played it right then each of the mothers including her sister would show up together to demand their daughters go home immediately. She didn't notice Thomas lurking behind the door.

He knew the perfect way to ruin O'Brien. All he had to do was tell her ladyship about the soap. Then no one would take her on as even a scullery maid. But he decided to wait just long enough to let her have her fun before taking her down. All he had to do was bade his time.

Part XVLIII:

The next few days went by in a similar fashion. The young maids became more and more bothered by the situation and began to refuse to do things for Lady Edith. This all came to a head when Mrs. Hughes was in the gallery with the three young girls. The maids were supposed to be cleaning the hallway before the family emerged from their rooms. But they argued with her. Cora left her room and entered the gallery to see what the commotion was about just as Eva said rather loudly.

"We don't feel right serving a whore! It's not fair that we have to serve her when she goes and sleeps around!" She said frustrated.

Cora couldn't believe what she just heard as she walked towards them. "Excuse me? But did you just call a lady of this house a whore?" She questioned the girl.

Eva took a deep breath before answering. "Yes mi 'lady. I simply called her by her proper title."

Cora looked wide eyed at the girls as they each nodded in turn. She knew people would call Edith that but to have her own staff saying it bothered her. They were supposed to be loyal to the family and not say nasty things. She knew that when they were in their quarters they were allowed to say whatever they wanted and she had heard those opinions more than once but to have them voiced in the gallery where anyone could hear them bothered her. She wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Although she knew that she should fire the girl for speaking out of turn. But what if she spoke to others about why she had been fired? She didn't know how to deal with this so she simply stood as tall and regal as she could in her dressing gown and looked sternly at the three girls.

"I understand this might be hard or even difficult to deal with but Lady Edith is a member of this household. She is higher than any of you and I will advise you to keep your opinions down in your own quarters. Am I understood?" She asked to which they each nodded although by their facial expressions she knew this wasn't over.

Cora waved off Mrs. Hughes' apologies telling her it wasn't her fault and that she was doing an excellent job before going back to her room to ring for Baxter.

Mrs. Hughes sent the girls downstairs before sighing and sweeping and dusting the gallery.

Part XLIX:

After breakfast just before luncheon four visitors came to the house. After being shown into the drawing room Carson informed Cora and Robert that they had visitors in the drawing room.

After introducing themselves the maids' mothers began.

"You're Lordship from what I have gathered it seems your daughter is carrying a married man's child. While I do not intend to become involved in your family's business I do not feel my daughter is safe working for you and your family." She began.

Cora sighed while Robert frowned. "What do you mean safe? All of the servants are safe here." Robert said.

One of the other mothers spoke up next. "We don't mean physically but morally. You see our daughters are so young and impressionable that your daughter could lead ours stray. And while your daughter's situation might not bother you we believe in purity before marriage and obviously your daughter is neither pure nor married. So you see we do not feel safe having our daughters working for you." She said. The other mothers nodded in agreement with her.

Robert sighed. "I see. And I will say I agree with you. I would be concerned if I was in your shoes." He began much to Cora's chagrin. "But if your daughters leave now then we will not have brilliant recommendations for them although we will have kind ones as they haven't worked here for very long." He said.

One of the mothers looked ready to fight him but chose not to before all four of the mothers agreed with his declaration. After each recommendation was completed by Mrs. Hughes and Carson and each girl on their way Thomas smirked as he realized it would be the perfect time to implement his plan.

Part L:

After luncheon that day Thomas found Cora playing in the nursery with George and Sybbie. Cora invited him to join him in the children's game of solders. After a few minutes of playing Thomas sighed loudly do Cora would hear him.

"Is everything alright?" She asked one of her favorite servants.

Thomas shook his head. "There's something that has been on my mind for many years but I've never felt it was the proper time to bring it up. But with her back here and Lady Edith with child. I fear she could be in terrible danger." He said.

Cora gasped. "Danger? What are you talking about Mr. Barrow?" She asked worriedly.

Thomas smirked inwardly as he answered somberly. "That day you slipped and miscarried. It wasn't an accident. O'Brien purposely left the soap on the floor and slipped it under your tub to make you fall and lose your only son." He said watching as Cora's eyes filled with recognition and sadness. "She told me everything mi 'lady. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you." He said quickly.

Cora shook her head. "No. Thank you for telling me Thomas. Thank you."

Part LI:

O'Brien had been close to the nursery door when she heard his confession. She panicked knowing she was done for but she refused to go down without a fight or someone going down with her so she went to find Lady Mary to plant her own little seed.

She found Mary with Tom in the library looking through papers. She cleared her throat and put on her best fearful look. "MI 'lady I witnessed something a few moments ago that I've seen before but I was unsure if I was seeing things or not." She said in a rush.

Tom and Mary frowned at her. "What was it then?" Mary asked.

"I'm not sure if you realize this but Thomas Barrow is a homosexual. And while that has never truly bothered me before what I saw did. I saw him touching George three times now. And he touched the poor babe in the private areas." She said planting her seed.

Mary gasped while Tom looked troubled. "Oh God! He's touching my son!" Mary panicked. "What if he molests him? What if he molests Sybbie or the twins?" She panicked.

Tom thanked O'Brien before she left the room grinning at her plan put in motion. Now to watch that smug bastard fall. And fall he will, she thought as she went to her room.

(This is the twenty first chapter for Breakfast Woes! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to all who have read and reviewed! It means the world to me! Oh and the questions I was asked in the reviews I can't answer right now as although I have an idea of what will happen things could change as I write it. Read and Review. Thanks! This takes place in the 4th season. I do not own Downton Abbey no matter how many stars I wish upon. It belongs to Julian Fellows.)