Thomas had seen the yellowy flickering in the distance, he had already hinted out to O'Brien that Bentley was doing work for Anna and Bates but now he was going to persuade her. He located her having a fag around the other side of the building. "That'll be Bentley getting into Bate's house." He stated lighting up a cigarette and and exhaling, he didn't look at her but he could see in his head her blank expression, with her mouth open comically.
"What?" She took the zippo from Thomas's hand. He smiled, he'd got her, "I just saw the lights go, he must be working out the electricity. He's quite simple sometimes that one, I hate to think what the house is goin' to turn out like once he's done." He didn't mean it but it was the sort of thing he'd say to tease Bentley. Because it was something he would generally say, O'Brien couldn't detect the lie.
"Ay! He has more brains than you do these days, like when he spotted that dirt when you didn't. He just needs a hand sometimes, is all." She took a drag and pondered at the thought of herself helping him. She pictured him handing her things and her hiding things behind her back making him putting his arms around her to get them and then they closed in and he would kis-
"I hope you're not dropping hints." Thomas interrupted her thoughts. O'Brien snapped and shot a glare at him, she was annoyed her mini-dream hadn't visually satisfied her.
"No I wouldn't hint you to do anything. Poor boy, I'll go down and keep him company, maybe my experience with idiots such as yourself will prove useful!" O'Brien spat and stomped across the gravel of the courtyard, heading towards the cottage. Thomas put out his cigarette, "cow." He muttered, he knew from her over exaggeration of implying that Bentley was an idiot, that she was excited at the thought of some alone time. He knew that because when he liked someone it was obvious, he had to compensate by turning one extreme into the other, thus ending with him appearing to be a spiteful man full of hate towards others. It was only till recently that Bentley had re-written his natural way of defence, and for that he thanked him.
Thomas went into the warm servants hall, He nodded at Anna who went off to play her role. Thomas nodded at Bates and they went to the cloakroom to get their coats, Just as Bates took his off the peg Bentley came panting from the brisk walk, "I've just seen O'Brien, so I had to sprint out of sight, she was singing to herself so she didn't hear me" He rubbed his nose to warm it up.
"And breathe." Thomas joked, Bentley was truly adorable when was cold. Bates got his coat and stood in the doorway ready. Bentley didn't notice that he was waiting and kissed Thomas who hadn't noticed either. It was a brief kiss and Bates was taken aback, he didn't realise they would be so open. His questioning thought was answered when Thomas got to the doorway and was surprised by his presence. "Oh I thou-.." He trailed off and they left.