Chapter 25 Jimmy's perspective : In which, Downton turns into a situational comedy.
As Jimmy and Alfred moved smoothly around the periphery of the room only stepping in to fill up the ladies' teacups or offer another biscuit, Carson monitored the afternoon tea from the corner. Jimmy stared down at the dainty pastries on the tray and tried to come up with a plan to knick a few. He knew he would have to wait until he was back in the kitchen, but he still found amusement in developing complicated schemes to steal them in the middle of tea time. That would be a stellar feat.
What if I sewed a pocket inside my livery sleeve? Then I would just have to tip the tray slightly…
Suddenly, the drawing room door banged open, and Lord Flintshire burst into the room. Jimmy almost dropped the tray he was holding. He almost dropped it again as he caught sight of Carson's flabbergasted expression. Lady Grantham let out a shocked gasp. The Dowager Countess actually looked extremely pleased with the new bit of excitement.
"Hugh!" Lady Flintshire exclaimed. Lady Rose looked like she might be ill.
"My Lord, what is the matter?" Carson asked still obviously at a loss.
Lord Flintshire ignored Carson. His eyes darted between Jimmy and Alfred. His glare was positively deadly. He waved a piece of paper in the air.
"Which one of you is James?"
"I… I am," Jimmy stuttered, completely forgetting his manners.
Before Lord Flintshire could say anything more to reveal his intentions, Lord Grantham made it into the room.
"Shrimpie, my dear fellow, please, let's not make a scene. I am sure we can resolve this without a scene in front of all the women."
"Oh, please, Robert do let him continue in front of all the women," the Dowager Countess added from her perch on the arm chair.
Lord Flintshire shot a deadly glare at Lord Grantham then rounded on Jimmy.
This time Jimmy did drop the tray as he reflexively took a quick step back to dodge the large man's advance.
Darting in front of Lord Flintshire, Lord Grantham held up his hands. "Shrimpie, please, can we not…" he began helplessly.
"Robert, you may have let Sybil carry on with the help, but I will not let my daughter do the same!" Lord Flintshire cut across him. "Especially not this one!" he added jabbing his finger toward Jimmy.
Jimmy's mind spun. What the hell is happening? And what's the matter with me? Would he prefer Alfred? Who's carrying on with whom?
"We shouldn't jump to conclusions," Lord Grantham said, his voice taking on a more authoritative tone.
"Rose, what is he talking about?" Lady Flinshire demanded of Lady Rose.
"I actually have no idea?" Lady Rose said. Jimmy looked to her and saw she looked as bewildered and lost as he felt.
"No idea! You've been carrying on with him for all the world to see, and here I have poof," Lord Flintshire raged, waving the piece of paper in the air again.
Lord Grantham took the opportunity to snatch the paper from him. His eyes scanned the paper quickly.
"Who gave you this?" he asked gravely.
"One of your kitchen maids was kind enough to let me know what my own daughter was up to. At least one of your employees has some good sense."
Jimmy heard Carson harrumph from the corner.
Kitchen maid? God damn that Ivy. What the hell did she tell him? Oh, I bet she saw me outside with Lady Rose!
Jimmy finally thought of something to say, and of course it turned out to be the wrong thing.
"Is this about the cigarette? I only gave her one I swear," he said earnestly.
"Cigarette? Smoking is the least of my worries. I'm more concerned about you trying to marry my daughter."
"Papa, please!" Lady Rose begged, her eyes beginning to fill with tears.
"I don't want to marry your daughter!" Jimmy stammered. Opps. Wrong thing again.
"Oh so you've been leading her on with no honorable intentions?" Lady Flintshire piped up, catching on to her husband's accusations and immediately assuming the worst.
"No, Mother, you have it all wrong!"
"Keep quite, Rose!"
"No, I don't want anything to do with your daughter. I mean, not in that way. She's a nice girl and all, but…". Jimmy babbled. Damn it. Can't I say something that doesn't make me seem like a guilty arse?
"How do you expect me to believe this?" Lord Flitshire asked. "Robert, please, give me the letter."
At a loss for anything to do to remedy the situation, Lord Grantham handed over the letter. Lord Flinshire held out the letter and read, "My Lord, please forgive me if I speak out of turn, but I believe you should know that the footman James may be having improper relations with your daughter…."
"James has just been kind to me. That's all!" Rose shouted. "I wasn't with him last night," she added in a whisper, casting an embarrassed glance around the room at all the eyes upon her.
"She's telling you the truth! You don't believe your own daughter," Jimmy accused. Good Lord, now I see why Lady Rose is the way she is if she has to deal with this all the time.
"James, that's enough!" snapped Carson from the corner.
Of course you don't believe us either.
"Robert, I trust you will deal with this immediately," Lord Flintshire demanded of Lord Grantham.
"Of course, of course," he replied giving Carson a pointed look.
"James," Carson said in his most booming voice. "I insist that you turn in your resignation at once."
Resignation? But I haven't done anything wrong.
"But I…" Jimmy stuttered. He heard his heart beat rapidly in his ears.
"At once!"
"Yes, Mr. Carson." Jimmy whispered, feeling like he might be sick. He dashed from the room head lowered, the dropped biscuit tray left behind for Alfred or a maid to retrieve.
Author's Note: Sorry it's been soooo long since my last update. I'm a terrible, terrible person. I was on vacation without my computer and very limited internet access, but I am back now, and my updates should be regular again. Thank you for sticking with me! I love you all!