Chapter 35
A/N: Hello Hello, once again I am back and in a writing mood.
This chapter is a sad moment for the assembled downstairs crew. The loss of the baby.
Episode 7
They all sit as if under a dark spell in the servants hall.
"That poor wee babe," she begins with a tremor in her voice
"How is her ladyship doing?" Anna inquired gently
"I'll take her up a tray in a minute but I dare say she wont touch a bite," she answered sadly
"What about you Miss O'Brien?" William asked
"What about me?" she shot back, her head turning quickly towards him, her voice lacking the usual hard edge
"It must have been quite a shock," he continued
"Yes, yes it was" she answered quietly and turned back to her forlorn gaze forward
"I think you'd better dine with us Mr Branson, we can't know if you might be needed later," he said, his strong voice filling the heavy silence
"Well I'm to go for the doctor at 10," Branson said, moving to take a seat at the table.
Thomas filed in behind him, taking a look around
"What a long-faced lot"
"Kindly show some respect," Carson grumbled, disturbed by the first footman
"Come on Mr Carson, she'll get over it, they're no bigger than a hamster at that stage," Thomas drawled.
"Will you shut up," Mr Bates spat
"I agree, what is the matter with you Thomas?" she hissed angrily, showing her contempt for the man who refused to show concern or respect for the family they served.
"I don't know, I s'pose all this makes me feel claustrophobic. I mean I'm sorry, course I am but why must we live through them? They're just our employers they're not our flesh and blood," he continued
"Thomas don't be so unkind," Daisy interrupted
"Is there nothing left on earth that you respect?" William concurred
"Well look at him. Blimey if he carries on like this for the unborn baby of a woman who scarcely knows his name, no wonder he fell to pieces when his old mum snuffed it," Thomas drawled, once more offending the room
She gasped silently and looked to Mr Carson. He looked to her quickly before they both returned their gaze to the scene unfolding before them. As the parents of downstairs they had a degree of authority but they couldn't stop Thomas speaking his mind.
Suddenly William lunged out of his chair aiming for Thomas' shoulder before punching him squarely in the face.
"William!" the butler boomed as the people sitting at the table sprung up out of the way
The butler stood too, not taking his eyes off the pair now wrestling on the table, and felt her soft hand graze his arm as she stood and moved away.
Attempting to regain control he continued to boom, his voice becoming more insistent: "Thomas! William! Stop that! That is enough!"
She saw the worry begin to form behind his eyes, and the stray curl escape as the two rolled off the table and on to the floor.
Branson intervened, grabbing William off Thomas and Carson pulled the other footman off the floor and pushed him towards the door.
He stepped towards William, not saying a word. He patted the young footman's shoulder and turned away towards her, breathing deeply. Her eyes followed the exchange and met his with mirroring worry.
"He had that coming," Branson chuckled weakly in the background
A/N: Thoughts?