"Breakfast?" Asked Thomas, "How classy." He folded his arms and pitifully at the Duke, time was he thought he was the classiest man he knew. Thomas couldn't help but snort at how foolish his younger self was.
"What?" The Duke said defensively, "I get it where I can!" Obviously unaware of Thomas's reminiscing. He threw back the gin and got up to pour another.
"The breakfast gong is going to go any minute, you're naked and drunk and it's only just 09:00am!" The Duke belched and fumbled with the lid of the decanter.
"It'll be fine," He slurred, "As a boy, I was trained...trained to be received..dinner, at all..." The gin had started catching up with him and the Duke slumped to the floor. Thomas stared at the Duke, he didn't know whether to feel nervous for the Duke or excited for the Duke's behaviour to be made the subject of gossip. He left the Duke on the floor and poked his head out the door, there were a few other guests along the corridor and chances were, he'd spot a valet or footman.
"Psst!" Thomas whispered at a valet exiting a room with a tray, "When you go down, fetch Mr Carson and tell him to come here and tell him it's urgent! Got it?!" The valet looked surprised but hurried down the stairs trying to keep his tray steady. Thomas went back inside and shook the Duke, "ahh Edward!..." He mumbled, his head bowed, drooling into his lap. Thomas looked at him in disgust.
"What on ear-!" Carson stormed into the room and stopped abruptly. He looked at the drooling mess on the floor and then back up at Thomas. "Well?" Thomas felt like he did when he was new and he'd used the wrong polish on the fruit dish making it tarnish. "He's drunk sir..." He looked at Carson directly for a second and then indicated the remains of gin in the decanter. Thomas knew he had nothing to feel guilty about but he knew that Carson liked there to be someone to scold and it wasn't likely to be the Duke.
Little did Thomas know, but seeing as Carson didn't get to experience the full drama of the 'O'Brien scandal' he was rather pleased of the events occurring. "His Lordship can't see this, I shall tell him the Duke is having stomach quarrels and shall be fine by luncheon, you stay with him till I get back...and make sure no one else finds out?" He raised his eyebrows in true Carson style and left when Thomas nodded.
Thomas watched Carson leave and looked down at the Duke, why was it he always ended up carrying his baggage? Thomas pondered. He hoped Carson wasn't long.