Second Update today... don't miss the previous one with Mary and Carson...

Carson struggled to comprehend what Thomas had just said. Was he threatening to betray the family? "And what could you offer those hacks at the gossip rags?"

"Where should I start?" Thomas said with deep sarcasm. "I could offer them the Crawley Curse."

"The Crawley Curse?"

"Have you not noticed all the mysterious deaths that seem to happen around this family?"

"Mysterious deaths?" Stop sounding like a damn parrot, man! Carson scolded himself. "What do you mean?" Carson was disconcerted by the lack of fear in Thomas' eyes.

"It all started with the Titanic and James and Patrick Crawley. Then there was the exotic Mr. Pamuk, the unfortunate Mrs. Vera Bates, the little unborn Lord, poor William, the conveniently disposed of Miss Swire and her wealthy father," Thomas counted them off, "The misdiagnosed Lady Sybil, the unlucky Mr. Crawley and the apparently clumsy Mr. Green."

Who is Mr. Green? Carson wondered vaguely. "Those were all natural and explainable deaths. No paper will be interested in your fabrications, Mr. Barrow. The Crawleys have experienced no more death than any other family in the past decade."

"Each taken on their own is a rather mundane death, but a good writer could weave a story of such intrigue that the Crawley name would be as cursed as Cain or as notorious as Machiavelli." Thomas sneered. "And that doesn't even begin to address the shady American relations and the long list of other disgraceful events I could name that have happened under your very nose."

Carson huffed dismissively. "Now I know you are bluffing, Mr. Barrow. Our household is as respectable as they come."

"Is it? Do respectable houses allow maids to seduce house guests and family members? Do they blackmail a respectable family into raising a bastard child as their legitimate grandson? Do they allow the staff to carry on inappropriate relationships with one another and then reward those relationships? Does the Lady's maid of a Countess usually sneak out in the middle of the night to run off to India? And you don't know everything there is to know about all your downstairs staff. Do respectable houses employ murderers and forgers?"

Mr. Carson's mind was racing to keep up with Thomas' accusations. Was he talking about Ethel and Major Bryant or Edna and Mr. Barrow? The fact that he could be talking about either was disquieting. His inner judge wanted to point out that the Bryants had taken little Charlie in out of familial kindness, not because of blackmail.

As for the immoral behavior between staff, Carson thought immediately of Mr. Barrow's own activities. It was true that Barrow had made an unwanted advance to a coworker and both had received promotions out of the incident. Carson was loathe to admit that to outsiders Anna and Mr. Bates' relationship might appear improper before they were married. Courting between household staff should be strictly forbidden, but an exception had been made for them. And then there was James and Ivy to consider, though that was never likely to go anywhere. Now there was even Mrs. Hughes and himself to add to the number of improper pairings. Carson smoldered to think of this vile little wretch smirking over his relationship with Elsie. Carson felt his anger building again, but Thomas had made him question himself. Between all the minor concessions and allowances, had Carson really descended down that slippery slope and lost control over his household?

But the final accusation brought him back to the righteous high ground.

"Mr. Bates was exonerated of that crime, Mr. Barrow. As you well know."

"Perhaps, but he has not necessarily been idle since getting out of prison, has he?"

"If you are implying that he has been doing anything criminal while under our roof, I must strongly disagree."

"Just ask Mr. Molesley about a little matter of a forged note. And ask Mr. Green about Mr. Bates' temper. Oh, that's right. You can't."

"Who is Mr. Green?" Carson finally asked, exasperated by this conversation.

"He's the man who attacked Anna. You knew him as Mr. Gillingham."

"Attacked Anna?" Carson was about to demand further explanation, but the sight of Anna the morning after the final evening of last year's house party assaulted his memory. But Elsie assured me that Anna was fine, he remembered. He had pressed her for details about Anna's injuries the next morning, but she had promised him that it was a small feinting spell. Elsie had promised him. "Anna fell and hit herself on the sink," he said weakly, knowing what a fool he sounded.

"If the sink at Downton is that violent, we are lucky Mrs. Patmore is still alive." Thomas laughed, seeing that he now had the upper hand on the poor, blindsided butler. "And what do you think happened to Mr. Green?"

Carson only shook his head helplessly.

"He's dead; apparently tripped in front of a lorry on a busy London street. Did he strike you as a clumsy man, Mr. Carson?" Carson's head still shook, his face remained blank. "It seems more likely that he was thrown into the street. And it happened on the very day Mr. Bates was supposedly in York. Of course, Lady Mary and Anna were both in London that day as well, which would make for an even more interesting story."

This hit Carson like a slap. "You cannot honestly be accusing Lady Mary or Anna of murder!"

"But wouldn't it look amazing on a front page? 'Lady of Death Strikes Again'! Lady Mary really does have a knack for being around unfortunate accidents. Do you think the tax office will be keen to continue to extend credit to an estate run by a man who bleeds money and a murderess?"

Carson looked at Thomas as if he were seeing a maggot crawl out of a half eaten steak. "What could you gain by spreading such lies?"

"What else is there to gain in life, Mr. Carson? Money."

"But it can't possibly pay that much and you would never find another job if you betrayed your family's trust."

"That's the point, Mr. Carson. I wouldn't need another job. I'd have enough to set up a shop somewhere where they didn't know me. I would work for myself instead of being an under butler."

"Have you never heard the phrase 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you?'"

This seemed to anger Thomas, for he surged forward, his face inches from Mr. Carson's chin. "No one feeds me, Mr. Carson. I take care of myself. And I will bite any hand that it suits me to."

Suddenly, Carson understood this man before him as he never had before. Barrow was always grubbing about for an extra shilling here or there with dreams of being his own master. His failed attempt to enter the black market had not taught him caution, it had made him hungrier. The younger man coveted the position of butler because he could work with unscrupulous vendors who offered kickbacks to butlers willing to turn a blind eye to substandard goods. Carson saw that Barrow would sell the pick of the wine cellar out from under the house in an attempt to line his own pockets. And when he was close to having enough to set up shop, there was nothing to stop him from selling his lies and speculations to the highest bidder for even more cash. He might even feed the papers from within for as long as he could get away with it.

"Even after everything the people in this household have done for you?" Carson tried a new approach.

"Oh, yes, everything they've done for me. All the while looking down at me and calling me 'twisted' and 'foul'. Do you deny it?"

"I do not. According all the laws of God and men, your actions were foul. But His Lordship excused it and that was the end of it. I do not think it has any bearing on how you are treated in this household. Rather, the fact that you have been proven a thief and a liar in the past may be why you feel looked down upon." Though conservative was too mild a word for Carson, the butler truly had not held Thomas' indiscretion against him. He did not necessarily agree with Lord Grantham's decision to keep Thomas on, but Carson had plenty of more substantial reasons to distrust Thomas beyond his 'bent persuasion.' "Your issue seems to be with me, Mr. Barrow. Even if you must revenge yourself on me, why would you threaten those who have helped you? Anna has always been kind to you and His Lordship has been very tolerant of your many mishaps."

"Because a man deserves to be more than tolerated, Mr. Carson. I deserve respect. I have worked for this family for over twelve years now. I have earned the right to be butler. After serving as His Lordship's valet, I was thrown over for a gimpy ex con. I had done nothing wrong."

"Mr. Bates was reinstated because he had not done anything wrong either. It was his job all along. Besides, he and His Lordship have a bond from the war."

"Was he preferred because he was a wounded soldier? Well I was wounded in a war also!" Thomas brought his hand up to Mr. Carson's face as evidence.

Carson snarled and grabbed Thomas by the wrist. "Since you brought it up, let's talk about your wound, Mr. Barrow. I saw a lot of injuries come through our village during the war, but none as singular as yours. Please explain to me exactly how one manages to be shot cleanly through the hand? Were you carrying the litters full of wounded over your head in the trenches? Were you waving to a friend on the German side? Were you even shot at all, or were you simply too enthusiastic in punching your ticket home?" Carson felt glad to finally confront Barrow about his alleged heroism. It felt good to have some way to strike back. Thomas' 'wound' had always bothered Mr. Carson no end. "Do not claim to be a war hero, Mr. Barrow. Being in the trenches at all must have come as a nasty shock after you signed up for a nice cushy hospital job."

Thomas grew red with indignation, but his voice remained even. "Now, Mr. Carson, if you are going to get personal, you will force me to note that you've kept Mrs. Hughes out quite late for several evenings. Much later than a respectable woman should be out in the company of a man. With the two of you so close, I am surprised you did not know all about Anna's situation. Mrs. Hughes certainly knew all about it. Mind you, I have nothing against Mrs. Hughes and I would hate to cast aspersions in her direction, but if you force me to, Mr. Carson, I may have no choice."

Red hot anger flared in Carson's eyes causing Thomas to experience another rush of real fear. He had pushed too far this time and he knew it. Thomas backed instinctively away from the butler towards the lower stairs as if to dash down to the safety of a populated servant's hall and kitchen. As his heels met the edge of the topmost step, Thomas gulped audibly. The look the butler was currently giving him was dark and menacing as he loomed over the younger, smaller man.

Down below them, a door opened and Mrs. Butte's voice called up, "Thomas? Mr. Carson? Are you coming down? Luncheon is almost ready!"

Thomas's feet tangled and he stumbled as he turned towards her voice, perhaps to call for help. A great hand caught the front of his coat and pulled him upright just before he began to tumble down the stairs. Leaving the flustered under butler trembling at the top of the stairs, Carson stormed down the stairs. As he passed Mrs. Butte, he growled, "Mr. Barrow will be serving luncheon today, Mrs. Butte. Apparently, I do not feel very well."

TBC…

A/N I don't think it's too far of a stretch the think that Thomas put all the pieces together regarding Anna and Green by this point. I don't think he knows about the train ticket, but he knows Bates was in York because Miss Baxter would know that bit of information. Also, he doesn't REALLY know anything, he is only speculating, trying to fish for more information and see what people respond to.

I'm trying to post a few more chapters before heading out of town this weekend. I think two more chapters will get us to a nice break. Thanks for sticking with me;)