Two days later on the 22nd of December and Thomas was busying himself with duties that were technically beneath him. Some stuck up Lord of something or rather had stayed overnight without any warning and had insisted on a valet, he hadn't brought his own and so it had been left to Thomas to look after him for the duration of his stay. The man couldn't quite understand that Thomas was actually the butler and not a valet. He kept on saying that he found it strange how Downton had no butler and Thomas had grown bored of trying to correct him whilst being polite at the same time. Thomas came to the conclusion that the man was a complete idiot who had spent so much time letting his wealth and status go to his head that he had forgotten how to remember the most basic of facts. He would be leaving in a few hours thankfully, but until then Thomas was stuck cleaning and polishing the man's shoes in the boot room. He hadn't done this sort of work for years and if he was perfectly honest he did not miss it one bit. He was now in an irritable mood and just couldn't be bothered with any of this. He just wanted to go home and curl up on the sofa next to Richard. "This all a bit beneath you isn't it Thomas?" Thomas looked up at the sound of the welcomely familiar voice.
"Richard, what are you doing here? It's only just gone past lunchtime. Is anything wrong?" Thomas immediately felt himself feel better.
"Nothing wrong, I wanted to see you that's all. Left Chris in charge for an hour, but can't be long as he can't leave to grab himself some lunch until I get back," Richard said, leaning himself up against the edge of the big table that took up most of the small room, arms folded across his chest, his classic 'Richard Ellis style' grin looking down at Thomas who was sitting down.
"Am I really so irresistible that you can't go a few more hours without seeing me?" Thomas said back, a bit surprised at his own forwardness.
"Fishing for compliments Mr Barrow?" Richard said playfully. "You are addictive and I can't get enough of you. How's that?"
"Makes me feel a lot better thank you," Thomas said. "Been stuck in here for what feels like an unfair amount of time."
"Doesn't Mr Bates usually do these?" Richard asked, looking at the shoes on the table.
"He does but these don't belong to Lord Grantham. No, the visitor they had yesterday decided to stay the night and demanded a valet. Since I'm the only one qualified enough, it fell to me. Never got a chance to tell you last night," Thomas said.
"No you fell asleep before I even had the chance to wish you goodnight," Richard recalled.
"Anyway, he's leaving in a few hours so I can be rid of him. Unless he feels like he wants to change his mind once more. Honestly Richard he's such an entitled-"
"-Hey, leave it Thomas," Richard said, interrupting Thomas's rant and placing a hand on Thomas's shoulder. "I get it, I've dealt with too many of those in my life I can assure you.
"Thank you," Thomas said smiling up at him.
"I did come here to ask you something actually," Richard said.
"I knew it," Thomas said.
"Read me like a book Mr Barrow," Richard said. "I wanted to ask if you can make sure you are back home as soon as possible tonight. In other words, come home for tea and don't eat here please?"
"Richard, I would love too but I have been away from here too much in the evenings."
"What if I told you that it's part of a surprise?" Richard said.
"I'd still love too but if I don't spend time here in the evenings with the rest of the staff then they will forget that I am in charge!" Thomas said.
"Oh I don't think we will be able to forget that very easily Thomas," Mr Bates said walking into the room whilst holding a pair of riding boots. "Good afternoon Mr Ellis."
"That's Mr Barrow to you," Thomas said. Richard nodded in greeting to Mr Bates.
"Whatever you say," Mr Bates replied. His relationship with Thomas was a complicated one, they once hated each other but now they seemed to have found some common ground and were able to work well together without too many issues. "Don't worry about having trouble persuading him to do something, Mr Ellis. Thomas can be as stubborn as a mule sometimes, even when things are in his best interests."
"I won't be likened to a horse Mr Bates," Thomas said.
"Actually a mule is a mixture of donkey and horse, but I suppose that's just a technicality," Mr Bates said.
"I couldn't care less Mr Bates," Thomas said with an eye roll.
"Neither do I really," Mr Bates said.
"Then why say it?" Thomas asked.
"Just had to correct you that's all," Mr Bates said. Richard was observing this odd conversation between colleagues with amusement. "All I will say is that if anyone can persuade Thomas to do anything, it is Miss Baxter. He will listen to her," Mr Bates said to Richard.
"Look there is no need for that, I'll be back earlier Richard alright. I promise" Thomas said, the situation was a bit odd now, he was feeling frustrated but amused at the same time.
"Lovely! Perfect, well I'll see you later but not too late Mr Barrow," Richard said. Mr Bates saw the wink that Richard gave Thomas that Thomas tried to pretend not to see. "I should be getting back. Thanks for your help Mr Bates," he said with a smirk before leaving.
"Sorry that took so long Mr Webster," Richard said as he walked into the shop at around two that afternoon. They agreed between them months ago that when the shop was open and they were working that they should address each other by their surnames.
"Don't worry about it, Mr Moesely popped in when you were up at Downton. He was looking for a gift for a friend of his apparently," Chris said.
Richard reckoned he knew who that would be for. "Did he find something suitable?" Richard asked, picking up a box of books that were labelled as returns that was sitting on the counter top.
"He did, and he picked up a few for himself to keep him busy through the Christmas holidays," Chris said.
"Good. You should take a break now, I'll sort these out," Richard said referring to the box of returns.
"Thank you Mr Ellis. I'll be back in half an hour," Chris said, opening the door between the shop and the kitchen and office behind.
"Make it an hour, only fair after I kept you waiting," Richard said. "Oh actually, Chris can you wait a minute?" Richard put the box down again and pulled an envelope out of a draw in their little office/store room. "I was going to give this to you after closing tonight but since we will have a visitor arriving then, I may forget." Richard handed Chris an envelope.
"Wages? Bit heavier than usual," Chris said, taking the envelope.
"Well consider it a Christmas bonus or a Christmas present, whatever you like to make of it Chris," Richard said.
"I'll take it as both Richard, thank you," Chris said looking touched.
"We have done well these past few months and I think a lot of that is down to you. Honestly, you run this place better than I ever could, and since we have had a good few months of sales then it only seems fair that you should benefit more from that," Richard said.
"Sales are always higher around December Richard, always was the case in the place I worked at before," Chris said.
"Take the compliment Chris. I don't give them out for free you know," Richard joked.
"Very well. The success of this place is mainly down to me, how's that?" Chris said.
"Better, now go, but don't spend that in the pub. It deserves better than that," Richard said.
"Noted Richard," Chris said cheerfully before leaving. Chris's company had rather grown on Richard since they put the issues with Thomas back in the Autumn behind them and started working together. He liked having him around, though he may only be able to admit that to himself and not out loud to anyone else just yet.
Chris sat at the bar in the Grantham Arms, his second pint sitting on the counter in front of him. It was quiet as it was only the mid afternoon, it was just him, the bartender and an older man with a large grey beard sitting in the corner of the pub, his head in a newspaper. He was there most days, always in the same spot reading the paper, like he was a permanent feature of the pub. Chris had not ignored Richard's words, the money he had just spent on his drink was not from the bonus/gift that Richard had given him. The envelope was still unopened in the pocket inside his jacket. He could do with it what he liked of course, but he agreed that it deserved better than to be wasted away on beer. He couldn't be here too long though. It would give a pretty poor impression to everyone if he returned from lunch to the shop half drunk. He didn't get totally drunk these days as he preferred to have his wits intact. His friendship with Richard was a strange one. Strange because it was so unexpected as when they first crossed paths, he was pretty sure that Richard hated him. But despite the fact that he still had feelings for Thomas and that it was hard seeing them together, Chris valued the fact that for the first time, he had a life amongst people who he didn't have to pretend to be someone he wasn't while he was around them. Perhaps Richard felt the same way, maybe that is why they were making this situation work so well for the both of them. Chris's thoughts were interrupted by the door to the pub opening and a gust of wind momentarily cooling the cosy atmosphere of his surroundings. It had started to rain earlier just as he arrived and clearly by now, it had blown up into a bit of a storm. A man walked in wearing a long coat that was dripping wet on the floor leaving a bit of a trail behind him as he sat down heavily on a couple of seats down from Chris at the bar putting a suitcase down on the floor by his feet and then removing his hat which was also soaking wet. Clearly not from around here then, Chris thought as he observed the man. He seemed a bit out of breath, probably had been running to get out of the rain and was composing himself a bit before taking off his coat. After he had removed his coat, that had been hiding part of his face Chris could see the man more clearly. He was young. Not really young, perhaps seven or eight years younger than him. He had a handsome face, one that probably had turned the heads of many women, maybe men too, in its time. His hair, despite being darkened from being out in the rain, had a golden shine to it. Chris watched as a raindrop fell from a stray strand of hair above the man's right eye, falling onto his cheek and tracing a path down to the side of his mouth. He really did cut a fine figure and Chris reckoned the man knew it, as he was busy trying to smooth out his damped hair in the reflection of the bar counter top, before even ordering a drink. Chris only realised he had been watching him a bit too closely for his own good when the man turned to face him. Crap, Chris thought, expecting to get asked what his problem was or told to mind his own business, but instead and to Chris's surprise the man just simply said, "I know I should have taken this off by the door, bloody soaking it is, and I only came from the station, not that far really."
"Reckon no one will notice, it's not as if you have walked into the Ritz," Chris said. "No offence mate," he added to the barman at the other end of the bar. Chris had been in here enough times now to be considered a 'regular' so he was glad he could get away with saying that.
"Suppose you're right," the man said signalling to the barman and sliding a few coins across the counter top.
"Are you here on business?" Chris asked.
"No, I'm visiting a couple of people I know," he said.
"Family?" Chris asked. "Sorry, I'm asking too much. Don't expect you to pour out your life story to a random bloke like me. It's none of my business really."
"No it's fine. Don't really have much in the way of family. I'm visiting a few friends, one invited me up here. You know, for Christmas."
"Sort of thing people do at Christmas isn't it?" Chris said, a bit sadly, almost to himself. He technically had a family, but they wouldn't know him or want to. Not any more.
"I guess family is who you make it to be. Doesn't have to be who you are related to."
"Hmm, suppose you may have a point. You're a wise fellow," Chris said.
The chap smiled, his smile made him look a lot younger, a wave of golden hair that had begun to dry fell over his eye which he pushed back into place. "No one has called me that many times before, I don't think. So, you live around here? If you don't mind me asking."
"Yeah, not been here for long. Was in York before I came here, work nearby. My boss gave me a long lunch break," Chris said.
"You don't work up at the Abbey then? Don't exactly let their staff go and drink in the pub during lunch," he said.
"No, not sure I'd fit in up there, or be keen on the longer hours," Chris said, draining his glass and glancing at the clock.
"Well I used to work in service and I wouldn't blame you for that," he said seeing Chris look at the time. "You've got to go?"
"Yes. Better be off," Chris said, getting up leaving some money on the counter for his drinks. "I hope you have a good time visiting your friends."
"Thank you, goodbye" the man said as Chris left. It was only when Chris was outside that he thought about how he never found out the chap's name.
"They smell good," Chris said to Richard who had just returned with several parcels of fish and chips that he was planning on keeping warm in the oven until his visitor arrived later on.
"Not very festive I know but I didn't want to cook tonight," Richard said.
"Oh don't think that matters. As long as food tastes good, is the occasion they are meant for really that important?" Chris said.
"Not sure my previous employers would agree, or Thomas's for that matter, but I do," Richard said.
"I'll lock up in ten minutes shall I?" Chris asked through the door to the kitchen.
"Yes that will be fine," Richard said. "Hopefully Thomas will be able to get away and back here soon."
"Your guest, is he the surprise for Thomas?" Chris asked.
"He is. He's a good friend of his, they used to work together, but he moved away and he only got back in contact with him earlier this year. I wrote to invite him a few days ago," Richard explained. "Just going upstairs to put on something warmer. If he arrives can you let him in and call me? His name is Jimmy Kent."
"Of course," Chris said.
A few minutes passed and Chris was just about to fetch the keys to lock up the shop for the night when the bell above the door rang. "We're closing in a few minutes," Chris said, from below the counter as he was looking for the keys.
"Oh I know, I'm here to see Richard Ellis," the man said. Chris recognised the voice as the same one he had spoken too only a few hours earlier in the Grantham Arms. "Oh hello again," he said as Chris stood up.
"Hello," Chris said surprised. "Small world isn't it? Your friends you are visiting are Richard and Thomas, am I right?"
"Yes they are. You know Thomas too? Well I suppose you do since he lives here."
"I do. You must be Jimmy Kent then?"
"Yes, that's me," Jimmy said, holding out his hand.
"Chris Webster," Chris said, shaking his hand. "I work for Richard."
"Jimmy, good to see you. I hope you didn't get too wet in that rain earlier," Richard said coming into the shop.
"It was as though I got dunked in a pond Richard, Mr Webster can vouch for that," Jimmy said.
"Oh? Have you met?" Richard asked as Chris locked the shop door.
"Briefly yes, though neither of us thought to introduce ourselves so we didn't know it, we got talking in the Grantham Arms earlier," Jimmy said.
"Funny thing coincidence," Chris said. "I'll be off though, I'll let you two catch up," Chris said.
"Chris, you could stay if you like? As long as you don't mind going out and buying another portion of chips?" Richard offered.
"I don't want to be in the way," Chris said.
"You won't be," Richard said. "Thomas won't mind you being there."
Thomas was the reason why Chris wanted to stay but also the reason he wanted to go. "You don't mind extra company Mr Kent?" he asked Jimmy.
"No of course not, though you should call me Jimmy. Calling me Mr Kent makes me feel old," Jimmy said.
"Then I shall, thank you, I will just fetch another portion of fish and chips then before they shut," Chris said. "You can call me Chris. Mr Webster just reminds me of my father."
Thomas was relieved to see that Downton's guest, who he had been tied to all of the previous day and most of today, finally left in the late afternoon. He had been a little concerned that since the weather had taken a turn for the worst that his Lordship may have decided to stay another night, which would have made getting home early impossible. Luckily though Thomas managed to escape a few hours after sunset and got back home at around seven, which was early for someone in his position. He shook the worst of the rain off his overcoat hoping it would be dry by the morning and took off his shoes before heading upstairs. He had two desires right now: slippers and Richard, in no particular order. He opened the door into the living room upstairs to see Richard sitting on 'his side' of the sofa. Chris was also there, which surprised him. Thomas from his position near the door, didn't see who was sitting in the chair that had its back to the window. "Got away then?" Richard said as Thomas leaned over the back of the sofa and kissed Richard on the lips who had turned to face him.
Thomas immediately regretted kissing Richard right in front of Chris as he knew how it made him feel, but when he looked over to Chris, the look on his face was not sadness but worry and Thomas wondered why. He then looked over to the chair near the window and jumped when he saw who was sitting there. "Jimmy!" Thomas said, going a bit red.
"Hello Thomas, sorry I should have said something so you'd know I was here, I'm kind of hidden by the door when it's open," Jimmy said. Chris still looked worried but also confused as to why there hadn't been more of a fuss made when Thomas had kissed Richard.
"It's okay Chris, Jimmy is a friend, and he knows all about Richard and I," Thomas said.
"Oh I see. You are okay with it?" Chris asked Jimmy.
"Yeah, I mean it's a long story, but I am now," Jimmy said looking at Thomas as though asking permission to explain further. Thomas nodded sitting down next to Richard and being happy to find his slippers right next to the chair. "Basically I worked at Downton several years back with Thomas. He kissed me and I reacted badly."
"Bit of an understatement, you almost got me arrested," Thomas said, though not unkindly.
"Yeah and it's my biggest regret of my life how I behaved towards you. But Thomas then saved me from being beaten to a pulp by a group of thugs whilst I was too drunk to walk properly and we became friends. I got fired for being an idiot, and then came back earlier this year to see Thomas, when I promised to make more of an effort to stay in touch." Jimmy looked at Chris and had a sudden thought, "You are okay with their type too though right?"
"You could say that," Chris said. He could have been completely honest and it wasn't like he didn't feel like he could trust Jimmy, but they had only just met.
"Oh good, for a moment there I wondered if I'd have to sell everything I own to buy your silence," Jimmy said and although it was a joke, Chris thought it was touching how he was willing to do so.
"Do you have anything of value Jimmy?" Thomas asked, playing along.
"Um not really. Well I do have a piano now, it was second hand but might fetch something," Jimmy said.
"You play?" Chris asked.
"Yeah, it's what I do now and ever since I left service. I play all over the place, wherever they will have me, although I have a few regular spots at some clubs in London," Jimmy said, looking pleased with himself.
"Chris can dance rather well," Thomas said.
"Not so much anymore. I was in some bad company for a few years, and got this as a result," Chris said looking at his leg.
"I bet you Chris, you can still dance better than most," Thomas said.
"That is kind of you to say Thomas, but if that was a real bet then I think you would lose money," Chris said.
Richard's stomach rumbled, "Sorry," he said. "Maybe that is our cue to get the food out the oven. Can you help me bring it all upstairs Thomas?"
"Sure," Thomas said, getting up and following Richard out of the room and downstairs, leaving Chris and Jimmy in the living room. It could have been a bit awkward sitting in a room with a person you had only met a few hours before and hardly knew, but Jimmy liked Chris. He wondered if he had more in common with Thomas and Richard than just being a colleague and a friend but he figured that it wasn't his place to pry on that subject. If Chris wanted to say anything then it would be up to him completely.
"If you don't mind me asking, what did you do that was so idiotic that it got you dismissed from Downton?" Chris asked. "I wouldn't have thought that Thomas would dismiss you lightly."
Jimmy felt embarrassed by the memory, he couldn't figure out why he ever did it. "Thomas didn't. This happened years before he became butler, it was Mr Carson then, though it was Lord Grantham who was responsible for firing me I guess," Jimmy said. He paused and ran a hand through his hair. "I was caught in bed with one of the guests, a Lady who I used to work for who happened to be visiting Downton."
"Caught by Lord Grantham?" Chris asked. That confession answered Chris's question to what Jimmy's preferences were.
"Yes, couldn't have been worse could it?" Jimmy said.
"No, but I would have liked to have known why he would be walking into her room?" Chris said.
"Oh he had a legitimate reason. There was a fire in one of the bedrooms and he was waking everyone to get us all out when he discovered us. Thomas would have warned me but he was busy rescuing Lady Edith from her burning bedroom."
"Downton doesn't seem to have a dull day," Chris joked. "Thomas saved the woman's life?"
"Yeah, walked straight in there and got her out and raised the alarm," Jimmy said, he was proud of Thomas's actions that night, he never thought they gave him enough gratitude for his bravery. Jimmy also saw the admiration on Chris's face also. Admiration and something more. "He was keeping a look out for me you see, that's why he was up there."
"He would have risked his job being up there doing that for you," Chris said. "I'm surprised he would have been that stupid."
"He had no choice really. He did it because he was in love with me," Jimmy said. "I knew that and I took advantage of his good nature towards me. He was always protecting me, standing up for me. Kind of like having a guardian angel." Chris thought about how his situation with Thomas was similar to Thomas's situation with Jimmy back then. He would do anything for Thomas, he knew that and Thomas didn't need to ask, and he didn't mind either. He wants to make him happy. Maybe that made him a fool. "Mind you, I'd prefer to be Thomas's friend than his enemy any day. He's not someone to get on the wrong side of," Jimmy continued.
"No, Richard said a similar thing to me once," Chris said.
"What did I say to you?" Richard said coming into the living room followed by Thomas.
"Mmm smells good," Jimmy said.
"Hope you don't mind it's not something more fitting for the time of year," Richard said to Jimmy.
"No, this will do nicely," Jimmy said, not wasting any time in eating a few chips.
"I was telling Jimmy that you told me about how it is best to be on Thomas's good side rather than against him," Chris said, answering Richard's earlier question.
"You think that?" Thomas said to Richard.
"Mmm, I do," Richard said between mouthfuls.
"Well you have told me about how you were with people who crossed you."
"Well I hope I'm not like that now," Thomas said. "I've tried to change."
"And you have, but don't tell me that if they hired a tutor for Master George in a few years time who you didn't like that you wouldn't try to get rid of him, like you did with that nanny?" Jimmy said. "I think it's a good quality to be protective over people you care about and you are."
"Well I can't say, that would depend on what this tutor would be like," Thomas said. "But I suppose I wouldn't want someone bad influencing Master George."
"Exactly," Jimmy said.
"What happened with the nanny?" Richard asked.
"Have I never told you?" Thomas asked.
"You may have done, but I forget," Richard replied.
"There was a nanny called West I think," Jimmy said. "Thomas took a disliking to her."
"It was at first because of the way she spoke to me, I found her annoying and wanted her gone," Thomas said. "I told Lady Grantham that I suspected that she was no good. I didn't know for sure really, just wanted to get her into trouble. Turned out though that I was right, she had been mistreating Miss Sybbie, neglecting her, Lady Grantham caught her out and nanny West was dismissed."
"Then there was O'Brien," Jimmy said.
"Well she left of her own accord in the end," Thomas said.
"Who was she?" Chris asked.
"A witch that I once called a friend who decided to use what she knew about me against me. She persuaded Jimmy to press charges against me," Thomas said.
"And I was an idiot to fall for what she said," Jimmy said. "I still don't get why she changed her tune, it was very sudden."
"Something I had on her that would be worse than what she had on me," Thomas said. Her Ladyship's soap- he was glad he thought of it, just wished he thought of it sooner as it was the perfect weapon.
"What was that?" Richard asked.
"Something that will remain between me and her," Thomas said. "I need it that way. If that bitch ever came back then I could get rid of her again."
"So I think the message is clear then, don't mess with Thomas Barrow," Chris said, lightening the mood and causing Thomas to smile despite the memories that had been dug up.
"I like the Christmas tree," Jimmy said. "Never seen one so brightly decorated."
"We can't take the credit for that," Richard said. "The children from Downton decorated it."
"George and Sybbie were here?" Jimmy asked.
"Yes, Thomas arranged the whole thing. I can honestly say that it was the best surprise I have had in a long time," Richard said. Thomas gleamed and felt even happier when Richard took his hand.
"I never have known a household like Downton where the children love the staff like their own family," Jimmy said. Jimmy could easily imagine the scene. Thomas and Richard with a couple of children of their own. He knew it was impossible, and that was a great injustice as he reckoned that in another life they would have been wonderful parents.
"Are you having to travel back to London tomorrow Jimmy or can you stay another day?" Richard asked changing the subject.
"Tomorrow morning I'm afraid. I have a date with a band that I'm playing with tomorrow evening," Jimmy said. "But that is tomorrow, right now I can stay as long as you will have me."
"Well in that case I'd better fetch the whisky," Richard said. "Reckon I still have some good stuff hidden away somewhere..."
Note: Wow! Long chapter, didn't expect it to be this long but oh well!
I am curious to know what people's opinions are on the knowledge Thomas had of 'Her ladyship's soap' and O'Brien. How do people reckon that he found out about this? Let me know if you have any thoughts cause it's been bugging me for years!