Sure enough, Thomas got up and ate with the others, and then Carson had him scrub the dishes shortly after. Dressed in an apron with he sleeves rolled to his elbows, his hands sloshed around in the hot soapy water. He scrubbed away at the pots and pans with a palm full of steel wool. Daisy continued this train by drying.
Mid-hotflash he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a dry part of his forearm. "The water's not that hot." Daisy laughed. "Do you want me to take over?" She followed up, seeing how worked up Thomas had gotten. "Here let's swap."
Hands in the hot water and his body raging with an unpleasant heat made him light headed. "Thank you, Daisy." He passed over the wool and in a mutual exchange Daisy handed him the towel. Being out of the water lowered his body temperature by a few degrees but he still remained far too warm. He undid his apron and removed his vest jumper before carrying on.
"Haven't seen you for a while. Everything alright?" She asked.
"Fine, nothing to worry about." He reassured.
"Good, 'cause me and the others were worried." She smiled. "I don't want to be rude or anything, but are you sure you're not having twins? Thing is, when my sister had her baby, she wasn't that big and there's no proper way to tell these things. I saw in the paper last week a woman had four babies and had no idea until she gave birth." Perhaps she felt too comfortable to blabber, but Thomas didn't mind. It was her usual nature and he was sure glad to see that back.
Thomas laughed, "You know Daisy, it's a reoccurring nightmare of mine." So far Dr Clarkson had only heard one heartbeat, and he himself has only felt one set of feet battering his ribcage. Thomas was sure that he'd struggle looking after one, let alone two or more.
"I don't know, you're going to be a great father, I just know it." For as long as she could remember, she'd had the biggest crush on Thomas. When she found out that he was gay that quickly changed, and she fell for the next handsome face. She saw in Thomas, what nobody else really did, she thought he was brave, thoughtful, and romantic.
"That means a lot," He wasn't mother material, that he knew. A deep cynic, spiteful, and somewhat of a loner – traits not suited to raising a child. If it wasn't for the amazing people surrounding him, the child would be doomed.
"How grand would it be if the baby were a girl?" She cooed, picturing herself squeezing a chubby lump of a tot between her arms. The child would be gorgeous.
"Not grand. Daisy, I don't know the first thing about girls." He had sisters, most younger than himself, and by the time they were old enough to get to know, he was heading off to start a life at Downton. No doubt they'd all go mental over the idea of Thomas baring them a niece, but he wasn't quite sure when he'd work up the courage to tell them. If he would at all.
"Girls are amazing, I'll help if you want." Daisy replied enthusiastically. "Anna will too of course. Imagine that, raising somebody to be as kind as that."
"Why thank you, Daisy." Anna strode in conveniently.
"It's only the truth." Daisy exclaimed.
"Nice to see you up and about, feeling better?" She rubbed Thomas' arm softly.
"Thanks to you." Thomas said with appreciation. He could only assume that it would have taken him far longer to break out of his depressive episode all by himself. All the while putting his body and the baby under considerable stress. He knew now, that above all else, his wellbeing was of fundamental important.
Later on that night, Anna and Bates returned to their matrimonial home. This would be for the last time for a while. They packed their bags and headed back to the house.
Mrs Hughes was doing a final inspection of the pantry and the kitchen before going to bed. She double checked the locks on the doors and that nothing of value had been left out. She jumped in her spot upon hearing the backdoor bell chiming. By her count all those that lived in the house were accounted for, and it'd be incredibly strange for a visitor to drop by at this late hour. She thought twice before opening the door, "it's you two!"
"Sorry for coming back so late." Anna apologised. They weren't expecting to stay so long at home, and made every effort to return to the house before the doors were locked. Mr Bates carried two bags through the door and dumped them on the floor.
"You two have your own home now, you don't need to stop by." Mrs Hughes replied sarcastically gesturing at the bags.
"The hot water is gone. We won't be able to get it fixed until we can call someone out until Monday." Anna lied. "So, if it's alright with you, we could stay for a few nights?"
"Of course. You'll have to abide by the rules of the house and sleep separately." Mrs Hughes was somewhat suspicious. Anna knew how to boil water to wash, she had been doing so for many years. Still, she didn't question their intentions. "Your bedrooms have been made up. Mr Bates, you'll have to catch up with Mr Carson, he's on his way to the gents corridor."
Seemingly just in time, this way Bates could affirm that the door was definitely locked tight before going to bed. Whilst he didn't want to believe that Carson would forget to, it couldn't have hurt to check, just encase.
"Mr Bates, what do I owe the pleasure?" Carson asked, seconds away from locking the door.
"We have no hot water at the house, Anna and I will be staying here until it's fixed. Assuming that it's okay with you?" Carson raised a brow, he could hardly say no considering the man was standing at his feet with his suitcases in hand.
"Of course, now, please go and get settled." Carson nudged, holding open the door.
"Good night, Mr Carson." Bates greeted as he stopped outside his bedroom. Carson simply smiled in acknowledgment before taking his leave.
Thomas, hearing the voices from outside of the door peeked out noisily. "Bates? I'd have thought not even an earthquake would pull you away from your new marital home." He joked, only knowing too well how eager the couple had been to live with one another.
"No hot water." Was Bates only response to Thomas' innuendo. Bates smiled before entering his room. Thomas hardly believed the excuse, but had little reason to think any differently. So he too retreated back into his room.
It was just gone half past twelve when he'd heard it, footsteps on the landing, soft and barely audible to anybody not purposefully listening. The footfalls were followed by a rattling of the door at the end of
the hall, the person on the other side growing frustrated by somebody's due diligence. Mr Bates heard a
weary sigh. The footsteps then grew further away. The Perpetrator had been defeated for now.
Matthew and Mary were having a hard time settling in, Matthew had arrived up late for bed, after a seemingly unsuccessful attempt to see Thomas. All he'd wanted to do was stop by and give the man a gift, something that he'd acquired in London, a token to display his appreciation for carrying their child. Mary had already gotten undressed and was sitting in bed waiting for her husband to retire for the night. Reading kept her company until eventually Matthew crept into the room.
"Oh, you're awake." Matthew smiled. His demeanour went from sleuth to loving husband.
"I am." She put her book down. "I'm not sure that I would have been for much longer."
"I'm sorry, I couldn't pull away from your father." Matthew lied. He began to undress, putting his jacket and waistcoat on a hanger and filled them away in the wardrobe. He made his way over to his wife, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I've missed you."
"We were only apart for three days." Mary grinned.
"Is it not possible to miss the person I love from the moment they aren't by my side?" Mary blushed, her husband was such a romantic. Matthew stroked away the hair on her cheek to cup it with his hand. He pulled her in close for a loving smooch. "Have you not missed me?" He whispered.
"Perhaps." She replied coyly. He kissed her again, knowing that she was far from the affectionate type. "Please, not tonight. I'm tired." She held his hand and avoided his lips. "It's rather late."
"Are you feeling okay?" He asked, "there's nothing wrong?"
"No, I'm just tired. Perhaps tomorrow?" She smiled through her husband's disheartened face.
"I have some indigestion, I'm going to take a walk." He stood up off of the bed. He felt as though his wife was avoiding him, that she had something to tell him but wouldn't. It upset him, but he loved her regardless. So he kissed the top of her head, "please, go to sleep. I won't be long." He smiled.
"Hurry back." She replied.
Matthew grabbed his dressing gown from the hook on the back of the door on his way out. In the pocket he stashed the gift, hiding it encase he were to run into anybody on route. The entire way to the service corridor he held on tightly to this gift, anticipating the reaction as soon as it could he handed sleep. He wanted to try his luck, once more. Perhaps Carson's office door had been left unlocked and the set of keys were somewhere obvious. He had to try.
Upon arrival, he reached for the handle, he jiggled and bumped the door expecting it to he open. With no light under the door he knew that Carson had not been as neglectful this time round. He returned to his bedroom, frustrated. "You're back?" Mary murmured half asleep.
"I am, stay asleep." He whispered.
"Are you feeling better?" She asked.
"Not quite." He replied. Matthew stripped off and into some pyjamas before slipping under the duvet. Mary nestled in closely, draping an arm over her husband's torso.
"You'll feel better in the morning." She yawned.
All Matthew did that night was scheme. Cogs turning, synapses spiralling, planning how he would do better tomorrow. Determined to steal the key sometime before lights out, sneak up into the service corridor and unlock the door. Tonight night have been a waste of time, but this frustration only transferred into willingness.