The wind was starting to pick up again, and the snow starting to fall heavily again when Thomas and Richard made it back to Downton, just as the light was starting to fade from the sky in the late afternoon. They burst through the back door, laughing as the snow clung to their coats and shoes, faces red from the wind and the cold. Richard was able to shake the worst of it off his coat and his massive multicoloured scarf. Thomas however, thanks to his misadventures on the frozen pond was a bit worse off, snow clinging to the front of him from when he fell across the ice. "Well Thomas you must be the most untidy butler I have ever come across," Richard said, with mock criticism, whilst brushing the snow off his coat.
"I'm not the only one though am I? Your scarf is soaking, what will your mother say?" Thomas replied, trying to make himself look a little more presentable, and most likely failing.
"Now you make me sound like I'm seven years old or something." Thomas just laughed at that. Richard stepped a little closer towards him, brushing the snow from Thomas' shoulders and hair, before resting his hands on Thomas' shoulder again. Thomas shivered, though whether it was from the cold or Richard's touch, he wasn't certain, as he smiled into Richard's eyes.
"My goodness! Look at the state of you two!" Mrs Hughes said, seeing the two men standing near the door. "Give those coats of yours here, I'll get them dried off."
"Good to see you again Mrs Hughes," Richard said, whilst handing over his coat and scarf.
"Anna was hoping you would be able to pop in to visit. Go into the kitchen and get Daisy to make you two a cup of tea, to warm you through." Mr Hughes said, as the three of them walked down the hallway. "This is a very impressive scarf Richard."
Thomas chuckled at that, "Yes it was a gift from my mother for christmas," Richard said, smiling back at Thomas, thinking about how he'd joked about the same thing earlier that afternoon. Mrs Hughes, practically herded them in the direction of the kitchens to warm up, before taking their coats off to be dried. "She is very motherly towards you, I've noticed." Richard said to Thomas.
"I suppose she is, isn't she? It's nice really," Thomas said simply, lost in a private thought for a moment.
...
Later on that evening, Richard was still sitting at the table with Thomas and the others, after staying for dinner. Thomas was beginning to realise that Richard enjoyed talking, rather a lot. Thomas wasn't able to get a word in sideways most of the time, during dinner. He wasn't too bothered by that though, he'd never been one for making conversation. Besides, he enjoyed watching how everyone was enjoying Richard's company. He made them laugh by the stories from his many trips around the country and indeed the world, that he had taken as valet to the King. He was a good storyteller and entertainer, though Thomas knew that from the very first day they met, after playing that prank on the royal footmen.
"So what were you and Thomas doing this afternoon to get so covered in snow?" Daisy asked suddenly, not holding back as usual. Thomas smirked, at what some of the people around the table might have instantly thought at that question.
Richard of course, remained composed as he answered. "Ice skating. I attempted to teach your butler how to ice skate." This answer was met with a few gasps and giggles, and everyone turned to look at Thomas at that moment, who was feeling himself going more and more red by the second, and not from the cold this time. Richard looked towards Thomas too, but was asking him with a look, if he could continue the story. Thomas smiled back, so Richard continued. "When I was at my parents house yesterday, I came across a couple of pairs of ice skates of mine. I found them at a market in London several years back. I used to skate on a pond when I was a child, not very good I warn you but enough to be able to skate without falling over too often." Richard paused and smiled at Thomas for a moment, thinking about their time on that pond this afternoon. It was very hard to put the thoughts of his hands on Thomas' hips, and the way that Thomas had leaned back into him, as they stood close together on the ice earlier that afternoon, out of his mind. "Thomas on the other hand, wasn't so fortunate. He did okay to begin with, but then lost his balance and fell flat on his face, and skid right across the pond to the edge!" Once again, Richard's storytelling made everyone at the table laugh, and Thomas found himself laughing with them, in spite of himself being the subject of the joke. The old Thomas, years ago, would already be plotting ways to get back at Richard for making him appear a fool, but not anymore.
"I only slipped and fell, because you let go of me," Thomas said. "Richard you see, might be a bit of a show off at times. Thought he'd try skating backwards, and didn't give me any warning beforehand."
"I managed to though, didn't I?" Richard replied.
"Yes, though you wobbled."
"Not as much as you did before you fell. It was like watching a lamb take its first steps," Richard replied, everyone else finding this mock argument between Mr Ellis and their butler rather amusing. Thomas responded by leaning over and shoving Richard playfully. This was turning out to be one of the best evenings Thomas has had in a long while.
...
"The snow is still falling, rather heavily. I doubt you'll be able to get back to York this evening, Mr Ellis," Mr Bates said. It was getting towards late evening, by normal standards the last bus to York would be leaving soon.
"I wasn't planning on going back there tonight, I was gonna stay in the village somewhere," Richard replied.
Mrs Hughes came back into the servants hall, "I just checked on your coats and they are a lot drier than before. However, we can't send you out in weather like this, even if it's just down to the village. When are you due back in London?"
"Not until January 2nd, I was lucky to get a decent amount of time off this year," Richard replied.
"Well, in that case why don't you stay here for the next few days? We have several of the men's rooms that aren't really used anymore, so we have the room." Thomas was rather surprised by this, and looked at Richard for a response.
"I wouldn't like to be in the way at all. You must be very busy this time of year," he said.
"Nonsense, you entertained us all this evening with all your stories of your adventures, it's the least we could do. Besides, this year the new year celebrations promise to be extra special. Lord Grantham has apparently arranged for some fireworks to be let off on the countdown to the new year at midnight on new year's eve," Mrs Hughes, paused and looked at Thomas. "Of course, though it is up to Mr Barrow really."
Thomas paused for a moment, wondering if this was a good idea, having Richard sleeping underneath the same roof as him and everyone else. However, he wanted as much time as possible with Richard, so decided to throw caution to the wind. "I think that we would all enjoy your company over the new year Richard."
"Then I will accept your kind invitation Mrs Hughes," Richard said, all the while not able to take his eyes off Thomas. When she left the room again, Thomas took Richard's hand in his underneath the table. This might just be the best post-christmas season he's ever had.