PART FOUR

Author's Note: I just wanted to say thank you for all your support everyone on my made up back story for Baxter. In The London Season Thomas did make whatever he has on Baxter sound quite horrible, but I honestly don't want her to be a former prostitute or anything that I said. Because of the fact that I love her and we saw how Mr. Carson reacted when he found out about Ethel. Anyway, Ethel is mentioned in this chapter.

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes entered the Servant's Hall the next morning with Thomas. Two of them looked angry, the other looked particularly smug. Phyllis and Joseph were sitting next to one another. "Miss Baxter, Mr. Molesley," Mr. Carson said. "After breakfast, Mrs. Hughes and I need to have a word with the two of you, my pantry."

Phyllis and Joseph exchanged looks of horror. "Yes, Mr. Carson," they both said, suddenly turned off of their breakfasts, too worried to eat, especially with Mr. Barrow grinning from across the table. Once Mr. Carson finished eating, he and Mrs. Hughes stood, leaving the hall, Baxter and Molesley following at their heels. Carson shut the door, gesturing for Baxter and Molesley to sit after he sat down at his desk, Mrs. Hughes by his side.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Carson?" Phyllis asked. "Has Mr. Barrow told you something?"

"Yes, he has, and apparently, Mr. Molesley has been told as well," Mr. Carson said, looking at Phyllis.

"Is it about my past?" she asked nervously. That bastard, Joseph thought.

"It is," Mrs Hughes said. "And we're not judging you, everyone makes mistakes."

"Ethel made that mistake and we cast her off," Mr. Carson replied.

"Because it happened here, Mr. Carson," Mrs Hughes said, staring at him.

"That's true," he replied, looking back to Phyllis. "Is it true that you were once a prostitute?" Phyllis looked down and nodded.

"I couldn't stay at home anymore, my father was abusing me, physically, sexually, my mother was dead, likely by his hand and I had to get out. It's all behind me now," she cried, almost falling into Joseph's arms. He put his arm around her, protectively. He would protect her from anything and everything. Anything that threatened to hurt her, he would shield her from.

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes looked at her. "We didn't realize that you were being abused," Mrs. Hughes finally said, walking around the desk to touch Phyllis' arm.

"That certainly changes things," Mr. Carson said. "When you're ready, would you tell Mrs. Hughes and I exactly what happened? Because Mr. Barrow's version of the truth only discussed how you were a prostitute and you had a son."

"I'll tell you in a few minutes if you'd like," Phyllis replied. "I'll just calm down a little bit first."

"Alright, but only if you're ready," Mr. Carson said, Phyllis nodding. She took a deep breath and began telling them of her childhood, her adolescence, the baby, her former job as a maid where she had been raped by the Lord of the House, everything. Every so often, Mr. Carson would look at her sympathetically, toughing her shoulder lightly, as if trying to console her. Mrs. Hughes reacted similarly.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that," Mr. Carson said. "I really am. No one deserves that kind of life. But you're a good woman. Not many people who grew up in those circumstances can break away and have a chance at a good life. I'm proud of that. And that Lord who forced you, do you remember his name?"

"I do, why?" Phyllis asked.

"Well, I'm sure if I explained to his Lord-" Mr. Carson was cut off by Phyllis.

"NO," she screamed. "No, please no. I like it here. I like my job here. I don't want to have to leave."

"Lord Grantham wouldn't do anything like that," Mrs. Hughes said.

"I know, but what if he decides that I may be a corrupting influence?" she asked, her eyes filling with tears.

"He won't, he's quite protective of his staff. He may know this lord, and he'd certainly have a talk with the man about propriety," Mr. Carson said. "The indecency of forcing one of your maids to bed with you is atrocious."

"I can tell Lord Grantham in my own time," Phyllis requested. "I trust him, and that's why I must be the one to inform him."

"If you wish," Mr. Carson said. "You may both go. And could you ask Mr. Barrow to come here for a moment?"

"Yes, Mr. Carson," Joseph replied, leading Phyllis out. "Mr. Barrow, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes need to have a word with you."

"Alright," he said, noticing that Phyllis was in tears.

A little while later, Mr. Barrow came out of Mr. Carson's pantry and left straight away for a cigarette. When he came back, he cornered Phyllis and Joseph who were standing and talking to one another.

"I hope you know you got me in trouble for not telling the entire story to Mr. Carson," he said. "I can ruin you, Miss Baxter, don't cross me."

"Back off," Joseph said, coming to Phyllis' defence again. "And stop bullying people just because you're bigger than they are and because you can."

"Fine, I'll deal with the two of you later," he said, walking off.