Ragtime in America Part II
When they changed trains the following morning, Thomas and Phyllis silently worked to ensure that all the cases were transferred. Phyllis had spent the entire journey, thus far, trying to ignore Thomas. How she wished someone that could support her was there, like Mr Molesley. She wanted to avoid Thomas, but at the same time, couldn't let him have any indication that his taunts and threats were bothering her.
She was ashamed of her past, but one day she would tell Lady Grantham the truth, she just didn't want Thomas to push her to that point in time.
Cora looked at Baxter and Barrow, furrowing her brow when she saw how withdrawn her maid looked from Barrow. He had been the one to put her name forward for this job, but now they looked as though there was nothing except bad blood between them.
"Robert, remind me to talk to Baxter later," she said quietly, not wanting anyone around them to hear her.
"About what darling?" he asked, looking at their servants and furrowing his own brow, much like Cora had done with hers. "Is something wrong between her and Barrow?"
"That's what I want to ask her. Don't mention it to Barrow though," she replied, "I don't want him interfering."
Robert nodded lightly and they boarded the train. The journey to Liverpool was uneventful, both Robert and Cora reading the entire journey. When they got to the ship, they agreed that it would be the second evening that they would each have a discussion with their servants without trying to alarm either of them.
Their first night on the ship was uneventful, the two of them too tired to make love that night. They briefly discussed what they would be asking Baxter and Barrow.
Once everything was settled, the couple went to bed, and quickly fell into a sound sleep in each others arms.
The following morning, they awoke; Robert waking before his wife as usual.
"Good morning darling," he whispered when her eyes opened.
Cora smiled lightly. "Good morning Robert," she whispered, "how did you sleep?"
"I slept well, despite the rocking of the boat, but there's nothing I could have done about that. I never did like sleeping on ships. We won't be sleeping on still ground for about a week," he said, shuddering lightly.
"Yes, I know. I'm still sorry that you need to go all the way to America to clean up my brother's mess," she replied, trying to smile at that. They had time alone together, but not in the way that they would have liked.
"Cora, I would do anything for your family. Your brother is my brother, and to turn my back on him would be like turning my back on Rosamund or, when he was still alive, Marmaduke." "You're a man of familial duty; you always have been," Cora whispered, pressing a gentle and loving kiss to Robert's lips. "It's one of the many reasons that I love you."
Robert smiled and sealed their lips together again, this time for a real kiss.
Half an hour later, Thomas and Miss Baxter brought them their breakfasts before leaving the two of them to eat.
they ate their toast and fruits and drank their tea before their servants returned to dress them.
Baxter looked slightly happier than she had been the day before. Cora decided that it might be okay to ask a couple questions now, as she was more curious for answers than she had been before.
"How are you this morning Baxter?" she asked as she removed her nightgown, passing it to Phyllis.
"I'm doing fine milady. What about yourself?" she asked in reply.
"I'm doing well. You seem much happier than you did yesterday," she commented.
The maid nodded and smiled after a brief hesitation. "Mr Molesley slipped a note into my case and I found it last night. I read it before going to bed and it cheered me up. He was telling me to enjoy my time in America."
Cora smiled lightly. "That was nice of him, are you getting along with him and the other servants?"
Phyllis' smile dropped, but she quickly put it back on her face with the briefest of hesitations. She nodded again. "They're very nice, and I think we're getting used to each other. Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes are very kind. Daisy & Mr Molesley are already allies. Mr Bates and Anna are kind, but they might soon be allies as well, depending on how things turn out. A current ally of mine may be making things slightly difficult in that department."
Cora's brow furrowed when she had nothing to say of Thomas, Ivy, and Jimmy. She decided to make no comment of it yet, as she wanted to decide how to ask in order to get a good answer. "Well, it seems like you're fitting in very well. And the others will surely come around to you in time," she said, smiling at her maid.
Baxter returned her smile and began dressing her employer.
Thomas helped Robert put his shirt on and Robert decided to strike. "So, Barrow, how do you think Baxter is adjusting to her place at Downton?" he asked.
Thomas smiled lightly. "She's a good maid, she tries her best to please Lady Grantham, and I'm sure that this trip will be a good test for her, to see how she adapts. I'm glad that she's doing well, as I recommended her for the post."
Robert nodded and ceased speaking, unsure of what to make of Thomas' words.
Once Robert and Cora were dressed and reunited, they ensured Thomas and Baxter knew what they needed to do during the day while they were onboard the ship, and neither servant had travelled across the Atlantic with them.
They enjoyed some liesure time throughout the day with nothing major to attend to, except for spending time with a few friends who were also making the journey across the Atlantic. Robert read and Cora worked on her embroidery, whilst Baxter and Thomas went about the duties they were told to perform, which were almost the same as those at Downton, with the addition of ensuring the cargo hold had everything of their's secured.
Cora spent the day also thinking about how to solve the issue between Baxter and Barrow, after comparing what they had discussed. It had been a long time since hse had visited New York, and though she loved London, she couldn't wait to see her old home again, no matter the circumstances. She didn't want tension in the household to disrupt her time, as it would be disrupted enough by her brother's trial.
END OF PART II