The morning was hectic. All available servants were to help load up the coaches for the family trip to Scottland. Thomas couldn't believe it had already been a year since Mr. Crawley's death, and his and Jimmy's friendship. He was glad of it. He helped Jimmy and Alfred load up the last bit of luggage.
"I don't understand it," Jimmy muttered, "What do they need to go on vacation for, waking up at eleven?"
Both Alfred and Thomas chuckled at the remark.
Mr. Carson and Thomas stood by the entrance to see the family off. Once they were far from sight, they turned around and walked inside. Thomas walked down to the servants hall, to see Jimmy reading the paper, and Alfred talking some nonsence about Ivy. Thomas sat next to Jimmy as he pulled out a cigarrete.
"They like that kind of thing, do they," Alfred asked. Thomas looked at him.
"Who likes what," he asked as he lit. Jimmy chuckled.
"Alfred plans to bake Ivy a cupcake and sneak it into her room," Jimmy explained.
Thomas raised his eyebrows and looked at Alfred.
"You plan to decorate it with an "A + I" inside of a little heart?"
"No," Alfred said, " I have a poem I want to give to her."
"Ah, a poem," Thomas said, "Yes that should really win over her heart."
"You really think so," Alfed asked, completly oblivious to the sarcasm. Thomas shrugged as he exhaled a ball of smoke.
"That settles it," Afred said as he stood up, "I'm doing it." He quickly left the hall and ran into the kitchen. Jimmy put the paper down and put hand over his mouth. Thomas watched as his face turned red from a laugh he was trying hard to fight. Suddenly Thomas heard heavy footsteps run up the stairs. He turned around and saw Alfred dashing up them with a piece of paper in one hand and a chocolate cupcake in the other. His eyes flashed wide as he quickly turned to Jimmy.
"He already had it made," Thomas exclamed. Jimmy nodded then slammed his forhead onto the table and let out a high-pitched laugh. Thomas smiled and shook his head as he smoked.
"That boy never ceeses to amaze me."
Once Jimmy's manic laughter had subsided, Thomas pulled out a hankerchief.
"Here," Thomas said chuckling, "wipe your face."
Jimmy sat up completly red as tears fell from his eyes. Jimmy continued to giggle as he wiped the tears from his face.
Beautiful laugh.
Jimmy handed the hankerchief to Thomas while he still continued to giggle.
"Oh Lord, " he said, "I've never in my life seen a man so desperate for a woman. It'll be hard to tell who wears the trousers in that relationship if they do wear them.
Thomas chuckled and nodded.
Jimmy pulled out his new box of cards and took a deep breath.
"You up for a game," he asked, "I owe you for one."
Thomas shook his head.
"Actually I had something to ask you."
Jimmy looked up at him as he shuffled his cards.
"I might be able to go into town today and so I was thinking about," he looked around and began to whisper, "taking your stone to the jewler and maybe get an estimate or at least tell us what it is."
Jimmy looked away.
"Are you sure," he asked. Thomas nodded.
"Jimmy," he said, "What ever that thing is, it just doesn't feel right to me. I really think we need to get rid of it as soon as possible. I'm afraid that it could be dangerous to have something like this."
JImmy looked down at his cards.
"Maybe if I come with you," he said," if he'll let us."
Thomas nodded.
"I'll go ask Mrs. Patmore if there is anything she needs and maybe she'll have a big enough load for us two. I'm sure I can talk Mr. Carson into it."
Jimmy nodded slowely in agreement and Thomas knew more than anything that they needed to get rid of it, if Jimmy could even part with it.