"I am in your employ," Bates reminds His Lordship, it's not up to the earl to have to make allowances for servants. Lord Grantham is taking another trip to town without him because he doesn't wish to part Bates from his new wife. Bates appreciates his consideration but it's unnecessary.
"It's quite alright Bates," His Lordship dismisses, "Barrow doesn't mind." No, of course he wouldn't be put out by a trip to London. Plenty of mischief to be had there.
"Do you even need a valet? It's only a meeting with your agent." It's presumptuous to question his employer but Bates knows he can get away with more than most because of their shared history. Military service tends to bind men together in an unbreakable way.
"Don't fight me on this Bates. The decision is made."
"Yes, My Lord." Bates isn't even sure why he feels the need to argue. It's probably just his unshakable distrust of the cunning and self-serving under-butler.
xxx
"Papa!" It's Edith calling to him. Robert halts his stride and turns to his daughter. "Mama mentioned you're heading to London, I find myself heading in that direction too. I thought we might ride the train together?" Robert hesitates a moment and is ashamed when it causes her smile to falter.
"That would be lovely Edith dear," he tells her. It's not that he doesn't want her company it's just that he hadn't planned on it. He'd thought he might use the train journey to learn more about his new companion but that, he supposes, can wait. In just a few days they will have all the time they desire.
xxx
Downstairs Thomas tends to his duties with an added spring in his step. London with His Lordship in a few days time. Just the two of them. No prying eyes. No threat of discovery the entire night long. No misunderstood intentions between them now.
Thomas can't remember the last time he was in such a good mood. It takes another member of staff to remind him that he's playing a dangerous game here.
"You're in a rather chirpy mood Mr Barrow," Anna dares to point out.
"I am?" he says, feigning innocence and wondering what gave him away. He's usually very careful to conceal his true thoughts but his current euphoria obviously has him less attentive to the task than usual. He needs to rectify that.
"Yes. I almost didn't recognise you with that smile. It's quite nice actually," she teases, clearly under the impression that his good humour will stretch to include her but she's mistaken.
"I'll try not to let it happen again," he says spitefully, twisting the smile into something that contains much more malice and much less cheer. Something which is far more like his usual self. He doesn't want his elation to show too outwardly; clearly it's already begun to draw attention and in time is bound to draw suspicion too.
"Oh wait," she says, her spirits sufficiently dampened, "I can plainly see it's you now."
He watches with satisfaction as she sulks off down the corridor but the feeling quickly subsides, leaving him with the sobering thought that as always, the things that make him happy are the ones that aren't supposed to, and with the knowledge that no matter what he does, things will always be wrong.