The atmosphere at the table was calm and relaxed, but all he could think about was the tension he had created the previous evening between himself and Thomas. The feeling of regret for over stepping his boundaries and causing anger was festering deep within his stomach, causing him to feel sick with the panic of how to resolve the upset he had caused.

Was there even a resolution to the problem? Yes, he could try and beg for forgiveness, and he was likely to be given it eventually, but Jimmy couldn't help but think that would only make the situation slightly more bearable. Thomas would still be unpredictable, and oddly behaved, even if he did shape up his behaviour. Not that he shouldn't try to be nice to Thomas, because God knows rubbing Thomas up the wrong way wouldn't help anything. But in reality, he had to admit, turning a blind eye, and giving a pleasant smile wouldn't fix the issue or make it go away. All he would be doing is sweeping it under the rug, and waiting for it to creep out and rear its ugly head at a later date.

But maybe that's for the best? Maybe he just needs some time and whatever it is will fix itself independently, with no input on my part, therefore not damaging our relationship.

Then again, not giving input could be what destroys our relationship.

I've spent to long not knowing who I am to break away from contact with the one person who answered my questions and helped me to understand what it means to love.

Looking down the table he noted the empty chair of Thomas' seat. Life seemed to continue oblivious to the fact that he was missing, when normally Carson would knot his eyebrows together at the first sign of change in the household. Moments later the rest of the staff filed into their seats, and although it wasn't quite late enough to say Thomas wasn't turning up, he was almost always the first one down. He would be groggy from the early mornings, but still punctual and on time.

The breakfast began moments later. Jimmy was tempted to throw the question out into the crowd and ask a general enquiry to Thomas' absents, but decided it best he not seem overly interested, especially with Carson in the room, and him hoping to probe him for details later.

Just as he was thinking about his cover story, whatever it was going to be, (he hadn't quite decided yet), daisy walked in with a plate of toast.

"Ay, where's Mr Barrow this mornin'? He ain't usually late. Not like him to miss breakfast!" Daisy squeaked inquisitively with her usual innocent tone of mild interest.

Well, that was useful?

Looking up from his tea, Carson pulled a face of astonishment, like she had just admitted to converting Catholic, and having sex with the pope on the very table they were eating off.

Oh, maybe not then. Way to go and anger Carson when I need to question him! Now it will look like I'm just mindlessly preying for a bit of gossip!

"I don't believe that is any of your concern Daisy, nor anyone else's for that matter. I will do the questioning around here"

And with that he returned to his drink as Daisy scurried off back into the kitchen.

The meal continued to go on with neither hitch, nor question, leaving Jimmy to think of an excuse in peace.

I need to know where Mr Barrow went because…

…Because I'm curious

…Because I'm sleeping with him I deserve to know

…Because we're secretly…related, and I'm just trying to look out to him.

Jimmy let out a quiet snigger under his breath as he imagined Carson's response if he where to couple the latter statement along with a confession of engaging in physical activity with Thomas.

'Thomas is my long lost brother and we're sleeping together! Tell me where he went'

He'd probably faint.

"Jimmy?" Anna questioned from a little way up the table, a concerned frown plastering itself over her face.

"Hm?" Jimmy looked up breaking himself away from the growing bizarreness of his thoughts

"Yes Anna?"

Oh Christ! Everyone's looking at me! Act normal!

"You laughed; I was just wondering what was so funny…" She replied, making it clear with her tone and expression that the question was not rhetorical.

Losing himself for a moment he began to answer, the words slipping past his mouth before he realised what he was saying.

"Oh! I was just thinking about Thomas-"

Bollocks!

Her eyes widened with surprise. Along with everyone else's for that matter.

"Excuse me?" Anna and Mr Carson said almost simultaneously.

Jimmy felt his skin burn up and his face flush red with nerves.

"I was just thinking…about Thomas'…"

Oh dear this is NOT sounding good so far…

What could I be thinking about?

I was just thinking about his…

Lovely body?

Nice arse?

His…nakedness?

[More innocent!]

Um his cheeky smile when he wakes up next to me in the morning?

"-morning hair. I was thinking about his hair when he wakes up! It's frightfully funny…"

Their expressions stayed frozen blank, forcing Jimmy to feel the need to expand, to make his excuse sound more believable.

"-His erh…hair sticks up in the morning, and it's kind of funny…and I was just thinking about it…since…he isn't here and I was thinking about him not being here and erh yea…" Jimmy trailed of nervously, chucking in a few awkward Mosley-style laughs to fill the huge void of silence he had just created.

Maybe their all imagining Thomas' weird hair and that's why their all sitting there like pillars of salt?

"And how do you know what Thomas' hair looks like in the morning since you don't share a room?" Carson bellowed from the other end of the table.

Then again, maybe not. I hadn't quite anticipated that question somehow...

"Because…I went into his room one morning to ask for some help…mending…something." Jimmy replied meekly, hoping that was an appropriate enough answer.

Turns out it was, and the meal, yet again, went on seamlessly, with no embarrassing stories about Thomas' hair.

It was late afternoon, and Thomas was still no where to be seen. With his heart pounding in his chest, he walked apprehensively down the corridor to Mr Carson's Pantry. Knocking softly on the door, he awaited an answer.

When summoned inside, the surprise of seeing Jimmy was evident on Mr Carson's face, as he looked up at him unexpectedly, putting down the papers he was holding.

"And what can I do for you Mr Kent? Have you come to regale me of more stories related to Thomas' hair?" He asked, amusement playing in his stern voice, suppressing the urge to smirk at the earlier events of the day.

Rude. How dare he laugh at my expense!

"eh no Mr Carson" Jimmy replied, fighting of the blush seeping through his skin. "But it is related to Thomas, just not his hair"

Mr Carson looked somewhat bewildered at the unforeseen comment, and sat staring at Jimmy as he waited for him to speak.

"I actually came because…"

In all honesty Jimmy hadn't actually thought of a reason yet, but as his earlier attempts at improvising didn't go too badly, he thought he'd try his is luck again.

"well, the thing is I'm worried about Thomas…he agreed to help me with some um mending yesterday morning-that's when I saw his hair!- and well he didn't come to help me-"

Jimmy looked at his shoes, tracing one foot along the ground, and doing his best to play the part of concerned friend, hoping he wasn't coming off as overly melodramatic.

"-and you see, this isn't the first time he's disappeared and not helped me."

Jimmy concluded, looking up to meet Carson's eye.

To cut along story short, he basically said bugger off it's none of your concern, and that he gave him permission to go out. Fat lot a use he was.

Just as Jimmy was moping away from the office, about to go into the servant's hall, and wash his sorrows away with a strong cup tea, for lack of anything stronger, he saw Thomas turn the corner ahead and sweep up the stairs hurriedly, clutching a piece of paper in his hands.