A/N: Guys, thank you so much for your lovely reviews! I was a bit frightened of writing Mr Bates but I am glad you thought he was (mostly) in character. Today it's someone's turn whose temperament is largely unknown still - I expect we'll learn more about him this coming series. Please let me know what you think!
Half an hour ago he stood in the corner of the Library, waiting to be told to pour more brandy when he accidentally dropped a cheese puff and now here he is, polishing crystal. Most likely he's not even half done yet. It's really quiet downstairs. Lady Mary and his Lordship have gone up, so both Anna and Mr Bates have gone home and Miss Baxter said goodnight to Mr Molesley about five minutes after he'd come down from clearing away the dirty glasses and ashtrays.
There's only the rumble of Mr Carson's voice coming from Mrs Hughes's parlour.
It's alright for some, he thinks. Drinking leftover wine and eating the few cheese puffs that nobody wanted. He would have liked to taste one. He would like to be sitting down, maybe have a chat with Mr Barrow.
Mr Barrow has been teaching him all sorts. How to set the table the quickest, how to make shoes look like they have been polished and how to make the most of an afternoon off. Maybe not the nicest things to learn, but useful. Mr Carson is trying to make him see the difference between spoons and glasses. He's been rather frazzled lately, Mr Carson. Grumpy.
Andy sure as hell isn't going to be in service until he is too old to enjoy himself. There's a new factory opening and they are looking for strong healthy lads. All that lugging trunks around and going up and down the stairs a hundred times a day makes sure of that, so he'll have the advantage. Maybe if he plays his cards right, he can become foreman.
It would mean more money and steady hours. He would have time to court a nice girl. He doesn't want to wait until he retires to finally start his life.
"Andrew, you best tidy up and go to bed."
He turns around. It's Mrs Hughes.
"Mr Carson said to wait until he said I could.."
"Don't worry about Mr Carson. It's late and you've got an early start."
He nods.
"Thank you, Mrs Hughes," he says and she gives him a smile.
A factory would be very loud, he thinks. And probably lonely at first, and utterly filthy.
Maybe he should just bide his time, like Mr Barrow says.