Author note: In regards to my last review: If you do not like this story, don't read it. If you don't like the idea of Matthew being gay; i didn't write this story for you at all. To the rest of you, welcome back to this series of Downton Abbey and the second story in it.
Downton Abbey,
January 15th 1920
There weren't many times Thomas and Mr Carson saw eye to eye. In fact, Thomas could count them all on one hand until this very morning. The valet and the butler stood with their hands behind their backs, their eyebrows furrowed and their heads tilted in the same direction as they watched the new footman. They shared a look of mutual concern — which was rarer than a bloodhound befriending a fox.
"Blimey, and I thought myself tall for a footman" Thomas said and glanced Miss O'Brien's nephew up and down. "I'm surprised the livery even fits him."
Mr Carson just grumbled and walked over to inspect the footman. Thomas still stood at the end of the servants' hall, rolling on his feet "So does that mean I don't have to act footman tonight, Mr Carson?"
"I would appreciate it if you could do it with Alfred, Mr Barrow" Mr Carson said and their brief moment of peace was over. "We don't know if he is up for it yet."
"I worked as a waiter, Mr Carson, I know how to serve tables."Alfred said which caused Mr Carson's glare to intensify towards the new addition to the staff.
Thomas let out a snort and his lips tightened to hide his glee. "I will be happy to act as footman one last night, Mr Carson, if just to amuse myself." He said and left the room with a smile. He could almost feel Carson's agitation follow him upstairs and to Lord Grantham's dressing room. There Thomas began laying out his lordship's tailcoat for dinner. It wouldn't be that bad though, Thomas thought, at least at dinner he could throw Matthew teasing gazes and watch him blush.
"Cousin Robert, might I have a word in private?" Matthew said as they had gathered in the sitting room just before dinner. It was now time to unravel his plan to Lord Grantham, with the hopes that the Earl would accept both Matthew's money and Molesley as his valet.
"Of course Matthew." Robert said and tried to hide his worries from the meeting in London the other day. Perhaps Matthew was bringing some good news, maybe he had reconsidered marrying Mary. Whatever it was, Robert Crawley hoped it would bring a little bit of cheer.
The two excused themselves to the ladies of the house; Old Lady Grantham and Mrs Isobel Crawley. When they passed from the sitting room to the library, Matthew saw the glimpse of Thomas with an extremely tall footman at his heels. Matthew raised his eyebrows in surprise as he followed Robert into the library.
"So, dear chap, what did you wish to speak to me about?" Robert said and walked over to pour them both some whisky and Matthew accepted the glass, with some reservations, he had not had the spirit since he had tried to drown in sorrow in it for months. Matthew didn't know how it would taste — bitter like the regrets of his foolish ways, or sweet from the memories of him and Thomas sharing the same brand. Matthew took a seat before the fireplace and Robert joined him.
"I have had some thoughts about the future, my future, and the future for this estate" Matthew said and brought the glass to his lips to take a small sip; it was to Matthew's relief that it tasted like memories.
Robert's eyes scrutinised Matthew's face. He had a brief moment of hope that Matthew indeed had changed his tune and now wished to marry Robert's eldest daughter. He knew very well that, regardless of Mary's callous words, she held sorrows for being turned down.
Hope was, at first crushed, but Matthew's words came with a new hope to Robert. Matthew spoke of moving to Downton and his wishes to invest in the estate — to truly embrace the role as the heir.
"We need to modernise this, build something that will last, I have dealt with too many papers of estates closing" Matthew said and tried to read Robert's face and his thoughts about Matthew's preposition "The war has changed the world and if we don't change with it there will be no Downton for the next generation."
Robert couldn't believe it, Matthew had just saved Downton, and without knowing so. Matthew was clueless in regards to that bad investments had caused all of the money in Downton Abbey to be lost. Now his heir brought forward a proposal that would save the entire family — and Robert expressed this in words which caused Matthew to be taken aback slightly but then smile. It seemed as if fate had come knocking and Matthew now knew his second offer would not be refused.
"I told Cora about the money, of course, but Edith and Mary don't know and as for Sybil she would not care either way" Robert said with bitter thoughts about his youngest daughter and her elopement.
"She will give you your first grandchild soon, Cousin Robert, perhaps it's time to accept that Sybil was always the rebel of the family" Matthew said and took another sip from the whisky.
"Cora says so too, but it's not the life I wanted for Sybil, married to a chauffeur" Robert shook his head and finished the whiskey.
"Sometimes we don't choose who we love." Matthew said and Robert gave him a glance, wondering if there was something Matthew wasn't telling him because his tone of voice seemed slightly off, almost saddened — maybe he also had fallen for someone of a lower class? Maybe that had been the reason for the dismissal of Mary? Robert certainly hoped not. He wished Matthew to be happy, but as his heir he wished for him to be happy with a respectable woman. Or maybe it was nothing more than memories of Lavinia that were brought to the forefront of Matthew's mind. Yes, Robert thought to himself, perhaps it's just some sadness that is lingering.
"When were you planning on making this move?" Robert asked, not staying on the subject of love any further.
"Tomorrow, if you will let me, then I shall soon go to Manchester to get the help from my friend, who is also a solicitor, to write up the deeds." Matthew finished his whiskey too.
"Of course you can, dear chap, will you be bringing Molesley with you? Robert asked.
"I thought about it and then I gave it some more thought — " Matthew sat up straighter on the sofa, trying his best to not sound perceptible in his urgency for this to transpire. " — I was hoping, if you don't mind terribly, to request Thomas Barrow as my valet."
Robert blinked and furrowed his face at Matthew, not quite understanding. "You wish to steal my valet?"
"I will not beat around the bush, Robert, I do intend to do so" Matthew said boldly "We know Mr Bates will be released eventually — and when he is, Barrow will be dismissed, will he not?"
Robert nodded, he hoped that Bates would be released — of course — and he was confident in his lawyers and Anna's own digging. So, when the day came, of course Thomas would be dismissed since Robert would always prefer his old brother in arms. That's when he understood — clearly Matthew preferred a brother in arms as well. Robert nodded "And you suggest I take on Molesley instead?"
"That is correct, and I am glad you understand," Matthew said with relief "There is just something between two men that served in a war, something that most don't understand at all, but I knew you would, Cousin Robert." Matthew buttered him up, but he felt rather uncomfortable with this conversation because it almost sounded like they traded in livestock.
"True you are, Matthew, but I wonder if Thomas will let go of being head valet, I wonder if you overestimate his sentiment towards the war — as well as his own beliefs in Bates' release, he might not think that it will transpire." Robert admitted.
"I trust he will and, even if he hesitates, I am sure he will come to his senses knowing that with being your valet there are some uncertainties, but being my valet means that he has complete security in being head valet in the future." Matthew declared with a smile. "He risked his life to save mine, I will wish to return the favour in him becoming my permanent valet and for him to know that his position is safe here in Downton — regardless of Bates'. It would be rather degrading for him to return to the position of footman, would it not?."
Robert nodded, he couldn't argue with Matthew because, of course, he was right. Even if Robert held Thomas in higher regards from knowing he also saved Matthew's life in the war, he still held some hesitations towards the man — perhaps unrightfully so — but he had not known Thomas in war and it was Matthew who owed his life to him, not Robert. "What about Molesley when we manage to get Bates free?"
"Perhaps there will be a position for him here by that point, or he can return to be the butler of Crawley house — maybe he could be under-butler to Carson, which might be needed now, if we can finally bring work back to Downton." Matthew said "I am sure he will be happy being acting head valet."
Robert nodded and they stood up when they heard the bell to let them know that supper was to be served. "Matthew, thank you for wanting to take Downton under your wing and love her like I do."
"I am happy you have accepted my offer." They shook hands and moved to the dining room with the rest of the Crawleys'.
"Oh you want to serve yourself too, my lord?" Alfred said and his casual tone seemed to set Carson's skin on fire.
Mr Carson puffed up his chest and snarled at the new footman "this isn't a hotel."
Matthew watched Thomas stand there, observing, and clearly he hadn't told Alfred that a footman only holds the tray and they serve themselves. He didn't approve of it, of course, the pettiness of Thomas. But he couldn't deny that even this smug smile upon Thomas' face caused Matthew to smile as well. The two secret lovers shared a glance. Thomas was holding in his breath, stifling a laughter, with his chin held high. Matthew couldn't conceal his chuckle and it caused his mother to turn around.
"Matthew, I thought I raised you better than laughing at people" She said harshly.
"Forgive me—" Matthew turned his gaze to Alfred " — forgive me, Alfred, I was laughing at a thought in my head."
Mary looked from Alfred to Matthew to Thomas — because she had seen the glance the two had shared — and then back at Matthew. "Go on then, Cousin Matthew, tell us this funny thought of yours."
"Oh it's nothing, at least it's not an anecdote that can be told well" Matthew said and took his wine glass with Mary still looking at him.
"Oh come on, Cousin Matthew" Edith urged him on.
"I don't think it appropriate" Matthew said, looking nervously around and his eyes landed on Thomas.
"Not appropriate?" Violet Crawley said with a titter "Don't tease us like that."
"Well...uhm…" Matthew said and nervously played with his fork "It was just something from the war" He said quickly, thinking of the first thing that came to his mind, and that was a memory with Thomas, right when they had formed a friendship, and the Christmas of 1914.
"At Christmas, when we all laid down our weapons for the holiday, the Germans kicked a football into no man's land — we were all pretty shocked, weren't we, Barrow?" Matthew said and looked over at Thomas and so did the entire table — as well as Alfred and Mr Carson.
"Right you are, Mr Crawley, very shocked" Thomas said with a calm voice and stood stiff as a board, without any indication that he had been taken aback by Matthew speaking to him directly in the dining hall — but inside he was. Thomas felt the eyes of the entire room upon him. It meant the world to Thomas, to be spoken to by Matthew, in front of the Crawleys' even if it was in a manner like this.
"Barrow was there?" Edith said with a confused expression "Oh, that is right, you served together for a while, didn't you?"
"Yes they did Edith, how callow of you to forget, we all sure haven't." Mary said with a roll of her eyes and threw Matthew a cold stare.
Matthew shook his head "Well, yes, we all thought it was an ambush but then we all played football together." Matthew just realised that the story he's thought of would have too crude of an ending for the Crawleys' but he couldn't stop now. "There was this chap there, a private, who was a bit rough around the edges, and a gambler. So after a few matches and drinks he made us all agree to a bet"
Thomas coughed and the heads turned to him again, he was surprised that Matthew had thought of this event — let alone sharing it, because it was not very gentleman-like.
"A bet? With the Germans?" Lord Grantham asked in horror. "What sort of bet?"
"He said that if we lost the next match the Germans would surrender the war and if the Germans' won, the players would all strip naked and run around no man's land in the cold." Matthew covered his mouth with a napkin and looked up at Thomas again, trying so very hard not to burst out laughing. "Luckily me and Barrow were not currently a part of the game, but on the sidelines as this transpired."
"Matthew, please! — " Lord Grantham exclaimed with a disgraceful stare. " — we have ladies in the room"
Old Lady Grantham shushed him and looked at Matthew "so, who won the match?"
"German didn't surrender for another four years, did they Cousin Violet?" Matthew said and took another bite of his food. No one seemed to be even a little bit amused except for him, Thomas and, to his surprise, the Dowager Countess who let out a chuckle.
"Well, at least the Germans' got to see the fine backsides of our army" Violet said with another snort and Lord Grantham looked unbecomingly at his mother's comment — which caused the rest of the table to burst into laughs and giggles.
Matthew and Thomas met behind the wall after dinner. They just stood there, in the cold, with their lips entwined. Thomas had one firm grip upon the back of Matthew's neck to prevent him from leaving. Not that he needed to, because Matthew's grip around Thomas waist was equally as firm. Who needed to breathe when Thomas' mouth gave him all the life his body ever needed?
"It's done" Matthew said as his tongue came brushing over Thomas' lower lip "Lord Grantham approved"
Thomas pulled away from the kiss with his entire face beaming "Did he? I am to valet for you?" Thomas asked and, when Matthew nodded, he did something that wouldn't be befitting of his character with anyone but Matthew; Thomas lifted him up from underneath his buttocks and spun them around. Matthew laughed and held onto Thomas around his neck.
"You are Thomas, and soon we leave for a trip up Manchester, you and I." He said with loving eyes looking down at Thomas from where he was held up high.
Thomas could not believe it. This was as close to free as they would be here in England. He lowered Matthew just enough to let their lips press together again.
"I move in tomorrow, I have to return home to prepare." Matthew said but Thomas backed him up against the wall.
"Can you stay a little longer?" He said with a low, seductive, voice which caused Matthew to tremble in his arms.
"Just a moment then…." Matthew couldn't deny him and Thomas knew that.
"I knew you would." Thomas' teeth found Matthew's lower lip and his hand found the front of his trousers. A moan came from Matthew as his valet had his way with him in the night, outside of Downton Abbey, while being pressed up against a wall.
"I didn't know Barrow and Mr Crawley served together in the war" Alfred said from his seat by the table in the servants' hall. "Did you, Maud?"
The maid looked up from what she was sowing "Oh yes, I did know that Mr Crawley and Thomas were in the trenches together."
"That's Barrow to you" Mrs Hughes corrected her "And don't you forget it, girl"
When Mrs Hughes wasn't looking Maud stuck her tongue out and pulled a face at the housekeeper that, luckily for her, only Alfred caught which caused him to smile at the attractive maid, who brushed her brown hair behind her ear.
"Did you know that Mrs Hughes?" Alfred then asked.
"Of course I knew, we all know they served some time together in the war and then he was the caregiver of Mr Crawley when his legs weren't working." Mrs Hughes sat down in a chair and took out a book right as Mrs Patmore came out with tea for everyone and then Mr Carson walked into the servants' hall as well. Everyone stood up as he did and then sat back down once he had dismissed them with his hand.
"Why are you asking so much about Mr Barrow and Mr Crawley?" Mrs Hughes asked Alfred. "Why does it matter to you if they served together or not?" She felt rather defensive towards talks about Thomas without him being there, especially a conversation that was about him and Matthew in the war.
"No reason Mrs Hughes, just wondered because of the story." Alfred said and then thanked Mrs Patmore with a nod as she filled his teacup up.
"What story?" Mrs Hughes said with conspicuousness.
"Mr Crawley decided to tell a most sullied story from the war, playing football with the Germans and losing!" Mr Carson said and drank his tea with a scowl.
Mrs Hughes sighed in relief and shook her head, then she returned to her book. There was silence in the servants' hall for a while until a strange noise emerged from outside. The servants' heads perked up and looked at each other, to make sure they weren't the only ones who had heard it.
"What on earth is that?" Mrs Patmore stepped out from the kitchen with Daisy behind her.
"Probably an owl," Mrs Hughes said.
"Sounds like a wounded fox." Maud chimed in.
"No, I think it's probably a hound," Daisy added.
They sat there for a while, trying to guess what the noise was, until it went quiet and so did the servants' again. Not long after a dishevelled Thomas appeared; stunned by seeing all the servants still by the table and looking at him.
"Well?" Mrs Patmore said.
"Well'what?" Thomas frowned as he scouted all the faces that had turned to him.
"What was it? Making that sound?" Alfred asked "you must have heard it, being out there and smoking"
"Oh" Thomas expressed and bit his tongue to keep it from saying 'a Crawley in pleasure' "All I saw was a fox walking towards the forest."
"Ha!" Maud said with a smile at Thomas "I was right then, that was my guess."
"How splendid for you." Thomas said unenthusiastically and sat down next to Mrs Hughes with a smile in her direction.
"You alright, Barrow?" She asked and patted his hand which drew the eye of Mr Carson who scoffed.
"I'm mighty well, Mrs Hughes, very well." Thomas replied and accepted the cup of tea that she handed him.
"It's good to see you smile again Mr Barrow" Maud invited herself into the conversation "You were so sorrowful looking for months — was it because of Miss Swire?"
The tension in the room increased, teacups could be heard clinking as they were being placed down on their respective saucer. Now all eyes were turned to Maud who looked bewildered. "What?" She said "If Thomas was the caregiver for Mr Crawley he would have known her, wouldn't he?"
"It's Mr Barrow" Thomas said agitated and his nostrils flared from the lack of respect the maid showed and how she carelessly spoke of a time she was clueless about.
"You should mind your own, before your bluntness gets you into trouble or even more so, out of a job." Mrs Hughes snapped at her "We will talk more about this in the morning, Maud."
Everyone returned to their business but Maud didn't look bothered at all, she still smiled and her eyes kept glancing towards Thomas with undeniable desire.
"Speaking of Mr Crawley, his lordship says you are to dress him tomorrow for the last time then go to the village to assist Mr Crawley with his move to Downton." Mr Carson informed Thomas who, despite knowing, tried to look dumbfounded from Carson's words. "Though I suspect you won't be happy by this downgrade, not when you've worked so hard to be his lordship's valet"
Miss O'Brien came into the servants' hall, sitting down opposite Thomas "What are we talking about, a downgrade?"
"I am afraid I don't know myself, Mr Carson, valet to Mr Crawley?" Thomas pretended not knowing what Carson spoke of.
"Mr Crawley is moving into Downton and requested you as his valet, will you refuse him?" Mr Carson folded his hands in his lap, expecting Thomas to do so but he was surprised by Thomas' reply.
"No Mr Carson, I will not refuse him" Thomas said with a challenging tone and lit up a cigarette.
"Who will be his lordship's valet? Maybe Alfr—" Miss O'Brien began but Mr Carson lifted his hand to silence her.
"Alfred did appallingly during dinner service, he needs to learn how to be a footman before he's even offered to valet for anyone" Mr Carson finished his tea "No, it'll be Mr Molesley for the time being" he stood up, so did all the servants', and left the room.
"Must not feel nice, Mr Barrow" Miss O'Brien said "to be downgraded from head valet to valet for Mr Crawley."
Thomas blew smoke slowly out from his mouth and glanced at his cigarette before his eyes pierced Miss O'Brien patronisingly. "On the contrary, Miss O'Brien, I feel very secure in knowing that I'll be here for the long-haul, being valet for the future Earl of Grantham—" Thomas threw Alfred a glare and added " — unlike some of you."