Chapter Text
Setting the Scene
One would think that once the excitement of the royal visit was over, life at Downton would return to something resembling normal, with Mr Carson returning to a quiet retirement. Instead, here they were on the day of some ghastly dinner with some random old society fixtures, and Thomas is struggling to wrap his head around what he’s hearing.
“Again!? I’m sorry Mr Carson but I just don’t understand. I’m perfectly capable of supervising a dinner.”
“I’m aware of that Mr Barrow. Lady Mary simply feels that tonight’s guests might appreciate a more traditional approach rather than your more…modern approach. It’s only for a day, or two if they stay the night. I’ll need you to supervise things down here while I handle upstairs. I don’t know if they’ll have valets or not and I simply won’t have the time.”
Thomas stands, fuming, as Carson sits behind his desk, in his chair, looking at him with that superior look of his as he once again takes over the butler position at Lady Mary’s request. Once again, he hears a quiet voice in the back of his mind telling him that he’ll never truly belong here, never be truly accepted.
‘To hell with this.’
“No.”
Carson’s impressive eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Anyone would think that Thomas had never defied him before and Thomas supposes he’s never been quite so blatant, but he’s certainly been close.
“I beg your pardon?”
“No. If you are to be butler for ‘a day or two’ then consider me stood down. What would the guests say if they knew there were two butlers at Downton while so many are struggling to keep even the smallest staff?”
It was a low blow, but Thomas knows Carson will do anything to protect the Crawley’s reputation. Even let him have a day off without too much of a fight as much as Thomas hated being replaced for no reason. Maybe he could manage a last-minute trip to London, it would be Carson’s fault if there’s no butler on duty tomorrow.
He stands and watches the internal struggle play out over Carson’s face. On one hand, it allowed Carson to be in charge without struggle, on the other…it wouldn’t play out the way he wanted, and he never liked to be dictated to by anyone, especially Thomas.
“Hmpf. Very well if that is what it takes to allow an easy transition. Mr Barrow, you may go.”
‘I may go? I am being dismissed from my own office? My humiliation is quietly complete.’
Taking a deep breath to avoid saying something he shouldn’t, Thomas turns and storms out of his office, not getting very far before he’s stopping dead in his tracks as he meets a pair of tearful and decidedly filthy children in the corridor.
“What’s this? Tears before lunchtime?”
George and Sybbie look up at him miserably, tears streaming down Sybbie’s face as George’s eyes burn with a childlike fury. Thomas kneels down to be closer to them and swiftly finds himself with his arms full with a distraught little girl.
“Hey now. What’s happened?”
George steps forward and pats Sybbie on the back, looking at Thomas with his big blue eyes.
“It was nanny, Mr Barrow. We were playing by the old ruin, and we didn’t hear nanny call us, so she threw Sybbie’s teddy inside. She said it was too dangerous to get it back and made us come home for a bath.”
Sybbie hiccups and wipes her eyes on Thomas’ jacket as he strokes her hair in what he hopes is a soothing motion.
‘It’s a good thing I like children.’
“It w…was…m…mummy’s teddy.”
Thomas’ heart stops for several beats as the fury that rises inside of him rapidly eclipses any feelings he may currently have towards Mr Carson and is transferred to yet another nanny.
‘What is it with this house and terrible nannies? Never mind that now. I can fix this.’
“I’ll tell you what, why don’t you both go for your bath, and I’ll go and find your teddy? Which ruins was it?”
Sybbie looks at him in happy surprise as George beams, he knew Mr Barrow would fix it.
“The old crypt, by the meadow with the big old tree.”
‘Christ that’s right on the edge of the estate. I guess I’m not going to London.’
“Right then. Off you go for your bath, I’ll have your teddy back by tea.”
“Thank you, Barrow!”
Two hugs later and Thomas is putting on his coat, quietly raiding the kitchen for a sandwich while Mrs Patmore is occupied and heading out before anyone could ask him any questions he didn’t want to answer. Little did he know how much he would come to regret that decision later
Heading up the staff dinner that afternoon, Carson is oblivious to the confused looks being thrown his way including the ones from his wife. Their guests are due in two hours and he’s mentally running through his to-do list just in case he’s missed anything for the preparations.
It’s Daisy who eventually gives in to her curiosity as she hands out dessert.
“Mr Carson?”
“Yes?”
“Where’s Mr Barrow?”
Carson blinks, he hadn’t actually noticed that Thomas wasn’t present at the table and doesn’t think he wants to know how the man is spending his evening.
“Oh, well, as I’m supervising tonight’s dinner, Mr Barrow has the night off. I imagine he’s making the most of it.”
Elsie frowns at him in disapproval.
“You imagine? So, he could be anywhere? And why is it the first I hear of you supervising the dinner is you supervising our dinner?”
“Lady Mary asked me first thing this morning.”
“And you can’t say no to the blessed Lady Mary. Did either of you spare a thought about Mr Barrow in your well thought out decision? He’s a perfectly capable butler if you two would give him half a chance.”
The rest of the staff have given up on their desert and are openly observing the conversation happening before them, eyes swivelling to Carson and awaiting his response.
“I’m aware of his abilities and he agreed to me stepping in for today in return for the night off. Now if it’s alright with all of you, our guests are due, and the family still need to be dressed. I assume the dinner is running on time?”
Daisy is smart enough to take the hint even if she wants to make a snappy comeback and disappears back to the kitchen. Everyone else finishes up and prepares to get back to the grind with Bates leaning over for a quiet word with Anna.
“You really think Thomas agreed?”
Anna shakes her head subtly.
“Not if he had a choice. I’ll have a word with Lady Mary. She can’t keep doing this. I don’t think she has any idea how it unsettles things down here.”
“Good luck.”
“Do you really think it wise, Milady? Bringing Mr Carson in again?”
Lady Mary checks her hair in the mirror and adjusts her necklace a millimetre to the left.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be? He has more experience with dinners like this, pulling out the stops and all that. Barrow will be able to watch and learn.”
“He’s not here.”
“What?”
“Mr Barrow, he seems to have gone out, but Mr Carson didn’t seem sure. Besides, we don’t really have the staff anymore for doing things Mr Carson’s way. It gets a little…fraught downstairs. Mr Barrow is far more efficient with a smaller staff.”
“Hmm. Well, never mind. Next time maybe. Henry? I’m not late, am I?”
Anna offers a small smile to Mr Talbot as he appears in the doorway and gets a sympathetic one back.
“Not at all darling, they’re not here yet. I have it on good authority that Carson would like us all gathered though, if you’re ready. You look wonderful.”
“Just one little…there, ready. Thank you, Anna.”
“Milady.”
Mr Talbot offers a nod to his wife’s ladies' maid as said wife sweeps out past him.
“I hope wherever Barrow is, he’s having more fun than we are.”
Anna doesn’t have to hide her smile as she’s left alone to tidy the room. There are times when Mr Talbot and Mr Branson were breaths of fresh air in this house. She can’t ignore the faint feeling of concern though, as she wonders where on earth Thomas is.
Robert and Cora manage to keep their confusion limited to silent communication throughout the dinner with a merry pair of old Dukes and their Duchesses. They weren’t invited guests, rather, they invited themselves after the royal tour and Mary was never one to miss an opportunity. At least Violet and Mary were enjoying themselves even if Henry and Tom looked bored out of their minds. It’s only when they split after the meal and Cora leads the way to the drawing-room that she gets a moment to ask questions.
“Carson. How nice to see you. Is Barrow ill?”
“No milady, simply having a break. Lady Mary and I agreed that I have more experience with dinners like these. I’m sure Mr Barrow is Downstairs as we speak, keeping an eye on things.”
“I see.”
…he wasn’t.