Downton Abbey: All Is Fair In Love And War

I Wish You Well Thomas Barrow

Downton Abbey,
August 1918

"Easy there soldier" Thomas said as he, after a long ponder in the hallway, finally entered William's room where the poor lad laid. The canopy bed was draped in flowers and Mr Mason sat by his son's side.

"I'll leave you two army men to it." Mr Mason said and patted William's cheek before excusing himself into the hallway.

"Hello Thomas," William said weakly.

"William" Thomas said before a moment of silence happened as Thomas pondered over his words. "You're a hero in this house for saving Mr Crawley."

"I would..." William said uncomfortably "....I would do it again"

"There's no need to speak right now" Thomas urged him as he wished to make things right before William's death. " Mr Crawley sends all the words he cannot form, and his wishes that things were different, I know he mourns and your actions shall never be forgotten — nor shall you" Thomas spoke what he knew his Matthew wished to say "And I wanted to say thank you for saving him, you're a brave lad, William and you were always a good one." Thomas held out his hand and William accepted it "I'm sorry for my harshness and not seeing you for the hero you would become, I am glad I have known you and I regret not knowing you better." Thomas paused for a moment and William just nodded, accepting the apology. Then Thomas blurted out, like a safe space to do so, on someone else's death bed. "Thank you for saving Matthew, thank you for saving my heart from breaking."

William furrowed his eyebrows for a moment before his eyes went wide in revelation; Thomas had never been sweet on his Daisy, Thomas had never tried to take Daisy — Thomas was different and apparently his heart seemed to be for Captain Crawley.

William gave Thomas' hand a squeeze and repeated "I would do it again." he took a wheezing breath "Now I'm going to marry my sweetheart, and I wish you well Thomas Barrow — I wish you well in your life and Captain Crawley too."

Thomas let go of William's hand and stood up straight, saluting the dying soldier in his bed before walking out.

Downton Abbey,
June 1919

Mrs Hughes felt herself welling up. She coughed a little and reached for a handkerchief to dab her eyes. Her heart was aching from the memory of William, how Thomas had apologised to him in the end. Again it was a side of Thomas he didn't share, something he had not told any of them. How she missed sweet William, like they all did.

She also could not believe what Thomas had decided to do for Matthew, she had always thought he had simply been assigned — Thomas had always made it seem like selfish reasons for accepting to be Matthew's caretaker. Of course now Mrs Hughes knew why Thomas had needed it to seem that way.

Never had she been much for sentiment or tales of love — but now she fully understood that it was a deeply rooted and misunderstood love. She had never known Thomas to act so selflessly. Clearly it took something rather special to bring it out of him — and Matthew clearly had awoken it within the footman.

"I don't know what to say Thomas" She said and folded the handkerchief back up and pocketed it.

"There isn't much to say Mrs Hughes" Thomas shrugged as he felt sadness and, yet, no tears fell from his eyes for his sorrow was so deep that it had no more tears to give him.

"I cannot believe the words out of my mouth, but that sounds like true love; for you to turn from selfish ways — all to care for him" Mrs Hughes said and Thomas just nodded in return. "Dear lad, just like Lady Sybil, if a love is so strong I cannot understand why it would be considered wrong." She patted her knees and stood up. "Now duty calls, but I expect to hear more after we have done what needs to be done. We shall take supper in my sitting room this evening."

"Mrs Hughes?" Thomas rose to his feet "Dare I be so bold and suggest that you have figured out where it all went wrong?"

"Yes, Thomas, I think I figured that out from the start, but l want to know the fully story behind it all..." Mrs Hughes said, looking around as if she awaited Mr Carson to appear out of thin air. "...I hope sense returns to Mr Crawley."

"I wouldn't bet my money on it" Thomas said and bid Mrs Hughes goodbye for now until they returned to the sitting room in the evening. Despite the strange looks from the maids they took their meal together in private and the story continued, the story of the aftermath of Matthew Crawley's injury.