Downton Abbey: All Is Fair In Love And War

Did Hell Freeze Over?

Downton Abbey,
September 1918

"I don't understand, my dear boy, why don't you wish to stay here? You need rest." Lord Grantham said from where he sat on the couch and Matthew in his wheelchair next to him.

"I need normality back, I don't need to adjust to the chair, I need to adjust to a life in a chair." Matthew said and took a sip from the whiskey, this is what he had been building up for throughout dinner and now he finally had the moment, and energy, to speak of it.

"You still need aid," Lord Grantham argued, " — aid that can be provided here."

"I'm in no pain and I have no need to take up room — I just wish to adjust and to arrive here for dinners as before" Matthew sighed in frustration. "Cousin Robert, I don't think you could begin to understand how desperate I am for normality."

"You're right my boy, you're right" Robert admitted "but dare I say, I don't think Molesley is quite strong enough to care for you in such a way, nor does he have the training — why don't we see to assign an army medic for you."

Matthew nodded "I agree, and I have a request" He said "Thomas Barrow."

Robert was just taking a sip from his whisky when Matthew relayed his request and it caused him to make a noise in surprise with his drink spilling the spirit down his chin and dinner jacket. "How very undignified of me — did I hear you right?" He said and wiped his chin "Thomas Barrow? The footman?"

"He is not a footman anymore, he is a trained army medic with experience in the field and of wounded soldiers, he is one himself." Matthew said defensively but restrained himself from sounding too rude to not offend Robert.

"Dare I say that I don't think it's in Sergeant Barrow's nature to give up a position of management to care for you." Robert said and then his eyes darted around and his voice turned to a whisper " — and it's one thing for a man like that to be a valet, but to aid you with other matters....when he's wired that way?"

"Robert, please, don't share gossip with me now." Matthew held up his hand and sipped his whisky "There is a reason why I know Thomas Barrow will do it, and why I am requesting him."

Robert sat there stunned but urged Matthew on. "Tell me, why will he do it?"

"You know we were in the trenches together for a while, but it was much longer than that — from the start of the war until his injuries—" Matthew admitted " —and dear William was not the only footman of Downton to risk his life to save mine." Matthew then continued to tell the story of the battle where Thomas had been injured, how he had selflessly risked his own safety to shoot the German down and get wounded in the process.

Robert was stunned, he let out a long exhale after the story finished and all he said was "Very well, I shall put in the request."

"And Cousin Robert" Matthew said and hid his smile with his whisky glass "Please don't share that you know because, strangely enough, he does not wish anyone to know what he did."

Thomas was sitting at breakfast, dipping a scone into his tea when Mr Carson appeared and everyone stood; everyone except for Thomas which caused Carson to throw him a glare. "What are you still doing here?" He asked the Sergeant.

"Awaiting to start my day, Mr Carson, why else would I sit here?" Thomas said, running his tongue over his teeth and with a gaze to dare Carson to say anything about him not standing.

"You were not informed of your new duties?" Carson raised his eyebrow at Thomas. "You are to pack your bags and move them to the Crawley house as Captain Crawley's caretaker" Mr Carson sat down, folding a napkin over his lap and awaited Mrs Patmore to serve him some tea. The butler felt awfully cheerful over the fact that Thomas would soon be out of sight.