The Footmans Love

Chapter One

May 1908,

The young boy stared up at the large estate he was stood in front of, his aunt next to him with a reassuring hand placed gently on his shoulder.

His uncle and three cousins stood in front of the large house, grim smiles across their face, the black mourning clothes emphasizing the nature of the situation. The brown eyepatch that covered his left eye was uncomfortable but necessary, he didn't want to frighten his cousins according to his grandmother.

Despite the feeble attempt to cover the healing injury done by a knife on that fateful night, he could feel them starring at the scaring that ran from his forehead to his mid cheek. He unknowingly moved some of his hair to cover the scars, he did not like it when they stared.

His aunt kneeled down to meet his eye, "Carson will show you to your room" her smile was kind and gentle but her tone was filled with sorrow.

He turned his head to glance towards the butler who stood confidently at the door, with a gentle nudge from his aunt he made his way into the house. It was grand in comparison to the estate his parents had lived in, everything was clean and carried a sense of regality, even something as small as a vase.

Mr Carson turned to a boy who seemingly appeared out of no where, he couldn't have been much older than Laurence, maybe two years or even three but nothing more. "Thomas go fetch Sir Levinsons things and bring them up to his room" "yes Mr Carson" the black haired boy responded, hurrying towards the car that had brought Laurence and Cora to the house.

Laurence followed Carson up the stairs, down the hallway where the boys room were situated, and finally to what was his new room. It was bigger than his old one, and much more fancy.

A large oak bed was positioned in the middle of the room against the back wall, a matching oak wardrobe across from it, a small desk near the window, and a bench at the foot of the bed.

Mr Carson had left, leaving the young boy standing alone in his new room.

He was left in silence before the young boy he had seen earlier, which he could now see was a page boy, walked into the room carrying the two pieces of luggage which contained all of Laurences few belongings. Laurence smiled at the older boy, reaching his hand out before speaking.

"Hello!" his tone was chipper and his smile mimicked the one which had often found itself on his aunts face, "I'm Laurence and you are?" the older boys face look astonished for a moment before reciprocating the handshake.

"Thomas, although sir, Mr Carson says staff are not to speak to members of the family" "why not?" Laurence questioned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "It's not proper" Thomas responded, "I don't care" Laurence stated simply, "friends are to be made in everyone" his smile did not fade, growing brighter, "that's what mother told me" he paused briefly staring towards the ground. "Before she died" he continued staring back up at the boy, who's blank stare turned into a sympathetic frown.

"Alright, friends" Thomas said, smiling briefly at the younger boy who's smile only increased at the page boys words. "Yay, I've made my first friend in England" he giggled, his display of happiness showing his youth. A true gentleman would not become friends, much less talk to a page boy. But something about youth, a magical force many wish to return to when they grow old, made it hard to care about rules and regulations.

"And hopefully not your last" Thomas responded, the two proceeded to talk about things young boys would typically discuss about.

Their vas difference of social class meant nothing in this moment, it was simply just two boys having fun, regardless of how improper it may have seemed the two found friendship in each other. Both enjoying the others company much more than anyone else's, it was as if their personalities had simply clicked.

Their important discussion about sports was interrupted by Mr Carson's booming voice, which called Thomas to return back downstairs for his duties.

Thomas patted Laurence on the shoulder before speaking, "goodbye friend" he then hurried out the room and down towards were the entrance to the servants hall presumably was.

"I have made my first friend!" Laurence yelled excitedly, jumping on his spot before composing himself like a young man of his class should be.

He may have lost his parents, part of his sight, and his home in the past month. But now he had made a friend at downton, hopefully the first of many, perhaps this new life would be as exciting as his one in America. But alas no one can tell what the future holds for one, especially in a house like downton.

(A/N: I hope you all thoroughly enjoyed the first chapter of this work, I haven't seen many fics on here in which Thomas is his canon sexuality, so I've decided to write my own. I shall attempt to update weekly or perhaps every other day but I am not sure, until next time dear reader!)