The Footmans Love

Chapter Two

December 1911,

Thomas sat at the servants table, carefully observing everyone's actions.

His eyes shifted from Mrs Huges to Mr Carson then to Anna and William, they all seemed to be preoccupied with either their small jobs that needed doing such as mending a coat button that had fallen of, or their own conversation.

The families dinner was over, and they all had presumably retired for the night.

Miss O'brian leaned over to him, probably about to tell him more "advice" on how to separate himself from the others. "What's that at the window?" she asked, motioning with her eyes to a bright spot coming through the heavy frost and snowfall on the window. "You should go check it out, you want to be on Mr Carson's good side after all" Thomas thought for a moment at her words, she had given him advice worth following in the past so why not follow her instructions?

He stood up, excusing himself under the terms of retiring for the night, before making his way to the servants entrance. With one swift motion he reached for his coat, putting it on before opening the door and making his way out into the freezing cold of a December night.

Upon approaching the light source and examining it he noticed it appeared to be a human, he quickened his pace wondering what any reasonable person would be doing outside at night in such harsh weather conditions.

"Hello?" he asked once he was about ten feet away from the other life form, no response, he should have brought a light himself if he had known it would be this dark out.

Once he was finally in viewing distance, he registered in his mind that the human was Laurence. His walking pace had turned into a run as he swiftly kneeled down next to the younger boy, who was only wearing his evening suit, no coat or anything to really keep him guarded from the harsh conditions.

Laurence stared up at Thomas, his eyes red, tears strolling down his face. Something in Thomas broke at that moment, while it was true that he was generally cold and uncaring to the others, he found it impossible to hate Laurence.

After all Laurence was the first to show him any sign of true kindness, not like the kind Miss O'Brian offered.

"What are you doing out here?" Thomas asked his normally sarcastic tone being buried under concern, "I have committed the most sinful act" Laurence sobbed, his body shivering from the cold icy air. "Laurence tell me what happened" "you'll be repulsed" "no I won't, I promise" Laurence looked down towards the ground.

"I kissed the dukes son" he murmured quietly, "we were discussing matters of education, and it was just us, and he looked so handsome" he looked back up into Thomas' eyes expecting disgust to be event in his expression, instead he found a look of sympathy and understanding.

"I'll tell you something" Thomas began carefully moving his hand to hold Laurence's, noting the skin was ice cold and beginning to pale. "But we're going inside first, alright?" he continued only receiving a nod in response.

Thomas placed one arm under Laurence's knee the other grabbing his back gently, and carefully picked the young boy up, making his way back towards the house.

Laurence leaned his head next to Thomas' chest in an attempt to feel warmth, he was beyond cold.

Thomas stopped for a moment, at the servants entrance, thinking if it really was the best idea to enter through there. He knew Miss O'brian would still be down, wanting to know what was out there, but what about the others?

He carefully opened the door, attempting to muffle any noise that was produced.

In the light he could now see Laurences face was pale, his cheeks rosy, and his entire body practically shivering.

Much like Thomas expected Miss O'brian was still there, mending a button on a coat. Anna, Gwen, and Mrs Hughes were also still there.

"What is the meaning of this?" Mrs Hughes questioned Thomas as he placed Laurence into the chair sitting in front of the dying fire, Thomas had to come up with something, fast.

"I told him to go see what the light outside was" Miss O'brian said, "thought it could've been something of importance" she continued. Thomas kept his eyes on the younger man, he seemed to be warming up slightly, Thomas decided to place his coat over Laurences lap who smiled at the gesture.

Anna and Gwen looked worried over the state but both said nothing, Laurence shifted his gaze to look upwards at Mrs Hughes, "sorry for the trouble, but do you mind if I talk to Thomas alone for a moment?"

Mrs Hughes looked torn about the thought of leaving the room but decided to, being followed by the other three in a haste.

"I'm disgusting" Laurence muttered, raking over the moment with the dukes son. How he had pushed Laurence away and told him he was a disgrace to this world and his family, the words hurt, Laurence really did believe the dukes son had been interested in him.

Realizing now it was all in his head, the dukes son was not into him, and he had sinned. "I can't control my sinful thoughts" Laurence added, Thomas sighed, having found himself in situations much like the one Laurence was now caught up in.

"It's alright" Thomas assured, not truly believing his words, he wouldn't admit that he too thought himself disgusting and sinful. "Thomas you don't get it, you aren't like me" Laurence's eyes began to trickle tears softly, rather ungentlemanly as the dowager countess would say. "I am" Thomas rebutted, "you're not sinful Laurence, neither am I" he assured offering a soft smile, an expression that could not be found on his face much.

"Really?" Laurence asked in a tone reminiscent of a naive boy, perhaps he was one, he was only 15 after all. Thomas attempted to frame an air of maturity, despite still being a teenager himself.

"Really" he repeated Laurences words, before patting the young boy on the shoulder gently. "You better get upstairs, don't want anyone to realize you're gone" the words made Laurence slowly stand up from the chair, "alright, goodnight Thomas."

Laurences smile melted Thomas' heart slightly, the boy could somehow smile through any situation if you said the right words to reassure him everything was alright.

"Goodnight" Thomas responded, watching Laurence walk out of the room.

And deep down in his heart he felt a slight flutter, perhaps it was caused by finding someone else like him, or the smile that had spread across the other boys face despite what had happened.

Whatever it was soon went away as Miss O'brian entered, skillfully asking if Thomas could tell her all that had happened that night.

(A/N: I hoped you all throughly enjoyed this next chapter, see you next time dear reader!)