The Footmans Love

Chapter Three

July 1912,

Thomas was preparing Laurence's mourning suit as the young man sat at his desk patiently, busying himself with a novel. Flipping to the next page he took a chance to briefly look up at Thomas, who had finished laying the suit out on the bed.

"I hear Uncle Robert is meeting with Murray" Laurence whispered as he gently placed his book onto the table before him. "About the heir?" Thomas questioned, his sarcasm and bitterness still somewhat apparent as it usually was. "I assume" Laurence responded quietly, standing up allowing Thomas to begin dressing him.

"Although I am glad the London Season is over" Laurence smiled slightly, he never enjoyed the season, the constant stares and rejections he received made him feel unwelcome. While it was true he did not fancy woman in that sense, he did see the necessity of a bride one day. He wasn't entitled to anything the Crawley's had, so he'd need to marry a high class lady, if only one would stray away from his horrid facial deformities and focus on his personality.

Thomas began tying Laurence's tie, carefully observing the younger man's facial expression. "You're thinking" Thomas said harshly, Laurence enjoyed how Thomas could tell what his mind was up to.

"Perhaps I am" Laurence paused look up at his friend of many years, "what am I to do when the new heir doesn't want to keep the family in this house when Uncle Robert dies?" he began to ramble tripping over his words.

"I won't be able to find a suitable bride" Thomas' face shifted to a look of confusion, "not that I want one that is, but to be able to be free of this place" the footmans face returned to its normal cocky smirk.

"whys that got you worked up? you're sixteen you've got plenty of time" Laurence laughed at Thomas' statement, "I suppose you're right, but my face" he countered, pulling the brown eye patch off and placing it on the desk.

"It's fine" Thomas assured, scanning over the scaring which was still very apparent, his gaze stopping slightly at Laurence's fully white left eye. "You're saying that because you're my friend" Laurence chuckled accusingly, "swear to god I'm not" Thomas remarked, handing over the black leather eye patch.

"Away from the subject matter of me finding a bride, what about you and that duke" Laurence shifted the focus of the conversation towards Thomas, "I know you've been trying to reach him" his tone was bright and cheery.

"I've sent him a telegram" Thomas said proudly picking up the younger man's jacket, "prompting him to marry Lady Mary" he continued. "And where does that leave you?" Laurence furthered questioned, as Thomas placed the jacket on his frame. "I'll get promoted to his valet of course" his tone was cocky and somewhat dark, a tone Laurence had become accustomed to hearing in the footmans voice.

Laurence put on a false disappointed frown, "and where would that leave me?" "married to a rich woman who you don't love?" Thomas questioned sarcastically.

"Why I'd never" Laurence placed his hand dramatically over his forehead, imitating a woman about to faint.

The two shared a laugh, "don't you dare faint" Thomas stifled between chuckles.

Laurence dramatically threw himself onto the chair pretending to faint, continuing to laugh loudly. "At least I didn't sleep with a duke" Laurence joked, earning a slight blush to creep on Thomas' cheeks. "Well I don't plan to marry someone for her money" Thomas shot back, in the same joking manner that Laurence had used.

The two were never truly rude to each other, despite how harsh their statements could seem,

They both knew they were joking.

Laurence enjoyed how he could joke with Thomas, and how the conversation felt natural with the other man. A knock at the door interrupted their back and forth, "Laurence hurry, we need to be at the church quickly" it was Sybil's voice.

"One moment Sybil!" Laurence shouted through the oak door, thankful it was only Sybil, she knew his secret and truly believed it did not make him any less deserving of kindness.

"Well, I'm afraid I must leave, I'll see you when we return" Laurence said, making his way towards the door. Thomas smiled, hurrying in front of the young man to open the door for him. "Goodbye Laurence" Thomas said, opening the door slowly.

Sybil was on the other side, waiting impatiently for Laurence. "Hurry" she said sharply, "and please try to at least appear somewhat sad" she added noting the visible smile that was spread across her cousins face.

"But how shall I ever survive without my best friend" he continued his dramatic joking, pointing at Thomas who's smile was nearly as bright as Laurence's. Sybil laughed a little at her cousins antics, her previous seriousness melting away. "Come on" she said, grabbing Laurence by the arm and all but dragging him out of the room.

"Goodbye my dear friend!" Laurence yelled down the hallway, his laughter fleeting as he attempted to look more somber.

"Till next time best friend!" Thomas yelled back, Laurence smiled softly. Best friends, that's what he and Thomas were, nothing more. That's what Laurence felt for him, friendship, perhaps something more? But Thomas supposedly had the duke.

"Hush, you'll be back with your" Sybil raised her hands to make quotation marks, "best friend soon enough" she chuckled at the statement as the two made their way towards the staircase. "That's all we are" he began, laughing slightly, "best friends I assure you dear cousin" "if you insist" Sybil rebutted.

Robert had been waiting at the bottom of the stairs for them, it could be assumed that Cora, Violet, Mary, and Edith had already began making their war towards the church.

"What has you two so cheerful?" Robert asked, "nothing" they both said, attempting to cease their laughter. "Alright then, we can still catch up with the others" Robert informed, walking towards the doors of the estate, quickly followed by his youngest daughter and his nephew.

(A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I would have liked to post it days ago but some things involving my schools band came up, until next time dear reader!)