This is the story of Thomas Barrow.
Thomas Barrow has been working as the first footman at Downton Abbey for years. He's always been careful to keep his personal life hidden from the prying eyes of the other staff members and the Crawley family. Bu...
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Thomas sat in the servants' kitchen, gently rocking his daughter, Ellie, in his arms. The fire crackled in the hearth, providing some warmth on the cold day. He was lost in thought, gazing at his daughter's tiny, perfect face, when he heard a voice from behind him that he never thought he would hear again.
"Thomas," the voice said.
Thomas's heart skipped a beat as he turned to see Miss O'Brien standing in the doorway. He had cut ties with her after she had tried to get him sacked from Downton Abbey, and her presence now sent chills down his spine.
"What are you doing here?" Thomas asked, trying to hide the anger in his voice.
"I heard about the baby, of course I had to come see for myself," Miss O'Brien replied with a smirk.
Thomas's instincts kicked in as he felt a surge of protectiveness for his daughter. He knew all too well what Miss O'Brien was capable of, and he wasn't about to let her harm Ellie in any way.
"You've seen her, now leave," Thomas said firmly, not wanting to let any negativity near his daughter.
"Oh, don't be like that Thomas," Miss O'Brien said with a laugh. "I just wanted to see the little girl who's caused such a stir in the Abbey."
"I won't let you hurt her," Thomas said with determination. "You won't get the chance to do to her what you did to me."
Miss O'Brien's smirk faded, replaced with a look of annoyance. "You still hold a grudge, I see."
"You turned against me, tried to get me sacked," Thomas reminded her. "I'll never forget that."
"Well, I see I'm not welcome here," Miss O'Brien said with a sigh. "But don't think this is the last you'll hear from me."
"I hope not," Thomas replied. "Now I'll ask again... what are you doing here?", asked, his tone cold and distant.
Miss O'Brien snorted. "I've returned to work at Downton, of course. I see you've changed, Thomas, but don't forget who you're dealing with."
Thomas clutched Ellie tighter to his chest, a feeling of worry and unease washing over him. "I may have changed, but I still remember what you're capable of. Stay away from my daughter."
Miss O'Brien smirked. "Oh, Thomas, you have nothing to worry about. I have no interest in a little half-breed like that. But remember, I'll always be watching."
Thomas felt his anger boil over. "How dare you," he hissed, his voice trembling with rage. "How dare you come in here and call my daughter a half-breed. She is not a half-breed, she is a human being with just as much worth and dignity as anyone else."
O'Brien's smile faded, replaced by a look of annoyance. "You've turned into quite the sentimental fool," she spat, then she merely laughed, her eyes flashing with amusement. "Don't be so sensitive, Thomas. You know as well as I do that she will never be accepted by society. She will always be looked down upon, always be an outcast."
With that, she turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Thomas alone with his thoughts and fears.
Thomas sat back down in his rocking chair, cradling Ellie close to him. He couldn't help but wonder what Miss O'Brien's appearance meant for him and his daughter. He vowed to always protect Ellie and keep her away from anyone who might try to hurt her.
"You'll always be safe with me, my little girl," Thomas whispered to Ellie as he rocked her back to sleep. "I'll always protect you, no matter what."
~
Later that afternoon in the servants' kitchen at Downton Abbey was bustling with activity as the staff sat down for their lunch. Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson sat at the head of the table, with the other servants surrounding them. They were all gathered together, taking a break from their daily duties to enjoy a meal and each other's company.
"Ah, this soup is just what I needed on a cold day like today," Mrs. Hughes said as she took a sip from her bowl.
"Indeed, Mrs. Hughes. It's always a comfort to have a warm meal," Mr. Carson added, nodding in agreement.
The atmosphere was relaxed, but there was an underlying tension as the servants knew that Miss O'Brien's return to Downton Abbey. No one spoke of it openly, but the elephant in the room was palpable. Thomas sat at the table, eating his lunch in silence, his week-old daughter Ellie asleep on his lap.
"How is little Ellie doing, Thomas?" Mrs. Hughes asked, breaking the silence.
"She's doing well, thank you," Thomas replied, not taking his eyes off of his daughter. "She's such a good baby."
No one else said anything to Miss O'Brien when she walked into the kitchen, taking her place at the table. She seemed unfazed by the cold reception and simply started eating her lunch.
"I see that some things never change," Miss O'Brien said, with a hint of sarcasm.
"We have all moved on, Miss O'Brien," Mr. Carson said sternly. "And it's best if we all just focus on our duties and forget about any past disputes."
The rest of the meal passed in silence, with each of the servants lost in their own thoughts. It was clear that the return of Miss O'Brien had ruffled some feathers, but they all knew that they needed to put their differences aside and work together for the good of Downton Abbey.
As they finished their meal and returned to their duties, Thomas went to sit back in his rocking chair watching as his daughter slept peacefully in his arms. Despite the tension in the air, he was grateful for this moment of peace and happiness.
