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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Thomas woke up early on his day off, feeling excited to take Ellie out for a day of adventure after having a tough few weeks and quickly dressed himself in his grey suit. Kneeling beside her bed, he gently brushed her hair away from her face and whispered, "Good morning, my little bunny."
Ellie slowly opened her eyes, and a smile spread across her face as she saw her father. "H - hi Daddy" she replied, her voice filled with excitement.
Thomas then helped Ellie out of bed and dressed her in one of her favorite two-tone dresses. He then carefully brushed her hair, making sure not to tug on any knots.
After dressing, Thomas led Ellie to the bathroom, where he helped her brush her teeth and wash her face. "Are you all set, Ellie?" he asked, looking at her in the mirror.
Ellie grinned at her reflection and nodded. "I'm r - ready, Daddy!" she replied.
Thomas then returned to his room and retrieved Ellie's leg braces and shoes before heading back to her side. "Let's get these on, darling," he said, putting on her leg braces and shoes.
With Ellie on his hip they made their way downstairs, heading towards the back door, the servants' door. Thomas opened the door and stepped out into the fresh air.
"Where are w - we going, Daddy?" Ellie asked, her eyes full of curiosity.
Thomas smiled at his daughter. "It's a surprise, my love. But I promise you, it's going to be a wonderful day."
When they arrived at the train station, Thomas purchased two tickets to London and boarded the train. Ellie's eyes widened as the train set of and she looked out of the window, taking in the passing scenery. Thomas couldn't help but smile as he watched her.
"L - look, Daddy!" Ellie exclaimed as she pointed to a group of cows grazing in a nearby field. "Moo!"
Thomas chuckled. "Yes, that's right, darling."
Ellie giggled and clapped her hands, delighted with the world around her. Thomas couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at his daughter's happiness. She is a joyful and curious child, eager to explore the world around her.
As the train rumbled on, Thomas and Ellie talked and laughed, pointing out different sights and sounds along the way.
When they arrived in London they stepped off the train, Thomas could feel the excitement building in Ellie. She squealed and clapped her hands, her little legs kicking in anticipation. He lifted her onto his hip, feeling the weight of her body against his. He couldn't help but smile at the warmth of her presence.
As they walked through the city, Thomas scanned the streets, searching for the perfect spot for their first adventure of the day. He spotted a park in the distance and decided it was just the place for them to go. Ellie loved animals, so they headed towards a nearby pond.
Upon arriving at the pond, Thomas bought a loaf of bread from a nearby shop, and they made their way to the water's edge. Ellie's eyes widened in wonder as she saw the ducks gliding gracefully on the water's surface. Thomas crouched down behind her and supported her body, knowing that she couldn't stand upright on her own due to her cerebral palsy. He handed her a small piece of bread, and she giggled with delight as she threw it towards the ducks.
"Look at the ducks, Ellie! Can you see them?" Thomas asked, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
Ellie's eyes followed the movements of the ducks, her little arms reaching out towards them. Thomas watched with pride as his daughter interacted with the world around her, despite the physical limitations that her condition presented.
~
By the time they were finished feeding the ducks Thomas wondered what else he could do with his daughter while in London.
Thomas set Ellie on his hip once again and looked around for a place to take her. He spotted a sweet shop and grinned, knowing that Ellie would love picking out some treats.
"Come on, Ellie," he said, heading towards the door. "Let's go see what we can find in there."
As they entered the shop, the smell of sugar and chocolate hit them both, and Ellie let out a little giggle of pleasure.
Thomas walked around the shop with her on his hip, letting her look at all the different types of sweets and chocolates on offer. "What catches your eye, love?" he asked her, smiling at her.
Ellie's eyes roamed over the shelves, and then she pointed to a jar of penny sweets on a low shelf. "Those o - ones, Daddy," she said, her voice filled with excitement.
Thomas smiled and knelt down to take a closer look. There were all sorts of sweets in the jar, from chewy toffees to hard boiled candies in bright colours. He paid for the sweets and handed Ellie a few to enjoy.
At the end of the day, as they boarded the train back to Downton Abbey, Ellie snuggled up against her father's chest and fell asleep, exhausted from their day out. Thomas felt a sense of contentment and gratitude for his daughter, who had taught him so much about love, patience, and perseverance.
As the train chugged along, Thomas looked down at Ellie and whispered, "I love you, my sweet girl."
