Downton Abbey - The Story of Emma Barrow

The Jazz Musician (June 1922)

"Mrs Baxter, you mentioned that you've known my dad forever," Emma began, starting a conversation with the new maid. She had a feeling that Mrs Baxter was a kind maid. Her dad would never help a mean maid get a job. Besides, the woman simply didn't look deceitful.

Baxter smiled nervously, the memory of the past and the promise she had made to Thomas still fresh in her mind. "That's right," she said, trying to smile warmly. "I was friends with his older sister."

"Then you must know my Mama too, right?" Emma asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Baxter struggled internally. She didn't want to hurt Emma, but she had to keep the promise she had made to Thomas. "I'm not sure," she replied. "Thomas never introduced me to his... uh... wife."

"But you lived in the same city! You must have seen her," Emma persisted.

"I can't tell you anything."

"Yes, you can! You knew Mama!"

"Emma, it's complicated," Mrs Baxter tried to explain.

"It's not complicated. I asked you a yes or no question."

"I'm sorry," Baxter shook her head. Emma looked at Baxter disappointedly. "Why can adults never be honest?" she muttered to herself and left the servants' hall with a sigh.

Baxter breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to lie to the girl, which was difficult if she didn't want Thomas as her enemy. She finished her sewing, and Mrs Patmore joyfully took her kitchen apron from her. Phyllis had hoped to relax when the next Barrow entered the servants' hall.

"Another person pulled into the fray," remarked Thomas, lighting a cigarette.

"I'm grateful for this job, Thomas, and we both know why, but what does all this mean?" wondered Mrs. Baxter.

"Well, there will be changes at Downton. It has to be."

"I can imagine."

"That's why I want to know about every plan the family has. Every detail – no matter how insignificant. Do you understand?", Thomas asked.

"Were the other maids your informants too?"

"Mrs. O'Brien, yes... but we fell out," replied Thomas curtly.

"And Emma?", Mrs. Baxter asked.

Thomas's expression hardened. For a while, he found it convenient that Emma told him everything she overheard, but he certainly didn't see his child as an informant. He didn't want to use his child for his schemes – not anymore – at least not if it could be avoided.

"You haven't told me anything about her," Baxter tried to keep the conversation going.

"I don't see why I should have," Thomas retorted snappily.

"She resembles her so much," Baxter reminisced, "I would have liked to know about Emma earlier, Thomas."

"It's better if as few people as possible know about Emma's background... including Emma herself," he said and took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaling the smoke slowly. His eyes focused on an invisible point in the distance as he thought. Again he inhaled deeply and blew the smoke out slowly, trying to conceal his emotions. "You understand why it has to be this way, don't you?"

Baxter nodded slowly, "Why doesn't Emma know the truth?" the maid concluded.

"Can't you really figure that out?" wondered Thomas.

"You're not protecting Emma from the truth, Thomas. You're just delaying it, and one day, when Emma finds out she's been lied to her whole life..."

"She won't," Thomas interrupted confidently, "I won't tell her, and neither will you, Mrs. Baxter."