✔️ shadows of desire | downton abbey

chapter 12

The sun was high and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers as Thomas and I strolled through the park. Birds chirped merrily, adding a cheerful soundtrack to the warm, sunny day. After a long stretch of rain, the park was finally alive with activity—children laughing and playing, couples strolling hand in hand, and the occasional dog barking excitedly as it chased a ball.

As we passed a small ice cream cart, Thomas glanced at me with a playful smile. "Would you like some ice cream?" he asked.

I nodded, feeling the heat of the day on my skin. "Sure, thank you. I'm going to sit down, my feet are hurting from these shoes." I said, gesturing to the nearby bench.

Thomas nodded and made his way to the cart while I sank onto the bench with a sigh of relief. The freshly cut grass released a delightful scent that mingled with the warm air, and the sun's rays bathed the park in a golden glow. I watched as children ran around, their joyous giggles filling the air. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would have been like to have a carefree childhood like theirs. My own had been filled with chores and scolding, with Thomas often sneaking me out early in the mornings to show me the most beautiful places he could find.

"There you go," Thomas's voice broke through my thoughts as he handed me an ice cream cone and settled beside me. "What are you thinking about?"

I took a bite of the cool, creamy treat and shrugged. "My childhood. I just saw a couple of children running around, enjoying their childhood."

Thomas's expression softened, and he hesitated before speaking. "I am sorry," he said quietly. "I should've done something when I saw what was going on."

I shook my head, offering him a reassuring smile. "You were a child yourself. You couldn't do anything. Everything you did was just right."

Our peaceful moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Lady Mary appeared, her elegant figure casting a shadow over us. "Good day to you both," she greeted, her voice smooth and polite. "Enjoying your day off?"

I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. "Very much, milady."

"Mr. Crawley was looking for you today," Lady Mary continued, her gaze settling on me. "He mentioned something about last night."

I felt my cheeks flush with heat, and I noticed Thomas raising an eyebrow at me. "I-uh- yes, Mr. Crawley caught the book I accidentally dropped," I stuttered, feeling the embarrassment creeping up.

"I see. When you return from your day off, please be so kind to hear him out." Lady Mary said, her tone neutral before she bid us farewell and walked away.

Thomas turned to me, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Eden, is there something you want to tell me?"

I sighed, knowing I couldn't keep it from him. "No."

"Eden, don't lie to me," he insisted, his tone more serious. "Go on, Denny, tell me."

With another sigh, I rolled my eyes and relented. "I wanted to clean up the library so the housemaids didn't need to do so in the morning. Lady Mary left a book on the table and I put it back when I fell off the ladder. Mr. Crawley was there and caught me." I explained.

Thomas's eyes widened, a mixture of shock and amusement on his face. "Eden Elizabeth Barrow, how dare you keep this from me? Your dearest brother?"

I couldn't help but laugh at his exaggerated tone. "It was nothing, really. Just a bit of a scare."

"Nothing?" Thomas scoffed. "You could have been seriously hurt! And Mr. Crawley of all people, the one who always seemed to look down on us..."

"He was actually quite kind," I admitted, surprising myself with the realization.