Echoes of the Past

Chapter 3

Sam and Veronica's first day at Downton Abbey was far from smooth. They quickly realized that working in such a grand estate was no easy task. From the moment they started, it was a whirlwind of chores, instructions, and unfamiliar customs. Every task seemed to bring some kind of challenge, leading to comical, and sometimes frustrating, mishaps.

Sam, assigned to help with some manual labor and serving duties, found himself tripping over protocols he had no idea existed. At one point, he awkwardly carried a tray of teacups, nearly dropping it when one of the footmen, Bates, gently stepped in to steady his hands with a knowing smile.

Veronica, meanwhile, tried her best to keep up in the kitchen, where Mrs. Patmore ruled with an iron spatula. After burning a loaf of bread and nearly slicing her finger off while chopping vegetables, she found herself at the mercy of Anna, who kindly showed her how things were done properly.

But the most awkward part of the day for Sam was the lingering looks he kept getting from Mr. Barrow, the estate's underbutler. Every time Sam caught Barrow's eye, the man would hold his gaze a little too long, making Sam shift uncomfortably.

By the end of the day, Sam and Veronica collapsed onto an old couch in the servant quarters, exhausted and grateful for a few minutes of peace.

Veronica let out an exaggerated groan, stretching her arms over her head. "Who knew working at Downton Abbey could be such a bitch?"

Sam snorted in agreement, slumping back against the cushions. "Definitely not as glamorous as it looks from the outside."

Veronica shook her head. "And that stiff-ass Carson. I swear, he's got eyes on the back of his head. I could barely breathe without him showing up out of nowhere."

Sam chuckled, rubbing his face with his hands. "Yeah, he's a bit intense. And don't even get me started on Mrs. Patmore. I thought she was gonna throttle you earlier."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Trust me, I wanted to throttle her. At least Mrs. Hughes is nice."

Sam nodded. "She is. Though, I gotta admit, I keep getting these weird looks from Mr. Barrow... Like he's sizing me up or something."

Veronica let out a chuckle, catching Sam's uncomfortable expression. "That's because he's a fruitcake, if you catch my drift."

Sam blinked, the realization dawning on him. "Oh."

Veronica grinned at his awkward reaction. "Don't worry, I already had a little chat with him. Told him you weren't interested."

Sam laughed nervously, clearly relieved. "Thanks. That would've been... awkward."

They sat in silence for a moment, catching their breath and letting the day's chaos settle in.

Veronica broke the quiet first, turning her head toward Sam. "So, anything unusual you noticed?"

Sam shook his head. "Nothing that stood out to me. Just the usual hustle and bustle. What about you?"

Veronica shrugged. "Same here. I guess we'll just have to keep looking. Something's bound to slip through the cracks eventually."

XXXX

The morning light filtered into Downton Abbey as Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson stood in the main hallway, quietly discussing the newest additions to the house staff. Mr. Carson, ever the picture of formality, folded his hands behind his back and spoke in his usual measured tone.

"Well, Mrs. Hughes, I must say the new staff members from America bring... unique qualities to Downton."

Mrs. Hughes raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Unique qualities? Go on."