✔️ shadows of desire | downton abbey

chapter 29

THOMAS POV

The air was thick with the scents of disinfectant and the faint aroma of antiseptic, mingling with the underlying musk of damp wood and earth at Downton Abbey. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the manicured lawns, I felt a wave of apprehension wash over me. Today was a day of arrivals, a day that would change everything.

"Lady Sybil, how many arrivals do we have today?" I asked, my voice steady, though the turmoil within me was palpable.

Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of determination and compassion. "About 45 men. Some are quite injured and require special care; others are simply here to recover."

"Very well," I replied, my gaze drifting to the entrance where the first trucks were beginning to pull up. "I trust you have everything in order?"

She nodded, her expression resolute. Lady Sybil always surprised me with her genuine care for people. Unlike many in her social circle, she didn't concern herself with status or reputation; she was a woman on a mission, committed to making a difference for those who had fought valiantly for their country.

The heavy rumble of engines grew louder as the trucks rolled to a halt, and the sound of boots hitting the gravel echoed in the stillness of the late afternoon. I turned my attention back to the arriving soldiers, the men who had endured horrors beyond comprehension, their faces pale and gaunt, eyes hollowed by pain and fatigue.

Then I saw them—two familiar figures being helped down from one of the trucks. My heart plummeted. Mr. Matthew Crawley and William Mason. I rushed toward them, confusion swirling in my mind. William wasn't supposed to be here; he was supposed to be in Leeds, receiving proper care.

"What the hell happened?" I muttered under my breath, quickening my pace.

"Thomas!" Lady Sybil's voice broke through my racing thoughts. I looked over to see her frozen in place, her expression a mixture of concern and fear. Following her gaze, I locked onto Matthew, his features pale and strained, but it was the sight of William that truly struck me—his leg bandaged and bloodied, his face contorted in pain.

I approached the driver, the man's weathered face grim as he handed me the transfer forms. I skimmed through them quickly, adrenaline flooding my veins until I reached Matthew's form. My blood turned to ice as I read the signature scrawled at the bottom: Eden Barrow, nurse.

Everything clicked into place, and I felt a surge of emotions crashing over me like a tidal wave. Eden had broken protocol for William, risking her position to ensure he received care. My chest tightened with a mix of admiration and dread.

"Mr. Barrow," Lady Sybil said softly, her voice tinged with compassion, "there was a letter addressed to you in Matthew's pocket."

I blinked at her, stunned, as she handed me the crumpled paper. "Thank you," I managed to say, my hands trembling slightly as I unfolded the letter. The scent of ink and paper filled my nostrils, and as I read, my heart raced.

Eden's words flowed from the page, a soothing balm on my frayed nerves. She had forgiven me for what I had done, for the choices I had made that had driven us apart. "I love you, Thomas," she had written, and those four words struck me like a lightning bolt.

The guilt that had haunted me since the day I had sent her away resurfaced, heavier than ever. "Take care of both men for me while I take care of others," she had written. A soft sigh escaped my lips, mixed with frustration and longing. If Eden ever came back to Downton, she would certainly get an earful from me. But right now, there was no time for that.

"Lady Sybil," I said, glancing up from the letter, my voice steady despite the chaos surrounding us. "We need to get them inside and stabilize them. There's no time to waste."