Being a Barrow - A Sequel to Barrow's Boy

Scoundrel Like Me

     Many things from the night before had left Thomas uncertain. Were the other men from Turtons alright? Did Everett and his friends leave early enough not to be caught up in it all? What exactly was his relationship with Mister Ellis now? 

     There was, however, one thing that Thomas was very certain of:

     There was no way in hell that he was telling Theodore that he'd nearly been put in jail.

     No, it would be best for both of them if Teddy never found out. Then, his son could continue to live in ignorant bliss, and Thomas would avoid any judgement or questions or, God forbid, pity from the boy. 

     He'd secluded himself in the butler's pantry after breakfast that morning, letting everyone else deal with the departure of the royal family. If he was honest, he was still quite shaken up after nearly being imprisoned, as any man was likely to be, and the thought of listening to everyone prattle on about how they'd served the royal family was far from what he wanted and needed right now. 

     What would he have done if Mr. Ellis wasn't there? As much as he wanted Theodore to stay in the dark, he supposed that if he'd been given the chance to call for bail, Teddy would have been his choice. But no, Mr. Ellis had shown up like a bloody knight in shining armour, ready to sweep Thomas away from that place. 

     And speak of the man himself; while everyone else was going upstairs to see off the royals, Ellis was walking into Thomas's pantry. Thomas smiled, moving to stand.

     "So you're off to London," Thomas acknowledged as he rounded the desk to stand with the man. Through the open door, he could still see everyone climbing the stairs. He didn't see Theodore among them, even though he knew the Ashtons would be leaving now. Though, Teddy would be seeing them later that night anyway.

     "They'll drop me at the station," Mr. Ellis replied. Thomas turned his gaze to the man. Standing across from him somehow made Thomas forget all of the worries that had been filling his head.

     "I hope we can keep in touch," Thomas confessed. "I feel that I've finally found a friend."

     "Is that what you've found, Mister Barrow?" Ellis replied. "A friend?"

     Any words that could have answered him got caught in Thomas's throat, words stumbling with his stuttering heart. Before he could even think of the right thing to say, something that wouldn't fuck this up, Ellis stepped forward and-

     As their lips touched, Thomas' heart jumped. And then he kissed back. After all these years of Thomas initiating, of being wrong in his judgments or desperate in his actions, he was finally the recipient. No, this was more than that. He-

     "Their Majesties are going."

     At the sound of Andy's voice, Ellis quickly stepped away, turning to look at the open door as the footman appeared. 

     "Thanks."

      Though Andy left after that, Thomas dared not kiss the man again. Not after such a close call. Ellis made no move either, but he did speak again.

     "I want you to have this."

     The key ring that he pulled out of his pocket had a silver crescent moon fob. It fit nicely in Thomas' hand as he took it. 

      "It's not much, but I've had it for years. It'll remind you of me. That's the point, isn't it? So you can think of me 'til we meet again?"

     It was soppy to even think it, but this all felt like some sort of dream. One that would be incredibly cruel if Thomas woke up to it all being fiction.