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Footman in Training	By : imdirty Category: 1 through F > Downton Abbey Views: 2654 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Downton Abbey and am not making money from this story. And I'm hoping I'm doing this disclaimer thing right :)

Chapter List
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Price hoped the chilly walk to the Bates’s cottage would help rouse him. He struggled to fall asleep the night before after such a whirlwind day, and knew he probably faced a second hectic day with Eric still in the house.

As Price arrived at the cottage, Mr. Bates was just leaving to dress Lord Grantham early for a morning meeting. He tipped his hat to Price as Anna greeted him.

Anna offered Price some coffee and bread. “I’m afraid I haven’t much in the cabinets, I’ve been too tired to do the shopping as often these days.”

“Don’t worry about me, I should be asking what I can do for you,” Price said, removing his hat and overcoat. “I can do the shopping for you sometime.”

“You’re very sweet,” Anna said, hanging Price’s hat and coat. “Was everything alright with Mr. Barrow yesterday?”

“Oh,” Price said, forgetting he had asked Anna to be on the lookout. “Yes. All set now, nothing to worry about.”

“You look quite tired, are you sure?”

Price shrugged. “Nothing to trouble you with, at least. Why don’t we go have a look at what you’ve been working on upstairs?”

“I fear I made it sound like I’ve something grand to show you,” Anna said as they climbed the stairs. “It’s nothing spectacular.”

“I disagree,” Price said as he followed Anna into the small and narrow room. Morning sunlight streamed through the white drapes. The walls were pale green with white furniture; a cradle, rocking chair, and dresser. A few framed pieces of embroidery hung on the walls in matching white frames, and a mobile of whimsical wooden farm animals hung in the corner. The highlight of the room was a window seat the Bates’s built, just wide enough for them both to sit with the baby. Anna had sewed a yellow cushion for it with green and yellow pillows.

Anna noticed Price admiring the window seat. “Give it a try.”

Price sat down and scanned the room from the new position. “This is so beautiful. He’s such a lucky baby.”

“So you’ve still decided the baby is a ‘he’?”

“Oh yes, I have a sense for this kind of thing.”

Anna chuckled, her hands on her stomach. “Well he’s not the only lucky one, we’ll be lucky to have him.”

“You’re lucky indeed,” Price said dreamily, twisting his torso to check the view from the window.

“David, I’m still not sure you’re alright.”

“Ignore me.”

Anna stepped toward Price and bent to look at his face. “Is that a tear?”

Price turned back from the window. “I came here to celebrate you, not feel sorry for myself.”

“Push over,” Anna said, nudging Price. “I’m big but I can get in there with you.”

Price scooted over, letting Anna fit in next to him.

“What’s troubling you?”

Price looked around the room again and let his eyes rest on the empty cradle. “It just makes me a little jealous.”

“David, you could have this someday, too. We’re so much older than you and we’re just starting, you have plenty of time.”

Price’s eyes fell to his feet. For all of their closeness and friendship, he forgot that Anna was unaware of a big part of who he was.

“No, it’s not in the plan for me.”

“Maybe not now, but don’t say never.”

“I know never. Trust me, you don’t want me to explain.”

Anna touched Price’s shoulder. “Is it something to do with the war?”

Price shook his head.

“You don’t have to tell me, but please know you can trust me.”

“It’s not something I can say directly.”

“Alright,” Anna said warmly, “give me a hint, and then I can guess, and you won’t have to say a word.”

Price shook his head again.

“David, I’ve seen a lot in my life. You can’t shock me.”

Price leaned against the window. “I won’t have a family because there’d never be a right woman for me.”

“David, any woman would want to be with you.”

Price met Anna’s eyes. “Anna, there would never be a right woman for me.”

“Oh. Oh my.”

“If you want me to leave, I understand.”

“Oh, David!” Anna cried, grabbing his hands. “Never! I hope you think better of me than that. And it’s not as if you’re even the only one in the house. I mean we all know Thomas-” Anna stopped herself and looked into Price’s eyes.

Price gave Anna a sheepish grin.

Anna sat up straight. “David, there is absolutely nothing wrong with who you are. Thomas, though, well, you can do better.”

“You’re all so harsh about him, but he’s wonderful to me.”

Anna sighed. “He has his moments, I’ve seen plenty good ones over the years. But his bad moments, well, they can be quite dark, David.”

“Does Mr. Bates have no dark moments? Do you love him anyway?”

“Love?” Anna gasped.

“Thomas isn’t worthy of love in your eyes?”

“No, of course he is. I just think you have a lot ahead of you in life to settle for someone like him.”

“You think you all know him so much better than I do. He’s spikey because he’s had to be to protect himself. It’s hard being someone like him - someone like me.”

“You don’t act like he acts.”

“It’s not all roses for me either, I just tend to take things out on myself rather than everyone else.”

Anna patted Price’s hand. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m so thankful you told me and that you trust me. I just want the best for you.”

Price wiped his eye. “You’ll never look at me the same way.”

“Why should I?” Anna said, giving Price a comforting smile. “Now I know more about you, I should see you in a new light. It’s not a bad thing.”

“I would never ask you to keep anything from Mr. Bates, but I don’t want anyone else in the house to know. They can’t.”

“I would never tell a soul, not even Mr. Bates if you don’t want me to.”

“I won’t make you keep secrets. Maybe, though, don’t tell him the part about Thomas.”

“A fair compromise,” Anna said, still smiling.

“Truth be told, I’m a bit nervous when it comes to Thomas. I’m not his only prospect, and I think I’d about die if he chose someone over me.”

“I’ll try to refrain from saying insulting things about Thomas to you, but he would be an absolute fool to think there is a better person on this planet than you.”

Price rested his head against the window and looked down at Anna. “I’m out of sorts, and when I’m less groggy later I’m going to sorely regret burdening you with this information.”

“It’s no burden. Don’t look at me like that, it’s not. You’re still my David.”

Price felt his chest constrict with Anna’s last words and he couldn’t stop himself from crying.

“Maybe you need to take a rest today.”

“There’s a good sized dinner party tonight. Mr. Carson can’t be a man down. I’ll be alright.”

Anna put her head on Price’s shoulder and sat with him quietly until he was more composed.

“I should tell you,” Price said, sniffling, “no one who’s loved me and learned this about me has ever said that I’m still their David.”

“Not your family? What about your sister-in-law, you're close?”

“There’s an understanding, but we’ve never spoken of it.”

“Then I feel that much more privileged you shared it with me.”

Price stood and helped Anna to her feet. “What a gloomy mood I’ve set over my visit. Forgive me, I didn’t sleep much and I’ve a lot on my mind. I really am beyond pleased for you and Mr. Bates.”

“I know you are,” Anna said, standing on her toes to kiss Price’s cheek. “Let’s head up to the house and we can talk about the rest of my plans for the room on our way.”

Thomas awoke to his alarm exhausted from lack of sleep as well as odd dreams,mostly random, but punctuated by intimate scenes with Eric and Price. One replayed itself as he shuffled out of bed and over to his pitcher and basin. In the dream, both men were on their knees before him, kissing one another before putting their mouths on him. Dream was pleasant, but in the harsh light of day it caused questions, and self doubt, to bubble up in his mind.

Price made it back in time to help with breakfast service. With just Lady Edith, Mr. Branson and Eric at the breakfast table, the three were quite chatty. Eric focused on the conversation and tried to keep his eyes from Thomas and Price. It was strange enough having tea and dinner with Price standing silently by the wall, but watching Thomas blend in with the furniture made him especially uncomfortable. He wondered how such a bold personality could be satisfied in a job with a great deal of the time spent being ignored.

After breakfast, Lady Edith and Eric walked the grounds. It had warmed up and the snow was melting, setting a fog over Downton. Thomas watched them from a window until they faded into the haze. He found Price in the boot room and joined him in shining shoes, several pairs lined up for whoever had a free hand to work on them that morning.

“Do you think Lady Edith knows about Eric?” Price asked Thomas.

“What about him? Me and him?”

“Not that, obviously. About how he’s like you and me.”

Thomas glanced at Price. “I don’t know. I hope so, otherwise she may be getting mixed messages from his visit.”

“I feel like she might know. And everyone here knows about you, don’t they?”

“I don’t like this line of questioning. What are you getting at?”

“Blimey, Thomas, I’m not getting at anything. Not like you’re thinking. I just wonder what it must feel like to have everyone know about you. It’s not some big secret you have to keep.”

“It’s not as if they know and accept it with open arms. I’ve had many struggles here because of it.”

“I don’t doubt that, but now at least, everyone knows, and you don’t have to pretend you’re something you’re not.”

Thomas put down the shoe and grabbed another. “Are you bothered because you have to pretend?”

“Very. Though Anna knows now.”

“How?”

“I went down this morning to see the nursery, and I got a bit jealous that I’ll never have a cottage, and a spouse, and a baby. I even cried a bit.”

Thomas rolled his eyes. “David, what doesn’t make you blubber?”

“Don’t make light of this. I should have wanted a family if I were a real man.”

Thomas paused and looked at Price. “I don’t think I heard you right. What did you just say about yourself?”

“Nothing, Thomas,” Price said, brushing the shoe in his hand with force.

“Put that down and look at me.”

Price huffed and looked at Thomas.

“Don’t ever let me hear you say that again. Don’t let other people get in your head,” Thomas said, tapping his own head with his finger. “You’re different, but no less a man.”

Price nodded and resumed his work.

“While we’re talking about jealousy, I’m still having a hard time with the information you shared this morning.”

“What information?”

“About you and other men. Plural. At the same time.”

Price smiled. “Why are you so stuck on this? It’s no big deal.”

“No big deal? I’ve had my fair share of experiences but that isn’t one of them, and you make it sound like it was a regular occurrence for you.”

“You like being older and wiser, and you hate it that I’ve had more experience in certain ways than you have.”

“Not more experience, just different.”

“No, it was probably more, too,” Price said, chuckling.

“Getting a kick out of this?”

Price shrugged.

“How many times were you with more than one person at once?”

Price laughed. “Why would I keep count?”

“You can’t even count off the top of your head?” Thomas asked, dismayed.

Thomas’s reaction only made Price laugh harder. “Do you keep a running list of your conquests?”

“I could count them, yes, plus I’m only asking you to count the ones where you doubled up. Maybe you’re right, you do have me beat on this.”

“And that bothers you.”

“You have a past, I can accept that.”

“But you can’t accept that I’ve had more of a past than you,” Price said as he finished the second shoe. “Meanwhile, I’ve been kind enough to accept your very recent past presently under the same roof.”

“Yes, Saint David, the benevolent. You’re very kind to me indeed.”

“If a recent lover of mine showed up at the back door, you’d have driven him out of here by now.”

“‘Lover’, what a silly word. Whatever he was before, he’s my friend now, that’s why you covered for him and why you do more than tolerate him. You even want to be his friend, so stop with this nonsense.”

“I want to be his good friend,” Price said in a low voice.

“That’s it, I’ve had enough of your cheek for one morning,” Thomas said. He packed up the polish and rags and went off to find other duties.

Later, after lunch, Eric caught Thomas in the gallery and asked him to follow him to his room.

“What would you say if someone caught you in here?” Eric asked.

“That you had questions about getting into your tuxedo tonight,” Thomas answered in his standard under-butler voice.

Eric raised an eyebrow. “My word, I hadn’t even thought of that. I hope I put it on properly.”

“I’ll come back to check that you did.”

“I can’t convince you to help me into it, can I?”

Thomas gave a wry smile. “Maybe David can help you.”

Eric laughed. “You’re funny, Thomas. I didn’t pull you in here to banter, and I’m sure we don’t have much time before one of us is missed. I wanted to ask you about that idea of David’s.”

Thomas was flustered for a moment before he realized Eric wasn’t involved in the menage a trois discussions. “The job in London?”

“Why haven’t you jumped on the opportunity?”

“Even if his brother’s keen on it, who’s to say it would work out? Then I’d have lost this position, which is a very good one.”

“Is it? You spend so much of it still and silent waiting for someone to need you. Most of the time they ignore you, like you’re a lamp or a chair.”

“That’s a very small part of what I do. I don’t want to stand here and defend my job. Sorry it’s not as big and important as a globe trotting journalist.”

Eric’s nostrils flared. “You know damn well that’s not what I meant.”

Thomas hadn’t expected Eric to respond to his jibe with anger, and he was silent as his cheeks grew warm.

“I don’t doubt your title is a prestigious one among servants, in this house or any other, but you have a chance to do something that could be a passion rather than just a position.”

“It’s not just a position. The family is very good to me, and as for the staff, I may not be chums with everyone but I still feel like I’m a part of the group. It’s taken a good long time to feel that way. I’d be throwing it all away on something that’s not even a sure thing.”

Eric put his hands on Thomas’s face. “My dear Thomas, the world is changing. You have a chance to get ahead of it and change with it, rather than watch it change around you. The great homes are falling, and if anything’s a sure thing, it’s that Downton will be among them some time before your retirement. What then?”

“That’s not a sure thing,” Thomas said softly. “Downton has more staff than most.”

“For now. What about twenty years from now?”

“They’d still need a butler, and I’m the best candidate.”

“Anything could change.”

“You just want me to live closer to you.”

Eric chuckled and pulled Thomas into a hug. “There’s that, sure, but even if the shop were in the village I’d say go for it.”

“You smell lovely.”

Eric laughed again. “I’m so tired of you getting dodgy around serious subjects.”

“You’re tired of me?”

“God, never,” Eric said, kissing Thomas’s forehead.

“Have you ever been with two men at once?”

“Goodness, you’re really trying to change the subject, aren’t you?”

“Just wondering. Have you?”

“Why, would David be game? Are you offering?”

“I don't think I'm the kind of person who could do that.”

Eric pulled back from the hug enough to look in Thomas’s eyes. “Wait a second, have you actually been thinking this over?”

“I think it’s just a selfish thought so I don’t have to choose between you and David.”

Eric held Thomas close again and squeezed him. “Then I’ll make the choice easy. I am in lust with you, and I love you, but David is in love with you.”

Thomas returned Eric’s squeeze and kissed his neck.

“I was trying to make things easy, and you’re making them harder.”

“Harder you say?”

“That’s juvenile,” Eric said, closing his eyes. “And yes.”

“If I had convinced David, would you have joined us in… a little fun?”

“I’d answer that question if I believed for a moment it was an actual offer. Sorry, Thomas, I know it’s not.”

“So that means I can’t know the answer?”

Eric held Thomas’s face in one hand and kissed his lips. “You know the answer.”

“I don’t think I do,” Thomas said with faux innocence.

Eric kissed Thomas’s lips again, softly and slowly. “If you invited me, and you meant it, I’d ravage you both.”

“I - I still don’t follow.”

Eric licked Thomas from his collar to his ear. He whispered, “I’d let you both do whatever you wanted to me, no matter how filthy or vulgar. You could spank me, wank me, suck me, fuck me. Whatever it took until you were both drained of every last drop, which I’d greedily lick from your naked bodies as you kissed and caressed each other in the afterglow of your orgasms. But alas, you’re not the type.”

“...I’m reconsidering,” Thomas said, swallowing.

Eric rubbed his nose against Thomas’s. “I bet he’d do anything for you that I would, and he’d do it with a love I don’t think I’m even capable of giving.”

“Why do you want me to be with him? Don’t you want me?”

“Don’t keep asking just to hear my answer. If things between the two of you change, I’ll always want you. Now, though, I want you to be happy, and I know what will make you happy. Take him, take the job he’s offering, and take my friendship.”

“And if I’m ever willing to take both of you at once?”

“Then you know where to find me.”

Thomas sighed. “I’ll come back after the gong is rung and make sure you don’t embarrass us all in your tuxedo.”

Eric hugged Thomas one last time before letting him go. “No, send David. I want a chance to lick his neck, too, before I depart for the milk train.”

“You’re leaving that early?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll visit you regularly once you’re employed at the shop.”

“You think you’ve convinced me, just like that?”

“I hope between the two of us, David and I can sway you. Now remember what I said last night, help me at dinner.”

“I’d be a bigger help if you gave me a hint as to what I was helping with.”

“Well where’s the fun in that?” Eric said playfully.

Downstairs, the staff prepared for tea. Thomas joined them after a quick smoke break to gather himself.

“Where were you? I’ve been looking all over,” Price asked, catching Thomas as he came in from the courtyard.

“What do you think I was doing out there, building a snowman?”

“Before that.”

“I was talking to Eric.”

“Talking?,” Price asked, crossing his arms. “Are you sure? Your bowtie is crooked.”

Thomas straightened his tie and looked down at Price. “Talking about you.”

“Nice things, I hope.”

“Very nice, indeed.”

Mr. Carson turned the corner and sighed. “There you both are. Stop chattering and start helping, there’s tea to serve and a sizeable guest list coming for dinner. One of you start serving tea, the other get up to the dining room.”

“Yes, Mr. Carson,” both men replied.

“You can take tea,” Price said, “that way you can make eyes at Eric over the Earl Grey.”

“Or you can take tea, he’d be just as happy to make eyes at you. In fact, he was quite interested in your idea to get us all better acquainted.”

“My what?”

“You know,” Thomas said, putting up three fingers.

“You’re like a child with a new toy,” Price said, laughing quietly.

“Except I don’t have the toy, and I never had the toy. It’s not fair. Both of you have gotten to play.”

“You had to bother him about it, too?”

“Seems everyone but me has had the opportunity.”

“Poor, deprived bloke. You’ll never delight in the pleasures of two at once. Oh, and don’t even get me started about going at it as a group. That’s a real experience.”

Thomas’s face lit up with a smile. “Get to the dining room before I drag you upstairs to Eric.”

“Mmm. Promises, promises, Thomas.”

Miss Baxter watched Thomas and Price in the hallway from her seat at the servant’s hall table, not sure what they were talking about, but noticing their laughing and whispering. Anna was seated with her, both cleaning jewelry. She saw Miss Baxter looking, and turned to look as well.

“It’s nice that they’re friends,” Miss Baxter said to Anna.

“David’s friends with everybody,” Anna said.

Miss Baxter dipped a necklace into a bowl of cleaning solution. “Yes, but Mr. Barrow isn’t. I keep seeing changes in him the longer David is here. I’m thankful for it.”

Anna brushed a gold bangle and kept her eyes on her work. “I’m sure Mr. Barrow is happy to have a friend.”

“You look upset. Did I say something wrong?”

“Oh, no,” Anna said, looking up and smiling. “A happy Mr. Barrow makes things better for all of us. We all know how unpleasant an unhappy Mr. Barrow can be.”

“What’s this about an unhappy Mr. Barrow?” Mrs. Hughes asked, entering the servant’s hall.

“We were just admiring how David seems to have a good way with Mr. Barrow,” Miss Baxter replied.

“How funny, when he first came here I thought he might wind up being a good influence. Now that you say it, I think you’re right.”

“I just hope there isn’t too much of an influence in the reverse direction,” Anna said.

Miss Baxter dipped a pair of earrings. “Let’s be kind, I don’t think we’ve seen any signs of a bad influence on David.”

“I quite agree,” Mrs. Hughes said as she left to check things in the kitchen.

Thomas was waiting for Daisy to restock a tray of sandwiches for tea.

“Were your ears burning, Mr. Barrow?” Mrs. Hughes asked.

“Who’s talking about me now?”

“Nothing bad,” Mrs. Hughes said, “don’t assume the worst. Miss Baxter was just pointing out that you and David are a good pair.”

“We’re a what?” Thomas asked, taken aback by the comment.

“That you’re friends, and that the friendship does you good. I was agreeing with her.”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure what you were implying,” Thomas said, making sure the kitchen staff couldn’t hear him. “You know how people can be about me around here.”

Mrs. Hughes patted Thomas’s arm. “You’ll have no accusations from me,” she said reassuringly.

“All set,” Daisy called to Thomas. She handed him the tray and looked curiously at Mrs. Hughes as he left. “What was that about?”

“None of your concern,” Mrs. Hughes replied.

Thomas placed his tray on the table in the library and took his spot beside it. I’m not a lamp or a chair, he thought.

Eric sat by the fire with the younger Crawleys, engrossed in conversation. Lady Edith sipped her tea and smiled at Eric. “I’ve really enjoyed your surprise visit. I plan to spend more time in London after the New Year, so you’ll be seeing more of me.”

“The staff will be delighted,” Eric said, smiling at Lady Edith as well as Lady Mary and Mr. Branson. He stood to get himself a cup of tea.

Lady Mary leaned toward Lady Edith, “‘The staff will be delighted’ - I bet that wasn’t the response you were hoping for.”

Mr. Branson rolled his eyes at Lady Mary and joined Eric by the table.

“I wasn’t hoping for any response.”

“He’s quite an agreeable chap, are you sure you weren’t hoping for him to say something else?”

Lady Edith looked over her shoulder at Eric laughing with Mr. Branson, then turned back to her sister. “Mary, if any of us has a chance with Eric, it’s probably Tom.”

“Oh,” Lady Mary said, setting her cup in its saucer. “I see.”

Lady Grantham joined her daughters by the fire, running her plans for the servant’s ball by them. Thomas brought over the teapot and perked up an ear, glad to hear details before anyone else downstairs.

After cleaning up from tea, Thomas joined Price in the dining room. The room was nearly set, and he helped with the final touches. “I heard them talking plans for the servant’s ball,” Thomas said to Price and Mr. Molesley.

“What fun,” Mr. Molesley said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Don’t have too much fun at this celebration, Mr. Molesley. We don’t want to repeat sins of the past,” Thomas said.

“Daisy was telling me what a good dancer you are,” Price said with a grin.

“I used to be. Maybe.”

“And Mrs. Patmore said Daisy was very fond of your dancing at one time.”

Thomas returned Price’s smirk. “Now she doesn’t need me, she has you to be fond of.”

“Are you fond of Daisy?” Mr. Molesley asked Price.

“Not in that way, but I like her, of course.”

“It’s too bad,” Thomas said, “she’s very keen on you, David. Are you sure you don’t have it in your heart to change your mind?”

“Truth be told,” Price said, delicately sliding a goblet into place on the table, “I do like her a little.”

“Really?” Mr. Molesley asked.

“Yes, but being with someone you work with makes things so complicated. Plus there’s the issue of the other person getting so comfortable with you that they think they can say or do just about anything and you’ll take it, because there’s seemingly no escape working and living in the same place, day in and out.”

“...right,” Mr. Molesley said.

“If only it were different. We could’ve made a go at things, she and I.”

“Uh huh,” Mr. Molesley said, confused by Price’s statements and the looks he and Thomas were exchanging. “Well, things are just about done in here, I think I’ll see what help is needed in the kitchen.” Mr. Molesley left Thomas and Price in the large, quiet room alone.

“You’re a bastard,” Price said, chuckling.

“Takes one to know one. I’m going to run up and make sure Eric’s figured out his tuxedo. Try not to throw yourself at Daisy before I return.”

“She’s a sweet girl, it’s not my fault if I trip and fall in love before you’re finished. Don’t go falling in love up there, yourself.”

Thomas paused by a column in the gallery as he heard Nora’s door open. He waited for it to shut before going to Eric.

Lady Edith was Nora’s visitor. She brought Nora a box of candy that she and Eric had fetched when they walked earlier in the day.

“I know I can’t be with the adults tonight,” Nora said. “There will be too many of them, and it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“I’m glad you understand, but know that we so enjoyed your company, Mr. Weatherbee especially. I wanted to ask you if I could accompany you to the train on Tuesday. I’d like to see you off.”

Nora opened the box of candies and looked them over. “Yes, that would be fine. Is anyone else coming?”

“Is there anyone else you’d like to come?”

“David and Mr. Barrow.”

Lady Edith smiled and sat in Nora’s chair. “I don’t know if Mr. Carson would give them both permission to be away for a morning. It may be more reasonable if I ask for one of them to come with us.”

Nora closed the candy box and sat on her bed. “Then I think David should come, because he was my first friend in this house. Please don’t tell Mr. Barrow I chose David over him. They’re both my friends.”

“I wouldn’t dream of telling him, don’t worry.” A piece of paper on Nora’s nightstand caught Lady Edith’s attention. “What’s this?” she asked, picking it up.

“That’s a drawing David did for me,” Nora told her. “He’s given me a few drawings.”

“Can I see them?”

Nora went to her dresser and retrieved papers from the top drawer. Lady Edith sorted through them, studying each under the light on Nora’s nightstand. There was a drawing of a forest with Nora’s rabbit dancing with other animals, one of Nora’s bear, another of Nora’s bear and rabbit having tea in what looked just like the Downton library, and then finally a portrait of Nora in brown and white pencil.

“These are marvelous,” Lady Edith said, giving the papers back to Nora.

“I thought so, too. He could draw a book like the ones I read.”

“He could probably draw a lot of things,” Lady Edith agreed. “I must go, I haven’t left myself much time to get dressed. I’m glad you’ll let me see you off, and I’ll ask Mr. Carson if David can join us.”

“Do you want one of the drawings?”

“Don’t you want to bring them with you to school?”

Nora took her portrait from the pile and gave it to Lady Edith. “I know what I look like, I don’t need this one. Why don’t you keep it?”

“That’s just the one I would have chosen,” Lady Edith said, accepting the drawing and leaving Nora’s room.

Thomas exited Eric’s room as Lady Edith stepped into the hall.

“Is everything alright with Mr. Weatherbee?” Lady Edith asked, walking the length of the corridor to Thomas.

“Oh, yes, m’Lady, he just needed a hand with his tie.”

“He couldn’t figure out a bowtie?”

“He said he’s not used to dressing up.”

“I fear he’s a bit hopeless in that regard. I probably should have asked Bates to help him. Well, thank you for your help, Barrow.”

“Any time, m’Lady.”

“That was too close for comfort,” Thomas told Price after relaying his run-in with Lady Edith.

“Don’t go back to his room, then.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice, David.”

As guests arrived, Thomas and Price helped take coats and hats. Price loved the chance to get so close to so many aristocrats and other important people. He enjoyed seeing what they were wearing and how it compared to the Crawleys, from the hairstyles down to the shoes. He always brought the details to the kitchen staff, who only ever saw guests under unusual circumstances.

“What they talk about is much more interesting than what they’re wearing,” Thomas chimed in as Price described a baroness’s gown to Ellie and Daisy, which revealed more of the woman’s back than anything Lady Mary had worn to date.

“Well if you hear any good gossip, bring it back down with you,” Ellie countered.

“No one is talking gossip, nor should you be talking at all. Shut it and get to work,” Mrs. Patmore scolded. “Hors d'oeuvres. Upstairs. Now,” She told Mr. Molesley and Price.

Mr. Branson was glad to have Eric’s company, giving him an excuse not to spend much time chatting with the other guests. Lady Edith borrowed Eric to introduce him to the Dowager Countess, and Lady Mary took Eric’s spot next to Mr. Branson. “Are you enjoying the journalist?”

“I am. He’s pleasant company.”

“From what Edith says, he may think you’re quite pleasant yourself.”

“I’m not certain I know what you’re saying, but if I’m right, then I should be flattered.”

Lady Mary laughed, surprised. “Really, Tom? I didn’t think you were the type.”

“Wouldn’t you be flattered if he thought you were pleasant?”

Lady Mary looked across the room at Eric in his tuxedo, fitted perfectly to his body thanks to Mr. Bates. “I suppose I would be.”

When dinner was ready to be served, Lord Grantham welcomed the guests to the dining room. Eric was seated between Lady Edith and Mr. Branson, and was thankful for it after what felt like an interview from the Dowager Countess.

“I think she liked you,” Lady Edith informed Eric.

“Then I should hate to see how she speaks to someone she doesn’t like.”

“Oh no, you would enjoy that. It’s quite entertaining.”

Thomas went through the motions of dinner service, but he was distracted, waiting for whatever Eric had in store for Price. He was anxious something would be embarrassing or inappropriate, as he couldn’t imagine a surprise during dinner being anything but.

Four of the courses were served, and enough wine made the rounds to make the room cheerful. Mr. Molesley and Price served the fifth course. As they came to Lady Edith, Eric gasped. “God, I completely forgot.”

“What? What’s the matter?” Lady Edith asked, laying serving utensils back on Price’s tray as he stood between she and Eric. Price looked at Mr. Carson, who was watching the interaction from a two yards away.

“Two of the bags made it back from the inn, but the third is still there. I’d have them send it to London, but it has medication I was really supposed to start taking after leaving India.”

“David, you missed a bag?” Lady Edith asked.

“No. No, m’Lady. There were two bags, like Mr. Weatherbee said, I got them both.”

“It’s my fault, I forgot to tell you of the third.”

“I checked the room, there were two.”

Thomas approached the trio. “Don’t argue with Mr. Weatherbee. He says there were three, so there were three.”

“We’ll have to fetch it for you before you leave,” Lady Edith said.

“Oh, you wouldn’t mind going back, would you?” Eric asked Price.

“No, he would not,” Thomas answered.

Mr. Carson stepped to the table. “Is there a problem, my Lady?” Guests and family glanced at the interaction.

“I’m making things difficult again, Mr. Carson,” Eric explained.

“David wasn’t aware Eric had a third piece of luggage,” Lady Edith advised, “and it contains something he needs before he departs in the morning. Can David go to the inn and fetch it?”

“My lady, I can’t relieve a man in the middle of dinner.”

“Afterwards is fine, it’s not an emergency,” Eric said. “Thank you, I’m sorry to be such a bother.”

“Nonsense, David doesn’t mind,” Lady Edith said.

“Of course not, m’Lady,” Price said, bending so that Lady Edith could take her serving from his tray.

“What was that?” Mr. Molesley asked Price as they headed down for the sixth course.

“I honestly have no idea. He’s a strange one,” Price replied.

Thomas fetched more wine per Lord Grantham’s request, and passed Price on the stairs. “Are you daft?” he asked.

“There were definitely two bags, not three.”

“So what if there were? You’ll go there tonight. But don’t go until I say so.”

“Why?”

“Just don’t.”

Price spent the rest of dinner service confused and frustrated. He looked at Eric and Thomas for some kind of silent explanation, but received none.

When dinner was finally over and coffee served, the staff gathered for supper.

“David, you should head to the inn for Mr. Weatherbee,” Mr. Carson told him. “Daisy can keep a plate aside for you when you get back.”

“Yes, Mr. Carson,” Price replied.

“Mr. Carson, may I have a word?” Thomas asked.

“Now? When we’re about to eat?”

“Yes, very quickly in the hall.”

Mr. Carson followed Thomas. “What is so important that it requires urgent discussion?”

Thomas leaned toward Mr. Carson as though he were about to let him in on something secret. “Mr. Carson, do you remember the day my hand was injured, and you asked me why and I made up an excuse?”

“I do. What does that have to do with tonight?”

“Well, my hand was injured due to an altercation.”

“I gathered as much.”

“Only it wasn’t on my behalf. You see,” Thomas began, his voice dropping to a whisper, “the altercation was with Sean Moore. He was bothering David in the village, and I tried to put a stop to it, but I’m sure he’s still out there looking for trouble. I believe that’s why David isn’t keen to go out in the dark, alone, to fetch Mr. Weatherbee’s luggage.”

“I see,” Mr. Carson said, his stomach turning over Moore’s name.

“I could go with David,” Thomas offered.

“Or you could go yourself.”

“Well Lady Edith asked David to go, not me.”

Mr. Carson considered Thomas’s words as Mrs. Hughes stepped in the hall to make sure everything was alright. “I suppose Daisy can keep something warm for you both.”

“Are you going with David?” Mrs. Hughes asked Thomas.

“Yes, Mr. Carson was just giving permission.”

“Well Daisy doesn’t have to keep anything warm. Get something while you’re out.”

Thomas looked to Mr. Carson. “Is that alright?”

“I suppose,” Mr. Carson said, perplexed by Mrs. Hughes’s suggestion.

“Thank you, I’m sure David will appreciate it,” Thomas said, leaving the two in the hallway so that he could find Price.

“Why did you suggest they spend time doddling in the village?” Mr. Carson asked.

“Because friendship does Mr. Barrow good, and we all benefit from that.”

Thomas found Price in the dorms. “Don’t ask questions, just get out of your livery and into your coat and hat. I’m going with you.”

Thomas went to his room and put on his overcoat, flipped up the collar, and tugged on his hat. He arrived in Price’s room as Price tucked something into his coat pocket.

“What’s that?”

“It’s nothing. Wait here while I get the key, and then we’re off.”

“Are you glad you listened to me?”

“Aren’t I always?”

Price found Eric in his room. Eric pressed the key into Price’s palm and smiled.

“Is there actually a bag?” Price asked.

“Yes, because I arranged for one to be there.”

“And are you disappointed you’re not invited to take this trip with us?”

Eric chuckled. “Disappointed doesn’t begin to cover it.”

Price put the key in his pocket and shook Eric’s hand. “Thank you, Eric.”

“Thank me when you get back. Don’t forget, you need to get that bag back to me.”

“It might look rather odd if I came back empty handed.”

“It might,” Eric said, letting go of Price’s hand. “Have fun, David.”

“I promise I will.”

Price collected Thomas in his room, and began to run ahead before Thomas stopped him. “Don’t walk out of the house with that look on your face,” Thomas warned Price.

“I haven’t a look on my face.”

“You look like a boy who just discovered a secret stash of biscuits. Put on your poker face, Davey.”

“Ech, don’t call me that.”

“I thought that’d snap you out of it.”

Price and Thomas bid a quick farewell to Mr. Carson. “Back by eleven,” Mr. Carson told them.

“Oh, don’t be a fuddy duddy,” Mrs. Hughes tskd. “Come home whatever time pleases you, boys.”

Miss Baxter smiled down at her lap. Anna shook her head and pushed a potato around her plate.

Thomas pulled out a cigarette as soon as his feet touched the path outside.

“Do you have to? I like how you taste, not those.”

Thomas lit the cigarette and took a drag. “I’ll get a drink at the inn to cleanse my palate.”

Price spun in a circle as they walked. “This is perfect, now we have lots of time to go slowly. You’ll probably need it since it’s been so long for you.”

“Hold on there, this isn’t the time to try something different. Let’s go with what we know and make sure we enjoy the time we have.”

“This is exactly the time to try. At the very least, you will be romantic. Quick and rough has its time and place, but I love you, and I want to make love to you.”

“God almighty,” Thomas groaned. “You act like I’ve never been romantic with you.”

“Name a time.”

Thomas waved his hand in the air, trying to recall an occasion when he’d been romantic, but came up with nothing. “It’s not like our situation much allows it.”

“Tonight it does, and tonight you will be. Well, I will be, and you’ll let me.”

“Whatever you say.”

“There, that’s what I like to hear.”

The bar at the inn was more boisterous than it had been when Thomas met Eric there months back. Thomas felt pulled in by the energy. “I’m gonna grab that drink,” he told Price.

“If it takes the edge off, by all means,” Price said, following Thomas through the crowd.

“What am I ordering for you?” Thomas asked. Price felt a little jolt at the idea of Thomas buying him a drink, as though they were a couple like any other in the bar.

“Um, a sidecar.”

“A cocktail? Well, whatever my man wants, my man gets,” Thomas said, waving the bartender over.

Price soaked in the scene around him, and decided no matter what might happen upstairs, this little moment with Thomas was a gift in itself.

“The look is back on your face,” Thomas told Price.

“I’m sure it is. I’m ridiculously happy right now.”

“And you haven’t even had your drink.”

The bartender served the men, and Thomas held his glass of whisky up for a toast. “To my beloved, and whatever he has in store for me tonight.”

Price clinked his glass against Thomas’s and sipped his drink.

“How is it?” Thomas asked.

“Quite a deal better than drinking from a flask behind closed doors. Thank you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine,” Thomas said, swigging his drink. He coughed and laughed.

“Palate cleansed?”

“Cleansed with fire. I’m getting another while you finish your pretty drink,” Thomas said, waving to the bartender again and pointing at his glass.

“Just one more, we do have to walk back tonight.”

“I’ve handled drunk David, at some point I’ll make you handle tipsy Thomas.”

“Save it for the servant’s ball, I want to watch you dance with the Dowager while half under.”

Thomas watched as a second man joined the piano player, the duet getting a roar from the crowd. “There’s a bar in London,” Thomas told Price, “where everyone’s like us.”

“I’ve heard of places like that.”

“Well I’ve been there, and someday I’m taking you.”

“Sneaking off here for a few hours is playing with your head. I don’t see us both stealing away to London for a night out.”

“If I took that job with your brother, you could come visit.”

“So the whiskey is already getting to you?”

Thomas finished his drink. “Do you think I’d have until Valentine’s Day to make a decision? A couple months would give me time to think it over.”

“This night keeps getting better. Yes, I think that should be fine. And now, shall we head upstairs?”

“Lead the way.”

Thomas followed Price upstairs. Price felt giddy sliding the key into the lock, and giddier still locking the door behind them. They could hear the faint din of the noisy bar downstairs even with the door shut. “Good,” Price said, “it will cover any noises I may make.”

“Preparing to be noisy?”

“Very, I should say.” Price took off his overcoat and pulled a small tube from the pocket before tossing the coat on a chair.

“What’s that?” Thomas asked, looking over Price’s shoulder.

Price clicked on a lamp by the bed and twisted the top off the tube. He slid it into the glass shade near the bulb. “I thought a few licks wouldn’t be enough for you like it is for me. This’ll make things easier. When it’s warm and ready, it will drip. You know, like I do when I’m warm and ready.”

Thomas frowned deeply. “That was an ugly string of words. I thought you wanted to woo me tonight, not turn me off.”

“You’ll be thankful. Forget it’s there for now. I want to undress you in front of that mirror,” Price said, nodding to the bureau.

“You’re really losing me right now,” Thomas said. “I don’t need to look at myself disrobed.” He put his coat and jacket on top of Price’s and let Price lead him by the hand to the dresser.

The dresser was low with a large, round mirror on it that let Thomas see from his knees to his head. Price stood behind Thomas and wrapped his arms around Thomas’s chest. He put his chin on Thomas’s shoulder and met his eyes in their reflection. “Sometimes, when you’re setting out cutlery or dishes in the dining room, your sleeve rides up a little and I get a peek at your wrist. The tendons flexing, the thin blue veins just below your skin, it’s all I can do not lick it.”

Thomas laughed and looked at his wrist. “I’m sorry, I don’t see anything special.”

“Well that’s my point. That’s why we’re standing here. I want you to look at yourself through my eyes.” Price kissed Thomas’s neck and loosened his tie. He pulled Thomas’s braces over his shoulders and let them fall against his thighs, and then unbuttoned his shirt. “You’re so handsome.”

Thomas gave Price’s reflection and bashful smile. “Not next to you.”

Price removed Thomas’s shirt and ran his fingers up Thomas’s back and down his chest and stomach. He held Thomas’s shoulders. “You’re a monument to manliness.”

Thomas laughed and looked away, his image making him self conscious. “I wish I was half as fit as you.”

“Your body does things to me like no one else ever has,” Price said, undoing Thomas’s trousers. He didn’t remove them, just let them sink low on Thomas’s hips so that he could admire Thomas’s bare torso.

“As long as it makes you happy, I suppose.”

“It makes me very happy,” Price said, pressing his hardening cock against Thomas’s backside. “Can I look at the rest of you now?”

Thomas nodded. Price pulled Thomas’s trousers to his ankles and helped him out of his remaining clothing.

Thomas wiped his face with his hand and cleared his throat. “Is this what you wanted?”

“Yes, my love. All of this,” Price said, letting his hands roam over Thomas’s body and he climbed back up and stood behind him again. He let out a little “mmm” as Thomas’s cock twitched with his pulse. “How can you deny you’re God’s gift to men?”

Thomas rubbed his lips together and relaxed beneath Price’s hands. Price stepped in front of Thomas, his back to the mirror, and removed his own tie and shirt. Price kissed Thomas’s collarbone and neck as Thomas admired Price’s back in the mirror. “At least one of us is God’s gift,” Thomas said.

Price rubbed his cheek Thomas’s, then kissed his lips tenderly. Thomas undid Price’s trousers and pulled them down down past his hips, eager to hold him skin to skin. Price pulled his trousers down the rest of the way, then kissed his way back up; up Thomas’s thigh, hip, stomach, and chest, finally kissing his lips again as their bodies came together. Price opened his mouth, but Thomas pulled back, leaving Price’s hungry, pink tongue reaching between his parted lips.

“What?” Price asked, breathy.

“Shouldn’t we make use of the bed?”

“Ooh, you’re right,” Price said. He jumped onto the bed on his hands and knees, then sat back and waited from Thomas to lay down. He jumped again, landing next to Thomas, the bed shaking beneath them both. “I could pound you straight through to the springs and no one would come knocking,” Price said, grinning.

“That’s not very romantic,” Thomas laughed.

“I like the idea of romance, but at heart I guess I’m still a horny little scoundrel.”

“Yes, but that’s how I like you.”

Price rubbed the inside of Thomas’s thigh, then climbed between them. He supported himself with a hand on either side of Thomas’s shoulders. Thomas looked up into Price’s green eyes, half covered by hair that had escaped its careful styling. Price leaned down for a kiss, finally getting his tongue between Thomas’s lips. He lowered his hips so that his cock grazed Thomas’s. Thomas moaned into Price’s mouth and raised his hips to try and touch him again.

Price looked at the lamp, the little tube oozing as he’d promised. Thomas followed his eyes, then looked away. “I’m just not fond of things like that,” Thomas admitted.

“You can be a prude, you know.”

“I’m naked with my legs spread beneath you. That’s prudish?”

“What’s wrong with me making sure things are properly smooth and slippery this evening?”

“It’s always seemed like a bit of a mood killer to me. Stopping to slather on some slop?”

“Thomas, sex isn’t always like they depict it in romantic novels, I know you know that. It should be a little sloppy now and then, should it not?”

“Just get your little marital aid and get back to it,” Thomas complained, slapping Price’s behind.

Price reached over Thomas and plucked the little tube from the lamp. He let it dribble onto two fingers, then smiled at Thomas as he ran his fingers down Thomas’s shaft. Thomas squirmed and let out an “ahh” as the wet, warm liquid made contact with his skin.

“See? It’s nice, isn’t it?”

“Mmm,” was all Thomas could manage to say as Price wrapped his entire hand around him, drawing it slowly from base to tip. He took his hand from Thomas’s cock and trailed it up his thigh.

“Where are you going with those fingers?” Thomas asked, looking down his body at Price.

“I told you what I was planning to do tonight.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“Well, let’s see.”

Price parted his lips and let them hover above Thomas. Thomas raised his hips to try and make contact. Price’s warm breath against his wet skin made him shiver as if he’d been tickled. He raised his hips again, and Price let his fingers continue from Thomas’s thighs between them, massaging him without pressing inside.

“Does that feel alright?”

“Yes,” Thomas moaned, still trying to reach Price’s lips.

Price pushed a finger lightly, at the same time lowering his mouth so Thomas could pass himself across Price’s lips. “And that?”

“Yes,” Thomas breathed.

Price pushed his finger into Thomas up to his second knuckle while sucking Thomas into his mouth, until the head of Thomas’s cock touched the back of his throat. Thomas cried out and grabbed the sheets, the pleasurable sensation of Price’s hot mouth making up for the little spark of pain. Price felt Thomas relax around him and slid his finger in the rest of the way, massaging Thomas from inside. He let Thomas slide out of his mouth and in again, deeper still, his lips all the way to Thomas’s base.

“I’m so glad you have no gag reflex,” Thomas whispered.

Price pulled off briefly to call Thomas cheeky, then licked him and sucked him back into his mouth again. He moaned as Thomas tensed and relaxed around him, imagining it was his cock inside Thomas rather than his finger. Thomas gasped and bucked his hips, and Price let him out of his mouth to avoid the evening coming to too quick an end.

“Doesn’t that stuff taste funny?” Thomas asked, adding a pillow to the one behind his head for a better view of Price.

“Didn’t bother me,” Price said, kissing Thomas’s hand. He rubbed Thomas’s cock with an open palm to the same rhythm he rubbed his prostate. “How are you doing?”

“The stuff helps, I’ll give you that.”

Price slipped his finger out of Thomas, and was surprised by Thomas’s disappointed groan. He climbed up Thomas’s body, parting Thomas’s legs and settling in between them. He hooked a hand under Thomas’s knee to spread his legs further. Thomas looked up at Price with expectant eyes, almost eager, Price thought. Price kept the little tube out of view and covered himself before positioning the head of his cock just outside of Thomas’s entrance. He rubbed more of it onto Thomas as well, stroking him between their bodies. “Tell me to stop at any time, and I will.”

Thomas pulled his thighs up higher and gave Price a half smile. “Don’t stop now.” Price laid his body across Thomas, but Thomas pushed him up. “No, I want to see the look on your face the first time you’re inside me.”

Price smiled bashfully as Thomas had done earlier. “Feels like I’m taking your virginity or something.”

“Might as well be.”

“I love you, I can’t tell you enough times,” Price said, drinking in the look of Thomas below him.

“I love you, too,” Thomas said simply, without deflecting the words or saying something in jest.

Price braced his cock with his hand and rubbed it against Thomas. Thomas held Price’s rear, digging his fingers into Price’s skin as Price closed his eyes and pushed. Both men groaned, but Price’s voice rose above Thomas’s as he made his way inside. Thomas was tighter and warmer than any man he could recall, and his head spun so much he didn’t realize he was all the way inside until his hips came to rest against Thomas. He pulled out slowly and slid back in, panting as Thomas tensed and released around him.

“I want to spend the rest of my life in here,” Price moaned.

Thomas pulled Price down and wrapped his arms around him. His slick cock slid between their stomachs, the friction helping him relax even more. Price bit his lip and moaned softly.

“You don’t have to be quiet, remember?” Thomas said.

Price opened his mouth and let out the moan that had been sitting in his throat.

“Am I too tight?” Thomas whispered into Price’s ear.

Price laughed. “No such thing. Unless I’m hurting you.”

“No. I like it.”

“I hope you do, because I bloody love it,” Price said, letting himself go a little deeper. He kissed Thomas and went deeper still, then picked up his pace. Something about the soft sounds of their flesh meeting made things more arousing for Price, and Thomas let out a little cry as Price grew harder inside him. Price repeated to Thomas over and over how much he loved him and loved being inside him, kissing and licking Thomas’s neck and jaw, his words becoming a jumbled mess between grunts and groans.

Thomas arched his back to ensure his cock would make contact with Price’s stomach as Price thrust in and out with building speed. There was a spot Price hit with every few thrusts that made Thomas tingle, and he adjusted his position so Price could find the spot again.

“Do you want to switch?” Price asked. “I’d love to watch you ride me.”

Thomas let Price turn over with him, Price letting out the disappointed groan this time as he slid out of Thomas. Thomas climbed on top of Price and reached behind himself, positioning Price’s cock. Thomas’s stomach and thigh muscles flexed as he sat down and let Price back inside him.

Price held Thomas’s hips in his hands and guided him up and down, moaning with each bounce of Thomas’s body. He looked behind Thomas at the mirror on the dresser and watched Thomas ride him in the reflection. “Jesus Christ, you are the sexiest thing on two legs,” Price said, squeezing Thomas’s hips.

The new position hit Thomas exactly in the spot he liked so much. He enjoyed controlling the speed and the angle, circling his hips a few times before riding Price up and down. He stroked himself, a few drops of precum dripping over his fingers. Price relished the look of Thomas’s pink cock sliding between his nimble, pale fingers, and licked his lips as he looked on. Thomas smiled at the wanton look on Price’s face and pumped himself harder, twisting his hand as he went up and down.

“Will you come on me?” Price gasped.

Thomas grinned at the request. “There’s my horny little scoundrel.”

Price patted the sheets to find the tube again. He held it above Thomas’s cock and squeezed a generous amount of liquid onto him. Thomas shook his head and smiled, but didn’t complain as his hand slid easily up and down his shaft. Price hummed between his lips, trying to stave off his own orgasm until Thomas had his. Thomas’s cock grew from pink to red, and harder still, as he bounced against Price’s hips.

“Do you want me to come for you now?” Thomas asked, squeezing Price inside him.

“Yes, please, yes, yes, yes, please,” Price begged.

Thomas let out an open-mouth gasp as his orgasm took over his body, forcing his eyes to stay open so he could watch. With Price inside him, it was stronger than usual, and he shot across Price’s torso, a few drops landing in Price’s waiting, open mouth and on his tongue. Price ran his hands over his body and moaned, barely able to catch his breath. He licked his fingers and looked up at Thomas. His eyebrows knitted together as he finally let himself finish, looking into Thomas’s lust-filled gray eyes as he came inside him. He cried out, making up for all of the stifled orgasms he’d had with Thomas up until that night.

Price softened and eased out of Thomas, helping Thomas roll onto his back. He nuzzled up beside Thomas, still feeling the aftereffects of his orgasm in his legs and toes.

Thomas wrapped an arm around Price, Price’s head finding a comfortable spot between Thomas’s shoulder and chest. They both melted into the sheets, Price letting his eyes close as Thomas kissed his forehead.

“I’d say this makes up for the trouble Eric put us through,” Price said.

“More than makes up for it. I feel like I owe him something now.”

“Not something lewd, I hope.”

“You’ve squeezed all the lewd out of me for the next while, I think.”

Price kissed Thomas’s chest and sighed. “I want to fall asleep here with you. I wish we could stay ‘til the morning.”

“First you wanted to make love in a bed, then you wanted to be inside me, now you want to spend the night sleeping next to me. There’s no satisfying you, is there?”

“Oh, I’m quite satisfied, trust me.”

“Well, you wanted those other things, and now you’ve had them, so I’m sure we can find a way to spend a night curled up together someday.”

“I’m not complaining. This has been an incredible night, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Except these poor sheets. What a sticky mess we’re leaving behind.”

“When you’re crass it makes me feel better about the things I say.”

“It’s your influence on me, I didn’t say such salacious things until you came ‘round.”

The two cleaned up as best they could, laughing and teasing one another as they fumbled their way back into their clothes. Price nearly forgot the bag, but remembered it just as he remembered to return the key to the desk. He felt like he could skip back to Downton, high on his joy from a night well spent.

The back door had been left unlocked for them, and Price went straight from it to the kitchen, looking for something to pillage before heading upstairs. “I’m so hungry!” he whispered to Thomas.

“I’m sure you worked up quite an appetite. I have a few things to nibble, I’ll leave them in your room while you bring Eric his bag.”

“Do you think he’s still awake?”

“I’m sure, but if not, just kiss him awake like Sleeping Beauty.”

Price wrinkled his nose at Thomas. He ran ahead of Thomas and dropped his overcoat and hat in his room, and picked up something else, before heading to Eric.

He knocked on the door, and moments later a sleepy Eric turned the knob.

“What time is it?” Eric croaked.

“Two in the morning. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, not at all. How was your night?” Eric asked, accepting the bag from Price through the doorway.

“The very best ever. I put a thank you gift in the bag.”

“But this was a thank you, you don’t owe me anything.”

“It’s a gift I had for you anyway. Take it and remember what a nice thing you did for me, and for Thomas. You’re a good friend.”

Eric gave Price a tired smile. “I’m glad I can call you my friend now.”

“Now and forever. I’ll be up before you, so I’ll be there to see you off in the morning. Get back to sleep.”

“It was hard enough falling asleep, regretting I wasn’t there with both of you.”

Price grinned. “If you were, you would have had quite the show.”

Price stole back to his room and found a tin of walnuts and a box of crackers from Thomas sitting on the bed. He devoured both, then drank down a glass of water from the bathroom in three big gulps. His head hit the pillow for three blissful hours of sleep before his alarm woke him to start the next day.

Thomas was also up early to see Eric off. Price packed Eric’s bags on the back of the waiting car, and Thomas opened the car door, but all three stood still as Lady Edith walked out onto the driveway.

“I was up early anyway, so I thought I would come say goodbye,” she explained to Eric.

“I should like to crash your home again,” Eric said with a smile. “Though I’ll be glad to see you more often at the office.”

“I fear our editor isn’t long for the magazine, so yes, you will probably see me much more often.”

“Maybe it’s the early hour so I’m happy to speak out of turn, but good riddance, I say. He doesn’t respect you like he should.”

Lady Edith blushed slightly at Eric’s candor. “Thank you, Eric. And you have all of your bags?” Lady Edith said, looking at Price and the car.

“He does, m’lady,” Price answered.

“Then you should be off, I don’t want to make you miss your train.”

“Please thank your family for their hospitality,” Eric said, stretching out his hand to shake Lady Edith’s. Thomas caught a glimmer on Eric’s wrist, and looked over to see the same kind of two-faced watch he had seen once in Price’s room. Eric climbed in the car and met Thomas’s eyes as Thomas shut the door. Thomas gave Eric a little smile, then patted the top of the car to signal the driver to leave.

“What was that on Eric’s wrist?” Thomas asked Price as they headed back into the house.

“A thank you for his thank you.”

“For when he’s traveling?”

“Precisely.”

“Was the watch always intended for him?”

Price chuckled. “Are you jealous that I haven’t made you a watch from scratch?”

Thomas raised his eyebrows. “A little bit, yes.”

“Well, Christmas is coming,” Price said as they passed through the great hall. “A little patience and you can have one even more splendid than his.”

“Good, because I want to be the man who receives the fanciest gifts from you.”

Price opened the door to the servant’s stairs. “Only the fanciest things for my fancy man,” he whispered as they headed down.
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Footman in Training