Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

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
- 24
- 25
- 26
Thomas lined up next to Price in the great hall for the ceremonial gift-giving. He wasn’t fond of the ceremony in years past. It usually entailed watching other staff members get personalized gifts in addition to the standard bolt of cloth for the women and collars for the men. When it was his turn, he approached Lord Grantham, but Lady Grantham handed him his box instead. “Come talk to me before dinner is served,” she said quietly so that only he could hear.

“Yes, m’Lady,” he said, accepting the box from her. “Thank you.”

Next in line, Price received his gift, handed to him by Lady Edith. “Happy Christmas, David. I picked this out myself.”

Price clumsily accepted the gift. “Thank - thank you. Thank you.”

“You need to learn how to accept a present properly,” Thomas said once Price was back by his side.

Price looked around at the other servants, all opening their gifts. “We open them in front of everyone else? That seems odd.”

“They want to see us open them, and see our appreciation. Make sure you smile.”

Thomas looked on as Price opened his gift. Inside was a set of pencils and drawing tools, all of a quality far exceeding any Price could hope to afford.

Price looked to Lady Edith, who was watching him open his gift instead of paying attention as the family handed out the rest. He blushed and shook his head. Lady Edith shrugged and chuckled, and turned her attention back to the other servants in line.

“Uh oh,” Thomas said with a smirk, “is the Lady developing a soft spot for you?”

“Don’t be silly,” Price replied. “I think she pities me. I can tell she thinks I’m wasting my abilities.”

Thomas elbowed Price. “Well she’s not wrong.”

Price closed the box and straightened his posture. “So which day is your birthday, exactly?”

Thomas looked around the room. “Who told?”

“I was trading gifts with Nora and I asked what she got for you, and she said she was saving it for your birthday. I'm not sure why she knows and not me, but tell me, which day?”

Thomas held his head high and glanced away from Price. “The twenty-eighth. But you just gave me a gift, so don’t buy me another. And don’t tell anyone else.”

“Ech, so arrogant, assuming I was going to buy you something. I can’t, anyway. I’ve been instructed to pinch every penny.”

“Well good. If I catch you not pinching those pennies, I’ll start pinching your sides.”

“Don’t flirt,” Price whispered, “you know I have a terrible poker face.”

Thomas licked his molars. “I can’t stop thinking about it. I want to bite every little bit of you ‘til you explode.”

Price blushed in response. “I can’t entertain those kind of thoughts right now. I’m going to see what Mrs. Hughes received from Lady Grantham. That should help clear the visual you just put in my head.”

“Alright, but I hope you think about it when you’re alone later.”

“Oh, that’s guaranteed.”

Thomas watched with self-satisfied smile on his lips as Price walked away. He wandered from servant to servant, looking over their shoulders at their gifts. Mr. Molesley pulled him into a conversation about the massive tome he received from Lord Grantham. Thomas found the explanation of its contents as boring as the book was large, but he smiled as Mr. Molesley spoke, adding an “Ah, I see,” here and there.

He finally unwrapped the box in his hands to find a pair of cufflinks inside, made of silver and onyx. It outshined anything the family had given him in the past. He looked at the family, but they were all engaged with other servants and none looked back.

Before the servant’s Christmas luncheon, Mr. Carson passed out the day’s post. A little purple envelope arrived for Thomas with a brief note inside.

Thomas,

Edith invited me to come for New Year's and stay through the servant’s ball. She said my company would make it bearable for her. I told her I would think it over. I would like to come, but only if it’s alright with you and David. You know I wouldn’t attempt anything inappropriate while I’m there. Please telephone and let me know if you’ll both allow it.

E

Thomas shared the note with Price, who spent much longer staring at the paper than it took to read the words.

“I understand if you don’t want him coming.”

“I’m alright with it,” Price said, giving Thomas the paper. “Maybe I should be the one to phone him and tell him as much.”

“It would probably mean quite a bit coming from you.”

The servant’s Christmas luncheon far surpassed the ones Price experienced before Downton. It was as fun, warm, and lively as any happy family he could imagine. Gifts passed between hands up and down the table before they had their pudding. They were small gifts purchased with small wages, but all of them thoughtful and much appreciated.

Daisy put a paper box secured with twine on the table in front of Thomas.

“For me?” Thomas asked, puzzled.

“For you,” Daisy said, “so that for at least one day you don’t have to go around stealing.”

Daisy mixed back in with the other servants, watching from a distance to see if Thomas would open the box. He pulled the twine and the top popped open. Inside was a mix of two dozen cookies, truffles, and candies, all as finely made as what would be served to the family later. He closed the top before anyone around him could look inside. Daisy smiled from the other end of the room, and Thomas nodded and smiled back.

Thomas slipped away from the celebration for a quiet cigarette break outside. He thought he saw the tail of Price’s stable cat strutting by, but was mistaken. He hadn’t seen the little animal since at least November. He hoped she was just holed up somewhere warm and would be back when the weather broke.

The back door opened behind him and Anna pushed her way outside without her overcoat.

“Are you alright?” Thomas asked, moving to the steps to help her down.

“I’ll be better after a little cool air. I’m roasting like a pig on a spit today.”

Thomas held his cigarette away from her. “Does the smell still bother you?”

“No, that passed, but thank you for asking.” Anna put her hand on her chest and winced.

“Do you need me to get Mr. Bates?” Thomas asked, holding Anna under her arm.

“No, this happens more often than I’d like. I just need to sit a spell.”

Thomas led Anna to a bench and sat with her. “Do you need me to walk you back home? You look like you could use a rest.”

“Thank you, Mr. Barrow, but I’ll be fine.I just indulged in too much Christmas feast. These days nothing seems to agree with me, so I’m not sure why three helpings plus pudding seemed like a good idea.”

Thomas chuckled, entertained by Anna’s frankness.

“Did I share too much information?”

“Not for me,” Thomas said, smiling around his cigarette.

“You’re quite cheery today.”

“It’s Christmas, who wouldn’t be cheerful?”

Anna giggled. “Well you, for starters. Every Christmas I can remember before this one.”

“Maybe I’m getting less ill-tempered with age.”

“Or might it have something to do with David?”

Thomas brushed ash from his coat. “Why would it have anything to do with him?”

“Well,” Anna said carefully, “I’ve known about you two for a little while. He didn’t tell me, I guessed it, so don’t be cross with him. Though I think he was glad to share his feelings for you with someone else.”

“And what feelings are those, exactly?” Thomas asked, tucking his cigarette into the corner of his lips.

“That he’s extremely fond of you,” Anna said, staring up at Thomas until he would look her in the eye.

“He said that, did he?”

“He did. And am I right to guess that you’re extremely fond of him?”

Thomas looked away from Anna as he took a drag. “Does your present condition give you some kind of special intuition?”

Anna chuckled. “I don’t know about that. Heartburn, yes, but I haven’t noticed any psychic powers.”

“Well either way, Anna, we really shouldn’t discuss this out in the open.”

Anna patted Thomas’s shoulder. “I thought if David needed to share his feelings, maybe you did, too, and who else could you talk to about it besides me?”

“Miss Baxter has an inkling, but I never confirmed anything. Unlike David, who apparently told you everything.”

“Now, now, I told you not to get cross.”

Thomas took a drag and exhaled slowly, tapping his hand on his knee. “You know it would ruin everything for him if anyone else in this house finds out.”

“I understand,” Anna said, a little chill coming over her. “I’ve known for some time and I haven’t said anything. I’m quite good at keeping secrets, you know.”

Thomas removed his coat and laid it over Anna’s shoulders.

“No, you’ll get cold!”

“I have on considerably more layers than you, I’ll be fine.”

Anna adjusted the coat on her shoulders. “Well, thank you, then.”

“I must say, I’m surprised you’re encouraging his feelings for me. I probably get along better with you than most here, but that’s still not saying much.”

“I like that David brings out the good in you. I’m starting to see that the good side might actually be the real Thomas Barrow.”

Thomas rolled his cigarette between his fingers. “I should have shown you the good side more often, maybe you could have seen that sooner.”

“I’m seeing it now, that’s what matters.”

Thomas nodded toward Anna’s stomach. “Have you picked out any names?”

Anna put her hands on her ample abdomen. “I haven’t really told anybody, but we’re thinking John, Jr. for a boy and Jane for a girl.”

“Come on, name him something exciting, like Billy Bates. He could grow up to be a cowboy, like in the pictures.”

Anna laughed. “So now you think it’s a boy, too?”

“Why, does Mr. Bates?”

“He isn’t certain, but David is. Swears up and down I’m having a boy.”

“Then you best get used to the name Billy.”

Any shivered. “Are you almost ready to go in, cheeky devil?”

“I’m ready,” Thomas said, flicking his cigarette. He helped Anna to her feet. “May I ask a question first?”

“Of course you can.”

Thomas took a moment to decide if he could really trust Anna. Looking into her sympathetic eyes, he believed he could. “Even when things are good, like now, I can’t help but become unhinged eventually. It’s in my blood, it’s part of me, I can’t change it. David has such a kind heart. Am I being selfish by being with him? Should he be with someone whose heart doesn’t have dark corners like mine?”

Anna linked her arm through Thomas’s. “How boring would life be if we fell for someone just like ourselves? As for David’s heart, it’s not pure as the driven snow. We all have dark corners.”

“He has a cobweb here or there, but not like mine.”

“You’re too unkind to yourself. If anything, that’s your downfall.”

“Yes, I must say, I’ve realized that lately.”

Anna let Thomas help her back up the steps. “I’m glad you talked to me. You can any time you want to.”

“Thank you,” Thomas said sincerely.

“Happy Christmas, Mr. Barrow,” Anna said, kissing Thomas’s cheek.

“Happy Christmas, Billy’s mum.”

The staff already returned to work by the time Thomas and Anna came back inside. The afternoon was a busy one, and Thomas was glad to be assigned to the library so that he could get a look at the gifts the family exchanged during tea. Thomas eyed the boxes exchanged between hands, including jewelry and even a watch. Not as nice as what I received last night, Thomas thought.

Thomas was proud of himself for not dying of curiousity between the gift-giving ceremony in the morning and when he was able to meet with Lady Grantham before dinner service. He found her in the gallery just before it was time to ring the gong.

“I hope you didn’t think I’d forgotten about your request to help your sister.”

“No, my lady, not at all,” Thomas said, though he had already given up on receiving help from her Ladyship.

“I didn’t want to share before I was certain, but I’ve found a doctor in London who comes highly recommended. By whom, I can’t say, but it’s someone whose opinion I hold in high regard. Your sister will need an assessment first, and then the doctor will prescribe treatment. I know London is a ways from Ripon, but I would like to pay for the assessment and her train fare. Then we can discuss the finances of her treatment when the time comes.”

Thomas cleared his throat. “My Lady, that’s better than most any Christmas gift I could have asked for. Thank you.”

“I haven’t discussed this with the other servants, so please keep it under your hat, but we’ll be opening the house in London on the first of February and staying for the month. If your sister can wait until then, perhaps you could accompany her.”

“There’s no trouble waiting another month or so, and I think I’ll have an easier time convincing her to go if I promise to go with her,” Thomas said, giving Lady Grantham a smile.

“I do hope it will help.”

“I’m sure it will,” Thomas said humbly. “Thank you again.”

Thomas left the gallery to check on the dining room. Price was alone in the room measuring place settings.

“Can you keep a secret?” Thomas asked, purposely moving a dinner fork so that Price had to measure the same place setting again.

Price poked Thomas with his measuring stick. “Occasionally.”

Thomas moved a butter knife.

“Stop that!,” Price protested, poking Thomas again. “What’s the secret?”

“They’re opening the London house for all of February.”

Price twirled the stick in his fingers. “Do we all get to go?”

“I’m not sure who’s going, but if I catch wind they’re planning to leave either one of us behind, I’ll do something about it.”

“Why is it a secret?”

Thomas moved a wine glass out of place. “Because her Ladyship told me it was. She’ll know it came from me, so don’t go flapping your lip about it.”

“If you touch one more thing on this table I’ll go straight to her and tattle,” Price said, holding the stick out as a warning.

Thomas put his hands up. “Fine, fine, no more touching.” He clasped his hands behind his back and followed Price, watching him work. “When were you planning to call Eric?”

“I called,” Price said, sliding a chair back from the table, then checking the distance.
“Already?”

“While you were out taking the longest smoke break known to man.”

“Did you reach him?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“And?” Thomas prodded when Price didn’t offer up further information.

Price slid out another chair. “And he’s coming.”

“How did your conversation go?”

“Well.”

“When is he coming.”

Price spun the stick again. “On the thirtieth. Not in time for your birthday. Sorry, I’ll have to think of another gift.”

“Don’t start.”

“How old will you be?”

Thomas snatched the stick and pointed it at Price’s chest. “You know how old I am.”

“Roughly.”

Thomas tapped his foot. “I’ll be thirty-eight.”

“My god,” Price said with awe. “You’re ancient.”

“You’ll regret that,” Thomas said, sliding the stick down to Price’s waist. The door opened, startling both men. They faced the door quickly and stood at attention. Thomas dropped the stick to his side.

Mr. Molesley looked back and forth between them both. “I was coming to see if you needed any help, David.”

“Thank you, but I’m almost done,” Price said with a forced smile.

Thomas looked as though he were happy to see Mr. Molesley. “Have you had a chance to crack into that book yet today?”

“Oh,” Mr. Molesley said, brightening, “why yes, after luncheon. It’s already quite intriguing.”

“Is it?” Thomas asked, placing the stick on the table. “Why don’t we head downstairs and you can tell me about it on the way?”

Price breathed a relieved sigh as the door shut, thankful that Thomas was much better at thinking on his feet.

They were reunited again shortly to serve drinks before dinner. Thomas poured while Price and Mr. Molesley served, and Mr. Carson supervised. Price brought drinks to Lady Mary and Lady Edith.

“Did you like your gift?” Lady Edith asked as she took her glass from his silver tray.

“Very much, m’Lady. I can’t wait to use it.”

“Will you be drawing more portraits of Lady Edith?” Lady Mary asked as she took a glass.

Price drew in a breath. “I thought I might go down to the stables and try my hand at drawing horses.”

Lady Mary looked at Lady Edith out of the corner of her eye. “That sounds like a lovely idea. Better subject matter, at least.”

Price smiled and moved on to serve the guests.

“It’s one thing to be rude to me, Heaven knows I’m used to,” Lady Edith said to her sister, “but you don’t have to be rude to David.”

“I wasn’t being rude to your precious David.”

“My precious David? Weren’t you the one trotting around on horses with him before I ever asked him to draw for me?”

Lady Mary’s eyes widened for a fleeting moment before her expression was cool again. “I was helping him overcome a lasting fear from the war, but you can call that ‘trotting around’ if you wish.”

“Oh, I see. You have a special bond, then?”

“I wouldn’t use those words exactly.”

When Lady Edith finished her wine, she looked to Mr. Carson for another. He waved Price over to fetch a glass for Lady Edith.

“They were arguing about you,” Thomas whispered as he poured.

“Huh?”

“Lady Mary and Lady Edith were arguing about who you like better.”

Price smiled. “No teasing while we’re working.”

“I’m not teasing, I bet they both smile at you when you go over there to see which one gets a bigger smile from you in return.”

“You can’t hear anything from over here.”

Thomas poured a second glass and put it on Price’s tray. “One of the talents I’ve learned over my many years of service is to read lips. Otherwise how would I know what they’re all whispering when I’m out of hearing range?”

Price brought the wine to Lady Edith and Lady Mary. He looked up from the tray to find both women smiling at him warmly, their eyes set intently on his. He wished more than ever that he had a poker face. He looked at each of them with a raised eyebrow and a half smile. “Can I get you anything else?”

“No, David, thank you,” Lady Edith said, looking at Lady Mary over her glass.

Price brought the empty tray to Thomas for him to replenish. “Always trust me” Thomas said while placing full glasses on the tray.

The dinner party was an intimate one, extending beyond the immediate family to only the Dowager Countess, Mrs. Crawley, and Lady Rosamund, who was visiting through the New Year. Lady Edith and Lady Rosamund spoke in hushed voices over dinner, and Thomas took a little extra time pouring wine to hear their conversation.

“I asked him to come for the New Year,” Lady Edith told her aunt.

“And you’ll announce it then?”

Lady Edith looked up at Thomas. She waited for him to move on before speaking again. Once he was back in position, he could only see Lady Rosamund, but he could tell for certain that whatever they were discussing, Eric was involved. He hadn’t died of curiosity during the day, but the dinner conversation pushed him close.

The family’s Christmas dinner was an elaborate one, and the servant’s supper was served much later than usual. Both Thomas and Mrs. Hughes noticed fatigue in Anna’s face.

“It might be time to start interviewing for a replacement,” Thomas said to Mrs. Hughes.

“She’s coming back after the baby,” Mrs. Hughes whispered. “But you have me thinking. We should start interviewing for help in her absence. Her temporary absence, Mr. Barrow. Don’t start any rumors.” She noticed Mr. Carson was dozing over his plate. “Wake up, Mr. Carson, and eat up. You’ll need your energy. We have the New Year in a week and her Ladyship has already started planning before the Christmas bells have had a chance to stop ringing.”

“What kind of plans?” Mr. Molesley asked.

“The guest list’s been decided and invitations sent, and the menu is nearly final.”

“Who is on the list?” Mr. Carson asked, showing interest mostly to prove he was still awake.

Mrs. Hughes looked upward as she recalled the list from memory. Price coughed halfway through her recital. Thomas looked over to see a look on Price’s face as though he were caught with his hand in a biscuit tin.

“Are you choking?” Thomas asked across the table.

“Some parsley in my throat. I’m better.”

Thomas stabbed a parsnip with his fork without taking his eyes off Price’s. “Oh, I thought maybe you recognized one of the names on Mrs. Hughes’s list.”

“Did you, David?” Mrs. Hughes asked.

Price shrugged. “The usual suspects. And I know Lord Pembroke. He was a good friend of my former employer. I didn’t realize he knew our Lord and Lady.”

“Lord and Lady Grantham know everyone of note,” Mr. Carson said.

Thomas’s eyes hadn’t left Price’s. “Is Lord Pembroke someone of note?”

Price swallowed a bite of bread. “I should say so if he’s on Lady Grantham’s guest list.”

“I’ve heard the name,” Mr. Molesley interjected.

“Interesting,” Thomas replied. “I’ve never heard it.”

“I think he is Lady Edith’s guest,” Mrs. Hughes explained, “I suppose you can all ask her yourselves whether he’s notable.”

Price slipped out of the servant’s hall as soon as supper finished. Thomas followed on his heels. When they reached the dorms, Thomas pulled Price by the elbow into his bedroom.

“Go on,” Thomas said, crossing his arms. “Spill it.”

“First thing’s first, don’t make a spectacle like that again. You had eyebrows raising around the table.”

“I didn’t, you’re just paranoid because you’re hiding something.”

“I’m hiding nothing!” Price objected.

“I said spill it.”

Price put his hands on his hips. “As I said, Lord Pembroke was a good friend of my last family.”

“And a good friend of yours?”

Price rocked on his heels. “You could say that.”

“Care to explain further?”

“He thought I was a handsome hallboy, I thought he was a good looking Lord, so on and so forth.”

“Did you ‘so on and so forth’ with him often?”

“Just whenever he visited.”

“Which was…?”

“...frequently.” Price chuckled. “It ended well before I left. You have nothing to fear, though I like the jealous little look in your eye.”

“Why did it end?”

“He wanted me to work for him, but I knew what that would turn into, so I politely declined. His feelings were hurt, which put a damper on things.”

A smile cracked in Thomas’s stone expression. “You’re a heartbreaker.”

“I’m relatively sure it wasn’t really my heart he was after.”

“Well now he’ll be a guest in this house, and if Mr. Carson assigns you to be his man, I hope you’ll find a way to get out of it.”

“He prefers to dress himself, from what I remember. Though he liked my help undressing.”

Thomas waved to his door. “I think I have a clear picture now, thank you. You can go.”

Price held Thomas’s shoulders. “I had a life before you, you know, and I’m sure you helped plenty of noble men undress before I came around.”

“Not as much in recent past.”

“Yes, well, now you’re old. What about when you were young?”

Thomas nodded to the door. “Out.”

“Awe, I thought you might want to have a little bite before bed.”

“No, old codgers like me need their rest,” Thomas said. He pushed Price into the hallway and shut the door.

When Thomas’s birthday arrived, he awoke to a card slipped under his door from Price. It had a drawing of a birthday cake, and a simple message wishing him a happy birthday, with love. Other than a slightly wider smile at breakfast, Price behaved as he would any other day. There were no surprises lurking around the corner, and by tea time, Thomas realized a little part of him was wishing for some kind of surprise. But the card was nice, he thought, and at least Price was respecting his wishes for no gifts.

Thomas slipped out for a smoke break after tea. Halfway through his cigarette, Price came out the back door.

“Follow me,” he told Thomas, walking by him without stopping. He passed through door to the grounds and let it shut behind him.

Thomas sighed and followed, checking to make sure no one was watching before he stepped through the door.

Price was waiting just behind it. “Both cars are out, and they will be for at least two more hours.”

“That’s fascinating.”

“I’m going to the garage, and then two minutes from now, you will go to the garage,” Price instructed, then resumed marching to his destination.

After waiting at least two minutes while he finished his cigarette, Thomas let himself into the garage, but saw no one inside.

“C’mere,” Price called from beside a car that was up on blocks, its wheels resting beside it.

“I didn’t see you back here.”

“That’s the whole point,” Price said, grinning. He put his hand on Thomas’s chest and backed him against the side of the car.

Thomas smiled down at Price from under his hat brim. “Aren’t we waiting until Valentine’s Day?”

“This is different. It’s your birthday gift.”

“Oh, I see. What is my gift, exactly?”

“Climb in the back and find out.”

Price opened the back door for Thomas and waved him inside. Thomas climbed in and slid over, and Price hopped in beside him.

Thomas took off his hat and tossed it onto the driver’s seat. “What makes you so sure it’ll be a while before the cars are back?”

Price tossed his hat as well. “Because I asked one of the chauffeurs to tell me when I could get private time in here. I said I wanted a moment with my sweetheart. He didn’t ask for more information than that, and I didn’t offer any.”

“And what about our absence from the house?” Thomas asked, removing his overcoat and jacket.

“I told Mrs. Hughes I was walking to the village for an errand,” Price said, following suit with his coat and jacket. “If we’re asked, you’ll say you came with me. But shush for now, you’re burning precious time asking so many questions.”

“Precious time for what?”

Price traced the bow of Thomas’s upper lip with his middle finger. “You can’t have all of me until February, but you can have my mouth anywhere you want it today.”

Thomas peeked around the front seat and looked out of the windshield.

Price turned Thomas’s face to his. “No one’s coming, Thomas.” He looked at Thomas’s lips for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “Live a little.”

Thomas turned his head and kissed Price’s palm. “Your mouth anywhere I want it?”

“Mmm.”

“Then you can start with my lips.”

Price wasted no time, slinking his tongue between Thomas’s teeth just as their lips met. He moaned and lapped at Thomas’s tongue, exploring Thomas’s mouth in a way he hadn’t in any of their previous kisses. Thomas moaned back, excited by the new kiss. Price held Thomas’s cheek in one hand and untucked Thomas’s shirt with the other. He pulled Thomas’s thigh toward him to spread his legs, then unbuttoned his trousers. Thomas pulled down his braces and tugged his trousers to his knees, and Price helped pull them to his ankles. They smiled at each one another, both already breathing heavily.

“Thirty-eight looks good on you, Thomas.”

Thomas rested his head against the seat. “Glad you’re still keen on me despite my advanced age.”

“Well, I respect my elders.”

Thomas pinched Price’s side. “Aren’t you supposed to be nicer to me because it’s my birthday?”

Price yelped and jumped, and his head bumped against the ceiling. “No tickling in confined spaces.”

“Then shush yourself,” Thomas said, wrapping his fingers around the back of Price’s neck. “Kiss me like that again.”

Thomas pulled Price’s lips to his and kissed him with the same deep, quick licks. Price ran his hand up under Thomas’s shirt, then down his thigh. Thomas relaxed and let his thighs fall further apart, then guided Price’s hand between them. Price wrapped his hand around Thomas’s cock, and Thomas put his hand over Price’s. They both pumped together, kissing back and forth with building fervor. Price broke the kiss, and they both looked down at their busy hands.

“Your hands really are quite a bit bigger than mine,” Price said with a smile.

Thomas removed his hand from Price’s. “Yes, and I like how big I look in your hand compared to mine.”

“You’re big in any hand,” Price said playfully. “Or mouth,” he added as he lowered his lips to Thomas’s cock.

“Lick it like you kissed me,” Thomas whispered.

Price craned his neck to look up at Thomas.

“What?”

“I like it when you tell me what you want like that.”

Thomas grinned. “Put that eager little tongue to work.”

Price lapped at Thomas’s cock, then swallowed him, switching back and forth between quick licks and deep sucking. Thomas held himself by the base of his cock and ran his fingers through Price’s hair with his other hand. He caught a glimpse of the gold necklace beneath Price’s collar, and a surge of adrenaline ran through him from head to toe. He gripped Price’s hair and guided his head up and down.

“Deeper, David.”

Price swallowed Thomas until his lips reached Thomas’s fingers. Thomas grunted and pushed Price’s head down until he felt the back of his throat. Price pulled Thomas’s hand from his cock so he could swallow all of him, moaning once Thomas was all the way in his mouth.

Thomas whimpered and gripped Price’s hair tighter. “I suppose I’m thankful that I benefit from all the practice you had before me.”

Price gagged and pulled off of Thomas. “Really? You’re gonna make me laugh when you’re that deep in my mouth?”

“Sorry. I can’t help myself. Please continue.”

Price slapped Thomas’s thigh, the set his mouth back on him.

“Stroke me, too. Get your hand nice and wet.” Thomas raised and lowered his hips, falling into Price’s rhythm. He slid his fingers under Price’s collar and ran them over the necklace, then played with the hair at the nape of his neck. “That’s it, David. Wet as you can make it.”

Price reached his hand between his own legs to quickly adjust himself, as the confines of his trousers were becoming uncomfortable.

“You can take those off, can’t you?”

Price kissed the tip of Thomas’s cock. “No need. I’m pleasuring you, not myself.”

“But I want both, and it’s my birthday. I’m wet enough now, you could climb on top.”

Price sat up, still pumping Thomas with his hand. “I can’t risk staining your livery now, can I? That could be worse than getting caught in here.”

“I’m willing to risk it.”

“And we’re waiting for that until-”

“Can you honestly pass up this opportunity, David?”

Price let out a deep sigh. “No.”

Thomas pulled at Price, hurriedly undoing the impossible number of buttons that kept a man in his clothes. They worked together to get Price’s shoes and trousers off.

Price straddled Thomas, resting one hand on Thomas’s shoulder, pressing the other against the ceiling. “To protect my head,” he said, looking up at his hand. “I don’t need to bump it twice.”

Thomas put his finger under Price’s sock garter and snapped it against Price’s calf. “It’s kind of sexy that you’re still wearing these.”

“And this uncomfortable shirt?”

“I suppose, I wasn’t paying attention to anything above your waist.” Thomas met Price’s eyes and stroked himself. “Now sit down.”

Price lowered himself until Thomas was in position, pressing against him, one thrust away from sliding inside.

Price returned Thomas’s gaze. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait?”

Thomas grabbed Price’s waist and sat him down, slipping in more easily than he anticipated. He gasped, then gritted his teeth, holding Price’s hips steady while he did most of the work from below. He wrapped a hand around Price’s cock, and Price slid in and out of it as he thrust from below. As Price began moaning, Thomas rested his head against the seat again and closed his eyes, a dreamy smile on his lips.

“All I want to do when you’re inside me is repeat ‘I love you’ over and over,” Price said.

“So what’s stopping you?”

Price chuckled and leaned down to kiss Thomas, still pressing his hand into the ceiling of the car. He brought his lips to Thomas’s ear. “I love you.”

“I thought you wanted to repeat it.”

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” Price whispered, timing the words with Thomas’s thrusts. He continued to repeat them as he kissed Thomas’s cheek and neck.

Thomas opened his eyes, and his dreamy smile turned mischievous. He squeezed Price’s thigh in the ticklish spot he’d found the week prior.

Price’s muscles tensed in response, including the ones wrapped around Thomas’s cock. “Remind me to never reveal a weakness to you again,” Price panted.

“It’s not a weakness,” Thomas said, sliding his hands up to Price’s waist. “It’s bloody wonderful,” he added, pressing his thumbs into Price’s stomach.

Price flinched and tensed again. “Don’t, you’ll make me finish.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Your waistcoat may not appreciate it. Stay still, I want to lead.”

Thomas settled into the seat to let Price takeover. Price waited a moment to gather himself, then instead of riding Thomas up and down as Thomas expected, he leaned back and circled his hips. He looked down at Thomas. “Don’t tickle or I’ll stop doing this.”

“Don’t ever stop doing that,” Thomas said, lifting Price’s shirt to get a better view. “God, where was that kissing and this little thing you’re doing with your hips before today?”

“I have all sorts of cards up my sleeve. There’ll be many more birthdays in the future for me to introduce new tricks.” Price stopped for a moment, then circled in the opposite direction.

Thomas pulled Price toward him, wrapping him in his arms, as excited by the idea of spending the rest of his birthdays with Price as much as the movement of his hips. A familiar warm tingling started deep in his abdomen, and he held Price tighter. “Can we go fast and deep?”

“Don’t ask me, tell me.”

Thomas touched his lips to Price’s softly. “Ride me hard, David.”

Price complied, but seconds later Thomas took control, bringing Price’s hips down as he raised his own. He picked up speed as each thrust elicited increasingly higher pitched moans from Price. He grabbed for Price’s cock, but Price pushed his hand away, whispering, “no, no, I’ll finish,” between moans.

“Squeeze me,” Thomas moaned.

“What do you mean?”

Thomas pinched Price’s thigh and Price laughed, his muscles tightening around Thomas.

“Stop, I know what you mean now!” Price attempted to give Thomas the same sensation without being prompted by his fingers.

“It’s not the same,” Thomas said, and tickled Price everywhere his hands could reach. Price laughed and moaned, digging his fingers into the seat behind Thomas. Thomas didn’t let up, and Price became breathless as he tensed every muscle in an effort to delay his release. Thomas couldn’t delay his any longer, and let out a moan louder than any Price had heard from him before. He panted as his body spasmed, his orgasm lasting longer than usual. He filled Price so much that he dripped back onto himself with his final thrusts.

“Christ, Thomas,” Price said, catching his breath. He kissed Thomas's neck as Thomas came down from his high.

Thomas squeezed Price’s backside. “Sit there,” he said, nodding to the empty seat beside him.

“I - I don’t know if I should. I might stain the upholstery.”

Thomas laughed. “Alright then, bring yourself up to my lips.”

“I don’t think that’s physically possible in here.” Price climbed off of Thomas and hopped out of the car. He faced Thomas and stroked himself. “Relax, it’s your birthday. I’ll take care of myself.”

“Are you gonna keep looking me in the eye while you do it?”

“Mmm hmm.”

Thomas laced his fingers together and rested them on his stomach. “Good.”

Price licked his lips and braced himself against the car’s door frame with his free hand. He let his eyes wander briefly over Thomas’s splayed legs and wet cock. As his body relaxed, he felt Thomas’s cum dripping from inside him and down his leg. He hardened at the thought of running a finger down his leg and then licking it, but resisted, not sure if it would be a step too far for Thomas’s taste.

“Your eyes are glazing over. What are you thinking about?” Thomas asked, letting his eyes wander as well.

“I don’t think I should say.”

Thomas sat up. “Oh, now I think you should.”

Price closed his eyes and pumped faster. “I - uh - you’re dripping out of me. I was thinking about tasting it.”

“You little strumpet.”

Price laughed opened his eyes. “Too much?”

“I don't know, but I know like your naughty thoughts.”

“I have so many.”

“That you don’t tell me about?”

Price shrugged.

“Tell me one more.”

“Alright. I think about taking you in the back of a car and then having a wank while you watch.”

Thomas pulled up his trousers and hopped out of the car, then kneeled down in front of Price. “Do you picture finishing in my mouth?”

Price pumped faster. “Uhm, yes. Definitely, yes.”

Thomas looked up at Price with bright eyes and a saucy smile.

Price took a step forward and stroked Thomas’s cheekbone with the back of his fingers. He took another step and tapped the tip of his cock against Thomas’s lower lip. “Almost,” he whispered.

Thomas parted his lips and closed his eyes, and Price slid himself into Thomas’s waiting mouth.

“Yes,” Price muttered, gripping Thomas’s hair in both hands. “Yes, yes, yes, fuck, yes.”

Thomas moaned, enjoying hearing such a strong curse word find its way out of Price’s mouth.

Price moved Thomas’s hands from his hips to his backside, and Thomas took the hint to slide his finger inside Price. Price gasped, and Thomas pushed deeper, massaging him with a come-hither motion. Price moaned as loudly as Thomas had earlier, slurring a mix of “I love you” and “fuck” as he came.

Thomas swallowed and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that word, let alone over and over.”

Price looked down at Thomas. “Did you get motor oil on your trousers?”

“I love how that’s your first thought after reaching euphora.”

“I’ll be less than euphoric if either of us gets in trouble.”

“My trousers are fine,” Thomas said, rising to his feet. “A kiss before you start examining our clothing for stains?”

Price puckered up and let Thomas plant a firm kiss on his lips.

“Thank you,” Thomas said, kissing Price again. “Quite the gift.”

They cleaned up and snuck out separately, meeting back in the courtyard to head inside. No one seemed the least bit concerned with, or even aware of their absence, and Thomas wondered why he wasn’t adventurous more often.

Thomas rode his high from the gift in the garage for another day until New Year’s guests were set to arrive. He looked forward to seeing Eric and hoped his presence would outweigh his anxious anticipation of Price’s former friend.

Eric was first to arrive, coming in time for tea as Lady Edith requested. Price was first to the car, and said quietly, “I’m glad you could come,” before Mr. Molesley arrived to carry Eric’s bags. When Price took Eric’s overcoat and hat, Eric whispered, “Thank you for letting me,” as he handed Price his gloves.

Price opened the door to the library and introduced Eric, then headed down to the kitchen. A bell rang again as soon as Price was downstairs. He rolled his eyes, but Thomas laid his hand on Price’s arm and said he would greet the guest this time.

Thomas opened the car door, but didn’t recognize the young man inside. He watched the man climb out of the car. About Price’s age, he guessed, and exceptionally handsome, with strong features softened by deep blue eyes and blonde hair, both in shadow beneath the brim of his hat.

The man stared up at the house before speaking. “I apologize, I’m earlier than anticipated,” he said, nodding to Thomas. “I hope no one will mind.”

“I’m sure they won’t,” Thomas said with his professional smile. “Can you tell me your name, please, so I can announce you properly?”

“It’s Theodore,” the man said, looking Thomas over, “but you can introduce me as Lord Pembroke.”

Thomas’s stomach sank. He had pictured someone older, even older than he was, and not a fraction as attractive. “Right this way, then, my Lord,” he said, forcing the professional smile back on his lips.

He announced Lord Pembroke and went to find Mr. Carson to report another guest had arrived in time for tea. He clicked his teeth together as he watched Price in the kitchen from the hall. Price held a tray out as Ellie set tea cups on it, then turned and left the kitchen.

Thomas stopped Price by the bottom of the stairs. “You neglected to mention that your old pal was Adonis incarnate.”

Price perked up. “Ah, he’s early, isn’t he?”

“So help me if you are asked to dress him while he’s here.”

Price narrowed his eyes. “He’s up in the library with the man who, quite recently, asked you to leave me for him. So you’ll have to pardon me for my lack of sympathy.”

“You’re the one who told him he could come!”

“That doesn’t mean I’m not still a bit unsettled about it.”

“So you left out the details about Lord Stunning on purpose?”

Price put his nose in the air. “Possibly.”

Mr. Carson stepped out of his office. “There are guests waiting for tea upstairs, so I can’t imagine what’s keeping you down here, David.”

“Nothing, Mr. Carson,” Price said, leaving Thomas to stare up after him as he headed for the library.

Price entered the library with his head down and set the tray on the table, then turned to leave and fetch tea sandwiches from the kitchen.

“David,” Lady Edith called from the sofa, “can you please ask for a pot of darjeeling for Mr. Weatherbee?”

“Yes, m’Lady,” Price replied. As he looked over to Lady Edith, he caught Lord Pembroke’s eye as well. He could nearly hear Lord Pembroke’s heart skip a beat from across the room. He hadn’t been sure whether news of where he was employed had reached Lord Pembroke, and by the look on the man’s face, it hadn’t.

Price returned to the library a little while later with another tray, including Eric’s steeping tea. Thomas had taken over for Mr. Molesley, having offered to trade shoe shining duty for tea. It meant Mr. Molesley could spend the hour with Miss Baxter, and he was too pleased to ask any questions. Price laid his tray down without meeting a single eye in the room, then took his post by the door.

Lady Mary broke conversation with Lord Pembroke to get more tea. Thomas poured for her, and she noticed his cufflinks.

“Ah, you’re wearing them I see,” she said, looking down her nose at his wrist.

Thomas looked up from the pot as he poured. “Oh. Yes, my lady.”

“So you like them? I picked them out, you know.”

“I didn’t know,” Thomas said, handing her a fresh cup, “but I wondered who thought to get them for me.”

Lady Mary straightened her shoulders as she sipped her tea. “Well,” she said, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was in hearing range, “I saw what Lady Edith splurged on for David, and for some reason it made me think about what we’d gotten you over the years. I couldn’t recall, and since that was the case, I figured it was about time to splurge on you, too.”

Thomas looked down, even more touched than he was by Lady Grantham’s words on Christmas eve. “That was very kind of you.”

“I can be kind, despite what everyone may say.”

Thomas met her eyes again. “I know you can, my lady.”

“Now Barrow, if you’d like to be kind in return, help me come up with an excuse to escape Lady Edith and her minions.”

Thomas chuckled. “The children could come down early.”

“I’m not sure why I didn’t think of that. Can you send for them?”

“Of course.”

Thomas left the library, whispering, “the cufflinks were from Lady Mary,” to Price as he passed.

Price took over Thomas’s spot by the table. Lord Pembroke stood as soon as he noticed Price by the table and approached with his cup.

“Hallboys serve tea these days?”

Price accepted the cup and filled it slowly. “I’m a footman, if the get-up didn’t give it away,” he said with a smile. “First footman, to be precise.”

“Look at you. New job, new hair, new attitude,” Lord Pembroke said quietly. “Milk and sugar, please,” he added, a bit louder in case anyone was listening.

“The job’s not quite new, I’ve been here since the spring.”

“Oh, I’m well aware how long you’ve been gone.”

Price handed Lord Pembroke his cup. “You should go back to your conversation before you're missed.”

Lord Pembroke stirred his tea. “Let’s continue this one later, then.”

“I don’t see how that would be possible.”

“I’m sure you can manage something.” Lord Pembroke handed his spoon to Price and joined the others by the fire.

Eric approached the table next. “What was that?”

“Do you think anyone noticed?”

Eric helped himself to a sandwich. “Besides me? I don’t think so.”

“If you really want to be my friend, help keep him occupied while you’re both here.”

“Sure,” Eric said, taking a bite, “but you have to give me the details later.”

“You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full.”

“Details, David?”

“Yes. Later.”

Eric filled his plate and winked at Price before walking away.

Thomas returned to the library and stood next to Price. “Did I miss anything?”

“Everyone drank tea and smiled politely. It was enthralling.”

Nanny Rebecca walked the children into the library. Nora set eyes on Eric and ran to him, jumping straight into stories about school before he could say hello. Lady Edith introduced Lord Pembroke to Marigold, and Lady Mary turned away from the others and pulled George and Sybbie onto her lap.

Price and Thomas cleaned up tea service, and then Price followed Thomas to the servant’s hall.

Thomas sat by the fire in a rocking chair and put a newspaper on his lap. “I’d like to read the paper in peace,” he said, lighting a cigarette.

“You’ll have a hard time doing that while I’m talking.”

Thomas sighed and took a drag as Price sat in the chair across from him.

“I asked Eric to do me a favor and keep Teddy occupied while they’re both here.”

A look of disgust came over Thomas’s face. “‘Teddy’? Please refrain from calling him that again.”

“Theodore, then.”

“Lord Pembroke will be fine.”

Price saw Thomas's jaw muscles working, always a sign that he was brooding. “Thomas, if either one of us should be worried, it’s me. But I’m not worried. I trust you.”

“I trust you, but not… him.”

Price leaned forward in his chair. “Why don’t you try focusing on the fact that I’d choose you any day over Lord Pembroke.”

“I don’t know why you would,” Thomas said, his lip twitching. “He’s absurdly handsome, clearly wealthy, and wanted you to come live with him.”

“But I don’t love him,” Price said. He wished he could sit on Thomas’s lap and give him a reassuring kiss. “I turned him down before I even knew you. Why are you so upset over this?”

Thomas scratched his eyebrow with his thumb and stared at the fire. “I want to work for your brother, but you have no viable prospects to work in London. What happens when the next Lord Adonis swoops in and I’m miles away?”

“Don’t you think I’m stronger than that?”

“Have you really thought about it? What it will be like when we go months without seeing each other?”

“It wouldn’t be months.”

Thomas took another drag. “Be realistic, David.”

Price shrugged. “We’ll figure it out.”

“There you go being naive again. It will be hard on both of us, but I’ll be in a new world, busy and distracted. You’ll be here, and it will be obvious to you that I’m missing. In everything you do, David, in every part of your day.”

Price pictured walking by Thomas’s room, empty of his belongings. “It won’t be permanent,” he said less confidently, trying to convince himself as much as Thomas.

“Well now I’m giving you ‘til Valentine’s. I’ve made my decision. I want to leave. Decide if you want the same, and start working on a way.”

Price took the paper from Thomas’s lap and sat back in his chair. “It’s not as fun when you’re the one making the rules.”

Thomas’s eyes were still turned toward the fire, but they didn’t seem to be focused on anything.

Price opened the paper and flipped through it. “Ooh, reviews of upcoming flicks. Do you want me to read them out loud?”

Thomas blinked and snapped out of his trance. “Only if you do it with feeling.”

Price began reading, mimicking the nasally, fast-talking speech he heard in newsreels that came from America. He began to draw a crowd as the other servants filtered in for tea. He read the review of an action film with increasing intensity, rising to his feet as he reached the end, reading the words as fast as his tongue would allow.

Thomas smiled and rocked back in his chair, watching Price entertain the gathering staff. He tried to do what Price said, focusing on the fact that Price would choose him over anyone, any day, including the handsome guest upstairs. It worked for the time being. Price began reading a cooking column with the same voice, and Thomas found himself laughing with the others. Sitting among Price’s captive audience, watching him when he was at his best, he even started to believe that between the two of them, maybe they could figure it all out.
- 24
- 25
- 26
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Footman in Training