Yes! Happy ending for Thomas! Poor man's storyline was leaving me depressed and feeling so bad for him. Wasn't surprised he tried to kill himself. Good story!

I'd love to hear more of his adventures

Oh, I could happily read another 100,000 words of this at least, if you were seriously contemplating continuing Mr. Barrow's "adventures."

The possibility of Mrs. Patmore extending a hand at this particular moment is intriguing to me because they were among the few who, I felt, were abandoned by the narrative (for at least a little while longer- though it's hinted that Mrs Patmore may not be left in such a state for much longer) for the most part to the same sources of quiet desperation that have plagued them for the duration of the series- Mr Barrow is delivered from his purgatory at the Stiles' and Mrs Patmore is rescued from the ignominy of owning a "house of ill repute" by the Crawley family's patronage, but neither of those things is quite so neat and tidy a happy ending as the kind of romance/wedding/"understanding"/etc, which they have each been shown wishing for (not necessarily a _wedding_ in Thomas' case- but certainly the attachment it implies- something more stable and bilateral than feeling something like parental love for an employer's children or a longtime subordinate who has talked about moving away) and watching most people in their circle achieve. Not that I necessarily think that Mrs Patmore and Mr Barrow would even acknowledge having suffered such similar disappointments in life (let alone sit around having heart-to-hearts about it over tea or something)- but I think in certain situations they will be somewhat in sympathy with eachother for a while. Which for those two might only amount to snarking about the same things. At least until Mr Mason comes calling? Idk.

Actually I remember reading once that the Butler and the Head Cook would sometimes be a bit in conflict with eachother in great houses in real life because of... Something to do with access to the pantries... But I forget. And I digress.

All I meant to say was this was a very well-written, well-characterized story, and you can count me among the number who would be excited to read more of it! (Motivated in no small part by how much I want a truly happy ending for the handful of characters left behind by the narrative. But even if you want to continue to torture them for a while longer... well, I watched 6 years of Downton Abbey, didn't I?)

It would be Lord and Lady Grantham, not Sir Robert & Lady Cora.

Nice fill in as to what Thomas might have faced during his sojourn in another house.

Ooh I'm excited for more of this! :)

Thank you for filling out this part of Thomas Barrow s life.
It did seem to be very desolate and decaying at sir Mark Stiles'. What an atmosphere! Stiff and dead! No wonder Thomas hated it. How different from the busy, lively, caring life at Downton, downstairs and upstairs. How overjoyed g for Thomas to get the call to come back.

There isn't enough Thomas stories here, and I'm always glad to read one when there is. It was lovely to see Thomas welcomed back as the butler. Great start!

What a sweet story ! I love it thank you!