Chapter Text
"What!? How?! Why?!"
Thomas looked at Baxter with shocked, wide eyes. In front of him, Phyllis looked calm as usual, before speaking in her normal, relaxed voice."Well, for the what, I think we already covered that. For the how, I think you know how these things work. And for the why... there isn't really a why. It just happened". Baxter ended the sentence with a small, shy smile.
Thomas kept looking at her with the same, stunned expression. "It happened because you made it happen".
"Thomas, don't talk to me like that. I'm not a young girl. Besides, I was hoping to get some congratulations from you".
That seemed to shake the butler. "Well, but of course! Congratulations, it's wonderful news! I'm sorry, I'm just... I didn't expect that".
"Clearly", said Ms. Baxter, a little cold.
"What are you going to do?"
The lady's maid smiled warmly again. "Exactly what we were already planning, but a little earlier. Instead of getting married in the summer, we'll do it in the spring. Hopefully before I will start showing. But, honestly... I don't really care that much of keeping it a secret".
Thomas smiled, for the first time. "What Molesley said?"
Baxter's eyes were bright, while talking about her fiancé. "Oh, he's so so happy. He wanted to marry me right away, but I told him I still wanted a classic, happy wedding".
"Did you tell Her Ladyship?"
"Not yet. But I'll have to soon. The doctor said everything is fine, but I'm not young anymore. I need to be careful and to rest. I will need to take it easy in the next few months, so I will have to talk to her. But I don't think she will be happy".
Instead, Her Ladyship was very happy. So happy that she gave the news to the whole family that very same day, at dinner.
"What?!" exclaimed Lord Grantham. "But... how old is she?"
"Robert!" answered Lady Grantham, her eyes wide with surprise at the rude question of her husband. Thomas could see Lady Mary and Tom Branson exchanging an amused look.
"No, I meant..." said again Lord Grantham. "She is not that young anymore..."
Thomas decided to take Lord Grantham out of his embarrassing moment, and got closer to the table with the carafe of red wine. While serving it to His Lordship, he started talking. "I think I can answer that, My Lord. She is old enough that she thought she wouldn't be able to have a baby anymore. That's why they... didn't really think to this particular possibility".
"Well, obviously," said Robert again, with a thankful glance to the butler, who smiled a little.
"Are they going to get married?" asked Henry, taking some salmon with his fork.
"Yes, of course," answered Cora. "They wanted to get married in the summer, but now they are anticipating it to the spring. They don't know the date yet".
"Why not now?" asked Robert, a little confused. Clearly, in his mind a couple who was expecting a child had to get married right away.
"Molesley proposed it to her," said Cora. "But she still wants to have a nice wedding, not just a few minutes at the registrar followed by some kind of small lunch in a pub. It's her first and hopefully only wedding, she wants to have a nice day".
Robert shrugged: he clearly wasn't that much interested.
"We should have them have their wedding here, if they want to", proposed Lady Mary, smiling. "Like we proposed to Carson and Mrs. Hughes. What do you think?"
"It's a wonderful idea, darling. I will tell her tomorrow afternoon, when I'll see her again".
"Not in the morning?"
"No. I would like her to take it easy, since it's her first baby and... well... she is not that young anymore", she finished her sentence with a strict glance to her husband, who was too focused on his dinner to notice. "I told her I will need her only to get ready for dinner and in the afternoon. So she can sleep a little more".
"That is very nice, mama".
Cora smiled. "If I'll need some help, I will ask Anna, maybe. What do you think?"
Mary was silent for a moment, swallowing a mouthful of vegetables. "Actually, mama, I don't think it's a good idea".
Cora looked surprised. "Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"No, no, it's fine. It's just... I gave Anna some free time for the same reason".
Thomas almost dropped the carafe of wine. What?