Prompt #344, Police Song Titles - Wrapped Around Your Finger (Thomas/Philip, Duke of Crowborough)

[passionscowboys.livejournal.com]

Title:     I Remain, Your Most Faithful Servant
Author:    Passioncowboys
Fandom:     Downton Abbey
Prompt: #344, Police Song Titles - Wrapped Around Your Finger
Word Count:  500 (Ficlet)
Summary:   Whenever the Duke and Thomas are together, protocol is temporarily forgotten...

"Devil and the deep blue sea behind me,

Vanish in the air you'll never find me.

I will turn your face to alabaster,

When you find your servant is your Master. "

"But you came here to be with me." Thomas insisted, slowly kissing his hands, his face, his lips, and, dissolving into his touch, the Duke of Crowborough began to find it difficult to concentrate on the matter at hand.

"Yes, among other reasons. And to offer my condolences to Lord Grantham, of course."

"And I want to be with you." Thomas said tenderly, looking up at him and smiling at him intimately, holding his gaze as he slowly kissed his hand and held it to his cheek, and then kissed it again, and Philip smiled back at him, and closed his eyes in exquisite pleasure. And the sight of Philip's pleasure pleased Thomas immensely.  "I could be your valet."

Philip sighed, but he was resolute. "I just don't see how it can work, Thomas. And besides, one taste doesn't make the man, does it?"

"You must understand, Thomas. Beautiful Thomas. The strict societal rules that we live under, especially we of the so-called privileged classes. It isn't as perfect as you might believe. There are expectations, responsibilities, obligations; obligations handed down to me, that render my feelings irrelevant, such as whom I love, and which cannot be overcome."

He held out the sheaf of letters tied with ribbon he'd sent to Thomas over the months, and that his heart had leapt to know that Thomas had saved, meaning to toss them into the fire grate. They had meant something to him. He'd stolen them, really. If anyone ever found them, he'd be ruined. And so would Thomas be. He couldn't take that chance, for either one of them.

"If I ever thought you would use these against me...I'll deny it. And who do think they will believe?"

"Don't take them...please...I'd never..." Thomas faltered, in profound confusion and disappointment. "Give them back to me!"

"Then you must give me your solemn oath." Philip interrupted. "Noone must ever know. Swear it. And I will keep the letters safely for us."

"I swear it." Thomas said. He understood that it was a frightening prospect, being found out, the disgrace and condemnation, even prison. Surely that's what this must be about. But others didn't understand that it was a beautiful thing.

"And one more thing, Thomas." He should be ashamed with what he was about to propose next, but there was no other way. "I'd like you to stay tonight, if you still want to. I'd like us to continue our relationship, even so. Nothing has to change. I'm sorry, I know this is coming out all wrong, but I need our friendship. This life of mine is so...so isolating. Say you'll think about it."

But Thomas would not stay, although he did not know what he would do in the future. He gathered up his coat and dignity, and went upstairs, back to his room in the attic servants' quarters. Shaken, his heart trounced, but he calmed himself, held back tears.

Why was happiness always just beyond his grasp.

I posted a little "too much information" the last time around, so I've shortened my entry to the proper wordcount.   The rest of the story can be found here, at my journal.

Comments

[sweptawaybayou.livejournal.com]

hello! and thank you so much for participating and writing for our community!

This is wonderful, and the only thing I would like to do is remind you of the very clearly stated rules - Drabbles of 100 words and ficlets of 200, 300, 400 and 500 words exactly.

You may edit this fic to fit the rules if you'd like, or leave it as is, but any future drabbles and/or ficlets *must* comply with the rules of this community.

Thanks again for writing with the prompt! I really enjoyed reading. :)

[passionscowboys.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry! You're right, you plainly stated the requirements - I think I somehow had it stuck in my head 'ficlet' where some sites allow them to be a little longer?

At any rate - I made the mistake. Let me see if I can maybe divide it in half for two entries, or condense it to the proper length?

Thank you!