Thomas (Chapter 25)

Thomas
had seen the yellowy flickering in the distance, he had already
hinted out to O'Brien that Bentley was doing work for Anna and Bates
but now he was going to persuade her. He located her having a fag
around the other side of the building. “That'll be Bentley
getting into Bate's house.” He stated lighting up a cigarette
and and exhaling, he didn't look at her but he could see in his head
her blank expression, with her mouth open comically.

“What?”
She took the zippo from Thomas's hand. He smiled, he'd got her, “I
just saw the lights go, he must be working out the electricity. He's
quite simple sometimes that one, I hate to think what the house is
goin' to turn out like once he's done.” He didn't mean it but
it was the sort of thing he'd say to tease Bentley. Because it was
something he would generally say, O'Brien couldn't detect the lie.

“Ay!
He has more brains than you do these days, like when he spotted that
dirt when you didn't. He just needs a hand sometimes, is all.”
She took a drag and pondered at the thought of herself helping him.
She pictured him handing her things and her hiding things behind her
back making him putting his arms around her to get them and then they
closed in and he would kis-

“I
hope you're not dropping hints.” Thomas interrupted her
thoughts. O'Brien snapped and shot a glare at him, she was annoyed
her mini-dream hadn't visually satisfied her.

“No
I wouldn't hint you to do anything. Poor boy, I'll go down and keep
him company, maybe my experience with idiots such as yourself will
prove useful!” O'Brien spat and stomped across the gravel of
the courtyard, heading towards the cottage. Thomas put out his
cigarette, “cow.” He muttered, he knew from her over
exaggeration of implying that Bentley was an idiot, that she was
excited at the thought of some alone time. He knew that because when
he liked someone it was obvious, he had to compensate by turning one
extreme into the other, thus ending with him appearing to be a
spiteful man full of hate towards others. It was only till recently
that Bentley had re-written his natural way of defence, and for that
he thanked him.

Thomas
went into the warm servants hall, He nodded at Anna who went off to
play her role. Thomas nodded at Bates and they went to the cloakroom
to get their coats, Just as Bates took his off the peg Bentley came
panting from the brisk walk, “I've just seen O'Brien, so I had
to sprint out of sight, she was singing to herself so she didn't hear
me” He rubbed his nose to warm it up.

“And
breathe.” Thomas joked, Bentley was truly adorable when was
cold. Bates got his coat and stood in the doorway ready. Bentley
didn't notice that he was waiting and kissed Thomas who hadn't
noticed either. It was a brief kiss and Bates was taken aback, he
didn't realise they would be so open. His questioning thought was
answered when Thomas got to the doorway and was surprised by his
presence. “Oh I thou-..” He trailed off and they left.