"Not so much," she admits. "It's still a crime, though men don't hang for it anymore. I wouldn't say that men who have those inclinations are very open about it, for obvious reasons."
John must be wondering why she feels so comfortable with this. By all rights, she's a typical conservative aristocrat and has just admitted that society still doesn't accept gay men. She'll try to explain herself.
"At Downton, we have a servant, one who has been with us since he was a boy. He's done various jobs, but at present he's a footman. I know he has his eye on valet or butler; he's very ambitious, you see." Here, a slight smile. "Mr. Barrow has never confirmed his preferences with any of my family, as it wouldn't exactly be a proper thing to do, but we know. All of us do, even my father. As far as I can tell, Mr. Barrow has not engaged in... activity, but my father would never turn him in or sack him if he had, so long as he wasn't flaunting it. Our servants are practically family."
It feels odd for her to say that, but it's true. The person she's found herself missing the most since she came to Asgard is her maid, Anna.
"That is to say, I have known men like you. I don't think you are demons, though Mr. Barrow's personality does leave something to be desired." She shrugs. "My son is fond of him though, which bodes well for his future employment."
She takes a sip of her tea. "I don't think it's really any of my business to tell you who you should love any more than it is for anyone to tell me whom I should should love."
no subject
John must be wondering why she feels so comfortable with this. By all rights, she's a typical conservative aristocrat and has just admitted that society still doesn't accept gay men. She'll try to explain herself.
"At Downton, we have a servant, one who has been with us since he was a boy. He's done various jobs, but at present he's a footman. I know he has his eye on valet or butler; he's very ambitious, you see." Here, a slight smile. "Mr. Barrow has never confirmed his preferences with any of my family, as it wouldn't exactly be a proper thing to do, but we know. All of us do, even my father. As far as I can tell, Mr. Barrow has not engaged in... activity, but my father would never turn him in or sack him if he had, so long as he wasn't flaunting it. Our servants are practically family."
It feels odd for her to say that, but it's true. The person she's found herself missing the most since she came to Asgard is her maid, Anna.
"That is to say, I have known men like you. I don't think you are demons, though Mr. Barrow's personality does leave something to be desired." She shrugs. "My son is fond of him though, which bodes well for his future employment."
She takes a sip of her tea. "I don't think it's really any of my business to tell you who you should love any more than it is for anyone to tell me whom I should should love."