1924
It had started as an evening just like so many that had come before it in Sybil's life. She was a bit surprised when Edwin had telephoned suggesting dinner at Rules for they usually opted for small unassuming neighborhood places rather than somewhere like the venerable Rules. She had dressed accordingly in an elegant black silk crepe de chine dress with a wide band of patterned gold lame just below the boat neckline with a smaller band of gold lame below the hips and then another just above the mid-calf hemline. The dress was classy and modern but not flashy much like Sybil herself. Two gold hair combs held back the sides of her just below the chin length bob allowing a clear view of her dangling gold earrings, a long ago gift from Granny, that sparkled in the restaurant's lights.
Sybil paid no attention to the looks she garnered from other diners as the waiter escorted her and Edwin across the room to one of the plush red booths. While Sybil may have been oblivious to the admiring glances Edwin noticed. He thought he probably looked much the same way the first time he saw Sybil standing in his uncle's antiques shop looking at some rare first edition books. Although her dress, a purple day dress that complemented her short dark hair and lovely blue eyes, was a much simpler frock than the elegant black dress she was now wearing she looked just as beautiful.
Sybil glanced around the ornately decorated room with its high ceilings and tall yellow painted walls crammed with prints and paintings large and small as well as antler trophies mounted on wood blocks. It could have been a room in almost any of the stately country homes she had visited. However, the red booths that lined the walls or the separate tables for four that occupied the rest of the floor space reminded her she was not in someone's home but rather a restaurant. She was glad that unlike so many of the city's restaurants Rules had stayed strictly a dining facility rather than taking up most of their tables and turning the space into a dance floor or becoming a cabaret. Sometimes it was nice just to sit and talk over a good meal without the conversation being drowned out by a band.
For most of her life, Sybil had never eaten in a restaurant other than the occasional tea in one of the small tea rooms of Downton village or Ripon and she wasn't sure if those places actually counted as a restaurant. Granny and her parents would no more think of going out to eat at a restaurant than they would taking up a job. To them dining out meant visiting someone's home where meals were prepared by the family's cook and her staff. It was only in the past few years, since moving to London, that she began patronizing restaurants. It was just another reminder of how her life had changed these past few years.
Sybil had met Edwin just over six months ago when she and Elizabeth Bellasis, a lifelong friend, had popped into an antique shop after having tea at the tea room next door. It was Elizabeth's cousin Tom whose death so long ago in the Great War had been the impetus for Sybil becoming a nurse. If asked Sybil would quickly say it was the decision to become a nurse that led to her present life living in London at her Aunt Rosamund's house in Eaton Square. But she knew that wasn't quite the whole truth.
Since that meeting Sybil and Edwin had seen each other one or two times a week except for those weeks Edwin was out of town on a buying trip. Sometimes they went dancing at one of the numerous jazz clubs or cabarets that seemed to have suddenly sprung up all over London. Other times they dined out or attended a concert or an art exhibit and then maybe stopped for a drink or a light dinner.
As always the conversation easily flowed between the two. Edwin's work as a buyer for his uncle's shop took him all over England as well as the continent. Sybil was fascinated by stories of his travels and the means by which he acquired some of the items sold in the shop. She was a bit conflicted when he related instances of aristocratic families, some whom she knew and had visited their grand country estates or their elegant London town homes, selling possessions or acres of land or even their whole estate that had been in their family for hundreds of years. These years after the Great War hadn't been kind to much of the aristocracy. But things are changing. When the war's over, the world won't be the same place as it was when it started. The war had changed the world just as it had changed Sybil.
After a fine meal, they lingered over coffee and a rich vanilla crème brulee garnished with fresh raspberries. Edwin seemed quite disappointed when Sybil declined his suggestion of moving on to a jazz club.
It was a glorious late spring evening when they emerged from Rules. Although the sun had set, there was still a lingering warmth in the air. Sybil would have preferred to take the underground to Victoria Station and then walk the short distance to Eaton Square but Edwin insisted on taking a taxi cab. He seemed rather preoccupied while they sat in the taxi so they sat in silence on the ride and Sybil hoped he wasn't sulking that she had declined his offer to continue the evening with drinks and dancing.
As Sybil watched the changing scenery as the taxi cab moved from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden towards Eaton Square she realized how much she enjoyed the city. It was a lovely drive up The Strand and then The Mall and around the Victoria Memorial and Buckingham Palace. When Sybil had first moved to London she feared missing the wonderful grounds of Downton. She loved walking in the woods and with the changing seasons watching the leaves turn from their summer greenery to a dazzling display of fall colors. Even the bare limbs of winter had a stark beauty which was soon replaced with budding greenery or pink, purple or white blossoms. And then of course there were the many gardens that bloomed from spring to fall with an array of flowering shrubs and plants.
To Sybil's delight she found the city a walker's paradise. The many squares and parks offered greenery, flowering shrubs and plants while the streets were lined with buildings of architectural interest as well as many shops that attracted her attention. She found she could lose herself for an afternoon in one of the city's many book shops. The thought of those delightfully odd shops especially ones filled with bits and bobs made Sybil think of when she first met Edwin. His uncle's shop was filled with items much finer than those shops she usually browsed, indeed much of its inventory would fit in at Downton or Aunt Rosamund's but there were also the odd and quirky items. She glanced over at Edwin who sat stiffly with his left hand tapping his knee while his face was turned away from her and towards the passenger window. Although she couldn't see his face she felt his mind was on something other than the passing scenery.
Sybil turned to look once more out her window as the taxi skirted around Buckingham Palace. Seeing the palace suddenly brought forth the image of her one and only visit to that magnificent building, her presentation to their royal majesties. Her season … she, like her sisters, had been groomed for years for that time. But there had only been that one season and then the war and then … Sybil shook her head as if to erase those thoughts.
Her life no longer evolved around such things as the season for there were much more important matters to be involved with. While the parks had plenty of walking paths through woodlands and gardens as well as around lakes her favorite place was found in Hyde Park which offered something that Downton could never offer – Speaker's Corner where she had attended many speeches and demonstrations and met like-minded people.
As the taxi neared their destination Sybil suggested to Edwin that the driver let them out on the edge of Eaton Square at Lower Belgrave Street so they could walk the long block and a half to Aunt Rosamund's house. While the weather was perfect for an evening stroll, Sybil thought the short walk to her aunt's house would give Edwin time to say whatever was on his mind. Neither talked as they walked towards the house and Sybil was puzzled by Edwin's sudden reticence for it seemed they had always had an easy rapport.
The air was heavy with the scent of lilacs from the clump of lilac bushes across the street from Aunt Rosamund's front door. She loved that her bedroom window looked out at the park formed by the Square and with her bedroom windows open just a bit she could smell those lilac bushes. There were only three stairs to the porch and Sybil knew the moment they reached the front door Hanes the butler would be there to open it. Edwin tugged gently on Sybil's arm at the foot of the first stair causing her to stop and turn around to face him.
"This isn't how I planned it" Edwin began hesitantly as he looked up and down the sidewalk. Seeing no one else on the walk he focused back on Sybil.
"I had hoped to have a bottle of chilled champagne and-" As he reached for Sybil's hand it finally dawned on her what was coming.
1916
She had felt so confident and excited when Mama, Granny, and her sisters were all gathered in her bedroom helping her pack. But now as the motor car started down the long drive and her home faded in the background her confidence and excitement dimmed. The first of you to leave the nest her mother had said.
Sybil's eyes filled with unshed tears despite her best efforts. For years she had wanted to go to a real school and now she was finally having that chance. Yet as the motor car pulled away from the front of her home it wasn't the excitement of attending school that consumed her thoughts. Instead she dwelled on the realization that it was her first time away from home and for the first time in her life she would be completely alone with no family or friends or even servants around. She took a deep breath.
She could ask Branson how it felt to leave home. But then again her situation and his were nothing alike and it would be unfair of her to ask since it had been years since he had been home and seen his family. She would only be gone for two months provided she didn't fail her course.
Usually by this time one of them would have started a conversation but today they drove in silence. Other than cousin Isobel, Branson had been the only other person to encourage her in her decision to become a nurse. While he had made clear his feelings on the war itself, he had no misgivings about her becoming a nurse and voiced that any man that had her as his nurse would be lucky. She looked at his reflection in the rear view mirror hoping to see that confidence in his eyes beaming back at her but his eyes were focused on the road and he seemed to be in deep concentration.
The unusual awkwardness between them in the motor car continued as they walked through the brick archway that led them into a grassy courtyard. She's shocked by the sight of men exercising in the courtyard some of whom are missing an arm while others are missing a leg. Until now the horrors of war had only been in her letters but now she was seeing firsthand the war's effects. Men like this will be my patients she thought.
Branson sets her two suitcases down on the pavement just inside another brick archway which is the entrance to a long covered pathway leading to her college. They stand there looking at each other until Sybil breaks the silence.
"It'll be hard to let you go. My last link with home." She smiles slightly.
Branson removes his hat which he holds in his hand as he continues to look directly at her face. "Not as hard as it is for me."
As she looks at him, she notes his clear blue eyes and the sincerity in his voice and it suddenly becomes clear to her where this is leading.
I know I shouldn't say it, but I can't keep it in any longer.
Bet on me.