This chapter is quite slow as I needed to build up the background to the story.
Folding the letter back into his pocket Tom looked ahead of him to see if there was any sign of the train, but it had not arrived yet. He had come to the station early as he wanted some time to sit and think away from Downton. The letter was from his brother Cian who was working as a chauffeur to the Kerrigan family in Ireland who were visiting some relations in Yorkshire before the two sons joined the army- war had a way of strengthening family ties. Tom and his brother were hoping to co-ordinate their half days off so that they could see each other.
He was very much looking forward to being with him again and having another Irishman to speak to. Whilst he enjoyed reading the newspapers to understand what was happening in the world they always wrote from an English point of view and he longed to discuss everything in Ireland with his brother. Though Cian was less political than him he knew he would happily speak with him about current events. Now that Sybil- Lady Sybil as he must remember to call her- had been in London with her sisters he had had nobody he could truly talk to who didn't just quote the propaganda of the war and it was making him feel lonely. Again he looked out of the car, but the train that would bring her to him had still not arrived and his mind drifted back to the night before in the Servants' Hall.
William had taken to asking regularly about the progress of the war convinced it would be over before he was able to join up. 'Idiot' Branson thought but replied, "It's got a long way to go yet just from the number of countries involved. Only a couple of days ago Italy declared war with Austria-Hungary."
"I don't think it will be so long now." Mr Carson interrupted him. "Our boys are doing a fine job out there." He obviously meant to end the conversation so although he disagreed Tom moved on to a new topic.
"Prime Minister Asquith is reorganising the government as a coalition with the conservative party." Tom's words were met by mostly blank expressions and he supressed the urge to sigh.
"What will that mean for the war?" William asked as eager as ever.
"I'm sure the conservative party know what they are doing." Carson said firmly "A coalition must surely add strength to the government and will help us win the war."
This time Tom got the sense that Carson was less sure of his words and realised he was trying to dispel any worry amongst the servants, particularly those who were planning to volunteer. They needed to believe they were backed by a strong government and he knew Carson would never forgive him for speaking up on this subject.
Instead he said "I wonder what it will mean for the country after the war."
"We can worry about that when we've won it." Miss O'Brien told him firmly ending the discussion.
What he really wanted to know is how it would affect Asquith's plans for Ireland. The Prime Minister had introduced the Third Home Rule Bill for Ireland which would allow some degree of home rule, but would not come into effect until the war was over. He only hoped the coalition government would not do anything to affect this. However the other servants would have no interest in this and he longed to discuss it with his brother. He also wished he could discuss it with Lady Sybil remembering the passionate way she spoke about her political beliefs… which brought him to his main concern about Cian's visit. What really worried him was a paragraph in Cian's most recent letter:
Hopefully my visit should knock some sense into that thick skull of yours. This is a Lady we are talking about. An English lady from an aristocratic English family and you are a working class Irish servant. I don't care if she did hold your hand or likes talking about politics it won't change anything. I'm sorry to have to be so blunt, but if you don't snap out of this it will break your heart when she marries an English peer- which she WILL do.
He knew his brother was trying to help him, but it didn't make the words hurt any less. However much he was told that Lady Sybil would never want someone like him he refused to believe it clinging instead to the memory of the garden party where her soft hands had held his, the gentleness of her touch at odds with the great effect it had on him. He also relived their conversations as he drove her to rallies or her charity meetings where her ambitions were so different to those around her as indeed were his. Yet together they shared the same ideals and after any political event they had started to seek each other out to discuss it particularly since the war. Nevertheless his brother's last words hurt him as much as any physical pain when he saw how great the class divide was between them and how likely it was she would marry an English peer. The thought of someone else marrying her, walking down the aisle with her, holding her in their arms, her smile lighting up the room as they laughed together, kissing her tenderly, planning their future together, raising children together, trying for more children together…. Tom groaned aloud willing such thoughts out of his mind. They served no use except to cause him pain and instead he started to plan his reply to his brother's letter and their meeting.
When the train did arrive he climbed out of the car and stood to attention at its side his eyes scanning the crowd for the Crawley sisters… one more than the others. Suddenly he froze. He could have sworn he saw his brother on the platform, but there were so many people he immediately lost sight of him. He thought his eyes were deceiving him, but then he saw him again and walking towards him.
"Cian!" he cried as his brother approached him and grasped his hand with both of his to shake it. "What a good surprise to see you!"
"And you!" Cian replied just as heartily. "I'm only meant to be changing trains here and never thought I'd meet you!"
"You need to leave again soon?" Tom asked disappointed they wouldn't be able to be together for long.
"Unless you're free anytime today as I don't have to be back until…" he stopped speaking as he noticed three well-dressed ladies heading towards the car and remembered Tom was working. He wondered which one his brother had fallen so hard for and was not able to hide the dislike he felt for whoever she was as he was sure Tom would lose his job over her.
The tallest lady who was in the lead gave him a curious but disdainful look having just seen him talking to their chauffeur.
"We don't have any luggage Branson." Mary told him choosing to ignore the man near the car. "It was all sent on ahead."
"Very good, milady."
It made Cian smile to see his brother acting the good servant as he knew how much of a socialist he was. The next lady got into the car quietly and Cian wondered if she was the one, but he immediately knew when he saw how his brother looked at the youngest lady. His face lit up and he couldn't help but notice the smile on the lady's face too.
The sister's had been staying with Aunt Rosamund in London which Sybil had found incredibly dull. All the social events seemed even more superficial knowing that miles away people were dying for their country, but nobody spoke to her about it. Instead they commented on fashion or who had done anything scandalous. Even if anything interesting was discussed it was by the men only and mostly saved for when the women had retired to the drawing room after dinner. Apparently she was far too delicate to think of such things! How she had longed to see Branson again (or Tom as she had started to think of him.) He was one of the few if not the only person not to treat her like she was made of china and she longed to talk to him.
Furthermore she had begun to think of him very often and not just because of their conversations, but of how much she liked his presence beside her. In particular she often recalled the way he had put an arm around her as he led her away from the riot at the rally and the safety she had felt. Confused by her thoughts she had tried not to think too much the way he looked in his chauffeur's uniform and his twinkling eyes when he was sharing a private joke with her. However this never worked and she had spent much of the time in London counting down to when she would see him again As she walked towards Tom she was therefore so excited to see him that she didn't register the man at his side.
"I'm sorry the train was delayed Branson." She apologised.
"No need for you to apologise for that milady." He replied pleased that she had thought about him waiting. Cian noticed that she seemed to falter for a moment as if looking for something else to say when her gaze fell upon him and then glanced between the two brothers. She gave a questioning look to Tom clearly wanting an introduction.
"Lady Sybil this is my brother Cian Branson, Cian, Lady Sybil Crawley."
Cian was so shocked when Sybil held out her hand to him that it was a few moments before he shook it. He couldn't believe an aristocrat would want to meet him and it made him even more concerned about the propriety of his brother's relationship with her.
"It's good to meet you Mr Branson." She told him pleased to be introduced to one of Tom's family.
"Sybil, are you coming?" Edith called from the car making Sybil look up hiding her disappointment.
"It was a good surprise to see you." Tom told his brother regretful that he wouldn't see him again for some time.
"Is he not coming back to Downton?" Sybil asked surprised and Cian was amazed this was an option.
"I have to work today milady." Tom replied. "His Lordship wants the Renault ready for tomorrow and I'm having some trouble with it."
"Then your brother can come back to the garage with you." Sybil declared and got into the car quickly before he could protest.
"What's going on?" Mary asked when Sybil had sat beside her.
"Branson met his brother on the station." Sybil explained. "I've told him to bring him back to Downton so they can talk."
Not finding this interesting Mary moved the conversation to the events they had been to in London. Although lacking in young men to discuss, there was plenty of talk of who had worn what.
Cian climbed into the car next to his brother and raised his eyebrows at him indicating his surprise at what had just happened. Not many ladies would have thought to allow him to come to Downton and he was worried her eagerness was a sign of affection on her part. It was bad enough that his brother loved her, but if she reciprocated his feelings who knew what would happen. Certainly he couldn't see any lasting relationship and so it could only end in heartbreak for both. Surely the conversation in the back of the car was proof enough? The ladies were discussing the gowns worn by various people in London- comparing prices and wondering how their own matched up.
He glanced at Tom wondering if he found this subject as dull as he did, but he was looking ahead to the road. Yet once they had gone round the corner Cian noticed his brother's eyes glance up to the mirror and he deliberately rolled his eyes. It was then Cian noticed only two of the ladies were talking, the one he assumed was Lady Sybil had not joined in the discussion. Carefully Cian pretended to look at the time on his watch, turning as he did so to glance into the backseat and there he saw Lady Sybil looking towards the mirror and giving a secretive smile. He knew then that Tom had fallen badly.
Sybil was bored of the conversation in the car and indeed all the conversation she had had in London. When so many men were risking their lives it seemed wrong to carry on as before. Did her sisters not realise that? Of course she knew they truly cared about what was happening- particularly when it involved people they knew- yet they thought it improper to discuss such things. However Sybil longed for a proper conversation with Tom and she had missed him dreadfully. A part of her felt jealous of Tom's brother being able to talk to him today when she would have to wait until tomorrow. She immediately dismissed such thoughts feeling incredible selfish when Tom had not seen his brother for years and instead enjoyed sharing looks in the mirror which showed how similar they were. When the car stopped she smiled at Tom hoping her expression would tell him how much she had missed him when she was not allowed to speak the thoughts. The twinkle in his eye showed he understood and returned her feelings.
Please review and let me know what you think of this story and to tell me if I've made any historical mistakes!