It was the kind of evening that Thomas hated. That the servants had been up before dawn and no matter how late their evening was would be up again tomorrow by dawn wouldn't of course faze this crowd most of whom now filed into the grand salon lured by the sounds of the band's opening number.

Since the family could no longer afford the number of footmen to properly handle a dinner and dance this size, even the housemaids had been pressed into extra duties. Now under the watchful eyes of Mrs. Hughes, the housemaids, much to the consternation of Mr. Carson, cleared away the last remains of the dinner, while Mr. Carson supervised Thomas and the other footmen who circulated in the grand hall offering drinks. In a few hours the trays of drinks would be supplemented with trays of canapes and cheeses and then in the final hour of the party tea and coffee along with sweets would be on offer in the dining room.

Thomas had just handed a tray of empty glasses and plates discretely to one of the housemaids at the green baize door and was taking a short break before circulating again with another tray of drinks when his sight drifted up to the balcony. For a moment he thought he was seeing a ghost. He quickly shut his eyes thinking the sight of her would be gone when he opened them again but when he did she was still there.

He stared at the small figure dressed in white sitting on the floor, each of her hands wrapped around one of the ornately carved spindles and her face peeking out between those spindles watching the dancers on the floor below her. It took another moment or two for him to realize that of course it wasn't her but her daughter.

It had been a night much like this one with dancing in the grand salon only then the music had strictly been waltzes so unlike the jazzy numbers being played by this band. The family had been much richer then and he was just one of ten or twelve footmen attending to the needs of the family and their party guests. He had stopped for a minute to take a break from his constant wandering around the room carrying a tray of drinks. Standing off to the side where he hoped to be unnoticed, he was just looking around the room enjoying the music when something made him look up at the balcony.

He knew he shouldn't have been surprised to see her there watching the scene below; after all the party had been the talk of the house for days if not weeks. Even she had talked about it. While her sister Lady Mary occasionally made visits to Mr. Carson's office, little Lady Sybil was the only family member whose presence below stairs was not so rare. Usually she was using the servants entrance as a way in or out of the house while evading her nanny but even then she'd briefly stop and say hello to whoever was sitting in the servants hall before dashing out the door. There were also times when she wandered downstairs for milk and biscuits and she'd sit happily at the servants table and talk to whoever was there. Thomas thought she was probably the only family member who actually knew the names of most of the servants.

It had been just such an occasion when Thomas had entered the servants hall to find Lady Sybil sitting at the big table contentedly eating a freshly made scone with cream and strawberry jam lavishly spread on it. He chuckled to himself when she turned to look at him, a big grin spreading across her face which was speckled with little dabs of strawberry jam.

"Hello Thomas" she said. "Have you had one of these scones? They really are most delicious."

"I'm sure we'll have some with our tea" he responded before adding "that is if there's any left."

At that she raised her left hand to her cheek, spreading even more jam on it. "Oh" she exclaimed and then looked down at her plate.

She looked back up at him, her blue eyes full of alarm. "But I've only eaten one!"

As he sat in the chair beside her he stated "then I'm sure we'll have enough" then laughing he added "provided you don't eat anymore."

After glancing around the room, he leaned towards her whispering "I think Mrs. Patmore makes extras just so you can have some."

She giggled at his remark.

"So why are you sitting here alone eating scones?"

"Eating a scone" she corrected him.

He laughed. "A scone then."

She sighed deeply which rather amused him.

"From lunch time tomorrow I'm not allowed to leave the nursery." She looked up at him her lower lip quivering. "Does that seem fair to you?"

"So what did you do to bring this on?" It was well known among the servants that Lady Sybil's penchant for adventure often led her into trouble but unlike his own childhood her punishments were never with a wooden rod.

"I didn't do anything" she answered defiantly. It amused him that she could at times sound so much like the uppity Lady Mary or even the Dowager.

"It's the party" she said as if that should explain everything.

"The party?" he couldn't keep the puzzlement out of his voice.

This time she looked at him as she once again sighed deeply. "I'm not to get in the way of the pre … prep …pre …" she slightly nodded her head and smiled as she finally remembered the word. But just as quickly her smile faded "preparations. Nor am I to participate in the party."

"Oh Thomas I would so love to listen to the music and see the dancing even if I can't dance myself."

When he looked up and saw her sitting at the balcony railing he had to chuckle. Lady Sybil wasn't one to let something stand in her way. He looked around to ensure that Mr. Carson's attention was engaged somewhere else and then he quickly opened the green baize door. Taking the stairway upwards he came out on the balcony floor and very quietly proceeded down the corridor until he was only a couple of feet from her.

"May I have this dance?"

His voice startled her and she turned towards him alarm. When she saw it was him she smiled.

He reached out his hand "My Lady would you care for this waltz?"

"Thomas!" he wasn't sure if it was the tone of the voice or the tray that was suddenly thrust at him that brought him back to the present. As he once again circulated around the room he kept glancing up to the balcony and to the little girl sitting there watching the party below. When his tray was empty he didn't take it to be refilled instead, holding the empty tray, he boldly walked up the stairs thinking that if anyone called him he could say he thought he saw someone needing assistance.

As he reached the top of the stairs Sybbie turned in his direction. He couldn't get over how much she looked like her mother. It wasn't just the dark brown hair or the bright blue eyes but also the ready smile that would light up her face. But Sybbie wasn't smiling now, instead she was standing there, her face a mask while she debated whether she should stand there or bolt for the nursery.

Thomas smiled. "I once found you mother standing here just like you watching the dancing below."

"You did?"

Thomas nodded. "She was maybe a year or so older than you. She wanted to look at all the beautiful gowns and to listen to the music and she so wanted to dance."

"But she wasn't supposed to be here?" Sybbie's voice was so soft Thomas could barely hear her over the sound of the music.

Thomas chuckled. "No she wasn't and I gather you're not supposed to be either?"

In response Sybbie bowed her head as she slightly shook it. After a moment or so of looking down at the floor, she looked up at Thomas and sheepishly asked "But you won't tell on me will you?"

Thomas' heart broke as he looked at those clear blue eyes and that earnest face so much like her mother's. Lady Sybil had been one of the few people who had always been kind to him and he had mourned her death more than he had ever imagined he was capable of.

"Of course not."

Sybbie grinned at him and his heart melted. "Could I stay here just a little bit longer?"

"I'd say that's not up to me but I won't tell anyone." Thomas turned and stepped on the top step.

"Thomas?" Sybbie cried out causing him to stop and turn around to face her once more.

"Daddy says I'm a lot like my mommy."

Thomas nodded.

"But he didn't know her when she was my age."

Again Thomas nodded. "She was much older when he came to work here."

"Would you talk to me about her sometime? I mean about when she was my age?"

His smile deepened. "Your mother was the first child I ever cared for. I'd be happy to talk about her."