She knew how she felt about him.

Sybil knew it wasn't right, that society expected her to marry someone with a fortune, someone in her social circle, but what did she care for society?

The hug had gone on for too long. He'd only given her a gold chain as a birthday gift; she already had a collection of gold chains to wear with one of her numerous pendants. But this one was unlike any other…it was from Branson. As they stood there hugging by the parked car in the centre of Rippon, she felt his arms move down from her waist to her hips. She'd never felt so warm inside in her entire life.

He knew how he felt about her.

Branson knew it wasn't right. She was his employer's daughter. It was above his position to be this close to her…but what did he care? When she threw her arms around him, he couldn't breathe. For so long he'd been distant from her, the one she could never have. But in that moment, all boundaries of class were forgotten. Finally she pulled away.

"I'm sorry Branson. That must have been a bit of a shock for_"

"No, don't apologise! You never need to apologise to me." She smiled to him as he helped her by the hand back into the car. "Off back home now." He said over his shoulder as he sat in the driving seat before starting the engine and setting off.

"You didn't need to buy me anything Branson. I know that chain must have cost a lot of money."

"It's only right that I gave you something milady, your family employ me after all."

"You never gave anything to my sisters!" Said she trying to put him in a difficult position so she could get some idea of his true feelings.

"Ah…well, er…that's because I don't know them as well as I know you milady." He made a less than smooth recovery from that awkward position.

"My sisters are so irritating. All they do is argue about the entail and why Mary always gets first choice in suitors." Branson could tell her honesty in her voice. He didn't realise the relationship between Edith and Mary was in such bad shape.

"I can't really comment on my employers like that milady."

"Come on Branson! I know you feel the same way about them."

"Yes, milady!" Sybil's heart warmed to the sound of his soft Irish brogue and the almost smiling tone to his voice.

As they arrived back a Downton, as per usual he helped her out by the hand, but this time he couldn't let go. As they bid farewell to each other, their hands were glued together. They only let go when Branson gently kissed her glove and stared into her eyes. As she said goodbye and turned to walk into the house, her heart was thrilled at the thought of seeing him again that she quickly looked back round to the car to see him smile at her for a split second whilst he drove off back to the garage. Branson felt exactly the same way, yet both were equally unsure about the others feelings for them. They knew their position in life…but could they really overcome that?