Disclaimer: I only own a certain lack of culture of the Edwardian Era, as you will notice on my dialogs =P
It has been some weeks since Gwen has had problems getting off bed in the morning. This mainly consisted on the fact that even if she always lay in bed at the same appropriate time every night, she took more than enough to fall asleep.
She dedicated that time before sleeping to imagine how her life would be if she managed to get a job as a secretary. Although most thoughts would begin like this, somehow her ladyship Sybil always managed to get in her mind. If she was dreaming of herself working in London as a secretary, she always ended up being visited by her Ladyship and spending time with her. And she wondered why ever so these thoughts persisted. She admired her ladyship's generous heart and open mind – much like her father – and dared to think they were the closest definition to friends, although she knew of the impossibility of such thing, due to their huge difference in the social hierarchy.
But there was something in her that made Gwen react abnormally to her presence. Why was it different than talking to Anna or any other maid?
She sort of felt trapped and free at the same time. Like the time stops and nothing else mattered. Oh, this wasn't a good thing, was it?
Maybe it was just admiration…she did admire most of the family, and coming to think of it closely, she also felt rather nervous around the rest of them. Although it still felt different with Sybil…more pleasant…again, due to their bonding over the current episodes of her trying to find a job, surely.
She wanted to sort her feelings out but she concluded it wasn't necessary to twist her mind around it…after all, if she got the job she'd be far away soon enough and would've to stop worrying about these persistent thoughts.
These wondering only perturbed Gwen at night. During the day she didn't even have the time to think or venture to any kind of day-dreaming, with all the work she had to do. Unless of course she had to cross paths with Miss Sybil, in that case she'd have to constrain herself and try to behave like the maid she was, with the due respect and limits imposed. But it was so hard! Her ladyship kept on being too nice and gentile with her! Sometimes she thought she didn't deserve that much attention but on the other hand she quite enjoyed it, although she never dared to show too much of her joyful self and merely answered with a modest 'thank you'.
Another day was beginning at Downton Abbey. Downstairs was busy as always, while his Lordship's family was still peacefully sleeping. Gwen was entitled to clean and prepare the room destined for breakfast, and after that was done they'd wait for the bells.
Gwen's job included much what Anna's did, apart from the fact that she wasn't a Ladies maid of the daughters. She sometimes helped Anna out with their dressing if there wasn't much time on Anna's hands, but that was all. She also had to take care of the misses' bedrooms, but again, that was all taken care of while the ladies were off their rooms, to keep most discretion.
So all in all, Gwen only crossed paths with Lady Sybil once in a while. Sometimes not even once a day. Not that she was complaining. If she needed a friend's opinion she had Anna, that properly fitted an 'older sister' profile. Miss Sybil was more of another kind of Gwen, she felt. Someone with whom she had a lot of common and at the same time none at all.
So after a long day of work, nothing felt fresher and uprising then by coincidence meeting Lady Sybil downstairs.
"Lady Sybil! Is there something you need?" – Gwen asked, rather shocked of seeing one of the ladies downstairs in all that fuss it was dinnertime.
"Oh, Gwen, thank god I found you. I just arrived from the village and I needed to talk to you. Come, here." She guided her into Carson's office which was obviously unoccupied at the moment due to the dinner rush.
Gwen didn't feel very comfortable talking to Lady Sybil there, but she reckoned it was better than having all the servants trying to eavesdrop.
"Is something the matter?" She asked, taking this chance to observe Lady Sybil's attire. She really was quite beautiful in anything she dressed.
"I've just come from the village where by chance I met one of my mother's connections. On the midst of our conversation she mentioned the company her husband owns is in need of employees, and I didn't lose the chance to ask which kind, to which she said amongst some other jobs, a secretary! I did tell her about you!" – She said this without even stopping to breathe more than once and you could see from her brightened face she was as enthusiastic about this as Gwen was beginning to show.
"Oh my…" Gwen begun. She quite lost her words again. How to react to such news in front of Lady Sybil? She wanted to jump and oh! Even hug her but it wouldn't be appropriate!
"Isn't it marvelous, I told you not to give up just yet!" Lady Sybil said, with one of those contagious smiles of hers.
Gwen smiled back without holding back this time and said:
"Oh thank you so very much! I hope that this once I'll have the chance of being accepted!"
Sybil grabbed Gwen's arms very gently.
"Of course you have! This is one of the best chances, having my mother connection and all! Now, I shall write to Lady Portsman at once to schedule an interview!"– She then impulsively gave a quick peck on Gwen's cheek that was already flushing, gave her a reassuring smile and left.
Gwen's mouth hanged there opened for quite a few seconds processing what just happened. When her hand was about to touch her cheek on instinct, the office door opened again and Carson stood there watching her in a questioning manner.
"Would you like to inform me why Lady Sybil just came out of my office, and what type of matter did she have to discuss with you in here?"
Gwen stood there frozen, and then slowly, her hand which was already halfway to her face went down again, as her brain tried to work.
"I, er, she just wanted to oh, inform me…" She failed to explain. Her face was getting redder and redder.
"I see. And what might that information be about? I assume it to be rather important for being told on my office."
"Something regarding a…a- possible job for me, Sir." She decided it was not worth lying "She preferred to come in here so that we could talk privately."
"I see. Well then, in that case you are a very lucky girl to have her ladyship's attention on your case. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to have my office space back, and I'm sure you have some duties to attend for."
"Of course Sir. Excuse me."
Needless to say Gwen did poorly on the rest of her tasks that night.
Feel free to review. Next chapter will also focus Sybil's thoughts of what just happened.
Cheers*