If Sybil was a Servant
I've always wondered what it would be like if Sybil was a servant instead of an aristocrat. I wanted to see what the relationship would be like between her and Tom if their status was not in the way. So I put her downstairs.
This takes place in season one with some storylines from seasons 4-5. Warning, it might get kind of confusing. Here are the basic points.
1. Sybil is a housemaid. She is not related to the Crawley family in any way, shape or form. Her parents are both Russian, her father married outside of his Jewish faith. Sybil is Christian. There will be a few backstories explaining bits of her past.
2. I felt the Crawley's needed another daughter, so Rose is now the youngest daughter in place of Sybil. Sybil rebelled for the good reasons while respecting her family, Rose is more of a rebel for the sake of being a rebel. But she is kind and I absolutely adore Lily James. I will be including a few of her wild shenanigans, but she will shape up by the end of the season.
3. Daisy is into her books. She is oblivious to William's love because of her absorption in her studies, not because of Thomas. Miss Bunting will make a few cameos as well, possibly causing a love triangle of some sort.
The first few chapters might be a tad rushed (I was writing quickly because I wanted to include Tom as soon as possible), so I apologize in advance for that. Most of the characters are true to the show. Please enjoy!
"I think Papa is looking for a new chauffeur," Edith remarked, allowing Anna to pin her hair up.
"Golly," said Mary, already dressed for dinner, rolled her eyes. "Is that the most exciting conversation topic you could muster?"
Edith glared daggers at her sister. "It's a reasonable subject."
The sisters had congregated in Edith's room prior to dinner, and not five minutes had passed without the eldest sisters getting in a row.
"But Taylor is perfectly adequate," Mary complained.
Before more heated words could be exchanged, Rose stepped in between. "Anna, Sybil, what do you think?"
The housemaids looked up from their stations; Anna over Lady Edith's hair, and Sybil by the wardrobe, folding and putting away a previous outfit.
"Well," Sybil began. "He is rather old. He ought to retire and live the rest of his life."
"And your opinion, Anna?"
Anna shrugged. "Well, milady, it's not my place to say. But retirement might make him happy."
Edith glowered at Mary. "See?"
Mary's features grew lethal. If there hadn't been a knock on the door, Sybil was sure that the bedroom would have become a battlefield. She rushed to the door and bowed her head as the mother of the three strolled in, her sudden presence causing the death look to evaporate.
Cora kissed Rose and Mary on the cheek, and waited for Anna to finish placing jewelry before she kissed Edith as well. "My dears, you all look so beautiful." She gushed. The girls accepted their mother's praise and returned compliments of greater stature to her. "I love how O'Brien did your hair!" "You are a vision!" and so on. Between all these tributes, the four elegant women managed to slip on their gloves and proceed to dinner, leaving the housemaids behind to tidy up the room.
"Do you ever wish you were an aristocrat?" Anna mused, a rare streak of romance shining in her.
Sybil straightened the rumpled sheets on the bed and chuckled. "I don't think I could handle living like them. I'd go crazy!" She fluffed the pillows energetically. "They do nothing all day every day. How could anyone stand that? Forget the parties and the ball gowns: they aren't able to dress themselves. I doubt any of the sisters could make a half-decent pot of tea."
"But still," Anna defended, although her spontaneous moment had been suppressed. "Not having to worry about anything, sleeping in, breakfast in bed! Wouldn't it be nice for just one day?"
"Maybe, just one day though. I like work, it keeps me busy." She stopped for a minute. "Although I suppose if I had all that time to read…"
Anna gave her a look. "Don't go all Daisy on me!"
After the room was perfect down to the very last bottle of perfume, the housemaids headed back to their quarters. With the family in the dining room, they had no need to swallow their unbecoming giggles as they skipped down the back staircases. They hoped to gain a respite in the servants' dining room, but Mrs. Patmore quickly spotted their idleness and solicited their help in washing dishes. Gwen had also been enlisted. Mrs. O'Brien and Mr. Molesley were the only ones sitting down; the under-butler on the pretense of having a cold, and the lady's maid simply refusing to be helpful.
Sybil wasn't entirely sure what Mr. Molesley did at Downton. He always seemed to have some ailment that prevented him from fulfilling his duties.
The endless torrent of dishes ceased to relent. Thomas and William were constantly bringing tarnished plates from upstairs for the girls to scour. It was late when the bells for the girls' rooms began to ring in unison. Anna wiped her brow with the back of her sleeve.
"Gwen, could you help with one of the girls tonight?"
Gwen quickly nodded. "If you think me capable."
"You can take Lady Rose," Sybil yawned. "She's the most forgiving."
They climbed up the stairs. Before they were out of earshot, Sybil overheard William trying to catch Daisy's attention. "I can't William, you know Miss Bunting comes during that time." "Well, maybe an evening off?" "I don't know, I really have to study."
"Lord," Gwen groaned. "When is Daisy going to look up from her books long enough to see how much William likes her?"
Anna shrugged. "Spect it won't take long. I doubt Mrs. Patmore will put up with Daisy's lessons much further."
They parted ways at the separate bedrooms. Sybil took a deep breath and braced herself before entering Lady Edith's room. As usual, Edith was on the verge of tears due to some snide comment Mary had provided. Sybil listened to Edith babble; gently taking layers off to slip the nightgown over her head. She gently brushed her hair and turned the covers down so Edith could climb into bed.
"Will that be all, milady?"
"Yes, thank you Sybil." Edith sniffled.
She bowed, and left the room, meeting Gwen on the staircase. "Everything went well with Lady Rose, I trust?"
"I almost dropped her necklace down the front of her gown," she confided. "But she was very gracious about it." Gwen paused. "Lady Rose is a little wild, but she is very kind. I'm not sure Lady Mary would've been quite so nice about it!"
Sybil grinned. "Agreed. Anna is the kindest soul ever to put up with her everyday."
"I don't think it's that Anna puts up with her, it's just that she sees the good in everyone. I think she's close with Lady Mary. Sybil," Gwen began, and then hesitated.
"Well, what is it?"
"Have you ever thought about, well, leaving service? I mean, getting a job as a seamstress, or maybe, I don't know, a secretary? Or anything?"
Sybil frowned. "Oddly, yes, I think I have. I've always thought it would be swell to be a nurse. I'd like to care for people, but beyond just dressing them and fluffing their pillows." After a moment of silence, she continued. "But I'm perfectly happy at the moment. Service suits me for now. Why do you ask?"
In the dim candlelight, Sybil could see Gwen's face grow the same shade as her hair. They were almost to their rooms before Gwen stammered out, "No reason, just wondering."
Sybil decided against calling her friend out on her bluff. "Goodnight then," she called from her doorway. "Sleep tight."
Sybil went into the room she shared with Anna. Gwen was her best friend at Downton, but she knew if they had been roommates they would have stayed up all night talking. Anna was practical, and respectful, a perfect roommate. Being almost ten years apart, they had more of a sisterly bond than a friendship. Anna had no problem scolding Sybil for minor infractions, and Sybil was more than happy to tease her for being perfect. They got along splendidly.
Anna was sitting up in bed, her hair in a straw-colored braid to the side. "You're here, finally!"
"Well, don't blame me. Imagine this," Sybil paused for effect. "Lady Edith's feelings were hurt."
Anna started laughing. "No, I can't believe it! So unlike her!"
"And get this, Mary was the cause of it!"
Sybil wriggled out of her confining uniform into her nightgown and squirmed under the covers. She checked under the bed for her violin case Good. It was still there.
"Good night, Anna."
"Good night, Sybil."
A rapping on the door awoke the housemaids, followed by a shrill cry of "6 o'clock!"
Sybil sat up sleepily. "Thank you Daisy," she whispered. The room was already light, like an early April morning should be. But it was still cold, and hard to resist the temptation of burying yourself under the covers.
"Anna," Sybil prompted. It's hard to get up when others around you are sleeping.
Anna groaned. "Just once in my life I'd like to sleep until I woke up natural."
Conversation was nonexistent that morning, as it was regularly. Most of the time the girls were too groggy to carry on words. It was only when they forced their hair into tight buns that each was conscious enough to exchange a couple of sentences.
"The new valet is coming tonight. I hope he's handsome." Sybil remarked, stealing a glance at herself in a small, hand-held looking glass. It was miniscule, but all they had. She frowned, tucking a loose problem strand of hair into her cap. It promptly stuck out again.
Anna came to her aid with a bobby pin. "We'd best get going," she smiled weakly. "Got to make sure all the girls are doing their jobs."
Sybil watched her friend trail out. Anna was tiny, but firm. Where Mr. Carson used his commanding presence and size to intimidate servants into doing their jobs, Anna simply asked nicely. For some reason, the thought of Anna getting upset or cross seemed to keep everyone in line.
Smiling at her reflection, Sybil thought of her mother. There was a looking glass that had hung over their fireplace for as long as she could remember. Her mother had always been concerned with appearances. Sybil recalled her mother brushing her hair as a young girl, making up little sayings. "If you are shining on the outside, then your insides will be warmed as well!" was one of her favorites. Anna knew practically nothing about her family. When Sybil had arrived and was first introduced to the blond girl, they had made small talk, and each enquired about the other's family. Each of them was unwilling to divulge anything prior to when they started service. Sybil was perfectly fine with that. They each respected that the other had secrets she would rather keep buried.
Gwen, on the other hand, had next to no boundaries. She had only stopped pestering Sybil about her family when Sybil had forcefully told her that her family was dead and she wished to avoid the subject at all costs. Gwen had been silenced on the subject forever, and whenever conversation had steered near family Gwen was quick to find a new destination.
Gritting her teeth, Sybil fled her room and walked upstairs to complete her regular jobs. She made herself useful wherever she was needed, fluffing pillows, opening shutters, and dusting.
"Any sign of William?" Thomas asked her as he hurriedly passed by.
"No," she called after him. He scrunched his features and carried his tray with impeccable balance to the breakfast room. When the main floor was finished, the girls scrambled downstairs for a bite of breakfast before the bells from the bedrooms began to ring.
Lady Rose and Lady Mary's bells rang in unison, along with the bell for the back door. William ran for the papers. Sybil wolfed down her last bite of porridge and bolted upstairs for the youngest daughter's room, gathering a tea tray from Mrs. Patmore on the way up. She rushed up and knocked on Lady Rose's door.
"Come in," came a voice from inside.
Sybil entered and set the tea tray down on the bedside table. She opened the curtains to let in the light. Lady Rose sat up in her bed and reached for a cup.
"Thank you, Sybil. I'll call you up when I'm ready to be dressed."
Sybil nodded and exited, reflecting again on how lazy the upper class could be. It isn't really their fault. I suppose if I were raised like that I would be just as inclined to sit back and let someone else work for me.
When she had first arrived at Downton a number of years ago, the endless scaling of staircases had tired her out. It had taken several months before her legs got used to the strenuous labor. Now, Sybil had no trouble climbing from her attic room to the basement kitchen to the main floors to the Crawley bedrooms to the basement again. Where she was currently headed, remembering that a certain pair of shoes had been left in the bootroom.
The atmosphere downstairs had shifted since she had gone upstairs. "What is it? What's the matter?" she asked William as he passed through the kitchen.
His face clouded. "The Titanic has sunk. Just last night."
Sybil stood in shock for a minute. How on earth? I thought it was unsinkable!
As if reading her thoughts, William shrugged. "I guess God could sink the ship after all."
Sybil had personally told each of the Crawley sisters about the horrific accident that had occurred, but all were skeptical. They all got dressed in record time and headed down to breakfast to have their fears confirmed, leaving plenty of time for the rooms to be made up in the meantime. The sheets had been stripped off the beds. Mary's room alone waited to be tackled. Sybil and Gwen changed the clothes on the bed, while Anna tidied dressers and wardrobes, preparing Lady Mary's clothes for the evening.
Mrs. O'Brien strutted in, a cream undergarment in her hand. "Mr. James and Patrick Crawley are dead," she announced.
"What? How do you know?" Sybil asked her.
"They were on the Titanic. His Lordship just received a telegram."
Sybil frowned. "The telegram confirmed they were dead?"
"Neither of them were picked up, that's what he said.
"Mr. Crawley and Mr. Patrick?" Anna's tone seemed disbelieving.
Miss O'Brien nodded vigorously, the curls on her head bobbing. "That's what he said. Her Ladyship was the colour of this cloth." She gestured to the clothing.
Gwen tucked in the sheets on her side of the bed. "Well, it's a terrible shame if it's true."
"It's more than a shame, it's a complication."
Gwen followed Miss O'Brien out of the room, leaving Anna and Sybil to gather up all the laundry. They caught up with the two descending down the stairs near the kitchen. "She's a girl, stupid. Girls can't inherit-" Miss O'Brien stopped her sentence short when she caught sight of a stranger in the corridor.
Sybil looked at him closely. The man was tall and large, built like an ox. His size rivaled Mr. Carson's. His clothes were not new, but they were in good shape. The creases around his eyes gave him a happy disposition. He looked like he had had many things to laugh about in his life. And then she saw the cane. He was leaning heavily on it, so heavily she thought the wood would splinter under his weight.
The stranger cleared his throat. "Hello. I've been waiting at the back door. I knocked, but no one came."
"So you pushed in?" snarled Miss O'Brien.
He gave a half-smile. "I'm John Bates, the new valet."
"The new valet?" she echoed.
"That's right."
Miss O'Brien's eyes roamed down to his cane. "You're early." Her only response.
"Came on the milk train, thought I'd use the day to get to know the place, start tonight."
Sensing the tension, Anna jumped in. "I'm Anna, the head housemaid." She shifted the sheets in her arms to shake hands. Her doll-like fingers were buried in his large palms.
"How do you do?" he said at Anna. He reached his hand out to Sybil, but she had so much laundry in her hand, she simply smiled and told him her name. She received a "How do you do?" as well. He extended his hand toward Miss O'Brien, but she turned around and started into the servants' hall.
"And I'm Miss O'Brien, Her Ladyship's Maid. You better come along with us."
Anna smiled at Mr. Bates. "Not all of us are as rude as her," she whispered kindly.
"What do you think of Mr. Bates?" Anna asked Sybil, tugging shyly at her braid.
Sybil wrinkled her nose. "He's a bit old, isn't he?"
"Maybe, I don't know."
"Well, he seemed nice. Though I'm not sure how he's going to manage with all those stairs."
Anna spoke confidently. "He will manage. I'm sure of it."
Sybil smiled at her friend. "You're very sure for someone you've only known a few days. Do you like him?"
"He does seem very nice, doesn't he?"
"Do you love him?" The question earned Sybil a pillow in the face.
"I've only known him a few days, silly. Now hand my pillow back."
Thank you for reading! Please review so I can become a better author! More chapters coming soon.