Thank you very much for all the lovely reviews! What a nice treat to have some followers! Here it is, chapter two. Sybil works tirelessly, Cora worries, and Carson is sweet. Oh and there's some nice father/daughter snugglies at the end. First to review gets Mrs. Patmore's best pudding! And don't forget to check out my profile for new ships added to my list! - darthsydious
Chapter Two
"Where- where is the rest of the staff?" Cora asked her mouth dry.
"I have sent most of them home, out of necessity; I keep the nurse out here to stop anyone from coming in, and two more to help care for patients. Your daughter was brave enough to insist on staying." Sybil looked up, finally meeting her mother's gaze. Cora looked a mixture of anger and shock. "She is adamant she stays, and I cannot turn her away, she is one of my best nurses." Doctor Clarkson said his tone even, though sympathetic to Lady Grantham. "I will caution you that your clothes be immediately boiled and then burn them, so that you don't contaminate the air."
"Is it that serious?" Matthew asked, not worrying really for their clothes, he was more concerned about the men and the village.
"We can't be too careful." He said. "I must beg that you leave now, and not to cause a stir, we don't want a panic to spread."
"But surely people should know!" Lady Grantham said,
"Yes," Doctor Clarkson said, "But if they thought that we had an epidemic before we have one, they'll panic before they need. When people panic, they tend to make mistakes, mistakes we can't afford, not at this time." She nodded, numb.
"Yes- yes we'll go now. Sybil- be careful, we'll wait up for you."
"Thank you Mama." Matthew took Cora's arm, almost having to tug her out of the hospital.
"Do you think it's very serious?" Cora asked
"No one can say for certain yet." they walked faster, both wanting to get home.
"We'll go downstairs." Cora said, nodding him around the back. They were both nearly running now, Cora already unpinning her hat. She pushed open the door,
"Anna!" she called
"My lady?" several heads poked out of the kitchen, immediately everyone came hurrying out; it was their tea-time. "Anna, you and Mrs. Hughes put up sheets."
"Sheets my lady?"
"Our clothes need to be boiled," she was already pulling her gloves off and unbuttoning her long coat. "And then burned."
"Burned?" Mrs. Hughes was quite shocked.
"Yes. There is a small outbreak of typhus and the doctor said we must." Small gasps echoed. Bates was already back in the kitchen, they could hear him telling cook to put on water to boil, Carson and Anna made quick work of the sheets, covering two doorways and one between so Matthew and Lady Grantham could change in privacy. Anna fetched both their dressing gowns,
"I've drawn baths for both of you." Mrs. Hughes said, "Anna will help you my lady."
"Thank you." Cora said behind the sheet, over the top of it came her wool suit, her shoes, stockings, petticoat, chemise and corset, another sheet was spread on the floor, so no one would have to handle them.
"All of these my lady?" Mrs. Hughes asked,
"Everything. I'm taking no chances." The dressing gown was handed to her, as soon as she was decent, Anna quickly ushered her upstairs the back way, where no one would see her. Soon to follow went Matthew, Molesley at his side. His uniform, shoes, socks and under things went into the same sheet that held Lady Grantham's clothes.
"Lucky they gave me so many uniforms I suppose." Matthew said, and the valet smiled a little.
"Sir, what about Lady Sybil?" he asked as they made their way upstairs,
"She insisted on staying at the hospital. Seems everyone else was sent home excepting Lady Sybil and a few others."
Dinner was somber between the four of them.
"I should think you did a good thing, burning the clothes as soon as you got home." Violet said as the dessert was set down before them. They all looked at the confection, as delicious as it looked and smelled, none seemed to have stomach for it at the moment. Cora fiddled with her fork on the edge of her plate.
"She'll be fine." Matthew said quietly to her. Cora looked up at him.
"Who knows anymore?" she asked softly. "I've lost one daughter already…" she composed herself, tears threatened to fall. "I'm sorry Robert," she said, and he reached for her hand. "It seems hopeless sometimes."
"I know."
"There's been no word?" Matthew asked, the others looked at him.
"We…hoped she'd at least contacted you." Robert said. Matthew shook his head.
"No, there was no letter. She- made it quite clear to me before I left." Robert nodded. A sudden clap of thunder startled them all. In a few moments, rain pounded on Downton, thrumming the roof and making it difficult to speak without nearly shouting. They departed to the drawing room for coffee and drinks. They sat quietly for the longest time until finally, as the rain began to abate to a gentler pace; Carson tapped on the door, on the tray he held was a note. He gave it to Lord Grantham, all eyes were on Robert as he opened and read the note.
"It's from Sybil," he said, "She wishes for a change of clothes to be brought to her." Everyone breathed a sigh. "Carson, would you see that one of the girls gets what Lady Sybil needs?"
"Yes M'lord."
"Perhaps that means she'll be home soon." Cora said a twinge of hope in her voice. Silence settled over all of them. The clock ticked away, Violet started to speak to Cora, about something, but no one seemed to hear, and she didn't seem to want to repeat herself. Carson returned
"Begging your pardon," everyone jumped, "Daisy has Lady Sybil's things packed and ready, she's leaving now, will there be any reply?" Robert looked around the room,
"No, no reply, only that we're keeping a plate warm for her."
"Very good M'lord."
"Oh and Carson, see that someone goes with Daisy, you know how things get this time of night, especially if they may be receiving wounded."
"Yes Lordship." He was gone again. In a little while there was the steady sound of hoof beats on the drive, the dogcart clattering at a speedy pace towards town. Matthew stood, and asked if anyone minded if he read aloud. Cora smiled at this.
"That would be lovely."
Some time later…
Matthew had just gotten to a particularly funny speech of An Ideal Husband, everyone smiling and forgetting for a while why they were so anxious when sudden applause startled them all, there stood Sybil, a little worse for wear, her dress soaking wet from the rain.
"Sybil!" everyone gasped and lurched forward,
"No, no-" she waved her hands, "I only came to hear who was reading so well." She said, "I must go and change right away, the rain did most of the washing, but I fear I need a proper bath." Carson cleared his throat quietly
"Begging your ladyship's pardon, Anna saw you from the window and has drawn you a bath, and Mrs. Patmore says she'll have your dinner ready in just a moment."
"Thank you Carson, and thank you Matthew, that was lovely to hear!"
Having bathed and changed, Sybil went down to the dining room, she found Carson waiting for her. He started, seeing she had changed into a fresh uniform.
"Excuse me, my lady," he said "But the family was under the impression you were home for the evening."
"Oh no, only for dinner." She said, "I'm needed back almost immediately. If the typhus is not as bad as we fear, then we must start moving men to Downton, in a day or so if possible. There's too much to do." She sat down, setting her cap on the chair beside her. "You've had your dinner I hope." Sybil said.
"I have thank you my lady."
"Then have a cup of coffee with me."
"My lady!" he started
"Oh stop it and sit down, I insist upon it."
"I will serve you first." He said, hoping that she would forget by the time she had a proper meal before her.
"Has everyone gone to bed?" she asked as he brought the warming trays over to the table. "Oh that smells lovely, I'm famished!"
"No, they're waiting in the drawing room for you." He generously spooned the roasted duck and cranberry sauce over her plate, the same with the vegetables and hollandaise. "Mrs. Patmore is a wonder." She marveled, tucking in as soon as he stepped away
"She has her secrets I'm sure, her and Mrs. Bird." Carson agreed
"How have things gone today?" Sybil asked, wiping her mouth neatly before cutting off another bite. "Everyone is alright downstairs?"
"Oh yes my lady."
"Anna must be near her confinement now." Sybil said, Carson started, but cleared his throat
"Yes…my lady." She smiled up at him.
"Such a wonderful thing to have in the house." She murmured in between bites. "A baby will be a welcome blessing."
"Any blessing is welcome." He agreed. They were quiet for a while more. When she'd finished, he took her plate, "I'll have my coffee in here," she said, "No sense in moving the carafe again." When he returned with her coffee, he found her at the serving board, plating two desserts.
"Oh my lady, I can-"
"Nonsense, it's pointless to expect you to do it all when I'm right here." She set the plates on the table "Carson you have a piece too." She said, "Please sit with me a little while, I have to go back almost immediately." Her tone was so entreating that Carson did sit. Spooning a forkful of the treat into her mouth she looked at the dessert, her eyes suddenly sad.
"Something wrong, Lady Sybil?" he asked,
"Mary's favourite." She said softly, poking at the strawberries and cream over the pudding. His face fell,
"I- I can take it away if you like." He said, but she shook her head
"No, thank you Carson, I'll have it." She smiled bittersweetly, savouring a small bite. "She was your favourite, wasn't she?" Carson looked embarrassed, "There's no shame in that." She said, "I always knew you loved her best, she was the first after all. Heaven knows how you all got on before her." He smiled a little, his cheeks rosy. "I remember how she would bring me down to your pantry, and you would always have a peppermint stick for us, and in the winter, when we'd have our hot chocolate, a peppermint stick would be sitting in her's. I always knew it was especially for her, because she was eldest, and had the most to do." Carson opened his mouth, and then shut it. "She sometimes shared them with Edith and I. When she was old enough to have her own room, she'd sneak into the nursery and read to us." She looked over at him and gasped softly, seeing the tears in his eyes "Oh Carson, I'm sorry." He gave a short gasp, clearing his throat as tears streamed down his cheeks; he tried to wipe them away. She gave him her kerchief,
"Just an old butler…old memories never fade easily." He said quickly. "I apologize."
"No you mustn't." she said and touched his arm. "Don't ever for missing someone you care for." He looked at her, "You're family Carson, you and Mrs. Hughes, and Mrs. Patmore, and Anna and Bates and William and- and everyone." She squeezed his arm, he wiped his eyes again. "When Mary left, you lost someone too, and you have every right to grieve." He nodded slightly, and she pushed his plate of dessert at him. "Now," she said, her tone lighter now, and he could tell through his blurry eyes that she was smiling. "Have your dessert, because nothing helps a grieving heart like Mrs. Patmore's pudding." He smiled at this, remembering himself telling her such a thing when she was little, and she had to be left behind from some event. He'd taken her to the kitchen, sat her at the table and handed her a plate of whatever sweet was being made that day. Sudden movement caught his eye, she was standing, he made to, but she waved him off as she pinned her cap on. "Thank you Carson, tell Mrs. Patmore it was delicious." Before he knew it, she'd pressed his forehead and was hurrying out of the dining room. He got up, rushing after her,
"My Lady, what shall I tell the family?"
"That I borrowed Matthew's bicycle from the stables, and I'll try and be back by morning." And she was gone. He dreaded returning to the drawing room where the Crawley's were eagerly awaiting their youngest.
oOo
Sybil did not return the next morning, nor that afternoon or evening. Over the next few days, the servants gave reports of seeing the youngest slipping into Downton in the wee hours of the morning, just to bathe, change and leave again. Every evening, a note would come from the hospital, Sybil could not come for dinner, too many patients and threat of a typhus epidemic still loomed. By Sunday, Cora did not dare hope she might come that night, just as well. When Carson brought the note, Robert nodded for him to go ahead and read it aloud. They were pleasantly surprised to learn that while she couldn't come for dinner, she would be home by midnight, staff would be sent home for bed rest.
"Then we will wait." Cora said to Carson. "We'll have coffee and sandwiches here, to tide us until dinner."
"Don't let your dinner go cold, Carson-" Lord Grantham said, "You and the staff needn't wait to have yours."
"Yes M'lord, thank you." The trays were brought up, the servants dismissed until called for, and they all settled in for a long wait. Robert took to pacing, Violet sat quietly, attempting to take Cora's mind off of Sybil. Edith and Sir Anthony had come to dinner; even Edith was terribly concerned. Coffee was served, and everyone sat quietly, picking over their sandwiches. Finally out of sheer hunger, they did eat, but most only managed one or two before setting their plates down. The clock chimed ten-thirty; everyone stared at the offending time piece on the mantle, willing it to move faster. Matthew took down another book finally, and asked if he could read aloud. No one said otherwise, so he began, this time, and perhaps fittingly so, the St. Crispen's Day Speech. He had just gotten to the end, his voice clear and strong:
"-Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day
To the ending of the world, but We in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today
That sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition, and gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, and hold their manhood's
Cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
He looked up, seeing the expressions of his listeners; Robert was deep in thought, obviously moved by the speech. Any man who had fought in battle, Matthew supposed the words took on new meaning, to the ladies they would always be poetic and true. Bates stood in the doorway. Matthew met his gaze, and Bates cleared his throat, startling the group.
"Lady Sybil is back; she's upstairs now, and will be down in a moment."
"Is she home for the night?"
"Yes your Ladyship." Cora stood shakily, Robert offered her his arm
"Then we'll go in to dinner." Matthew gave his arm to Violet, following Robert and Cora, Edith and Sir Anthony.
When Sybil arrived in the dining room, she found everyone was already seated, waiting for her.
"You didn't wait supper did you?" she asked. Her exhaustion was evident, she looked ready to collapse at any moment, but the smell of food on the serving board seemed to perk her a little.
"Of course we did." Cora said as Matthew held her chair for her, waving Carson off. "Besides, we thought it might be nice to sit with the guest of honor."
"What?" her sleepy eyes opened a little more. Robert held up his glass to her
"To Sybil, who showed her true muster, and stayed when so many left." Matthew, who sat beside her, took out a box from his pocket.
"It's for bravery in the line of duty." He said of the medal. "And today it goes to the bravest soldier."
"Oh no." she said, "No I couldn't."
"Then we'll share it. It's much to dressy for any of my things." And she laughed a little then. Edith beamed at her sister, truly proud of her efforts. While they ate and conversation picked up, eyes drifted back to Sybil now and again. It seemed with each bite she took, she seemed more exhausted, as if it was too taxing to even eat, despite her genuine hunger pains. With the knowledge that Sybil was home for the night, talk became merry again. She told them sleepily that the patients carrying typhus had reached crisis and survived, and that it looked as though they avoided a true outbreak.
"Any word about wounded coming here?" Matthew asked
"Yes, they will be shipping them here tomorrow, most likely in the morning." Talk went back and forth amongst the others over where lounge chairs should be set up on the lawn for patients, and where they would be sleeping and so on, how many nurses and doctors would be on staff, and if they would need more maids or not. Matthew was watching Sybil, who now had not had a night's sleep in almost a week. Plates were removed, dessert was about to be served when Sybil's head nodded. Matthew caught her shoulders gently so as not to rouse her, and leaned her against her chair. This motion caused all talk to cease as they realized she was truly asleep.
"I think it's time she was in bed." He said quietly. Robert stood, set his napkin down and gently eased her chair back so as not to wake her. Tenderly, he lifted his daughter in his arms and carried her from the dining room. Cora smiled a little at this, faintly begging everyone's pardon, but really knowing she didn't have to excuse either of them. No one minded.
Robert settled her onto her bed, carefully removing her shoes and jewelry. Anna came in quietly, but he waved her away, instead leaning his daughter's form against him, he tugged at the hair combs and pins in her dark tresses, setting them quietly on the nightstand. Fast asleep against her father, Sybil didn't see him nod to Anna to undo the long row of hooks on the back of her gown, and then slide her out of it. Tucking her under the covers, Lord Grantham said she would be comfortable enough, and to let her be for the night, Daisy could bring the laundry down in the morning if there was any. Knowing she was dismissed, Anna turned to leave, pausing in the doorway to see Lord Grantham take the edge of the bed, the light from the hall lamps catching the shine of his buttons on his uniform. He smoothed his daughter's hair before pressing a gentle kiss to each eyelid, and to her brow.
"Sleep well dearest." He said softly, "I'm so proud of you." Anna tiptoed away now, down to the kitchen again, leaving him to soothe his daughter's tired brow.
Kitchen
"Is she asleep?" Daisy asked, Anna nodded
"She fell asleep right at the table." She said, sympathies were murmured
"I shouldn't wonder, at the pace she's been going." Mrs. Hughes said. "I hope you changed her out of her evening clothes."
"Yes." Anna said, she decided to keep the fact that Lord Grantham had done most of it to herself. It was his right as Sybil's father to take care of his daughter, and it was comforting to know that some rules of society couldn't touch them, that a father had a right to love and care for an ailing and rightly-so exhausted child. Carson came downstairs, bringing the last of the empty plates.
"Everyone is in bed now." He said, Bates was already at the dishpan, his sleeves rolled up, helping Mrs. Patmore dry the plates. The rest of the dessert remained on the tray, mostly untouched. "They said we could have it." Carson said and everyone cheered a little at this, and once the dishes were dried and put away, they sat around the table again, quietly talking.
"When are the wounded coming?" John asked, he passed the rest of his dessert to Anna, knowing she was eyeing it. Taking the half-empty bowl, she set it on her large belly, and tucked into the pudding.
"Tomorrow morning most likely." Carson said. They lingered over their plates, sighing delightedly from the treat. Finally, though,
"If it's alright with you then Mr. Carson, we'll be getting to bed. We ought to be up early for when they arrive."
"Yes of course, goodnight Bates, Anna." The butler nodded to them. One by one, they all stood from the table and headed upstairs.
"Mr. Carson," he turned hearing Daisy's soft voice behind him.
"Yes, what is it Daisy?"
"Do you- do you think William will be coming here tomorrow too?"
"Its unlikely he will be here as soon as all that." He replied. "Rest assured his Lordship will let us know when young William will be returning."
"Yes Mr. Carson. Goodnight sir."
"Goodnight Daisy. Mrs. Patmore." The older woman smiled in return before putting out the last candle. Seeing Daisy's unhappy expression, she patted her arm.
"Oh don't fret. He'll be home before you know it." Daisy nodded after a moment.
"Thank you Mrs. Patmore."
"Well don't laze about, get up to bed! You'll be useless tomorrow if you wait around all night!" Daisy scurried up the stairs, leaving Mrs. Patmore to shake her head, starting up after her. Her frown at the young girl disappeared as soon as her back was turned, melting into a small sigh of annoyance. Daisy was a good girl, silly more often than not, but a good girl.