A little contribution to the Lady Sybil Lives Week. Also part of my series "Sybil lives". I hope you'll enjoyed it. Dedicated to one of our fandom's member who is one year older today : Babageneush. Alsdo, I kept the title in french because, in the show, they kept it too. x

THE DANSANT

It was tea time and music was sounding loudly in the big house of Downton Abbey. Several couples were dancing in the reception room despite the early hour.

"I'm sooooo bored", whimpered Sybil, letting her forehead slumped on her husband's shoulder.

Tom chuckled.

"Well, Love. That's probably what every man wants to hear while dancing with their lovely wives."

"Don't tell me you're not bored…"

Tom shrugged.

"I don't hate dancing with you", he stated, pulling her more tightly against him. "And I'll never pass my chance to have you in my arms in public without receiving some frowns from your parents or grand-mother. Plus, I'm trying to see the bright side of things. Dinner will be quicker tonight and we'll have more time to ourselves."

"Still, I hate Rose for that. What the point of these thé dansant anyway."

"Well, she rather seems to enjoy herself", said Tom looking at Rose laughing in the arms of a man not so far away from them. "Your parents too."

"It's so futile. I had to leave my shift earlier for that. How can I be taken seriously if I'm leaving my work for a dance?"

"Dr. Clarkson is there too…"

"He don't have to prove himself."

"You neither, you're a wonderful nurse."

Not convinced by her husband's sweet words, she groaned.

"Ok, I know what you need", said finally Tom, stopping to move.

He took her hand in his and pulled her behind him.

"Come with me."

"Tom! We can't leave! I don't want a lecture from Mama or Papa later."

"Believe me. They're having so much fun that they won't even realized that we're gone."

They crossed the big hall then took the stairs, Tom still pulling Sybil behind him.

"Tom! We can't do this now!" She protested with not so much force.

Tom stopped mid stairs then turned to her.

"What are you thinking, Mrs. Branson?" He laughed. "I don't take you in our room to ravish you if that's what you have in mind. Not that I don't want to", he added before leaning to her and kissing her lightly. "Come now."

They climbed the rest of the stairs and Tom led her to the nursery.

"Here we go", he said, opening the door.

Saoirse and George were sitting in a corner of the room with the nanny, having a tea party on their own.

"Daddy! Mommy!" Exclaimed the little girl seeing them.

"Hello, my Darling", said Tom all smile. "Are you having fun?"

"Yes, but George has spill all his tea on the floor."

Sensing someone was speaking about him, the eighteen months boy just laughed. Sybil reached for her daughter while Tom was sending the nanny away. She looked unsure but she stopped to try to understand a long time ago how the Bransons were working. So, she just nodded then left them alone. After all, it would give her time to have tea herself.

"So what now?" Asked Sybil, cuddling her daughter.

"Now, time for dance! You want to dance with Mommy and Daddy, Sweetie?"

Saoirse clapped her hands with excitement followed by George even if he didn't understand what was going on.

"Then a round dance it is. Ladies and gentlemen take your hands, please."

Sybil laughed and put her daughter on the floor. She took her hand in hers while Tom reached for George and did the same with him.

"And now, let's go!" Exclaimed Tom.

The little group started to turn and soon, the room was filled with laughs and cries of happiness.

-

Matthew and Marry entered the hall after their walk in the park. Marry was expecting again and had needed some fresh air after a dance. She frowned when she saw the nanny stepping down the stairs.

"Who's with the children?" She asked the young woman.

"Mr. and Mrs. Branson."

Marry nodded and let the woman leave.

"I'm wondering what these two are up to again?" She said to Matthew with a raised eyebrow.

Matthew shook his head and smiled.

"Let's just take a look."

They took the stairs and, the more they were nearing the first floor, the more they were hearing laughs. When they reached the nursery, the sight they met made them stopped in their tracks. Here, in the middle of the nursery, a light music coming from downstairs, were two grown up and two children laughing and turning madly around.

"What's going on in there?" Asked finally Marry.

Sybil looked up and smiled brightly at her sister and brother in law. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were glowing from happiness.

"Hey you two! We have our own "thé dansant"! Come and join us!"

Marry and Matthew didn't have the time to answer at the invitation. Tom had already headed the round towards the couple and they soon found themselves onboard their madness.

A short time later, when the nanny came back, she just found them still spinning and laughing. And she just shook her head. This family really wasn't quite what she heard it was before coming here to work. She smiled despite herself and turned away. She rather be sure that Carson won't come upstairs before the end of the party in the nursery. Because she was sure of one thing : he wouldn't agree with such a display !

The end