Sorry it's taken me so long to update. I didn't realise how hard this story would be! I always wonder about how Sybil viewed Tom and when she realised she loved him. For this story I decided she's beginning to realise he's more than a friend but is unsure about her feelings.
On entering the pub Sybil stayed near the door and Tom thought she was nervous about entering a new environment. Thinking this anxiety was not like her he then realised she had never been to a place where you do not wait to be seated and he suddenly felt a rush of protection towards her that made him wonder if he had been right to bring her to this place. He was particularly worried when he saw a few people looking in their direction: just the style of her clothes and the way she stood showed she was a lady. Quickly he led her to a table situated in an alcove in a darker corner of the pub and the two brothers sat either side of her hoping to block her from view. There was a musky odour to the pub and the bench where Sybil sat had a few unrecognisable stains on it which she carefully avoided. Tom felt disheartened when he saw her sitting there as it reinforced how little he would be able to provide for her if he ever had the courage to give her a hopeless proposal and by some miracle she said yes. He couldn't offer her anything like the luxury she was used to and he thought it was selfish of him to offer himself when this was the only life he could give her. Dwelling low self-esteem it took him a while to realise she had a mischievous smile as she took in her surroundings, excited to learn what a pub was like. Knowing he had underestimated her, he felt a new surge of hope remembering what he had told his brother earlier: perhaps he could give her what she truly wanted from life instead of what was expected for her.
"What do you think?" Tom dared to ask Sybil. "Is it how you imagined?"
"I don't know what I imagined." She replied truthfully. "Nobody ever talks about such places in front of me. I never thought anybody would actually take me here!" She sounded like a child at Christmas and Tom felt his heart swell knowing that he had caused her joy. Then more seriously she simply said, "Thank you Tom for letting me come." And Tom found he had forgotten how to swallow.
"This looks like good food." Cian spoke to break up their moment as he was feeling rather like a spare part.
"I'm glad I asked to miss dinner." Sybil recovered enough to reply. She didn't understand the way she acted and felt around Tom. She knew he was her friend but lately things seemed to have changed. Maybe it was because they were becoming very close friends as he was the one she spoke to the most and when they were apart for a long time she missed him very much- more than she did her other friends. Indeed he was becoming her best friend so she naturally felt strongly about him. But recently she had been noticing how she felt around him such as the spark of electricity when he gave her the secretive smile he reserved just for her that made her feel special. Why did she feel like that around him but nobody else?
Seeing Sybil looking at the menu lost in thought Tom assumed that she had never tried any of the food on it and was struggling so he told her "I can recommend the shepherd's pie."
"I'll try that then." Sybil told him quickly looking at the menu and realising she had not had any of the meals. She was relieved Tom hadn't realised she had been thinking about him.
Once they had all chosen Tom stood up to order. Suddenly remembering Sybil blushed slightly and said, "I'm afraid I haven't brought any money with me."
The smile left Tom's face. "I can pay for you."
"Thank you. I'll pay you back as soon as I can."
"No." Tom's voice was even colder. "I've brought you both here and I will pay for you both." Then he turned sharply and went to the bar leaving Sybil feeling quite surprised. She did not understand what had happened to make Tom turn so cold so quickly and when she looked helplessly to his brother she saw his eyes were equally hard.
Eager to make amends she muttered "I don't understand what I've done wrong."
"He may be poorer than you milady, but he can afford to buy you a meal." Cian's words were as hard as Toms and she realised she had offended them both.
"I never meant to imply he couldn't!" She protested, "I was only being polite. It seems rude to imagine someone is going to pay for you."
Cian's expression softened at these words. "My brother is very proud and it can make him sharp with people he believes are belittling him."
"I honestly never meant to offend him. I would never want to hurt him!" Cian gave a slight nod almost as if she had passed some sort of test.
When Tom returned she immediately apologised, "I didn't mean to cause you any offence by suggesting you couldn't afford to pay for me. I was only trying not to be rude and it seems I have failed."
"Not at all." Tom replied accepting her apology. "There's no harm done."
"You seem to know the Landlord well." Cian commented pleased by this as he knew some of the servants did not like his brother's presence in the Servant's Hall.
"I often come here when I have driven someone nearby and have to wait for them."
"I thought Mrs Patmore provided food for you?" Sybil asked confused.
"I doubt she provides him enough." Cian told her wryly, then seeing she did not understand he continued, "Chaffeurs are the outsiders of the Servant's Hall, living in their own cottage and cooking most of their own meals. Yet if they are out for a long time the cook provides the meal and they're not often happy to do so."
"Mrs Patmore does not get upset by the arrangement." Tom defended her. "Though I prefer to eat here than alone in the car."
Sybil was ashamed of how little she knew of the servants lives even though they lived in the same house as her. Whilst Gwen had always shared news of what was happening below stairs and to a lesser extent Anna did, she did not discuss such things with Tom. The pair had been too concerned with other matters and she was ashamed of how little she knew of his everyday life. She was aware that he wanted to be involved with politics, but did not know his living conditions; she knew which political parties and organisations he supported, but did not know what he ate. In fact he had told her more about his home life in Dublin than Downton!
"Do you not have meals in the Servant's Hall?" She asked realising that a Chauffeur had a lonely job.
"Occasionally, but I try not to too often."
"Why?"
It was Cian who answered her, "It upsets the balance of the house. The cook is to provide food for all the staff who live in the house. The chauffeur has his own cottage and should make his own meals otherwise he can be accused of stealing food from the house."
"But I thought you went there." She looked back to Tom in surprise. "Gwen often said…" The slight blush betrayed what Sybil had been about to say and Cian quickly worked it out: Gwen had been talking about Tom to Lady Sybil, but it would be unnatural for her to do this without prompting so Lady Sybil must have been asking about him. Glad that all her etiquette lessons had not been in vain Sybil was able to smoothly continue, "that you would be there reading the newspaper. As I do not have easy access to the news she would often relay any information she had learnt." Neither brother believed her: Cian because it seemed so unlikely and Tom because he knew she was more than capable of finding out any news for herself- she had turned it into an art form.
To save her from embarrassment Tom simply commented, "It must be hard for you being denied access to news. But what did you think of the coalition?"
"I hope it will help achieve votes for women." She answered earnestly. "The Prime Minister is so set against it and I think the conservative ministers should be able to change that."
"I thought you had all put that off until the end of the war." Tom teased her.
"Of course the vote is not as important as the war when so many lives are at risk, but afterwards the conservatives should make a difference."
"Really Sybil, I never thought I'd see you in favour of a conservative government!" Tom's informal address was not missed by his brother who was watching the exchange with some interest.
"A conservative government- God forbid!" She exclaimed strongly. "They need the liberal ministers to decide other matters, but for women's rights the conservative party may well be a necessity."
"So we must wait and see what happens after the war."
One of the barmaids- who was the landlord's wife- brought their food to the table and instantly recognised Tom with a warm smile.
"It's been too long since I last saw you. I was beginning to think you had found somewhere else." Jane told him.
"Nowhere serves better food, but sadly I can only get here if I am to take one of the family to Ripon for a while."
"Oh poor Tom, being kept at the whims of some toffs. I'm not surprised you're always moaning about them." She teased him knowing how Tom would often complain about the class system.
Sybil couldn't help a shocked glance at him and Tom hurriedly explained, "Not the people, but the class they represent." And Sybil gave him a quick smile to show she was not angry- she was just relieved he had not been moaning about her.
To change the subject Tom introduced his brother to Jane and had a moment of doubt about how he should introduce Sybil. "And this is my… friend Miss Sybil Craw…ford." He hoped she wouldn't mind this title and name but he did not want to give her away. She only smiled further pleased at being announced as his friend when usually their relationship had to be hidden. Jane did not miss Tom's hesitation and assuming he was going to say 'girlfriend' she glanced again at the girl who had finally attracted Tom. She had noticed he was never interested in the women who came to the pub and had often wondered if there was someone already in his life.
"And how did you two meet?" She asked eager to know more.
Not knowing how to answer Tom was relieved when Sybil explained, "We are both in service together." Both Cian and Tom tried to hide their amazement at her perfect Yorkshire accent that made her sound like one of the maids.
"So what do you think of these employers then? Are they as lavish with their money as Tom goes on about?" Tom fought the urge to groan at her words and Cian was unable to stop his worried glance at Tom. Was his brother about to lose his job?
"Yes far too much." She replied honestly. "When there are so many better uses for their money I'm afraid a lot of it is spent on unnecessary luxury."
"I doubt your employers would take kindly to that opinion." Jane warned her. "I was in service for years before I married and I know your thoughts could get you into trouble."
"They'll have to realise sometime that the gap between the aristocracy and working class is too wide." She replied.
"But you won't be the one to tell them." Jane reminded her. "I've warned Tom and I'll warn you now, never let them know of your views or you'll be out of a job without a reference."
"I doubt Tom listened to that." Sybil gave Tom a secretive glance remembering it was one of the first things they had spoken of.
"You young people!" Jane exclaimed "Always thinking you can change the world. I was a maid for many years and I know more about the aristocracy than either of you." Tom tried to hide a laugh at the irony of her words- if only she knew! "And the last thing they want is change."
"Then isn't it time they were shown that change can be for the best?" Sybil countered, "Don't you agree Tom?" It gave Sybil a thrill to refer to him by his first name in public.
"I do." Tom replied strongly. "The sooner people realise that there is no real difference between people of different classes the better. Why shouldn't people cross the class divide?" And Cian knew exactly what Tom was referring to.
"It all seems so ridiculous that people can only mix with their own class." Sybil's words gave hope to Tom.
"Oh dear- I can't cope with another socialist!" Jane interrupted with an exaggerated sigh. "Well don't say I didn't warn you when you find yourselves out of work and please don't start your revolution in this pub!" and she left them to their food.
"That was wonderful Sybil!" Tom congratulated her as soon as Jane had gone.
"You don't think she suspected anything?" Sybil hadn't realised how nervous she was until the moment had passed.
"Not at all." Cian assured her. "Where did you learn to speak like that?"
"Our former housemaid Gwen taught me her accent once. She thought if I planned to attend rallies I should try to blend in more."
Not wanting to dwell on Sybil's rally excursions Tom continued quickly, "Thank heavens for Gwen! I do miss that girl." Tom and Gwen had both been friends at Downton as they were both inspired to achieve a career away from service. Gwen had achieved her dream and he still heard from her occasionally, but Tom knew he could never leave as he loved Sybil too much.
"Do you hear much from her?" Sybil eagerly asked. "We try to keep in contact but I don't think Papa likes me writing to a former housemaid."
"Secretary now and she seems very happy in her new position."
Sybil did not miss the slight wistfulness in Tom's voice. "She managed to escape service." She commented, "and I imagine you'll be the next to forge your own career."
Was it his imagination or did Tom notice a hint of sadness in Sybil's voice. He knew he spoke often of his dreams, but putting them into reality was so much harder as he did not know if he could leave her behind.
Meanwhile Cian was finding that however much he heard about Lady Sybil he still found himself surprised by each new revelation. He was very concerned about how similar her politics and views were to Tom's as he realised how this had strengthen their friendship. He only needed to determine whether she felt anything more as he doubted she would let a class gap come between her and a relationship.
Please let me know what you thought!