He ran to the nurses' station, consumed with worry 'where is she?, my wife, Sybil Branson, she was here just last night...' fearing the worse, he pleaded with the nurse to tell him otherwise. 'It's okay Mr Branson, she upstairs in the private wing, she has some visitors' With relief came dread, he knew exactly who was there, and of course they came, but to confront them again would be difficult and how ashamed he would be to know he had caused they're daughter pain. Even at this moment, her father had managed to use money to win one over Tom.
As he entered the room all eyes turned to greet the man who had taken their little girl away, even Sybil's eyes grazed at him but they were empty, no sign of the love he used to see. Cora's eyes were sad and sympathetic, she had been angry and confused at Sybil's decision but she knew Tom loved her with all his heart. Luckily the doctor arrived to break the tension proclaiming that Sybil was okay to go home, but to which home she must decide. He instructed that the best way to recover her memory was to go back to her normal routine, what she was used to but of course Robert chimed in. 'I don't agree, I think Sybil will do far better back at Downton where she can get the care she deserves' Cora was even starting to pack Sybil's things ready for the move but Tom reacted. 'You heard what the doctor said, Sybil needs to revert back to her normal routine, that's with me, and I can take care of her' He was not going to lose her again. 'Why yes, because you've done such a good job already' Robert teased but he also knew it was breaking Tom's heart to say those words. 'Will you just both stop arguing!' Sybil injected 'I don't understand why my Father and Husband would fight like this, why don't you approve of him papa?' Even though Sybil had been the one to lose her memory, they had forgotten in their pride that Sybil knew nothing of their scandal, and how difficult they had fought to be together. 'Ah, you conveniently left that one out, didn't you Tom? Tom here was our chauffeur and he took every available moment to seduce you and tear you away from your loving family' Sybil eyes were wide with fear but softened as she joked 'Don't be stupid, I would never marry the chauffeur' pleading to her sisters to confirm this was all a folly, a joke of some kind, instead she found Tom stepping backwards defeated 'You did once...' he muttered at he left the room.
Later when her parents were taking advice from the doctors about how best to look after their daughter, Sybil sat with her older sisters Edith and Mary, confused by how attentive and dare she say nice her sisters were being. 'You've changed, you're much nicer now that you used to be' she said to Edith. She had always remembered her sisters fighting about something or other but now they seemed united in worry. 'You've changed too Sybil, you're a nurse now, here in Ireland, and so brave' As they were brushing her hair Sybil noticed for the first time the ring on her wedding finger, she stared for what seemed like hours, it was her hand but it didn't belong to her, it was more worn than she remembered. 'What's he like?' she asked her Mary, she somehow trusted her now and knew she would be honest if not a little severe. 'He's frightfully up himself, but he loves you, he really loves you. I always thought I was the brave one, being the eldest but you proved me wrong. Years ago I would of stopped you and called you stupid for wanting to be together, but I know real love now and I know hand on heart, you wouldn't of run away with him had you not of thought he was the one you wanted to spend your life with. You were so happy at the wedding Sybil; I've never seen you so happy, not since you were a child.' Mary unusually breaking down in front of her sister. Sybil couldn't understand what had happened in her heart to make her change her entire life for one person after all she only knew her life at Downton. Should she go with her family and continue what was so familiar or try and remember what she now forgot, a life where she was carefree and happy?
Well, what should she do? The scene with Mary and Edith is different from the movie but I felt she needed some reassurance from someone she trusted to make the decision as she would naturally have gone with her family. Next chapter we get to hear about the wedding
