Okay, so I realise that some of this is weakly linked, but it's the only way I knew to change it, hope you enjoy xx If you have any ideas please let me know x
Tom stepped tentatively into Mrs Hughes office; she was absorbed in some organising and was shocked to be abruptly interrupted by the youngest member of the Branson family. The house was in disarray as tonight the family were back from London but Mrs Hughes remained her stoic calm self in times of stress. She smiled softly at Tom who she'd favoured since his childhood and welcomed him in.
"Mrs Hughes..." he gave her a wink and with his instinctive charm he made his intentions clear, he needed a favour. "...Can Miss Crawley accompany me in a job this afternoon, to help a friend"
Mrs Hughes gave him a stern reply "I don't think so... no! Your family return tonight and I need all the help I can get!"
It was not unusual for Tom to ask favours and during the summer months, when the family were away, the staff had been known to work for the Branson's other ventures.
"Oh Please..." he begged. "...An acquaintance of mine is hosting an event and she needs an extra hand around the house."
Tom had decided to drop in she as an extra persuasive device, he knew Mrs Hughes was anticipating a marriage for the siblings of the household and especially her Tom who she had a soft spot for. She so wished for a Mrs Branson who would match his wit and interests and the sound of children's laughter would haunt Downton once more.
"Well okay, but only Miss Crawley, I can't lose any more of my maids. Will you be late?"
"I think I'll miss dinner" Tom replied, the excitement grew in his stomach.
"Well, remember to tell Miss Crawley to take a sandwich for herself" Mrs Hughes explained, silently cursing herself for letting the youngest Mr Branson charm her. She'd always thought there had been some affection between him and Sybil but felt secure in the knowledge that there might be a new Lady Branson on the scene.
When Mrs Hughes had explained Sybil's afternoon plans, she had been surprised but thrilled to be spending the afternoon with her friend but couldn't deny her heart was dented a little when Mrs Hughes wax-poetic about Tom's apparent new beau.
In the car journey to their destination Sybil felt resentful towards Tom, she wished she didn't but the thought of him being with someone wounded her. She'd already had her spirits dampened by an upset Gwen who was still struggling to find work. She'd tried to reassure her 'That's why we must stick together, your dream is my dream now, and I'll make it come true' but Sybil wondered if she'd really convinced Gwen.
The chauffeur pulled up in Ripon outside a court as Tom exclaimed that they'd arrived. Sybil was confused "Your friend's event is in one of these buildings here?" Tom gently grabbed her hand as she stepped out the car, a cheeky smirk on his face.
"This is the meeting; we're here for the counting of the votes!" Sybil wished she could contain the excitement that was building in her stomach but Tom's boyish grin and enthusiasm rubbed off onto the independent maid.
She tried her best to resist. "I don't understand, I thought that..." but she was silenced by her employer "Don't be silly Miss Crawley; you didn't think I'd miss my very first by-election!"
She softly smiled at him...so there wasn't another woman at all!
All the excitement that Sybil held swiftly fell away as she entered the court. She was scared, uncomfortable and worried. She knew about what could happen at these events, the violence that might transpire and the hustle and bustle of bodies around her made her feel suffocated.
She thought back to one of her favourite books North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and the incident at the mill. She was not ready to be slumped on the floor, blood seeping from her temple and unconscious today.
"Call it a day M'lord?" she tentatively asked. She looked for reassurance but Tom was heavily absorbed in the action, she had lost him to the vote.
"Don't be silly, this is the moment we've come for!" he replied to her, breaking their eye contact. She felt lost in the crowd and the onset of trouble brimmed in the corner of her eye as several intoxicated men joined the crowd, preparing for trouble.
Sybil reached for Tom's arm, her gloved hand catching the material of his suit "I don't like the look of this M'lord"
Tom's eyes drifted to Sybil and he could sense the fear in her eyes. It instantly broke the spell he was under and his concern for Sybil accelerated. It finally dawned on Tom the danger he was putting Sybil in. As he witnessed the influx of trouble makers coming towards them he pushed her behind him, shielding her from the threat. "I'm on your side, don't cause any trouble, you have to believe me" he explained to the men, knowing his dress gave away his position and made him an easy target.
"What's your problem then, Mr la di dar?" one of the men shouted, the scent of whiskey hung to his clothes. He reached for Tom's cap and threw it across the crowd to his friends, angering the youngest Branson.
"My problem is you!" A hollow threat as that moment ended with a swift direct hit to Tom's body. He felt the floor connect with his temple and his leg conjoin with a nearby table, a splitting pain outlining his muscles and bones. For a moment the world was black and the only relief was an angel's voice, bringing him back to the real world.
"Oh no, oh please god no!" Her fearful expression dissolving into a smile as Tom's eyes prized open. She pulled him up slightly to assess if he could stand as she slowly dragged his heavy body to the car.
In the car back to Downton Sybil's mind was racing, her fingers shaking in her lap willing the car to go faster. The silence in the car was haunting; all she wanted to hear was Tom rambling on like used to. She was scared about her job, about losing her position but most of all, she just wanted him to be okay.
Tom stared out the window watching the midnight sky roll past him. He knew his family would be back when he returned and he was inevitably going to get a good telling off from his father. He felt the tension between him and Sybil and it produced a stab of regret in his heart. He had let her down, gone too far and the fun they used to have wasn't funny anymore.
As he retreated from the car there wasn't a single moment of eye contact, she walked quickly away to the servant's quarter and Tom hoped with all his heart that the quiet sob he thought he heard was just the wind. As he limped to his bedroom aided by his sister Edith, he gave her a quick through of the day's events. He feared for Sybil's position and vented to his sister the troubles that invaded his mind.
"She won't get too badly in trouble will she?" he asked his sister.
"I don't think so no!" she replied, she liked Sybil and the independence she displayed.
'Thank god' Tom muttered under his breath.
Downstairs a similar conversation was beginning between Sybil, Mrs Hughes and Carson the butler "Better be prepared. I'm afraid Lord Branson will hit the roof" Mrs Hughes advised Sybil, who was ready to take the appropriate punishment.
Tom sat with his head in his hands "I never would have taken her there. I may be a socialistic but I'm not a lunatic"
"I'm not sure papa knows the difference" His sister replied with a slight chuckle. They had their moments but the middle and youngest siblings had grown closer as they'd become older and living in the shadow of the oldest Branson Matthew had gave them something in common. At that moment Anna walked in to inform Tom and Edith that their father wanted a word.
As Tom slipped past Anna he left her with a request "You'll let me know how she gets on, please" he didn't have to mention her name, Anna knew who invaded his thoughts.
"If you wish." She responded with a curtsey.
"Papa, I'm sorry I disobeyed you, but I'm interested, I'm political, I have opinions!" he bounded at his father; he had to stand his ground.
"Of course, I blame Sybil!" his father revealed ,setting a pang of guilt into Tom's heart.
"I don't think that's fair" he responded, keeping his voice calm wanting to level with his father.
"We had none of this, none of it, until she set foot in our house"
The echoes continued downstairs...
"I didn't know anything about it until we arrived there" Sybil muttered to her bosses. She felt their sympathy but now it was all down to Lord Branson and his fateful decision.
"She leaves tonight" Lord Branson's words silenced the room, Tom's breathing stopped for just a moment.
He stood confidently exhaling slowly "If you punish Sybil, I'll never speak to you again never!" he knew it was stupid to say but his head had walked out the room, his heart had won the fight.
"I don't believe this is Sybil's fault, truly Papa" Edith submitted, standing by her brother.
"Blame me" Tom admitted.
"I do blame you" Robert growled at his son, after a brilliant season in London, this was the last thing he wanted to return home to. His wife sensed his frustration;
"Robert, can we do this in the morning" she offered.
"If I find tomorrow that Sybil is missing, I'll run away I warn you " Tom threatened, his heart winning another round.
"And where would you go?" Robert sneered, not believing in his son's threats, but Tom stood defiant .
"Well I can't think now, but I will go, you'll be sorry..." were the last words he said before he left the room in pursuit of Sybil.