Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE EVE EVERYONE! Hope you all have a great one :D
Here is my present to you awesome readers …
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
December 1914
"A nurse?"
"For the last time, yes!"
Sybil was with Mary and Anna in her room as the latter helped her dress for dinner. Mary had accidently found out her intentions from Cousin Isobel and had come immediately to question her about it. Sybil had only recently told Anna; she trusted her and knew she would keep it a secret until she was ready to tell the rest of her family.
"You know Papa won't be happy about this" Mary stated, shaking her head at her youngest sister from her position sat on the bed.
Sybil rolled her eyes, "Which is exactly why I haven't told him, you know as well as I do that he probably wouldn't let me go, and I am determined to."
"But you will tell him, right?" Mary asked.
Sybil exhaled and headed over to look out the window; tiny flakes of snow continued to fall, as they had been doing for the past week, coating the lawn in a white blanket. Her sister was right, she had to tell him. It was just that she had no idea how he would react; would he forbid it and she'd have to defy him to continue with her plans? That would effectively ruin their relationship, and that was the last thing she wanted. Or would he surprise her by accepting her wishes? She guessed she was just expecting the worst so that she wouldn't be disappointed. And what about her mother? The rest of her family? She hadn't even given a thought as to their reactions. She was so confused. All these thoughts swirling around in her mind made her feel lightheaded.
When Sybil didn't respond, Mary continued, incredulous; "So you're not going to tell him at all? You're just going to disappear?"
Sybil, pulled out of her reverie, turned back to face her sister, needing to explain; "No- No, of course not", she began, continuing when a flash of inspiration hit her; "I'm merely going to wait until the last possible minute so that he can't stop me" she finished with raised eyebrows and a smirk, clearly proud of her ingenuity.
Now it was Mary's turn to roll her eyes. "That's a terrible idea, he'd be furious!" she declared, then paused, looking over towards her maid, "Anna, could you excuse us a moment please?"
"Of course Lady Mary", Anna nodded and laid one of Sybil's dresses neatly on the bed before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. Mary watched her leave whilst Sybil glanced at her sister with a look of confusion etched on her face. Mary paused and took a deep breath before asking;
"Does your leaving have something to do with Branson?"
Sybil froze, eyes wide, and attempted to calm her suddenly racing heart, how did she know?
She decided to opt for plausible deniability, she'd always, well usually, gotten away with a white lie or two. She was the youngest in the family, not much attention was paid to her; that was reserved for Mary. Sybil could do what she wanted, when she wanted, and that suited her just fine. But why did her sister decide to pay attention to her at the worst possible time?
She swiftly turned and picked up the dress Anna had laid on the bed, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about" she began, "I am going because I want to help and make a difference"; this was true, but Mary didn't need to know about her other, ulterior motive. It would undoubtedly cause too many problems.
Silence followed so she glanced back and, when she was met with an unimpressed look from Mary, Sybil grew frustrated, "Well at least I'm trying to make a difference" she snapped, turning her back on her sister again.
"Stop trying to change the subject" Mary began, "Was there something going on between you and Branson before he left?"
Sybil's heart was racing even faster now, she was sure no one could possibly suspect anything.
Unbeknownst to Sybil, Mary had suspected for a while. At first she thought it was just one-sided on Branson's part after his concern as to know how Sybil was after the incident during the count in Ripon those months ago, but lately things had changed. It had only taken her seeing Sybil go to Branson's cottage just before he was set to leave, and their later embrace, to confirm that the feeling was reciprocated. Mary was also pretty certain that they were writing to each other. But it was only now that Sybil was leaving to become a nurse that Mary felt the need to say something, to get some answers.
"Mary nothing-" Sybil began, trying one last time to throw her sister off-track, but she knew Mary well enough to realise when she'd been beaten by her.
"I'm not blind Sybil" Mary began, softly, "the long looks, the constant trips into town, how you were when he left. You know I'm surprised the whole household hasn't started gossiping!"
Sybil was now bordering on frantic, "Please, don't tell-"
"Look" Mary started, stopping Sybil before she said anything else, "You're my sister, and I know I don't say it often but I love you, so I won't say anything."
Sybil let out a breath she didn't even realise she had been holding and crossed the room to take a seat on her bed beside her sister. "Oh Mary, you don't know what it's been like, not being able to talk to anyone!"
"I know" Mary replied, sympathetic. She placed her hands in her sisters, "but you know as well as I do that nothing can ever come of it."
Sybil immediately caught Mary's gaze and shook her head, "But things are changing-"
"Sybil. I'm serious. Just ... be careful, okay? I don't want you getting hurt", Sybil was taken aback, she couldn't recall the last time she'd heard her sister sound so ... sincere. "And I won't tell Papa about you leaving either" Mary continued, "you can do that yourself, and it will be soon."
Sybil nodded her assent, she absolutely hated when her sister was right.
Mary decided to get back to the original topic at hand and continued, "You do know it's dangerous over there, you've read the papers. I don't think Papa will consent to you putting yourself in harm's way like that."
Sybil sighed, "I don't care what Papa says, and anyway I'm not going over there", not yet anyway, she silently added. "The government is only sending trained nurses to France at the moment, though if it gets any worse I think they'll take who they can get. And when they do, I'll be there" she finished with a determined look at her sister, whose response was just a mortified stare.
"Sybil, you can't be serious-"
"I am" she cut in, "I'm heading to London for training after Christmas, and I expect your support."
Mary, clearly defeated, sighed and Sybil grinned in triumph. "So when will you tell Papa?"
Sybil seemed to hesitate, "I'll do it tonight, after dinner ... Oh Mary, will you be there when I do? Please?"
Mary squeezed her sister's hands in reassurance and gave her a smile, "Of course I will, though there's no backing out now you know."
Sybil beamed at her, "Wouldn't dream of it."