Chapter Seven

It had been three months since Matthew had left and he and Sybil had kept in touch. She had just opened his most recent letter and was extremely confused, but not i a bad way although she couldn't quite work out why exactly that was.

Sybil,

You cannot imagine just how awful the conditions are here. I thought that I would be able to handle it, but that isn't the case. When it rains, you sink in the mud and you have to be pulled out. We have lost 28 men after they drowned in the mud and it terrifies me. We went over the top again and we lost all but 12 of our men. Some are thinking of running, hiding out until the War is over. They are still convinced that the War will be over by Christmas. I cannot agree. The Germans are adamant that they won't give up, so nor will we. Obviously I cannot tell you where I am, but I have moved on from where I was last time.

I have leave due to me, so I shall be at Downton soon. Fingers crossed that I will be back home before your birthday, but not too much before it so as not to miss your special day.

I have a special surprise for you, though I hope you all agree.

All my love,

Matthew.

I hope you all agree, what on earth was all that about? She asked herself? She folded the letter and placed it with the rest of them.

She sighed and made her way downstairs.

Her mother would understand, but she was too frightened to say anything. She didn't want to draw too much attention to it.

"Sybil, would you mind going to Ripon to pick something up for me? I have no time." Cora asked her daughter. Sybil nodded and made her way down the stairs to breakfast.

. x .

On the front, Matthew was eating cold porridge and silently wishing the two men beside him would stop arguing.

"I think we should just crawl there and shoot them all. I can't stand this waiting." One said.

"Well, good luck because you know for a fact you won't make it. Even if you do, how are you expecting to 'kill them all eh?" The other asked. However, before the first man - lennons, Matthew thought he was called - his superior came to see him.

"Crawley, you have your leave. Are you ready to leave?" He asked. Matthew felt his spirits rise.

"Of course I am sir." He was going home. To his mother, to the Crawley's. To Sybil.

. x .

Robert, Sybil, Cora and Edith were in the library, passing time away when Carson came in. They all looked at him expectantly, thinking the worst when he said,

"Mr. Crawley has leave. He has left for London and will be here straight after. He said not to go to too much trouble for his return." They all breathed a sigh of relief, Cora noticing that Sybil glowed at the news that Matthew hadn't been hurt or killed or would be in fact be returning to Downton, safe and sound. At least in a physical respect.

. x .

Sybil left her parents and made her way into the gardens, hoping she would be alone. However, she was met by Carson once again.

"Milady, I hope you don't mind me saying, ehh..." He stalled, and Sybil said,

"Go on, Carson." He smiled gratefully.

"Everything will be alright in the end, Milady. No matter what happens, or how long it takes to recover. Everything will become easier to bear." Sybil smiled.

"Thank you, Carson. That made me feel as though the world isn't entirely at sea." She said. "I do hope this War ends soon, but if it does I'm afraid that.."

"You're afraid that if the War ends, Mr Crawley won't love you?" He asked. When she nodded, he replied, "Well, that is utter nonsense Milady. I haven't experienced love myself but for you and your sisters. I want you all to be happy, no matter how that may come about and when I saw how Mr Crawley looked at you, I can sense love and protectiveness. Even before the War. Although he probably didn't know it, for you cartainly didn't and you both were resigned to the people you thought you loved, or should be with. But, like I said not matter what happens everything will be okay. If he has you to wait for him, then there is no logical reason for him not to return and there is even less of a reason for you to worry your pretty little head over the fact that he won't want you once the War is over because I don't have a single, miniscule doubt in my mind that Mr Crawley will want you until the day you part. Be that from him dying in the War, on in many years to come when he is as old and grey as me." Sybil walked up to Carson, tears in her eyes and kissed his cheek.

"Papa was right." She told him.

"About what, Lady Sybil?"

"That we - the family, that is - would be utterly and compltely lost without you." She answered before she bowed her head politely and left through the front doors, followed by Isis who had rund through the now open Library door.

"Thank you, Carson." Robert told his faithful Butler genuinely.

"Anything and anytime, My Lord. You know that." Carson said as he made his way down to the kitchens, back to his life as a servant.

. x .