AN: Remember to please cast your vote for the pairings! I really care about what you think! If you don't want to vote, you can always comment with suggestions! I write for the feedback, you know! ;)
-x-
It had been a month since their trip to York, and Mary's driving was steadily improving. Seeing Tom for an hour everyday promoted companionship between the two and while their conversations never grew as personal as they did in York, an understanding developed. However, Mary could not forget her original intentions in learning to drive, and they did not include being entranced by an attractive chauffeur. Edith was only growing more conceited as their neighbor Sir Anthony had invited her to take a drive in his new car (after several blatantly inelegant hints at her superb driving expertise.). On this particular day, she was busy boasting loudly over luncheon at how impressed Anthony would be that later that week.
Mary interrupted yet another mention of her sister's invitation with a loud sigh. "Really, Edith, you do choose the odd ones. Sir Anthony will likely go on about sheep forever, and when you inevitably crash his new car, he'll bleat away like one!" she snickered.
"Mary!" Cora exclaimed as Edith gasped in offence. "I'm sure your sister is perfectly capable at handling herself."
Robert groaned. "Only I wish you two weren't so insistent at all this driving business. It's terribly unnecessary. I'm just grateful Sybil isn't taken up with it too—which, now that I mention it, is quite surprising. She's usually the first to start up with modern insanity."
Sybil shook her head distractedly. "Oh, I just have other things to busy myself with, I suppose." She quickly turned back to her plate.
Mary could not help but notice her relative silence. Now that she thought about it, Sybil had been suspiciously quiet recently. She must be scheming something Papa would disapprove of. Mary thought. I'll have to confront her after dinner this evening.
The day passed quickly, and soon it was time to dress for bed. After Anna tied a ribbon at the end of Mary's braid, she reached over to blow out the oil lamp, but Mary caught her hand. "Wait a moment. Could you stop in Sybil's room and send her to me, please?"
"Yes, of course, my lady." Anna backed away and soon Sybil was slipping through her door.
"You had Anna fetch me?" she asked, confusion wrinkling her forehead.
Mary tugged her down on a chair beside her. "Yes, darling. You've been so distracted lately; won't you tell me what you've been up to?"
"Darn," Sybil blushed. "I was hoping no one would notice, but I suppose you do find out everything." She squeezed Mary's hand. "I've been sent the most interesting pamphlets from one of my friends in London—do you know that there are going to be some political rallies over the next few months? I'm dying to attend one and hear the speakers and really get the feeling of the modern times." She caught the shocked look on Mary's face. "Oh, Mary, please, please don't tell Papa! I've been trying to find the best way to bring it up. I might just attend one of the last ones, but I want to go ever so much, and Cousin Isobel thinks it's a brilliant idea and said that she would take me if she felt up to it."
Mary pursed her lips. "If Cousin Isobel provides such a ringing endorsement to anything, I'd be sure to do exactly the opposite as fiercely as possible! What on earth compels you to become interested in politics!?"
Sybil sat up straighter, frowning. "You shouldn't be so mean to our cousins! And besides, you're being quite hypocritical. Don't think I didn't see you pick up that socialist paper last week in Ripon!"
Mary turned red and spluttered, "That was for research purposes! We happen to have a very vocal chauffeur, and I needed information to refute his points!"
"So now you're speaking with the staff, hm?" Sybil leaned back smugly. "You're not as much of an example as you pretend to be."
"Darling…" Mary sighed, defeated. "Fine, I won't tell Papa, but you must notify him eventually."
"Oh, thank you!" Sybil leaned over and kissed her sister on the cheek. "Now may I go to bed?"
"That's all I had to say." Mary patted her shoulder. "Goodnight, dear."
After Sybil left, Mary grumbled and dropped her head into her hands. Now she would have to do something she knew she would end up regretting—attend one of these 'rallies' and assure that her baby sister would be quite safe at such an event. "Oh, the joys of having such a headstrong child to protect…" She rubbed at her temples. Didn't she have enough on her plate already?
