The afternoon spent with Ciara and Aine had been a delight for Mary. She found their enthusiasm and inquisitiveness quite charming while their frankness and openness were refreshing.

It had been years since Mary had looked at those photographs and she was surprised how many warm memories they evoked. Of course there was also sadness realizing how much time had passed and how many of those Mary had loved were no longer alive. But with the girls' comments and questions, Mary wasn't maudlin, indeed there had been much laughter.

As the afternoon progressed and Mary delved more and more into the photographs she realized how much her world had changed. So much of the Crawley lifestyle was alien to the girls not only because of the difference in wealth between the Crawleys and the Bransons but also because most of the manners and mores that had shaped the first half of Mary's life were no longer in vogue.

While the girls had been, in the words of Aine, gobsmacked at the thought of dressing in gowns and long gloves just for the evening meal with only the immediate family, it had seemed so natural for Mary. The countless changes of clothes during the day depending on one's activity, the lack of education for "genteel ladies", the idea of nannies and governesses, the general idleness of the aristocracy, the clear class distinctions were all unfamiliar to the girls.

"I can't imagine having a governess" declared Ciara. "I would much rather go to school where there were other kids my age."

Mary smiled. "Ah … that sounds just like your grandmother. While Edith and I were content Sybil always wanted to go to as she put it a real school."

It had been a wonderful hour riding over the estate. Mary thought she was at her happiest when she was on her favorite horse, free to roam wherever she wanted, that is wherever on the estate and luckily for her it was a very large estate.

She was heading back towards the stable when she saw a small figure dressed in what looked like rags sitting on a tree stump just off the bridle path. Whoever it was seemed engrossed in the view which looked over a small pond where a family of ducks swam. It wasn't until she was much closer that she realized it was Sybil. She couldn't imagine how the eight year old had walked here or for that matter why she was dressed in such an outfit.

"Sybil darling whatever are you doing out here?" Sybil had been off in her own world for she started at the sound of Mary's voice but she didn't answer.

Getting off her horse, Mary held its reins while she walked over to her sister. Now standing beside the stump Mary realized that Sybil was crying.

She immediately knelt beside her, reaching out with her free hand to touch Sybil's back.

After a couple of deep sniffles, Sybil jumped off the log. She stood with her little arms bent so that her fists touched her hips. "It's just not fair Mary."

"Darling what isn't fair?"

"Mrs. Crumbe says I can't read my stories. She says they're not app … app … that little girls shouldn't read them."

"Are we talking about Treasure Island?"

Sybil nodded her head vigorously.

"But why are you dressed like that?"

Sybil deeply sighed as if it should have been obvious. "I'm playing pirates."

Mary quietly chuckled. "So was it the book or your outfit that caused Mrs. Crumbe to comment?"

"Oh Mary if only papa would let me go to a real school. I'd have other kids to play with, I wouldn't have to pretend … I …" Sybil could no longer hold back the tears.

Mary quickly hugged her little sister and continued to hold her as she cried, her own heart breaking at seeing Sybil so unhappy. She knew papa would never agree to letting Sybil go to school but he could replace the governess.

"I think that was the one regret Sybil had that she never attended school."

"Grandma was always saying how important an education is" Aine injected "especially for girls."

"Your grandmother was definitely ahead of her time."

The girls nodded their heads as Mary continued "She made sure all of her children went to university which was uncommon back then."

Long after Tom and the girls left for a walk to the village, Mary continued to peruse through the photograph albums, her thoughts still very much on that long ago time. One area that had fascinated the girls was "the season" although their interest seemed to be in what they considered the strangeness of it all and not any desire to participate in such pomp.

"So you'll be attending balls and parties every night?"

"Not until I've been presented to the King."

"So the King has to give you his blessing before you can …"

Tom didn't finish his thought before Sybil interrupted him. "Oh silly … it's not that … it's just that I'm not officially out in society until my presentation."

Tom shook his head and rolled his eyes heavenward. What a silly system he thought. He couldn't imagine not being able to dance with a girl or ask her to go for a walk unless she had been presented to the King.

"And how does this fit in with your women's rights?"

His question seemed to fluster her.

"Oh Branson" she sighed. "I think I can still be for women's rights and yet enjoy dancing and parties."

"Yet isn't the whole purpose for you … I mean for a young lady … to meet possible marriage prospects."

Sybil stood up, her arms bent at the elbows, her hands balled into fists that rested on her hips, a stance that Tom had come to know as Sybil's fighting stance. "While it means that I can be as you say" Sybil paused to emphasize the word "COURTED it doesn't mean I have to get married. IF I marry Branson, it will be because I choose to do so not because society expects or demands it."

Tom hadn't expected Sybil to react so strongly to what he said, intending it to sound as in jest. "I'm sorry mylady … I was just joking." But he knew in his heart he hasn't really joking for his worst fear was that she would find someone, that she would fall in love, during her season.

Sybil barely nodded and turned to leave the garage.

"It will be lonely here without you." When he noted the way Sybil's face showed surprise at his statement he quickly added "I mean with the whole family in London for a month I won't have much to do here."

"Maybe you could go visit your brother or even take a short trip back to Ireland." It was on the tip of her tongue to say "or maybe you could spend your free time finding someone to court" but as she looked at the man who had become her friend she realized she was suddenly afraid that when he found such a girl she would lose the only person she could freely talk to.

Mary hadn't thought about the season for years probably not since her own daughter had turned eighteen but there had been no season that year since England was engulfed in war. In fact, the season had steadily declined after the first World War mostly because so many of the old families had lost their fortunes and/or their estates. When the Queen abolished the custom of girls being presented at court in 1958, the season as Mary had known it totally vanished. Nowadays it was attendance at various events such as the Royal Ascot that constituted what could be loosely considered the season.

At the time of her own season it was a forgone conclusion that Mary would marry her cousin Patrick who would one day inherit Downton and become the Earl of Grantham. Not that Mary was thrilled with this prospect or even looking forward to it but it was her duty as the eldest daughter, it was what she had been groomed for ever since it became apparent that Robert would have no son of his own to inherit.

Always one to enjoy dancing and of course the expensive new wardrobe that was required of the season, Mary had tried to enjoy her season but there was always the thought of Patrick and her destiny lingering in the background. Then the next year was Edith's season and Mary had done her best to outshine her sister.

By the time Sybil's season came, Patrick was no longer an issue since he had gone to a cold watery grave in the North Atlantic two years earlier. To her surprise, Mary had fallen for the new heir, Matthew, the middle class solicitor from Manchester. Although she was mulling over Matthew's proposal, Mary had tried to enjoy Sybil's season.

Mary smiled as she looked again at the photographs from Sybil's ball. Sybil had been quite the success much more so than Mary or especially Edith had been. She had received more invitations to balls and dinners than she could possibly attend. While Sybil had rarely sat out a dance, she didn't seem to focus her attention on any one man or even a select few. Holding the photograph that was just Sybil, looking so beautiful in her blue ball gown, her face glowing, Mary slightly shook her head as she uttered at the picture "You had us all so fooled." For so many years Mary had thought it was the war that had interfered with Sybil's marriage prospects never dreaming it was actually the chauffeur.

"I've grown so use to coming here" Sybil started as she entered the garage. At the sound of her voice, Tom stopped whatever it was he was doing with the car parts laying on the work table and turned around to look at his fiancé, a broad smile lighting up his face. "But now with the war over and everyone gone, it's harder to get here unnoticed."

"Is that why I haven't seen you for the last two days?" Tom asked as she moved toward him. When she was within reach, he pulled her in close, his arms around her waist and his hands running up and down her back.

"Has it only been two days Tom? I feel like it's been a week. Mama has me …" Sybil was interrupted by Tom's lips on hers. To his delight she returned his kiss just as passionately.

Suddenly Sybil broke off the kissing. Still wrapped in Tom's arms she tilted her head back. "We need to make plans."

Tom didn't want to let go of her. He had dreamed for so long of holding her, touching her, kissing her and now that he could he didn't want to stop.

"Mama has decided that now that the war is over it is time for Edith and me to find husbands."

Tom dropped his arms from around Sybil's waist and took a step back.

"She's talking about big dinner parties with dancing afterward. Talking about how maybe it would be better to go to London for a month or so."

Sybil sat down on the work bench. "I can't stand the thought of it all Tom. I just want to be with you."

"I haven't heard back from any of the newspapers I've contacted. I don't know how long it's going to take to get a job. If I quit here before I get another job I'm not sure …

Tom quickly sat beside Sybil and put his arm around her. "I have some money saved but I don't think it would last us very long."

"I could sell some of my jewelry" Sybil offered. Tom visibly winced at Sybil's suggestion which Sybil noticed.

"Tom we are going to have a marriage of equals. That means I contribute also."

But Tom was still uncomfortable with her suggestion. "I don't ever want anyone to think I'm married you for your money."

"It doesn't matter what others think Tom. I know the truth." Tom looked at Sybil and wondered again how this beautiful woman could actually be in love with him.

"If we go to Ireland could we live with your mother? That is until you get a job?"

"I guess so. But I'm not really sure what she will think."

"You mean think of me?"

"I think once she comes to know you it will be fine. It's just that …"

"She doesn't expect her son to marry an English aristocrat."

"She'll come around Sybil. I know she will."

"Maybe you should write her and let her know. That would be better than us just showing up on her doorstep one day." Sybil took a deep breath. "And if she doesn't approve we have to make other plans."

"I think you're right. I'll write her tonight."

Sybil nodded. "I think I'd like to write her a note too. I'll give it to you tomorrow to include with your letter."

Sybil gave Tom a quick kiss which of course deepened into something more. "Tom, I have to go."

Sybil was close to the garage doors when she turned around to face him. "It just all seems so complicated."

"It was never going to be easy Sybil" Tom replied.

Sybil turn again towards the door but hesitated. "Gretna Green" she muttered.

"What?" Tom didn't quite hear what she had said.

"You're right it's not going to be easy whatever we do Tom. So let's just do it."

While she had talked to the girls about so much, one topic that Mary hadn't mentioned was the aborted elopement of their grandparents. When the girls saw various photographs they mentioned something that Tom had told them such as the engagement dress yet they never mentioned or asked about the pair running away to Gretna Green. It hadn't escaped her notice that when Tom joined them later in the afternoon, he never mentioned it either.

"You're confident you can bring her round aren't you?"

Mary couldn't get the chauffeur's words out of her mind. Even more so she couldn't get the defeated look on his face out of her mind. In a moment of weakness she would have admitted she felt sorry for the man.

That night she had been confident that she could bring Sybil to realize the foolishness of marrying the chauffeur. Sybil didn't utter a word on the drive back to Downton. She sat with her face staring out the passenger window, occasionally wiping away a tear that had silently fallen down her face.

Nor did she say anything when they reached Downton. As the three sisters silently crept up the servants staircase to their bedrooms, Mary wondered what to say. When they reached the door to Sybil's bedroom, Sybil quietly opened the door but before going in she looked back at Mary who was unable to decipher the emotions on her face but there was no disguising the unshed tears in her eyes.

"Sybil I think it's …" Mary began but Sybil was in no mood to listen or to talk.

"I don't want to talk about this now Mary. But know this I will not change my mind. I love Tom and I will marry him with or without the family's blessings." She then stepped into her room and closed the door before Mary could say anything.

As Mary slowly walked to her own bedroom she knew she had a hard task ahead of her. She loved Sybil with all her heart and one thing Mary knew so well was that Sybil was stubborn, that once she made up her mind about something there was no stopping her. It had been like that since Sybil was a toddler.

The thought of that dark curly haired toddler with the bright blue eyes and a smile that could light up a room brought a faint smile to Mary's lips. There had always been something about Sybil that Mary adored much to the surprise of her parents especially after the way Mary and Edith constantly fought. With Sybil Mary displayed an affection that she showed no one else.

What had happened Mary wondered to that closeness she and Sybil had. Mary couldn't remember the last time Sybil had come to her room, jumped onto the bed, and the two of them had talked and giggled far into the night. These last few years Sybil had been so wrapped up in her nursing or so Mary had thought but maybe it was because she had the chauffeur to talk to that she didn't need Mary anymore.

Sybil had promised her she wouldn't do anything foolish yet how foolish was it to run off with the chauffeur. "You're confident you can bring her around aren't you." His words haunted her. Yet somehow Mary couldn't bring herself to go to papa and tell him although that would certainly bring an end to it. Was it because she had no doubt of the look of love on both their faces?

The next morning Mary was poised with her hand on Sybil's bedroom door when she decided maybe it would be best to give Sybil a bit more time.

"Anna has anyone said anything about Sybil and Branson?" Mary inquired as Anna busied herself sorting through Mary's wardrobe looking for a day dress.

"I'm sure no one knows about last night mylady."

"I'm not just talking about last night although that is good to know. I mean has there ever been any talk about them?"

Anna was glad her back was turned to Lady Mary for she feared her face might betray her words. "No mylady."

Actually that was true as far as Anna knew but she had suspected for some time that Mr. Branson and Lady Sybil were a bit too close. On several occasions she had seen Lady Sybil coming from or going to the garage at odd hours. She knew how intently he listened when anyone mentioned Lady Sybil and most importantly she had found the note that he had written to Lady Sybil when he had planned that foolishness with that visiting general.

"Not even Thomas or O'Brien?" Mary just wouldn't let this topic go away and she thought those two were the most astute of the staff.

"I think if O'brien had any inkling she would have gone to her ladyship. Nothing would please her more than seeing Mr. Branson get sacked."

Mary raised her eyebrow at Anna's remarks. "Maybe it speaks well of Branson that O'brien dislikes him" she chuckled.

"And what of Thomas?"

"Thomas is very fond of Lady Sybil. He isn't too fond of Mr. Branson though so if he had any inkling I'm not sure what he'd do but I assure you I've never heard him say anything."

Mary nodded. "What do the others think of Branson?"

"I think he's well liked but he's a bit different from the rest of us." Anna wasn't quite sure what had made her say that. "I mean he reads much of the time he's in the servants hall and no one is really that interested in politics like he is. But he's always polite and kind and has called out O'brien or Thomas when they've picked on one of the other servants."

Mary finally decided she had had enough thinking about the past for the day. She gathered up the photograph albums and put them back in the armoire leaving only the two small albums that Ciara and Aine would take with them. She stood to stretch her legs a bit and walked over to one of the large windows that looked out over the garden. It was only early June but so much was already blooming. Looking at her watch she was surprised to find that it was almost time for dinner.

The month she had been in London seemed like an eternity to Tom for it was then that Tom came to realize how much he enjoyed her company. He tried to tell himself it was that they shared interests in politics and books and he missed having someone to discuss those topics with but he knew in his heart in was more than that.

With her gone, he realized how much he looked forward to just seeing her even if it was only while she sat in the back seat of the motor car with one of her sisters or her mother and any thought of chatter beyond "good morning" was forbidden.

Some word of the Crawleys' London stay filtered back to Downton. Tom sat quietly at the servants table, hiding his face in the newspaper so as not to betray his feelings, as he heard the chatter of what a success Lady Sybil was. Of course she would be a success he thought, how could she not be?

As the gossip ventured into whether or not Lady Sybil would get engaged, Tom found he couldn't sit there and listen any longer.

When Tom was summoned by Carson and told to be at the railway station at two to meet the London train, his mind quickly had a million thoughts foremost of which was would things be the same between them.

He was diligently waiting by the motor car when he saw Lord and Lady Grantham with Lady Edith close behind walking towards him. His heart sank when he didn't see her. He was loading the luggage when he finally heard that husky voice "I found it Mama. It was on the floor of the compartment."

He knew he was being foolish to stay in the garage so late that night for he doubt that she would pay him a visit but just in case … but she didn't come that night nor did he see her the next two days.

The thought that she had changed, that she no longer wanted or needed to talk to him crushed him for there was no denying that without her his loneliness was overwhelming.

She took him by surprise when she finally appeared late one afternoon as he was just returning to the garage after bringing his lordship back from Thirsk.

"I saw you drop papa off in front of the house so I think we have some time." She stood there looking so beautiful even though she was wearing the plainest of her outfits, a dark blue skirt and a purple and white checked blouse.

"I was beginning to wonder if the excitement of the season had been too much for you."

She rolled her eyes. "It was fun … at least the first week. It was so nice seeing so many old friends."

He waited for her to continue. She was looking around the garage as if seeing it for the first time. Finally taking a seat on her bench, at least that was what Tom thought of the rickety bench, she simply shook her head.

"Oh Branson I was just so bored. I mean I loved the dancing but … but no one wanted to talk about anything I was interested in. Even my friends only seemed interested in what everyone was wearing and who they danced with and what parties they had been invited to."

"And the men were even worse. I asked a few about what they thought about women's rights and especially the vote and they looked at me as if I suddenly had two heads."

Her voiced raised in disgust "a couple even told me such matters shouldn't concern me."

She looked at Tom with such earnest in her face. "How could they think it shouldn't concern ME?"

She began pacing up and down the garage floor clearly agitated. "They see my life as the good little wife arranging dinner parties and producing their heir." She paused and looked directly at Tom "I think I have more to offer than that."

"So I take it this means I won't be reading about your engagement in the newspaper" he quipped.

She glared at him and he suddenly felt afraid that he had insulted her when he just meant to lighten her mood. The silence became deafening to him.

He then remembered the pamphlets he had picked up in Thirsk. Reaching into the motor car, he pulled out the pamphlets and held them out to her.

He wasn't sure she was going to touch them, she just stood there staring at him before finally looking down at the pamphlets. Her eyes widen as she saw the headline on the top on.

A smile quickly erupted on her face. "Oh Branson finally someone that understands!"