Mother-In-Law

Sybil had cried off and on almost the entire trip to Ireland. She was so emotionally exhausted, she flopped into the bunk on the ferry crossing the minute they had made their way to the small cabin and hadn't woken until they were approaching the dock in Dublin.

"We knew it wouldn't be easy, love," Tom said placing a kiss in her hair during the train ride. "Write as soon as we get to my mother's and keep writing. They'll come around eventually."

Sybil nodded and stayed curled against him for the entire time. When she awoke the next morning she was anxious to see her new home and her previous excitement was back. She had packed so quickly that she had forgotten face soap and had to use some of Tom's tooth powder to brush her teeth.

From the ferry they boarded a tram into the city. There were too many bags for Tom to handle. Sybil carried the two lightest while Tom tucked one under his arm and carried Sybil's two other bags effortlessly. It wasn't long and they were walking down a row of brick houses that all looked alike except for the different flowers planted here and there in window boxes. Tom stopped at one and knocked on the door. There was no answer. Tom turned the knob and walked in.

"Ma, I'm back," he called. There was no answer.

"Oh well, she'll turn up," he said.

Tom dropped their cases in the front hall and went through to the kitchen. He got the kettle and put it on to boil. Sybil stood hesitantly beside him. He was so obviously at home here she didn't know what to do.

"You might as well sit down," he said.

Sybil took a seat at the table while Tom puttered around getting out the items to make some tea. It was a nice kitchen that was arranged for work. Everything was clean and in good condition. It was obvious his family was not rich, but neither were they poor. Tom had purchased a newspaper on their walk here and they looked at the rental ads while they drank their tea and waited for his mother.

"There's an ad for a furnished apartment," Sybil said. "It might be best to get something furnished. We wouldn't have to buy any furniture."

"Furniture shouldn't be a problem," Tom said. He turned the page and there were all kinds of ads for used furniture.

"It would be good though not to be tied down with too many possessions. At the moment we're free to go where the wind take us," Tom said.

"You make it sound so romantic," Sybil said. Tom reached across the table and pulled her in for a long kiss.

"It is," he teased.

They had circled a few places for rent. Sybil didn't know the city so she wasn't much help when it came to location. It wasn't long when they heard the door open and Tom's mother walked in. She stopped in the doorway to the kitchen. Tom had risen to greet her and Sybil stood as well.

"Tom! What are you doing here?" his mother said.

"Hello Ma, I've taken a job in Dublin. I'm home."

His mother moved to put her arms around him and give him a hug.

"Who's this you've brought with you?" she questioned.

"My wife, Sybil."

"Your wife? You never wrote or mention a word about a sweetheart and you show up with a wife?"

"We've only just wed," Tom said taking Sybil's hand and drawing her close. "Things were a bit complicated."

"How do you do?" Sybil said.

Tom's mother's eyes opened wide at the sound of Sybil's voice.

"You're English?"

"Yes," Sybil replied.

"Catholic?"

"No," Sybil answered quietly. She had no idea why that would have any bearing on being Tom's wife.

"Forgive me for saying so son, but have you lost your wit's. An English wife that isn't catholic here in Ireland!"

"I told you things were a bit complicated," Tom said. His relaxed demeanor of a few minutes ago was rapidly fading to be replaced with one of stress. "There's more. So you might as well hear it all." Tom paused and took a deep breath. "Sybil is Lord Grantham's youngest daughter. She was born a Lady."

"You've brought a member of the English aristocracy here to my house?" his mother's shock was turning to anger. "After what they did to me, you dare to do this?"

"Sybil had no part in that. She's my wife. Try to understand."

"You're just like your father. He didn't think about the consequences of his desire either."

"That's a low blow, Ma. This is totally different. We didn't have an affair. We got married, that's the end of it."

Sybil hadn't been prepared for this. After the mess with her parent's yesterday they had walked into another with Tom's mother today. Tom's anger was evident. Sybil could feel him bristling beside her.

"I've told you and told you not to go getting some girl in trouble and now look what you've done."

"I'm not pregnant," Sybil contributed. "Unless it happened in the last week since we've been married."

"Well at least that's something," his mother snapped. "What do you think you're doing playing with my son until a new play thing comes along. Will you discard him without a thought?"

Sybil gasped. She hadn't been prepared at all for someone to think she would treat Tom so poorly.

"Don't speak to my wife like that," Tom shouted at his mother.

"I assure you I love Tom with all my heart and have committed to be with him for the rest of my life," Sybil said.

Tom was about to shout something else at his mother, but snapped his mouth shut.

"Tom," Sybil put her hand on his arm to try and calm him down a bit. The glint of red mother and son shared in their hair was more than evident. The tension in the room was razor sharp. Tom looked at Sybil then turned and went to the back door. He glared at his mother before he went out, slamming the door behind him. The glass rattled in the door but mercifully didn't break.

Tom's mother sank into a chair and began sobbing. Sybil stood in the middle of the room not quite knowing what to do for a minute. Finally, she put the kettle on and began making some fresh tea. When she got the tea made she put a cup on the table beside Tom's mother. She had stopped crying and thanked Sybil for the tea.

"I'm sorry we didn't write," Sybil said. "Things were a bit out of focus for a few days. We were both so busy with work and preoccupied making a decision about Tom's new job we just didn't have the time."

"Work? You work? But you're a member of the aristocracy."

"I've been working as an auxiliary nurse. My parents didn't approve at first, but eventually they gave in."

"And what do they think of your marriage?" Tom's mother asked. Her hair was the same blonde red as Tom's although her eyes were hazel and she was much shorter than her son.

"They were shocked and angry. We only told them yesterday. My father pretty well accused Tom of marrying me for money."

"He would never do that. Trust a peer to think of money first."

"My father is very concerned," Sybil said. "It isn't unheard of for suitor to be after the family fortune. I have no doubt that my husband is not interested in the money. I've walked away from my title, my family and the wealth to be with Tom."

"Well, this is a fine how do you do."

"We didn't enter into this marriage lightly. I took a year to give Tom my answer and even then I was still concerned about how our families would react. We aren't trying to hurt anyone. I loved him so much, I couldn't live without him anymore."

"So what's this new job?" Tom's mother asked.

"Tom's got a job with a newspaper here as a journalist," Sybil said brightening. "I'm hoping to find a nursing position once we get settled in our own place."

"How are you planning to take care of a place without a maid? I doubt you'll be able to afford one now."

"I know some basics and I saw to myself at nursing school. Tom knows more about keeping a house than me. I'll learn as I go along. As long as we don't get too large a place we should be fine."

"Hmmm," Tom's mother regarded her. "Well there's none so foolish as those in love. I think you're both being foolish, but what's done is done. There's no use crying over spilled milk. Now lets get these tea things washed up before that son of mine gets back."

Sybil cast a concerned look at the door.

"It's his Irish temper. That touch of red is no lie. He'll be back in a few once he's cooled off. Where are you planning to live?"

"We were looking through the paper for rentals before you got back. We're hoping to find something furnished. Tom was hoping we could stay here until we've found a place."

Tom's mother only nodded. She washed the tea things while Sybil got a towel and dried them. They were just finishing when Tom came through the door. His mother remained guarded with her but Sybil was hopeful, as she was at least being move civil than when she had been when fighting with Tom. She had given Sybil a chance to explain a few things.

Sybil had questions for her husband about what his mother had meant about his father and her comments about the aristocracy but wisely left them unvoiced. She was surprised to learn that Tom was an only child.

"I've got loads of cousins on my mother's side," Tom said that night when they were getting ready for bed. "But it has always been just me and Ma."

"What about your father's family?" Sybil asked.

"Don't know any of them. Saw my half brother once at a distance but didn't talk to him."

"Were you going to tell me about your father or is it a big secret?"

"It's not a secret," Tom said. "It's just not important. I used to think it was, but now I don't care."

Tom was lying on his back in bed and Sybil had snuggled close to his side and had her head on his shoulder. They were both worn out from all the emotional turmoil of the last couple days.

"So are you going to tell me?" Sybil said. "I am your wife after all. If it affects you it affects me."

"Alright then," he sighed. "My mother was working as a maid in a big house in northern England not far from the border when she was young. She had an affair with the lord of the manor and when she got pregnant he paid her off and sent regular payments for my care. She came back to Ireland, made up a story about a deceased husband and raised me here. I think he's a Duke or a Viscount or something."

"No wonder she didn't react well to the news about my family."

"She doesn't trust the aristocracy. You can't blame her."

"No," Sybil said with a small frown. "So who's your half brother?"

"I think you know him," Tom paused for a minute. "Evelyn Napier."

"What! Viscount Branksome is your father?" Sybil sat up with her eyes wide.

"He sired me. He's not anything to me. I've never met him. Not much of a father if you ask me."

"Tom you should have told me."

"Why? Would it have made any difference?"

"Yes, No, I don't know."

"It doesn't matter, Sybil. Not really in the big picture of things. I don't know the man and have no desire to. He's not the kind of man I want to be. Lets just leave it at that. Ma used an Irish derivation of the title. Legally I'm Tom Branson, not Branksome or Napier. It doesn't change anything."

"No, it doesn't. I love you no matter what your last name is," Sybil said as she curled down in bed and burrowed herself in Tom's arms.