"Wow, Sybil you look so ... good enough to eat, actually," Tom said when they met on top of the stairs a few hours later, admiring Sybil's outfit for the evening with a certain gleam in his eyes that made her heart flutter and wish that the dinner was over already so she could give him his "reward".

"Likewise," Sybil gave back the compliment and she really meant it. Tom was handsome anyway, but in a tuxedo he really did looked terrific.

They had met Sybil's parents when they arrived and Tom had been greeted in a friendly manner. Aside from a barely hidden grimace on Robert Crawley's face when Tom had mentioned that he was soon going to be working for "The Guardian" in London, everything went well. Sybil's mother, Cora, was a nice woman, pretty and graceful and she welcomed him warmly. If she was surprised that Sybil brought a man, who – as they knew - had just moved into their London apartment house a week ago and who was now openly affectionate toward their youngest daughter, she didn't show it. Neither did her husband, who was friendly enough to ask if his electricity problem had been solved to his satisfaction and if he liked the new flat.

Sybil had also presented him to Mary and Edith who were exactly as she had told him and to Matthew, who was – as she told him – a fourth cousin and whom he liked instantly. He was a very nice person; a solicitor from London and it didn't take long for them to find their way into an easy conversation.

After tea they were shown to their rooms and Sybil had winked at him when Carson the Butler lead him to a room three doors further down the hall than Sybil's was. "See?" she mouthed to him behind Carson's back and he had difficulty to wipe the grin from his face when Carson turned around.

"I hope everything is to your liking, Mr. Branson," he said. "If you need anything, feel free to ask."

The room was beautiful, as was the whole house. Tom had to admit, he had been really impressed when they turned the last corner on their way here and he had seen the house for the first time. He had expected a grand house, but not this grand! It was more a castle than a house and when they stepped into the impressive hall, he couldn't help but stare. The library where they took their tea wasn't any less rich. He looked around in awe when he saw all these books and Sybil told him that her father owned one of the most valuable collections of books in the country.

"Ready for the dreadful event?" Sybil was now asking him only half-joking.

"As ready as I can be," he grinned and winked at her.

"Ah, there you are," her mother greeted them when they came down the stairs. "The Greys have just arrived, Sybil, I hope you'll be polite to Larry, won't you?"

"Larry is here?!" Sybil asked, her voice rising.

"Yes he is," her mother answered. "You know the Greys come every year, darling. You can't be surprised about that!"

Sybil fumed. "Sorry, for assuming that after you knew he cheated on me, you would have considered not including him in an invitation that included me!"

She stomped out of the hall into the library, dragging Tom behind her.

"So I suppose that means I'm going to meet the wanker," Tom said to her while Sybil paced back and forth in the library.

"I guess so," she answered. "I can't believe they did that! Would you believe it?"

Tom caught her by the wrist and pulled her close to him. "Think positive," he said soothingly. "At least you know his wanking days aren't over. Not after he'll see you in this dress!"

Sybil burst out laughing. "Thank you."

"Just the truth," Tom grinned. He kissed her softly. Then again not so softly.

"God, you look so sexy in that dress," he murmured. "How am I supposed to make it through dinner?"

"I don't know," Sybil said flinging her arms around his neck and returning his kiss. She pressed her body snug to his in the process and heard him gasp. Things became heated pretty fast, with Tom turning them around so she was leaning against one of the huge bookshelf and kissing her deeply, his hands roaming down her back to the hem of her very short dress.

"Are you wearing what I think you're wearing?" he groaned when his hands moved up her leg and touched silk, then lace and then skin.

"Reward," Sybil moaned in his mouth, when suddenly they heard footsteps outside the library and they broke apart hastily.

"Sybil?" Mary opened the door. "Are you in here? You must come and say hello now. Mum is getting agitated."

"Yeah right," Sybil muttered. She smiled at Tom though, reaching up with her hand and wiped away a bit of her lipstick off his face. "So there. Here you go. My colour suits you though."

She grinned at Mary's raised eyebrows and Tom chuckled. "Let's face the dragon," Sybil said bravely.