Hello, again, readers! We're picking up steam to finish out S3, joining the show action again with a big time jump to the trip to Scotland.
As always a few notes before we start: The Christmas special was when Edna first made her entrance and tried to seduce Tom. As Sybil is alive, she is a nonfactor and is not mentioned—for now. She may still appear in the future, but I'm not sure yet. (If you are interested in a Sybil Lives rewrite of Edna, I shall point you to Home by wslowry. her revision of Edna's role and interest in Tom with Sybil very much alive is nothing short of awesome. That whole story is, really, so if you haven't already read it, go like right now!)
On the show, Tom doesn't go to Scotland because he is not invited. In this case, I think Susan would still not want him and Sybil there, but it would be harder to snub them both. So while they are included in the family invitation, they choose not to go for reasons that become clear in the update.
Lastly, as you remember, in this universe, Tom and Sybil agree to stay for a year so that Tom can help Matthew get used to running the estate with an agent he trusts. That year is now up, and as you'll see in this chapter, Sybil and Tom have begun discussing what they will do next.
Regarding Mary's pregnancy, if you don't remember, she goes to Scotland while eight months pregnant, begins to feel the early stages of labor and travels back to Downton to deliver. This chapter begins with the family's departure and ends with the news of Mary's return.
Enjoy, and please do let me know what you think!
September 1921
"We can't possibly chuck now," a very pregnant Mary said to Matthew looking at his reflection on her vanity mirror as Anna helped her finish dressing for their train journey later that morning. "We couldn't be so rude."
Matthew sighed, seeing that he was going to end up on the losing end of this argument. Mary was determined to make the trip to Scotland with the family, regardless of his countless entreaties this week that the two of them stay behind with Tom and Sybil.
"Why don't I go on my own?" He said, knowing that alternative was even more unappealing to her.
"Darling, this isn't 1850," Mary said with a measure of exasperation in her voice. "No one expects me to hide indoors until the baby is born."
"Of course not . . . but we wouldn't be alone here. Sybil and Tom are not going either."
"Because they want some time alone," Mary reminded him. "And anyway, you know they're going to Liverpool to see Tom's brother."
Matthew's shoulders drooped in defeat. "Well, all right, if you're certain. But if you change your mind at any point and want to come home, just tell me."
Mary smiled as Matthew turned to go.
Once the door closed behind him, Anna stepped back, having finished her task and said, "I hope you know what you're doing."
"Et tu, Brute?"
Anna rolled her eyes good-naturedly, but before she could offer a retort, the door opened revealing Sybil.
"Are you coming down for breakfast?" Sybil asked Mary, stepping into the room.
"I'll be going and make sure everything's ready and loaded for the train," Anna said, excusing herself and leaving the sisters alone.
"Yes, I'm just on my way now. It's Matthew's fault I'm late."
Sybil smiled. "Still trying to convince you to stay?"
Mary nodded. "I do appreciate his concern, but it's getting a bit tiresome. You traveled here from Ireland on your own when you were nearly at full term and Tom trusted you to do it! What's Matthew so worried about?"
"Well, in fairness, Matthew saw me have a very difficult time with it, and he wants to make sure we're prepared if you have any trouble as I did."
"So it's your fault," Mary said wryly.
"I suppose—and while I'm not saying you should stay, do take it easy please."
Mary smiled. "Do you really think I need reminding?"
"You're going to a ball you've loved since you were a child, and you wouldn't sit down all night if it were up to you—of course, you need reminding."
Mary laughed. "I'll be fine. Now, let's go down before Matthew convinces everyone else to gang up on me."
As they walked down the stairs, Mary looked at Sybil from the side of her eyes for a moment before saying, quietly, "You know, if you're so concerned with my state, you could come with us and keep an eye on me. I dare say that would assuage everyone. You used to love the Ghillies Ball too."
"Never as much of you," Sybil's replied. After moment, she added, "It was difficult telling Kieran that we would not take him up on his offer to help us. Very difficult. Just because we chose to live here for a while, doesn't mean we chose to turn away from that side of our family entirely. You couldn't understand how much Tom has given up in staying here—I want him to feel still connected to those we left behind."
"Well," Mary said with a resigned sigh, "when you put it that way, I suppose it would be unseemly to begrudge Tom's brother a few days when we got to keep you."
"Thank you," Sybil said with a smile. "Besides, I don't want to subject Tom to Susan if I can help it."
Just as they arrived at the dining room for breakfast, Mary said, "I have no argument for that."
ooo
After the family's departure, Sybil and Sybbie joined Tom as he made a drive around the estate to do some business with the farmers. That completed, the family of three had a quiet picnic in one of the solitary corners of the grounds.
"It'll be odd having the house to ourselves," Sybil said, after they'd eaten their packed lunch and were merely sitting on the grass, enjoying the scenery and one another.
Tom was lying down on the grass, with his jacket bunched up and serving as a pillow, and making funny faces at Sybbie, who sat on his chest. "Your father is probably having Carson telegram daily reports up to Scotland to make sure we don't burn the place down."
Sybil smiled. "I told Mrs. Hughes this morning that Carson needn't ring the gong for us as we wouldn't be dressing for dinner while everyone was gone. She snickered a bit picturing his reaction."
"We could suggest that we join the servants for dinner so Mrs. Patmore doesn't have to bother with two meals?" Tom said, a bit of a cheeky smile on his face.
Sybil laughed. "I don't want to kill the poor man of a heart attack."
"We could go see the agents' house and start moving our things in," Tom offered tentatively.
"We could," Sybil said with a smile.
"Or, better yet, start making inquiries in London. It has been a year Sybil. That's as long as we said we'd stay."
"I know. And believe me I'm growing as anxious as you to be done with everything living in this house entails."
"But you don't want to move just yet," Tom said, completing the thought he knew she didn't want to vocalize.
"It's not that," Sybil said. "I just want to wait until Mary's delivered, and she and the baby are well settled."
Tom smirked. "You know that child will have more minders than all the children in the village put together."
Sybil laughed. "You're probably right, but even so. I just want to make sure she comes through it."
Tom moved Sybbie and sat up to better look Sybil in the eye. "You know, love, you've been telling everyone to let Mary be because she is going to be perfectly fine and that the only reason they're worried is that their memories of you and the terrible time you had with childbirth are still fresh in their minds. But you're doing the same thing."
"I know, and I do trust Dr. Clarkson—and this time Isobel will be there from the first. I just . . . well, I suppose I keep thinking of my own experience and not being able to go back and fix it, I put all that energy in thinking of hers because . . ."
"Because?"
Sybil sighed. "Because if it goes well for her than maybe . . . maybe our next will not be so difficult. Maybe mama won't keep making disapproving faces when I mention having a second child."
"Is that what this is about?" Tom asked surprised.
Sybil took Sybbie from his arms and shrugged. "I am genuinely concerned for Mary, but I can't deny that I want to be reassured as well—as illogical as it is to associate what will happen to her with what might happen to me in the future. I just need to be reminded that it goes smoothly most of the time, so that the fear will subside."
Tom shifted so that he was right next to her and pulled her into his arms. "First, I am never going to let anything happen to you."
"Tom, you can't—"
"I struck your father so I could take you to the hospital, Sybil. I think that well proves that I will go to all manner of lengths to ensure you are cared for if and when we have another child."
Sybil couldn't help but smile at this.
"Second," Tom continued, "we don't have to have another child. I have no expectations in that regard—I've told you as much—so don't pressure yourself for something, especially if it worries you so."
"I do want another, though," Sybil said.
"Well, then, we'll think about that when the child is on his or her way and not a moment before."
Sybil smiled and leaned over to kiss him. "Still, I do want to stay at Downton until Mary has delivered. Is that all right?"
Tom smiled and leaned in for another kiss. "Of course."
xxx
Liverpool, later that week
"This is much better than what your Mr. Carson keeps, if you don't mind me saying," Kieran said with a laugh, as he lifted his glass of beer to toast with his brother and sister-in-law.
"It's so rare that he serves it," Tom said, "it's likely been in his stores since the last century. I doubt it was any good."
"It wasn't," Kieran confirmed.
"Well, more the fool you for asking for it," Tom said.
Sybil smiled seeing the two brothers banter back and forth. This was their second night in Liverpool and they'd enjoyed themselves immensely. Tom had spent the day working with Kieran in the garage downstairs, while Sybil explored the neighborhood with Sybbie in a borrowed pram. She'd been thinking since they'd arrived, that just because Tom hadn't taken Kieran's offer at the time he'd proffered it, didn't mean they couldn't consider Liverpool as a home in some future, now that the year they'd promised Mary and Matthew was over and once Mary's baby was settled at home. Already she felt like this was a viable option they could discuss once they returned to Downton at the end of the week.
With the dinner dishes washed and put away already, Kieran opened another two bottles for himself and Tom, Sybil preferring to stop at one. He'd just poured them out when they heard a tapping noise. Someone was throwing stones up at one of the flat's windows.
"What in God's name?" Kieran said, walking over to the window overlooking the street. Tom and Sybil looked at each other, curious as to what or who it could be at this time of night. A strange sense of dread came over them both.
Seeing someone below, Kieran opened the window. "What do you think you are doing?"
It was a young man, no more than 16 years of age, holding a piece of paper in his hand. "Pardon me, Mr. Branson," the boy called up, "but a telegram's come for you. My father thought you should get it straight away. Seeing as it came in so late, it's probably urgent."
"Fine," Kieran replied. "I'll be right down." Pulling his head back into the apartment, Kieran said, "Who would be sending me a telegram? And at this hour."
But before Kieran even finished closing the window, Tom had already taken three steps to the door. The news, he and Sybil both feared, was not for Kieran.
Kieran was right behind Tom as the two rushed down the stairs to greet the young man and take the telegram for him. Indeed it was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Branson, in care of Mr. Kieran Branson.
Taking the stairs two at a time, Tom ran back up to show it to Sybil.
"Well?" Kieran asked.
"It's Mary," Sybil said, unable to hide the concern from her voice as she looked the message over. "She's going to be on the first train back to Downton tomorrow. She thinks the baby may be coming early."
Knowing what her next request would be, Tom turned to his brother and said, "Well, brother, I'm afraid that's enough beer for tonight, if I'm to have my wits about me for travel in the morning."
Kieran laughed. "I see it only took a year for them to knock the Branson out of ya."
Sybil smiled. "Don't worry, darling," she said to Tom. "You enjoy your last night with Kieran. I'll go pack our things. Anyway, she won't be back until the afternoon, even if she leaves first thing."
"Let's toast to the child, then," Tom said, taking his glass in one hand and Sybil's hand in the other.
Tom and Kieran said something in Irish, which made Sybil smile. As the brothers sat back down at the table, Sybil went back to the bedroom, where Sybbie was fast asleep in the middle of the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed watching the gentle rise and fall of her daughter's chest for several minutes, before hearing Tom coming in.
"I just came to see if you were all right," he said, sitting next to her.
"I'm just worried is all."
"She'll be fine," Tom said.
"I know," Sybil said, though her voice betrayed that she wouldn't be convinced until she saw her sister for herself. With a chuckle she added, "She'll have to face an endless stream of 'I told you so' from papa, poor dear."
Tom smiled. "Perhaps, but your father's so sentimental, I'm sure one look at the babe and he'll have forgotten all about it."
Something in Tom's words gave Sybil pause, and Tom noticed.
"Is there something else, darling?" he asked.
"Tom," she said, taking his hand, "I know Mary will come through it, but in case of . . . well, mama would be quite emotional, and papa, for all he may say about stiff upper lips, would be a mess as well."
"What are you saying?"
"If something does happen, you and I will have to be the strong ones."
Tom leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, realizing how true her words were. "You're probably right, but it doesn't matter because Mary will be fine."
Sybil nodded again, reassuring herself that he was right.
Tom smiled again. "I think that so far as Robert thinks, the worst that may happen is that Mary will not last the night and he'll have two grandchildren—one Scot, one Irish—and no Englishmen to show for it."
Sybil laughed in spite of herself. "If only the gods could be so kind."