Chapter 17
...
Grantham House
London
Summer of 1886
...
The patience of the saints themselves would surely be tested by the passive aggressive bickering of their cousins Susan and Shrimpie MacClare, remedied only slightly by the vivacious (yet rather charming) antics of the couple's eleven year old daughter Rose.
As always a social call to the MacClares, especially one in which Susan was involved, left both Robert and Cora Crawley thoroughly exhausted. Under less worrying circumstances, such a day would generally leave Cora feeling grateful for her loving and harmonious marriage...that evening however, was most certainly not the case.
Sybil. What on earth was she going to do with Sybil?
"You seem troubled tonight, my darling. Whatever's the matter? The baby isn't giving you trouble?"
Leaning back against their plush headboard, Cora sighed.
She rested a soothing hand over her growing stomach, silently hoping that their fourth child would prove less troublesome than their now grown daughters.
She glanced up at her husband, smiling slightly at the softness in his eyes as he undid his dressing gown.
Cora's thoughts returned to the events of that day, or more specifically that morning. Her mother in law's words only swirled more furiously around in her mind now that she and Robert were left alone to themselves. Cora didn't want to burden her husband with the hearsay stories of their youngest daughter's misadventures, especially when she struggled to believe those same stories herself.
It couldn't be true, she refused to believe it.
According to her daughters' second cousin Imogen (a girl who even Violet admitted was a dreadful gossip), a rather smitten Sybil had been spotted cavorting about Hyde Park—taking long unchaperoned walks with some young gentleman who did not seem to have any notable connection to the English peerage.
In all honesty, a part of Cora didn't care very much about the prospect of her daughter showing interest in someone without a title, especially considering how she herself had once been an American heiress of 'new money'. No, it was the thought of Sybil's deceit that Cora didn't like, the thought that her baby girl would see fit to hide her feelings from her family.
She knew her youngest daughter, rather well Cora was proud to say. Ever since Sybil had been a little girl, she had always worn her heart upon her sleeve—sporting a fiery and passionate spirit that one would almost expect to contradict her kindness and sweetness but somehow didn't. Cora was sure of that she would have noticed if her baby girl was in love. She would have seen it in her eyes.
"I've been thinking that we should invite The Greys to dinner tomorrow evening", she mused nonchalantly, the sheer unexpectedness of her suggestion instantly taking her husband slightly aback. "What do you think?"
Robert frowned. "Mama has discussed matching Sybil up with Larry then?", he asked rhetorically, raising his eyebrows. "I thought we had decided to leave her be until Mary was married."
Cora bit her lip. Under any other circumstances, she would agree wholeheartedly with Robert—and had done so up until that morning. Sybil was young after all, not yet nineteen. To most, there would seem no need to rush in securing a favourable match for their youngest as of yet.
It was only Cora that knew better. Undesirable stories were circulating about her youngest daughter, stories that would easily be silenced by the presence of respectable suitor, the suitor everyone had been expecting since Sybil's nursery days.
An attachment to Larry Grey would protect Sybil, protect all three of her girls.
"I'm not trying to press her into an engagement, Robert. You know I would never do that. But I do think we should make some effort to bring her and Larry together. Don't you think that they would make a striking pair?", Cora replied, hoping that her words would sound even somewhat convincing.
She thought of Sybil's expression when she first spoke to her on the subject of a possible attachment to Larry Grey—full of shock and distaste—and hoped that the girl's feelings would change.
"You were saying the same about Mary and Matthew only months ago?"
"Oh Robert, don't change the subject!"
He sighed deeply, reluctantly seeming to mull over his thoughts on the subject. Robert still looked a more than a little unconvinced as he began settling down the night.
"Do as you wish, Cora darling. You have my support...but I wouldn't bet upon having Sybil's."
...
Colindale
London
Summer of 1886
...
Tom smiled at Sybil as he opened the door of his flat, instant surprise lacing his voice as their eyes met over the threshold. It was the first time he'd seen her since the night they had gotten engaged, and each day since his grandmother's Claddagh ring was feeling heavier and heavier in his trousers pocket.
"What are you doin' here, Love?", Tom asked. "You said not to expect you."
It had only been four days since he had received a discreet message from Sybil, letting him know that her sister needed her and that they wouldn't be able to meet in person for at least a week or more.
Sybil grinned, removing her hat. She reached up on tiptoes, pecking Tom soundly on the cheek as he ushered her inside, closing the door. "Are you not pleased to see me?"
Chuckling, Tom took both of her hands in his own—kissing her softly on the lips. A proper kiss. He smiled against Sybil's mouth, marvelling at how they could do this now, and how her eyes shined so brightly whenever they did.
In his whole life, Tom had never experienced a feeling quite so wonderful.
"You know I am", he replied as she sunk into his hold.
Sybil laughed, leaning her head against Tom's. Her voice took on a more serious tone as she gently removed herself from his embrace. "I'm glad...because there is something that we really must discuss."
Hiya guys, I hope you are all keeping well. So sorry this chapter is so short, I rewrote it half a dozen times with different scenes and different conversations between different characters, but nothing felt quite right...such a struggle. Next up, we will hopefully have some Sybil/Tom, Mary/Matthew...and maybe even an appearance from Larry Grey.
I've also updated my Sybil/Tom modern AU 'Standby'. If anyone wants to check it out, I'd love to hear what you think :)
Wishing you all the absolute best!
Pearlydewdrop xx