PROLOGUE
It all seems so normal Sybil thought as the motor car slowly passed through the last small village before Kingstown. There were a few people out and about this morning, all seemingly going about their daily morning. A milkman slowly walked down the street stopping to sit bottles of milk on front stoops. Several men, a few dressed in suits but most in work overalls, heading towards the tram station. Seeing a woman pushing a pram Sybil's hand automatically touched her belly. Looking at those people out on the pavements going about their morning she wished this morning had been usual for her but slightly shaking her head and twisting her hands in her lap she thought this isn't like any other morning, my world has come crashing down. As if able to read Sybil's thoughts her sister-in-law Ciara reached over and comfortingly patted Sybil's hands. "It will be fine" Ciara said in that comforting lilt of hers.
As they entered Kingstown Sybil caught a glimpse of the sea shimmering in the early rays of sunrise. After the rains of the night, not torrential rains but rather a steady patter whose rhythmically tapping on the tin roof had finally lulled her to sleep, dawn had brought an unexpectedly bright sun still hovering low in the sky. Ciara too must have noticed the sea sparkling in the sunlight for she whispered "it looks as if the weather will be good for our sailing."
Sybil turned to look at Ciara. "You really don't have to come with me you know."
"We've been through this Sybil" Ciara gently replied as if reprimanding a toddler.
"Aye we have Sybil." From his place at the driver's seat Sean's tone left no doubt that this subject was closed. Indeed much of the prior evening had been spent arguing and debating the details of Sybil's fleeing Ireland. Sybil glancing at Sean's image in the review mirror slightly nodded her head.
If the authorities are looking for you they'll expect you to be alone not with another woman.
I can't put Ciara in danger. I won't put Ciara in danger.
If they're looking for you they're looking for an English woman so let Ciara speak first if anyone stops you.
Ciara will buy the tickets in case someone is watching at the ticket office.
Ciara can help with carrying your baggage.
Remembering the look on Sean's face when he had seen her bags, are you fleeing or moving, she couldn't help but chuckle.
The road became busier as they neared the port and the area around the piers was a beehive of activity as pedestrians, men, women and a lesser number of children, most laden with luggage of all shapes and sizes, vied for space with motor cars and lorries. Pedestrians walked in the streets and motor cars stopped haphazardly to let out outbound passengers. It was no doubt there were too many people vying for a too small space. Some might have recently arrived from Holyhead still waiting to be met by family or friends but most were like Sybil waiting to board the Anglia for the trip to Holyhead.
It was the Anglia tied up against the granite pier that drew Sybil's attention. Standing tall above the pier was the steamship, its two smoke stacks dark against the lightened sky and the flags on its masts slightly waving in the light breeze.
Spotting several British soldiers marching along the pier Sybil tensed, an act that didn't go unnoticed by Sean. "I think they're more interested in who came off the ship. If anyone is looking for you I doubt they're wearing a uniform. It will be a man, probably standing by himself a bit away from the crowd, shifting his face to focus on the people passing by him on their way to the gangway. He might be well dressed in a suit with shiny black shoes or more likely wearing an ill-fitting poorly made suit as if he's heading back to England for work. But it will be his smooth hands that belie his working roots. "
Sean pulled over the motor car at the first available spot to park. While Sean and Sybil remained in the motor car Ciara hurried off to buy their tickets. Seemingly lost in their own thoughts, Sybil stared down at the floorboard while Sean stared out the window.
After two or three minutes Sean turned around to face Sybil. "I'm really sorry it came to this Sybil."
"Me too" Sybil quietly answered, her voice quivering. Sean nodded.
A moment or two later Sean opened the door. "We better get going."
He started removing the luggage from the motor car. "Are you really sure the two of you can manage all this?" he asked as he lifted the larger case.
Sybil shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I'm beginning to think you want my clothes Sean." It was an effort to instill a little lightheartedness into the grim reality of her situation.
"Well I'm told I look good in baby blue and you do have that blouse-"
Sybil erupted in laughter. "I'm not sure how impressed-"
"Whatever are you two finding so funny?" Neither Sybil nor Sean had noticed Ciara approaching the motor car.
"Sean wants to steal my wardrobe" Sybil gamely replied. Ciara looked back and forth between Sean and Sybil still puzzled. After looking so solemn when she left to buy the tickets she hadn't expected to find them laughing when she returned.
The blare of the ship's horn pierced the air.
"Guess that's your signal." Sean looked at the bags lying on the ground and then at Sybil and Ciara. "I'll carry these two bigger bags up to the gangway."
As he bent to lift one of the bags Sybil stopped him as she grabbed the top of his arm. "Sean I just want to … to" her voice once again began to quiver "to thank you for what you've done for me. I'm not sure I could-"
He didn't wait for her to finish. "You would have done fine. You're strong and determined." He surprised her by embracing her tightly whispering in her ear "it will be fine." Then leaning his head back, his hand lightly touched her loose coat which somewhat hid her ever expanding belly "and I hope to be named godfather to this little one" he grinned.
It was one of those charming grins that lit up his eyes. It was one of those grins that so reminded her of Tom. "You have high hopes Sean" her grin matched his.
The gangway was narrow but to Sybil's relief not that steep. Following Ciara she slowly stepped onto the gangway and haltingly began her way up onto the ship. "Might I take that bag lass?" came a strong Irish voice from behind her causing her to freeze in a moment of fear as a hand reached for her bag.
I won't panic she thought. She couldn't turn around enough to see his face but glancing backward she saw his scuffed shoes and the threadbare fabric of his pants leg and could smell the faint aroma of those cheap cigarettes so common in the pubs. Then noticing the hand that had reached for her bag was calloused as if he was used to hard labor Sybil sighed in relief.
"You need to keep moving lass there's plenty behind us yet."
Sybil nodded her head as she began walking again. Her step a bit faster now that she wasn't burdened with her larger bag.
"You'd think the ship could hire some lads to help people with their bags. It might not pay much but it could help put some bread or milk on the table.
Bad enough so many of us have to go over the water to find work."
The man's statement was a sentiment she had often heard in her time in Ireland. No … she had heard it long before she had come to Ireland for it was what had brought Tom to Downton.
"Ah you found a knight in shining armor" Ciara mused as Sybil stepped on to deck of the ship.
"Aye" Sybil replied in an Irish accent. It wasn't the first time Sybil had imitated the Irish lilt of those around her. Not that she could carry on a long conversation with it but it had proved usual a couple of times. "Thank you sir."
She reached into her purse to get a coin for the man but he brushed aside her offer. "It's just common courtesy lass" he countered before tipping his hat and then setting off towards the lounge.
"It all looks so different from here" Ciara exclaimed as she, despite carrying the larger suitcase, raced to the railing and stood entranced with the view of the town stretching along the shore. It all looked so clear in the morning sunlight, the shops and houses, the gleaming steeple of St. Michael's and in the background the dark smudges of the Wicklow mountains.
Remembering this was Ciara's first time on the ferry Sybil, who was following at a much more slowly speed, couldn't help but smile at the younger woman's excitement. "Do you think we could stand out here?" Ciara, her hand touching the rail turned her head to face Sybil. "For just a bit … till Ireland is out of sight?"
"Aye" Sybil replied although she was unsure whether it was the word or her accent causing Ciara to laugh.
The blast of the ship's horn sounded again and wisps of black smoke drifted in the sky overhead while the water below them began churning. Ciara gripped the rail tightly as the ship slowly began to move.
As the ferry moved out of the harbor more of the coastline came into view. I remember that first time I saw this view Sybil thought. I remember … there was so much we were going to see and do. The possibilities and the hopes of that day … She wiped away a tear. How had it come to this?