Chapter 5

Sybil was seated on Mrs Hughes' lap comfortably and was laughing at something or the other that the amiable Scotswoman had said. She turned slightly from her almost cocooned position and her small hands rested on Mrs Hughes' shoulder as she reached up to place an adorable kiss on the Housekeeper's cheek and giggled shyly. Mrs Hughes wrapped the little girl into an enormous hug. A serene and kind look adorned her face as Sybil's dark hair met her cheek. The usually stern Housekeeper was replaced by an almost entirely different woman. Like a mother herself, Cora thought as she watched through misty eyes.

She had never seen Mrs Hughes look happier and Sybil so warm and free. Gone was the serious eyed Housekeeper and the timid little girl. Cora knew of how Carson took a shine to Mary, but it was nothing like what was now before her eyes. Mary still played a high and mighty Lady and Carson, her Butler at her service, ready to do anything for her. Mrs Hughes on the other hand seemed to treat Sybil like an ordinary child, like the gentle, growing souls of theirs ought to be treated.

Cora knew a bit of the caring side of Mrs Hughes and she often wondered whether Mrs Hughes missed being a mother. She did have a little army of maids that she genuinely took care of. But Cora knew what it feels like for a woman to be a mother and how she too waited impatiently for that treasured gift to be bestowed upon her. She didn't want to disturb the adorable happenings that were in her view but it made her very happy to watch unnoticed. Sybil being so alive and adorable and Mrs Hughes being so lovely.

"Did I do well Mrs Hughes?" Sybil asked excitedly as she looked ahead at the pile of invoices that was gradually decreasing.

"Very well indeed milady. You have indeed got quite a head for numbers I must say," Mrs Hughes replied as Sybil smiled to herself. The sums she did were mostly adding single numbers together, exercises that Mrs Hughes imposed upon her to keep her occupied. But for Sybil, it was a great achievement.

"And I loved the story of the Scottish princess! I wish I could climb trees like her. Have you climbed trees Mrs Hughes?" Sybil asked.

"Well I did in my time. Quite a bit of a wild haired lass I was. Ended up with bruises all across my legs and of course a good scolding from Ma," Mrs Hughes replied cheerfully and Sybil laughed trying to picture Mrs Hughes as a girl on a tree with bruises on her legs. However much she tried, Sybil couldn't unimagine the chatelaine that hung from Mrs Hughes' waist, which to her seemed very much part of Mrs Hughes as her dark hair and blue eyes.

"Do you think Mama would be proud of me?" Sybil asked again, her voice almost a whisper this time.

"She will be very proud Milady, to have a daughter so clever and kind," Mrs Hughes replied placing a soft kiss on to the dark hair of the little girl, almost the same shade as her own.

"She always seem to like Mary better than me. I don't think she likes me," Sybil voiced her sorrow. A sob formed at the base of Cora's throat that she suppressed with much effort.

"Oh my dear every mother loves her children more than words can ever say. Lady Mary is older so Her Ladyship might be helping her out a bit more to help her grow up but trust me she loves all three of you very much. I've never seen her happier than the day you were born milady. Now have you ever caught me lying have you?" Mrs Hughes winked and Sybil smiled, perfectly happy again.

Outside the door, tears were streaming freely down Cora's eyes. She felt a bit guilty for paying more attention to Mary over the past few years, helping her to grow into a real Lady. No wonder Sybil felt left out during a time when she needed affection. She also felt guilty about Mrs Hughes words. She was so happy at the birth of her third daughter who seemed to have a perfect blend of Robert's and her characteristics but she did feel quite disappointed that it was a girl again. No boy for the family. No heir to the title. And possibly no future Earl of Grantham who was a child of Robert's and hers (not that she did care about the damned title but Violet didn't make it any easier for her). A memory she was ashamed of flashed before her eyes.

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Not even a day had passed before Sybil had been born and Violet had sharply lashed out comments about Cora still not producing an heir. Her feelings had been deeply hurt and the initial love for the new born girl had vanished like a vapour in the wind replaced with an indescribable sorrow and a hint of regret. A moment after Robert had escorted Violet out of the room after the somewhat heated exchange of words, Cora was sitting in bed, tears in her eyes when the head housemaid entered through the open door with bowl full of water.

The dark haired, blue eyed Scottish woman with her kind smile gently placed the bowl of water on the little table by Cora's bed. Cora watched the careful movements of the housemaid when their gazes met. The same kind smile was projected at Cora which warmed her heart. Housemaids were often timid or too engrossed in their duties and ladies maids only seemed to faithful, they always had a hidden motive.

"All what matters is that you love the child Milady. I know you do," were her only words in the melodic Scottish lilt, to Cora, who could only manage a smile. She had only known the head housemaid to be a composed woman, whom she could never read. But her words that day gave her strength against all what the Crawley clan had to say to her. All what mattered was that she loved her girl.

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The same Scottish Head Housemaid was now Housekeeper. Her words seven years ago were almost forgotten till they rose to the surface of Cora's conscience with a flood of guilt. The same woman who reminded her that she loved her girl despite all was now comforting the same girl she once wished was a boy and unknowingly reminding Cora again that she loved her daughter, a love she had forgotten to show, a love she ought to show.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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The last chapter was quite short. I'm never into cliff hangers but I sort of had to make the last one a cliff hanger! Sorry about that and thank you all for waiting so patiently for this instalment. Thank you so much again for all your reviews, they keep me motivated and ofcourse makes me so happy. I haven't decided on an exact amount of chapters yet but this story might go on for a few more. I'd love to read your thoughts on this in the reviews.