continued:

Thanks TammyTeresa for the little kick of inspiration I needed. Thank you.

Mid-Late March 1939

James and Sybbie stood together in the garage. She had her head resting against his shoulder and his arms were wrapped tightly around her. They swayed together slowly to the music that played from the player that George manned from the side.

It had been a delightful week the three of them had spent together, doing nothing other really than enjoying each others company. Two of them more-so than the others, but not by much.

Sybbie smiled into his shoulder when she felt his hand creep down a little further on her back. George cleared his throat from where he was sitting and the two of them looked in his direction to see his raised eyebrow and his questioning grin.

"That's a little too close there James..." George started to laugh when the two of them stepped away from each other.

"You're impossible." Sybbie stuck her tongue out at her cousin and he changed the record. She kept hold of James' hand but they wandered over to a car parked near them and sat on the hood. Enough dancing for now. Sybbie felt it getting rather warm in the room and she shouldn't appear to dinner with a glistening brow and flushed cheeks. It was becoming difficult at times to be in a group with her fiance, but she knew they must wait.

Since he had formally proposed before she had gone off to school, they had discussed when they should like to be married many times. Sybbie wanted to finish her schooling and James hoped he could reconcile with his family before they wed. They both agreed that they would wait a year and see what time would bring. There was no rush. In the meantime, they simply enjoyed getting to know each other better. And George was always with them.

He had diffused a few tense discussions and egged the two of them on more than a few times. Ever the middleman. And he loved his task. He drove his cousin and James crazy sometimes, but they wouldn't change anything in the world. Sybbie was just enjoying her time away from school and being with her family. She smiled at the memories the week had already formed for her.

George stood up suddenly as some fast tempo music started to play from the old player. He danced his way over to Sybbie and tried to get her to dance with him but she playfully declined. George made them laugh as he continued to move around the garage pretending to have an invisible partner. Marigold came into the garage just as George passed by the door and he grabbed her before she could protest and started to swing her around. The folder she had been carrying fell to the ground and she laughed as hard as anyone at her cousin's antics. Sybbie nearly fell off the car she was laughing so hard and James wiped tears from his eyes.

The song wasn't quite over when the door opened again and a petite blonde girl poked her head inside. George smiled and went to her and grabbed her to dance before she could say anything. He spun the young girl around and her cheeks glared bright red but she danced along with the young, tall, blonde man. The song eventually came to an end and George stood trying to catch his breath, smiling his incredibly charming smile at the oldest Bates daughter.

"I just came to let you all know that the gong has gone off and dinner will be served in about an hour. And Miss Sybbie, your father will be at dinner." It was all she could manage to say as she felt the gaze of Master Crawley would surely burst her heart.

Lena's blush gave her away to all but the young man standing before her. She stared at her toes for a moment or two and then fled from the room as fast as she could, her message from her father delivered.

James looked to Sybbie and winked while she smiled back at him as she glanced over to George who was oblivious to the young girl and was bent over to help Marigold pick up the papers she had dropped. Sybbie just sighed. Her cousin would melt the hearts of many women in his lifetime, and likely he wouldn't notice but a few of them.

George was knelt down gathering up all of Marigold's papers. Many of the loose pages were drawings, of horses and other animals but there was one of Tom and Lily on their wedding day that caught his eye.

"Marigold, this is amazing. You should give it to them. Lily would love it." He held up the drawing to the light and was impressed at the detail and the likeness of his Uncle and Aunt. They looked so happy in the drawing.

Marigold pulled it back from him and tucked it into the folder she held. "It's just a sketch. Not good enough to be seen by anyone."

George stared after her for a second and then reached down to pick up a thin workbook that lay on the floor. He held it up to read the title. It was a German language book and he recognized some writing on the cover as belonging to Marigold.

"What's this?" He asked her.

"Oh, the tutor was just helping me learn some languages. I already speak Italian, French and English. I thought another few couldn't hurt." She had a strange look on her face when she spoke and George noticed it. He thought it strange that she was so secretive about it, but he was hungry and wanted to go in to dinner. He would question her some other time.

He stood up to see James saying good bye to Sybbie. In a very affectionate way. He smirked but looked away to give them both a moment.

"You won't stay for dinner James?" George spoke over his shoulder, trying to break apart the two.

James had to stop his activity to answer his friend.

"No. Thank you though. I should get back to the village. I have to look over some numbers for Mr. Branson. I should have them for tomorrow and I didn't even have a chance to look them over today." He smiled back at Sybbie. She was the reason for his distraction and he was happy for it. Thrilled actually. It had been a great week having his girl home again.

"Well, you better get going before you are sacked and I have to bring my family shame by marrying an unemployed Irishman." Sybbie smiled at him and kissed him softly on the lips again. Then she pushed him gently towards her car, "Pick me up tomorrow morning and we'll go for a drive. If that's okay with George that is." She turned towards her cousin and smiled broadly at him.

"Just let me know when and where to be, I would love to go for a drive with you both." George seemed very excited by the outing.

They all laughed. George opened the garage door so James could drive out and the young Irishman waved good bye to his friends so they could go and prepare for dinner. The three cousins went into the house and went their separate ways up to their rooms and all were in delightful moods.

As they met again in the drawing room, the family was gathering in preparation for dinner. Tom stood by the fireplace and held Jack in his arms, showing him the flowers that sat upon the mantle. Jack was giggling and Tom smiled. Lily and Cora sat on one of the sofas chatting happily and Robert stood mixing a drink. He turned to greet his three oldest Grandchildren as they entered and the family spoke happily to be in each others company. Sybbie took her brother from her father and sat cooing at him until they were told to enter the dining room.

Barrow grimaced when they brought the baby into the dining room with them. He was old fashioned and thought the baby should be put to bed, but no one else questioned it so he went along with it, as though he would have any say in any matter that the family chose to do. As Sybbie passed him, a letter fell from her pocket. He bent down to pick it up and noticed it was a letter that had been delivered to the house while Sybbie was away at school. He had given it to her a few days previously but she had made no mention of what might have been in it, and the two of them had spoken at length many times about a great many number of things. Barrow adored the girl and was reminded of her mother's personality constantly through her. He cherished their times together and guided her in many topics that she queried him about.

The Butler decided he would give it back to her after they had eaten. No point in interrupting her as she sat down to dinner. She had her arms full with her brother anyway. He tucked the letter in his pocket and continued his duty of supervising the dinner service so that it went off without a hitch. And it did.

After dinner, with the family gathered back again, Barrow stole a quick moment to give Sybbie the letter in his pocket. She took it gratefully and changed the subject quickly when he enquired what it might contain. George was watching the two of them from across the room and was wondering what was going on. He approached his cousin just as Barrow walked off and sat down beside her.

"What was that letter that Barrow just gave you? You look as though it might have upset you..." George stared at his cousin and watched a tear come to her eye.

"I need your help George, but you can't tell James..."

"Can't tell James what?" Neither of them had noticed Sybbie's father walk up behind them with his sleeping son in his arms.

Tears fell down Sybbie's cheek, whatever was in the letter was clearly troubling her

"Tell us Sybbie..." George leaned towards his cousin, Tom leaned closer as well.

Thank you for reading. xx

To be continued... (sooner than later) ;)