continued:

Chapter Six

Mid-Late August 1939

"Aunt Edith telephoned this morning. She had no idea Marigold was going to come back to Italy. They had no clue. She and Violet are coming as soon as they can, but..." Sybbie was surprised to see her Aunt Mary sitting at the table holding little Jack on her knee and the baby was giggling away. "Aunt Mary, hello."

Sybbie took her cloak off and hung it on the hook by the door and made her way to greet the unexpected visitor to her father and step-mother's home.

"Hello my dear. How are you?" Mary asked her niece though under the circumstances she felt she may know the answer already. Everyone was worried about Marigold and where she might have run off to.

"I'm very upset with my cousin. Doesn't she know we would figure out pretty quickly what she is up to?" Sybbie picked up her brother from her Aunt's lap as he was struggling to reach to her and smiling away at the woman who was his sister and who he adored.

"But we haven't figured out what she is up to now have we?" Lily spoke as Sybbie leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek. Jack had already wound his hands through his sister's hair and Sybbie was trying to untangle him and sit down at the same time. She was struggling and her step-mother smiled at Mary as she stood up to help her.

Lily put Jack on the floor but the little boy reached up to his sister and stood himself up holding her leg. Sybbie laughed.

"When did he start doing that?" She tweaked the little boy's chin and he giggled, his little dimple lighting up his face.

"A few days ago. Crawled right up to his father's leg and stood himself up. You should have seen him. He was so proud." Lily smiled at the memory.

"Tom or Jack?" Mary asked with a half-grin.

Lily winked at her. They all knew how inseparable father and son were. It was rare to find Jack at home and not being toted about by his father. But Tom had so much to do that day that he had left Jack at home with his mother.

They all watched the baby as he crawled himself around the kitchen where they were sat and smiled. With all the madness going on in the world around them, it was nice to take a few moments and just enjoy the simple things.

"So what do we do about Marigold?" Sybbie asked to both of the other woman in the kitchen.

"We let Tom and Papa do their best to find her. They have hired people to go look for her, but her trail runs out in London. We have no idea where she went after that. She covered her tracks very well. It seems she doesn't want to be found. But I'm confident that she will come back."

Mary was as confused about her niece's disappearance as anyone else. The silly girl. Had she no idea of the turmoil of the world right now? There had been talk for months of another war. Travel was not recommended but if Mary suspected how sheltered she had been as a youth, perhaps Marigold had been sheltered from the news as well. She wondered to herself how aware George was. Likely more than she suspected. He was a very clever young man, when he wasn't off being silly with his friend James. The thought of the young Irishman made her thoughts turn elsewhere. She looked at Sybbie who had relented and picked her brother up and was making faces at him. The baby loved it.

"So are you planning on one of those yourself soon after you're married?" Mary smiled as Sybbie shot her a look.

"Not for a great long while yet. We're thinking of setting the date soon. Likely for next summer. When I'm finished school and we have a place to live." Sybbie had a look come over her face that both of the other women recognized. The dreamy look of being in love and having the whole world at your doorstep.

"And have you thought about where you are going to live?" Mary asked.

"Well, James would like to continue on at Downton in his current position if they'll have him. He absolutely loves working with my dad, and I wouldn't want to be to far from my family." Sybbie looked at Lily and smiled. Her step-mother smiled back at the news. Tom would definitely love having Sybbie nearby. They both would. Everyone would. "So we may look for a small farm or cottage nearby."

"You know your grandfather will give you the pick of the crop when it comes to that." Mary smiled at her niece. She and James had obviously spoken about it. They seemed to have a plan for their future. It was good to hear. Mary liked James and thought he and Sybbie were a very good match.

"I know. But we want to pay for it ourselves. He wants to. And I respect him for that. He thinks that if we bought a small farm, a few of his brothers and sisters could help us run it and we could make a profit. Between his salary and me wanting to work at the hospital when I'm finished school, we should be fine. We can do it."

Mary's respect level for James increased exponentially. She had no idea the young man had so much drive. And he was proud too, wanting to do everything himself, though he had to know that his future wife was from a family with a vast fortune. Good for him she thought. He was much like Tom was when he had first come to Downton. No wonder Tom and James got on so well together.

"Has he resolved the issue with his family yet?" Mary asked, though she wasn't sure of how much that might be a touchy subject with the young woman. Her faced betrayed her feelings, but she was not angry, she looked hurt.

"No. He hasn't spoken to his mother since last Christmas when he told her was going to stay here and be with me. I know it tears him up inside, but it's a bridge we will cross when we get there. It will be before the wedding. I want to make amends with his family before that. I would like them all to be there when the day arrives." Sybbie smiled back down at her brother who was holding onto her knee again. The distraction was welcome and Mary took the hint. Sybbie didn't really want to talk about it yet.

She was afraid that James' family would never forgive her for causing the death of his brother but they were not yet made aware of the entire story. All in good time.

"I hope we will have children someday. In the meantime, perhaps we just have to hope you have another one soon." Sybbie grinned at Lily and the woman just smiled back. "I would still love a little sister..."

"Perhaps." Was all Lily said. Both of the other women noticed the strange little grin on her face and tried to read further into it, but she said no more.

They all heard the car pull up outside and two doors open and close. Lily got up to look out the window to see who it was, Tom wasn't expected back for hours and was surprised to see James and George approaching the house. She smiled and went to meet them at the door.

Both young men came in and George immediately went to his mother to greet her with a smile and a kiss upon the cheek. James went to Sybbie and greeted her the same. They both said hello to Lily and she went to the cupboard to get them each a mug for some tea.

"I didn't know you were here." George said as he sat next to his mother. "Are you staying the night?"

"I am. I'm here to meet with Mama and Anna about planning a birthday party for a young man who is reaching a very important age." Mary smiled at her son and he grinned and looked down. The same look his father used to give when approached with something he initially had no interest in.

"Are you sure we should be celebrating with Marigold having run away like she has?" George was desperate for any excuse not to be the centre of attention at a party where half the eligible girls in the county would be vying for his attention.

"Well, we should assume she is safe and wants to be where she is and should make an attempt at normal life while she is away." Mary was unsure of how to phrase it, but she knew they couldn't put things on hold.

Jack distracted them all when he started giggling uncontrollably at James who was tickling his feet as he sat on Sybbie's knee.

They all smiled. The little boy who had no awareness of the world other than the people who paid him attention was perfectly content with his lot. It was an enviable situation to the others.

"Sybbie, we should get going if you're going to catch the train..." James spoke to break the silence of the room.

"Oh! Are you going back to London today?" Lily asked picking up her son from his sister's lap.

"Yes. I have to write an exam and could use the quiet time to study. Not that I don't love being here, but there are too many distractions." She smiled warmly at James and he grinned at her. "But I got to spend a wonderful birthday with the ones I love, so I consider it a good trip."

"Good luck with your exam. Study well." Mary stood up to say a proper good bye to her niece. She would see her again in a few weeks time when they would all gather again for George's birthday. She also mentioned to her son quietly that she would need to speak with him later, in private. George was intrigued by her request but agreed to meet her before dinner at the big house.

Lily and Mary stood in the doorway to wave good bye as the three others drove off in Sybbie's car. Mary watched Lily's proud look after Sybbie and smiled to herself. The girl had come a long way since the accident and even in her attitude towards life. As much as the girl resembled her mother in appearance, she resembled her father in attitude. And that was not a bad thing. She and James were perfectly willing to strike out on their own, in a sense and make a life for themselves. The selfish, spoiled tendencies Sybbie had in her youth had been replaced by a very remarkable young woman who had already chosen the man who would take the trip of life with her. If only they could tell his family the truth so they could be married. Mary knew very personally what a secret could do to a relationship but she also had complete faith in her niece to do the right thing. She was such a wonderful blend of both of her parents and Mary was so proud. So was Lily.

Jack was getting fussy and Lily told her guest that she would just need a few minutes to put him down for a nap. Mary told her to take her time. She was in no rush. As Lily was gone to put the baby in his room, Mary walked slowly around the kitchen of the beautiful cottage that Tom had put together for his wife and poked here and there. It was immaculate and Mary wondered how her friend found the energy to keep on top of it. Tom had offered to hire a housekeeper at one point, but Lily said she was quite happy to keep her own house, thank you very much.

Such a different world than she had grown up in and she wondered to herself how much Sybil's influence had led them all to where they were standing right then. A great deal when it all came down to it.

Lily came back into the kitchen and startled Mary as she was admiring a flower arrangement on the counter. Mary laughed and put her hand on Lily's arm.

"You and Tom seem very happy. You both deserve it."

Lily smiled and gestured for Mary to sit.

"Thank you. We are very happy. And Jack just brings us both so much joy." Both women were silent for a time. A comfortable silence amongst friends as they were both lost in their thoughts. Mary finally spoke first.

"So I was saying earlier, I'm sorry, I didn't want Sybbie to know until we knew for sure, but they think Marigold tried to take a train to Switzerland."

"Why in God's name would she be going to Switzerland?" Lily asked, genuinely confused.

"She was born there. I'm not sure but perhaps that has something to do with it. In hind sight, she asked a lot of questions of me about the circumstances of her birth. I told her about all that I knew, including her real father." Mary reached for her empty cup and Lily stood to refresh it when she noticed that it was empty.

"You knew her real father?"

"Yes. But not well enough to really form an opinion of him. Matthew knew him better than I." The mention of her late husband, still after all the years gave her a sad look on her face. "He was killed in Germany, or so we were led to believe."

"Do you think Marigold could be going there to learn more about him?" Lily asked as she sat down again.

Mary was silent as she thought about it.

"I hadn't thought about it, but I don't know enough for sure about her anymore. She surprised us all with her actions."

"She certainly did with that. And here I thought she and I were getting so close." Lily looked a bit sad.

They were both disturbed by the door opening behind them, catching the wind and slamming against the back wall.

Tom came in and almost fell trying to catch the door. He smiled at both the ladies before him and was met with the scrunched shoulders of Lily while she appeared to be bracing for something. The baby's wail followed mere seconds later.

"Tom, I just got him to sleep..." Tom came in and kissed her quickly on the lips. He didn't even take his coat off, but greeted Mary politely and went off in the direction of his son's room.

"I'll get him. I'm sorry." He winked over his shoulder at her and she shook her head.

"Those two will be as thick as thieves someday," Lily looked lovingly in the direction her husband had gone.

Mary laughed. She agreed.

"I wonder if they found anything about Marigold?" Lily asked her friend.

"I do hope so. The world isn't safe right now and she's very young to be gallivanting about in it by herself. We need to find her and bring her home." Mary spoke with a very serious face. Lily understood.

Both women feared what the next year would bring in the world, and no parent would want their child out in it.

to be continued...

war will break out in weeks... Things will get interesting... nothing will be the same. Some things will never change...

thank you for reading. xo