A/N: This is the longest chapter I've ever written but there was so much I wanted to cover yet in the end I did leave out some things such as more background on Aiobhinn. If you think reviews don't matter this chapter is evidence that they can make a difference. The ending line in the last chapter of Mary talking about visiting Ireland was just a throw away line for I never intended to cover this year or topic but so many reviewers of the last chapter said they wanted to read about Mary visiting Tom in Ireland. This is also the hardest chapter I've written and I can't tell you how much time I spent writing and rewriting and just plain staring at the computer especially since I thought many of you wanted and expected quite a bit of humor but I had a hard time summoning the humor fairy.

May 1933

"It's time we get going" Mary said as she put her linen napkin down on the dining table. "Go get your books and meet me outside by the motor car." At this both George and Caroline stood up with Caroline then racing out of the dining room her older brother following at a much more leisurely pace.

When the children were no longer within hearing distance Mary turned towards her father. "I know you mean well Papa but I'm not sure it's best for George. His school might not be on par with Eton but it is well regarded and he's doing well there."

"But the Crawley men have always gone to Eton" Robert, still not convinced, retorted.

"I think we're beyond doing things just for tradition's sake Papa. Anyway" she stood up "we still have a bit of time to decide and I must get going."

"Is it just taking the children to school or is there something else, or someone else, you don't want to be late for?" Robert inquired.

It took Mary a moment or two to realize what her father was referring to. "I've told you Tom is not coming here today."

"So you've said but your mother isn't quite sure you're being completely honest about this. After all you've-"

Taking a deep breath before interrupting her father Mary snapped "Maybe if Mama had been honest with Tom he … he…" she floundered. She was tired of having this conversation with her parents. She emitted another deep breath as she glanced out the window and saw Caroline hopping on one foot across the gravel drive. "I better get going before Caroline falls and messes up her uniform."

"I meant what I said at breakfast" Mary briefly glanced across the motor car to George before turning her sight back to the road before her. He shuffled uncomfortably, his face turned away from her and towards the passenger window. "It's your decision George."

"But he says as the future Earl I should be educated at Eton."

There was a time when Mary would have agreed but thinking of her father she had realized that having an Eton education did not necessarily make one capable of running an estate like Downton. Of course Eton would give one the right connections but George would have time for that at university.

"I just don't want you to feel pressure from your grandfather to do something you don't really want to do."

"Did my father go to Eton?" George looked at his mother.

"No he didn't."

"And you think he would have made a good Earl?"

Mary looked at her son, his blond hair had darkened with age but his bright blue eyes still looked so much like Matthew's, and smiled. "He would have made a wonderful Earl. Much of Downton's current success is because of the ideas Matthew had. I've just implemented his vision for Downton."

George smiled broadly before turning once more to face the window.

Mary watched her son with his loping gait so common among boys his age greeting several other boys as they all headed into the school building. Although her father thought George should have gone to boarding school years ago Mary just couldn't bring herself to send her six year old son away from home. It was an unexpected maternal act that surprised not only her Papa and Granny but Mary herself. Now he'd turn twelve by the start of the next school term and she still hated the thought of sending him away. If he went to Eton she'd never spend mornings liked this with him. Not that she drove him to school every day but she had come to enjoy this time alone with her children for it was during these rides to and from school that they talked, sometimes of silly things, sometimes of meaningful things, and she had come to realize she knew them much better than her father had known her at this age.

"Mama" Her daughter's voice brought Mary back to the present. "I'll be late for school!" the six year old practically shouted. Looking at her daughter through the rear view mirror Mary thought that the girl might look like her but in personality she reminded Mary so much of Sybil.

Mary's footsteps echoed on the stone walkway of the churchyard. The bright sun of the early morning had faded leaving a patchwork of clouds and a cool breeze. As she always did Mary went first to Granny's grand ornate gravestone that made Matthew's seemed small.

She filled the graveside urn with white peonies and roses and, Mary couldn't help but smile as she picked them out of her flower bucket, violets. Standing up she reached and touched the engraved words of her grandmother's name. "I still miss you Granny" Mary said quietly. She stood there a few more minutes silently thinking about her grandmother before moving on to Matthew's grave.

She filled the urn at Sybil's graveside with the rest of her flowers, their bright colors vivid against the cold stone tomb. Finishing her task she stood and running her hand across the flat top of the tomb said "It's only me today Sybil."

While the volume of motor cars in Dublin had certainly increased here in Tom's old neighborhood few, if any, could afford a motor car. As he eased his 1926 dark metallic green Hillman to a stop in front of his boyhood church he noted that his was one of only three motor cars parked within two blocks of the old stone church. The large and roomy motor car which suited his growing family was a source of pride for Tom who had taken two years to refurbish the vehicle into the shiny well running motor it now was.

The old wooden door of the church creaked but opened easily as Tom and Sybbie entered the church. Inside the church was dimly lit from the late afternoon sun that filtered through the stained glass windows, their colors dull and muted by the years. It was quiet and Sybbie uncharacteristically softly stepped along the worn red carpet towards the altar. They placed their bouquet of flowers at the foot of the wooden table at the altar. In years past Tom had always brought bouquets just of white and purple flowers, the colors Sybil had carried that day, but this year, remarking that Granny Cora said Mummy loved colorful flowers, Sybbie had added some flowers in hues of pinks and yellows and blues resulting in a bright colorful bouquet.

Wordlessly father and daughter each picked up a small white candle and Sybbie watched as her father lit his candle by touching the wick of a candle already burning then placing it beside other lit candles in the iron rack. Then in a ritual he had done for far too many years Tom kneeled in prayer. Opening his eyes Tom was surprised to see Sybbie still standing, her candle unlit.

"Daddy" her voice almost a whisper she leaned towards him "could I have a few minutes alone." It was a most unusual request that raised his curiosity but looking at his daughter's solemn face he uttered "Of course love."

From his seat on a pew in the back of the church Tom watched as Sybbie lit her candle and placed it in the iron rack. Then like her father had done she knelt. As the moments ticked by and Sybbie remained kneeling Tom's curiosity only grew. He thought he heard the old wooden door creak and then felt a swirl of cool air but no sounds of footsteps followed. His face turned towards the aisle and then towards the altar where their colorful bouquet caught his attention and for just a moment he was transported once again back to that wonderful day Sybil had become his wife. He knew until the day he died he'd always see in his mind Sybil as she had looked that day, her beautiful face radiant with happiness.

"Daddy I'm ready to go." He had been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed Sybbie, still looking quite solemn, was now standing beside his pew.

Completing their usual routine on this day Tom and Sybbie went to tea but Tom's expectations of his daughter opening up to discuss what had consumed her thoughts at the church were unfulfilled. They had driven in silence but once at the tea shop Sybbie had returned to her usual exuberance as she oohed and aahed over the selection of sandwiches and sweets.

They talked of Sybil with Sybbie asking her father about those years he had been a young chauffeur at Downton trying to woo the heart of the beautiful daughter of the house while Sybbie surprised Tom with her telling some of the stories of a young Sybil his mother-in-law had shared with Sybbie.

"Did you know Daddy that mummy loved these" Sybbie said as she took an open faced shrimp sandwich off the tiered tray. "Granny Cora told me that once mummy tried to…"

July 1933

Closing her eyes, Mary leaned back in the cast iron bathtub, her head resting on a small pillow, luxuriating in the warm rose scented soapy water. It felt good to rid herself of what she perceived as the grime of the ferry boat. Even better was to be rid of that rocking motion, not that the Irish Sea had been that rough but there was always that constant feeling of movement. George and Caroline had of course loved it but she had decided she much preferred dry land.

Although she had slept rather well considering the circumstances of the tiny cabin which was certainly nothing like the luxurious accommodations she remembered from those long ago times her family had traveled across the Atlantic she thought it would feel so good to wrap herself in the fluffy white robe the hotel had carefully laid out and take a quick nap in the inviting four poster bed. Stifling a yawn, she shook her head, it would soon be time to meet Tom.

There was a fine view of the sea (Dublin Bay Tom would later tell her) from her room and she paused for a moment to take in the sight. While this hotel was not quite in the same league as Brown's or the Savoy or even the Shelbourne where she had stayed on her last visit to Ireland she had to admit it had a magnificent view. Her hand absentmindedly playing with the curtain pull, Mary wasn't surprised of her sudden thought of the Shelbourne for she supposed she couldn't help but think of that so long ago visit. She had been so worried about what Sybil had gotten herself into but the Sybil that had glided across the marble floor of the Shelbourne's lobby to greet her sisters, wearing an obviously off the rack dress, her face glowing with happiness, had made Mary realize that her beloved younger sister had fully embraced her new life. She knew in that moment that there would be no convincing her sister to return with them to Downton.

Mary's attention was captured by a sail boat, its tall white sail a contrast to the cloudless blue sky and the dark green sea. She watched as it maneuvered passed a few other boats but her thoughts came back to that so long ago trip. I'm not the same person I was back then. I wish … oh how I wish … "Oh darling Sybil" Mary quietly murmured.

The Tom that met Mary in the elegantly tiled and colonnade entranceway of the Royal Marine Hotel seemed different although at first she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

She had descended the thick red carpeted main staircase when she spotted him standing at the far end of the tiled entranceway appearing to be admiring a painted seascape handing on the wall. It must have been her footsteps for her turned his head just as she reached the tiled steps, his face lighting up with a beaming smile the moment he noticed her.

"Mary" he effusively greeted her with a wide smile and outstretched arms before kissing her cheek. "You look nice and summery Mary" he said as he stepped back.

"You did write that silks and satins, beads and baubles wouldn't be a good idea for the seaside" she replied as she ran her hand down the side of her flowery cotton print dress with its ruffled short sleeves and flounced hemline that skirted a few inches below her knees.

He chuckled "and you actually listened to me?"

It was then she realized what was different about him. There was no wariness in this Tom, no sadness in his eyes. This Tom was happy.

Mary raised her brow in that way she had upon seeing the motor car that Tom led them to. "Rather fancy motor Branson."

Smiling broadly his hand tapped the roof. "I didn't buy it new and it took me two years to rebuild it but it's the first motor I've actually owned."

"We don't have to worry about getting hit by an errant ball here and it should be a little quieter" Aoibhinn said as Mary followed the tall willowy blonde down a narrow stone path around the side of the house to a small garden away from the back lawn where Tom and the children were, judging from the noise, engaging in a rather vigorous game of some sort involving a large ball, running, and lots of excited voices and laughter. "Unless of course this one" Aoibhinn looked down at six month old Valerie who was docilely playing with a button on her mother's dress and kissed the top of her head "decides to make her presence known."

Mary thought the woman who had warmly greeted her looked much like the photograph Tom had shown her but the photograph didn't capture Aoibhinn's glowing skin or lively eyes or engaging smile. For some reason that Mary couldn't fathom she thought Aoibhinn would be rather meek and mild, certainly Sybil hadn't been either, but Aoibhinn was a former nanny and Mary had a set impression of nannies. But as Mary had watched Aoibhinn preside over a lively dinner she had remembered that Aoibhinn was the young girl, barely seventeen Tom had told her, that had moved to England and then seeking more adventure had found a job in the Far East and later Ceylon. Independent and self-assured would be better descriptors of Aoibhinn Mary thought but there was also … how would she describe it … something so comforting, so serene about her.

"Please take a seat." Aoibhinn's soothing voice interrupted Mary's thoughts and she finally took note of her surroundings. The Branson house sat at the top of a small hill above the village and from this spot there was a sweeping view of the Irish Sea.

"I think Tom was more interested in the land and outbuildings that came with the house but it was this view that sold me on moving here" Aoibhinn said as she sat down in one of the two large wicker chairs.

Taking a seat in the other cushioned wicker chair Mary exclaimed "I can see why … what a lovely view." The sea shimmered in the golden light of a sun that hadn't quite disappeared over the hills behind them. Boats bobbled up and down their white sails flapping in the wind. A long pier jutting out into the water was capped by a lighthouse.

"I know going to the seaside is all the rage now what with Brighton and such but I haven't been to the seaside since I was a little girl when we'd visit my grandmother in New York. We always went to this beach that was at the edge of the city and there was a long boardwalk with arcades and rides. I remember there was this huge thing called something like rolling coaster that was too scary for me and my sister Edith but my sister Syb-" Mary suddenly and awkwardly paused.

Aoibhinn reached over and touched Mary's arm. "It's okay you can mention her name."

Mary looked down at her lap. "It's just that this is the first time I've been to Ireland since … since Sybil and Tom's wedding … and so … I guess she's been in my mind." Mary looked over at Aoibhinn and faintly smiled.

Aoibhinn nodded her head as she looked towards the sea. "I first saw Tom when he came into the shop to buy the morning newspapers. He seemed so earnest and I just knew right away that there was a great sadness in his life. When we finally began talking beyond 'good morning' and 'it'll be a stormy one out there today' it was all politics" she turned towards Mary and smiled "although we had similar beliefs we'd still argue a bit over the government. Then it just kinda sneaked up on me that we'd progressed to topics beyond politics and the weather. Eventually he talked about Sybil."

"Does it bother you that he comes to Downton to-" Mary gasped as her hand covered her mouth. Shaking her head she mumbled "I shouldn't-"

"It's quite alright Mary. Tom and I both had lives before we met and Sybil and by extension her family was a great part of his. I think you might have a better inkling of what he went through with her death than I do."

"I never thought there could be any hurt greater than losing Sybil and then when Matthew died I …" Mary looked away and it took her a moment before she could talk again. "Tom helped me … the letter he wrote … he understood." Mary looked at Aoibhinn "we've helped each other through a horrible thing and I'll always be grateful to him for that."

Little Valerie suddenly took an interest in Mary. Sitting on Aoibhinn's lap the baby grinned and reached out her chubby arms towards Mary. In response Mary reached out and touched Valerie's tiny hands causing her to giggle as she turned her head to look up at her mother.

"I must say after Rian and Connell I wasn't expected this one to be named Valerie."

Aoibhinn laughed. "Not very Irish I know but I once worked alongside a girl named Valerie and I thought it was the prettiest name I had ever heard. It took a bit of convincing Tom but the middle name is Aoife so she does have one Irish name." Valerie erupted in another burst of giggles and both Aoibhinn and Mary joined her.

Mary leaned back against the comfy cushion. "I think if I had this view I'd spend most of my day in this chair."

"Tom says I spend more time out here than in the house" Aoibhinn chuckled. "Some afternoons I put a blanket out on the ground and let the boys take their afternoon naps out here. I tell them they're camping." She looked over at Mary "camping is something that Tom is thinking he and George can do."

"He wants George to sleep out here?"

Aoibhinn laughed. "No no … up in the Wicklow Mountains. He's thought about taking George and his nephew Billy who's George's age there for an overnight."

"Oh!" Mary uttered. "Tom really doesn't have to entertain us every hour. I'm sure there are plenty of things I can find for us to do."

"Well you'll have to argue that with Tom. He's got so many things planned you'll probably want to escape to your hotel just for a rest."

The following days were filled with sunshine and laughter and, as Aoibhinn had said plenty of activities. Unlike Mary and Aoibhinn, the children, and usually Tom, didn't spent their time lazily lounging on the sand. No they were busy racing in and out of the water making footprints and handprints in the wet sand then watching in delight as the water erased all traces of their presence or dodging waves breaking on shore or building sand castles. There were mornings spent walking along the shore hunting for seashells and afternoons of flying kites. There were picnics on the beach and in the back lawn at the Branson house. There were walks on the piers while devouring fresh fish and chips or, much to Caroline's delight, ice cream cones. The days were filled with laughter and a few cries over a ruined sand castle or an unexpected dunking and all would agree they were having a marvelous time.

"You've found Aoibhinn's hideaway" Mrs. Branson said as she approached Mary sitting in one of those cushioned wicker chairs.

"It's so lovely here" Mary replied. "I have a place I sit at home under this huge Lebanon cedar and I always thought the view of the rolling hills and valleys from there was wonderful but this" Mary swept her arm in front of her "I think this is even better."

"I can't believe how much I resisted coming here when Tom came back to Ireland. Or course our house in the village doesn't have this view." Mrs. Branson sat down in the chair next to Mary.

Mary was rather surprised that Mrs. Branson seemed to have sought her out since the older woman had been polite but rather standoffish to her. Mary took a sip of the lemonade that Mrs. Branson had brought to her.

"We're having such a lovely time here I almost hate the thought of going home."

"Not like the last time you were here" Mrs. Branson replied. Although there was no malice in her tone Mary was rather surprised at Mrs. Branson's remark.

"Well" Mary inhaled deeply "that was a long time ago. I'd like to think I've changed a bit since then."

"Aye. I somehow doubt the Mary of then would sit on the pier, her legs dangling over the water, eating fish and chips out of a newspaper wrapping."

Mary laughed. "You're certainly right about that."

Mary glanced at the woman sitting beside her. She didn't seem to have aged much since Mary had first seen her but she didn't seem so stern as Mary recalled her being then.

"We all loved Sybil. I still curse the day my son got involved in that foolishness that caused him and Sybil to flee Ireland."

Mary closed her eyes, silently waiting for Mrs. Branson to blame her family for Sybil's death.

"I wasn't sure Tom would ever recover from losing her. Even years later when he came back to Ireland he still had this sadness about him." Mrs. Branson sighed. "But then he found Aoibhinn and she's brought him such joy."

"I know" Mary responded. "When I saw Tom waiting for me in the lobby of the hotel that first afternoon I thought there's something different about him. It took me a few minutes but then I realized that it was how genuinely happy he looked."

"You call on the telephone and they bring dinner to us?" Sounding incredulous a pajama clad Sybbie stared wide-eyed at Mary. As Mary nodded her head she couldn't help but chuckle how something so simple as room service seemed to amaze her young niece. Sybbie's wide-eyed look of disbelief transformed into one of delight as she laughed and clapped her hands. "Wait till I tell mum and Daddy about this! And Grandma won't believe it!"

Mary laughed once again thinking of all the stories Sybbie had to tell which had began from the Sybbie stepped into the tiled lobby of the Royal Marine Hotel.

"I've never been in a hotel before Aunt Mary" Sybbie had solemnly said with her head tilted back looking up at the archways and the grand chandeliers when Mary had met her and Tom in the lobby.

"We ride up to your room?" Sybbie looked dubious as they waited for the lift. When the lift door had opened she stood still looking even more dubious at that box as she had called it. "Will it make me dizzy?" she said as she finally stepped rather haltingly into it.

Sybbie's eyes had certainly widened as she looked out the suite's large window. "Look how high up we are!" she cried in amazement. Then with her face pressed up against the glass "Look at all the boats! And is that …" she turned towards Mary. "I'll have to ask Daddy what that island is."

Gazing at the swimming pool a not quite convinced Sybbie had looked into the blue water and said "It's for swimming?"

The remains of their dinner (fabulous! Sybbie had declared) had been whisked away; Caroline, so tired after an afternoon of splashing around in the swimming pool, had fallen asleep and Mary was ready to turn in but Sybbie, sitting in a chair she had pulled up close to the picture window, seemed mesmerized with the nighttime view.

"Sybbie I think it's time you go to bed."

In response, Sybbie turned her head to look at her aunt. "Aunt Mary I'm glad I didn't go to the Wicklow mountains with Daddy and George and Billy."

Mary couldn't help but laugh thinking how mad Sybbie had been when her father told her she couldn't go camping with them. His words it's a boys outing love had only made Sybbie madder and in stridently her crossing her arms across her chest and stomping her foot Mary had seen images of a young Sybil.

"I've had a grand time Aunt Mary. It's been the most wonderful day."

"Well l'm glad you spent the day with me and Caroline."

Nodding her head Sybbie turned back towards the window. "Can't I sit here just a little bit longer and look at the stars and heaven?"

Mary, laying in her bed, hesitated as she reached to turn off the bedside lamp. Sitting up she pulled on her silk robe and plodded out into the sitting room lit only by starlight streaming in through the open curtains and silhouetting Sybbie still sitting at the window.

"Sybbie darling whatever are you doing still up? You have to go to bed."

Sybbie slowly nodded her head but did make any movement to rise from her chair and continued looking out onto the starlit sky.

"Daddy always says mummy is the brightest star in the sky." At her young niece's words Mary moved closer to look out the window.

"Aunt Mary" the young girl began her voice almost I whisper. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course darling."

"I … I … I've been wondering" it seemed odd for the usually gregarious girl to be so hesitant and Mary was curious and a bit wary of what was on Sybbie's mind.

Still looking out at the sky Sybbie began again. "Do you think mummy would be mad at me that I love Aoibhin?"

"Oh darling" Mary knelt beside her young niece, rubbing her hand up and down her small back. "Your mummy would be very happy that you have someone like Aoibhinn in your life."

Miles to the west of the Royal Marine Hotel, far into the reaches of the Wicklow Mountains Tom stared out the open side of the canvas makeshift lean-to watching the last few stars visible among the dark drifting clouds disappear. Earlier as he and the boys sat around the dying embers of their campfire the dancing shadows cast by the moon and the rustling of leaves from a slight breeze had created an eerie atmosphere perfect for Tom's telling a few of the old Irish tales of the fairies and the shapeshifter pooka. The boys had sat wide-eyed and shuddered with each rustle of leaves and the unexpected hoot of an owl had caused them to jump in fright. Mindful of spending a night with frightened boys Tom's storytelling had changed to more fanciful and humorous stories.

So they retired to their cots, their bellies full of fresh caught fish fried over an open fire with bacon, potatoes and onions followed by slices of his ma's freshly baked walnut cake. It had been a day of hiking and fishing although neither went quite as Tom had planned.

Actually it had begun with Tom's inability to get their tent upright. How could someone who could put together a motor car's engine be so inept at erecting a tent he had thought and much to his chagrin a laughing Billy had asked. It was the bent pole, another pole that didn't seem to belong with this tent and the couple of missing stakes Tom finally offered as the source of their troubles. In the end he had managed to make a cobbled together slightly lopsided lean-to.

Their hike seemed to go much better until Tom lost his footing and went sliding down an incline, his slide only stopped by a fallen log. Helped to his feet by the boys, his pants legs and shirt arms torn and bloody, Tom declared his cuts and bruises rather minor and that he'd just taken the faster way down. His hike didn't get much better when they came upon a small stream. The boys easily made it across stepping on three or four large rocks but Tom misjudged his footing and ended up in the stream. Just cooling off a bit Tom had stated to the boys' giggles. The boys may have believed Tom's we're taking the scenic route back to camp but after passing the same rock outcropping for two times (how are you so sure it's the same one Tom had ventured) it was clear they were lost when the same outcropping appeared a third time. Maybe you're just not an outdoors man Billy had offered to a clearly ruffled Tom.

Surely their boating outing would go better thought Tom. He'd sit back and let the boys row them out into the small lake, maybe they'd shed their shirts and jump into the cool water. But they weren't ten feet from shore when George, in his enthusiasm for rowing, tilted the oar back too far hitting Tom in the face. Startled, George stood up precariously tilting the tiny rowboat and all three of them ceremoniously ended up in the cool water.

"It's been a wonderful day Uncle Tom" George sleepily declared from his cot next to Tom's. "I don't know when I've had so much fun." Then raising his head he looked at his uncle. "I am so sorry about the oar and your black eye. Does it hurt?"

"These things happen son."

"Maybe your eye won't be so black tomorrow."

"But if it is Uncle Tom" Billy piped up from his cot on Tom's other side "maybe we could say you fought off a bear."

"Really Billy you think your Ma or Aunt Aoibhinn would believe that?" Tom asked.

"Well you could say that was the shape the pooka took" a serious Billy countered.

"That was probably the best meal I've ever had" Aoibhinn stated as she set her napkin on the table in the Royal Marine Hotel's poshest dining room. With views of Dublin Bay out its large windows, deep leather seats and lit candles of tables the restaurant was elegant and quiet. "I've forgotten how nice it is to eat a meal without a child pulling on my arm or trying to-"

"Now love are you forgetting that just last month I took you to-"

"Tom I hardly call a pint and a plate of cottage pie in O'Doole's on par with this place."

"Although I might never have been to O'Doole's" Mary piped up "I do think you lose on this one Tom."

"Thank you Mary" Aoibhinn said as she smirked at Tom. "And even more so Mary thank you for this wonderful meal."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's certainly the least I can do after all the meals we've had at your house this week."

"Somehow I don't think eating sandwiches in our back yard or boxty or stew is quite in the same league as this" Aoibhinn laughingly replied.

"Actually Aoibhinn in a lot of ways that was better than this."

Sybbie came bounding across the tiled floor of the foyer. "I bet our room service was better than your dinner" she called out in too loud a voice for her surroundings.

Aoibhinn put her finger up to her mouth and Sybbie, nodding, lowered her voice as she approached Tom, Aoibhinn, and Mary. "It was simply marvelous!" she declared causing all three adults to chuckle.

"Marvelous" Tom repeated as Sybbie vigorously nodded.

"Oh Aunt Mary I'm so glad you came to visit us."

"Me too" Mary said as she bent over to caress her niece's cheek before hugging her tightly.

As Tom and Mary watched Aoibhinn and Sybbie walk down the drive towards the motor car Sybbie suddenly turned around, her deep purple party dress, as she had described it to Mary, once again twirling around her as she vigorously waved good-bye.

"I swear when she did that earlier in the evening I could see Sybil all those years ago in the sitting room twirling in those harem pants."

Tom laughed. "I had the same thought."

Mary turned sharply and stared at Tom. "I don't recall you being in that sitting room."

Tom laughed again. "That room has very large windows Mary."

"Well I guess that's a story I don't have time for right now if I'm going to catch the ferry tonight."

Tom looked up at the sky filled with stars and Mary thought of what Sybbie had told her. Daddy says Mummy is the brightest star in the sky.

But if that was what Tom was thinking he didn't say. Instead after a moment he said "All these stars mean no clouds so the weather should be good for your crossing tonight."

"I'm really glad I came here Tom. It's always good to see you and of course Sybbie and I'm so glad to have met the boys and Valerie and of course Aoibhinn. She's lovely Tom. I'm glad you have someone like her in your life."

Mary had taken a few steps towards the hotel's door when Tom called her name and she turned around to face him.

"I'm not sure when I'll be back at Downton. But I will be back someday."

She nodded her head before turning back towards the hotel. Stepping inside the doors Mary stopped and looked back but Tom was gone. She wiped away a tear and headed for the stairs.