Continued: Some happiness for Tom? Finally...?

Chapter Seventeen

"Sybbie! How are you feeling my dear?" Robert was pleased when he strode into the room and saw that his granddaughter was sitting semi-upright on her bed.

"I'm feeling better Donk. Thank you" She really was more alert and she greeted her grandfather with a smile.

He sighed jokingly. "I am never going to lose that name am I?" He leaned over her and kissed her forehead.

Most of the bandages had been removed from her face and she was still looking quite battered, but definitely better than the preceding weeks.

"Not while I'm alive anyway." Her words caught her grandfather by surprise, as well as her father who was sitting on the other side of the bed.

Robert took her hand and squeezed it gratefully. Still happy that she had survived the terrible accident and the possibility of never hearing her call him Donk again was fading by the day. They had come way too close to losing her.

"Well, I am happy to hear you call me that all of the rest of the days of my life."

Sybbie leaned back into the pillows and closed her eyes. She had fully remembered the accident a few days earlier and felt terrible for all the distress she had caused. And so grateful to her cousin for trying to spare her the pain. A tear rolled down her cheek and hit the pillow, but only her father noticed. He reached over to wipe her cheek dry.

"Tom, I was wondering if I might have a word with you in private." Robert looked over Sybbie to the man sitting by her bedside.

"Of course. Sybbie needs some rest anyway, don't you sweetheart."

Sybbie opened her eyes to nod at her father and then she closed them again. There was still a great deal of pain evident on her face, but she had been taking less painkillers in the effort to heal herself though it may have been to punish herself for the accident she had caused. She told no one except nurse Becker of her pain, and even then she wasn't entirely honest to the extent of it.

Tom watched over her for a second or two and then followed Lord Grantham into the hallway.

When they had cleared earshot of the room, Robert turned to the younger man and began the speech he had prepared.

"I have a proposition for you." He sounded serious.

"Alright. What might that be?" Tom thought he had an idea, but he couldn't be completely sure.

"Well. Here it is. This accident has made me think about things. The Estate for one." Robert was sure he kept Tom's eye contact, "I am not getting any younger, and George, though he has shown maturity and loyalty beyond his years, is still quite young and had not shown as much interest in the running of the estate as I would like."

"Sir, you're not incapable by any means..."

"I know. But if something were to happen to me before George is ready, I fear for what may happen. The last years have been incredibly prosperous and the estate is worth a considerable amount of money now. I have followed Matthew's plans to the letter, and I am so proud of what has transpired. Grantham estate will hold it's own for many, many years and I even have a nest egg set aside for the death taxes for when I do pass on."

"That is amazing. I had no idea." Tom was legitimately surprised. He knew they had been on the right track all those years ago when he decided he would move to Boston, but he never imagined that the estate would become so prosperous in the years gone by.

"Yes, I made some great investments and they have paid off handsomely. And the estate is self sufficient, as Matthew saw it could be in his visions for the future. So my proposal is this,"

He paused for effect.

"I want you to stay in Downton with Sybbie and be my right hand man in running the estate until George comes of age. It may be a few years yet, he has expressed interest in continuing his studies at College and he will not have the time to learn the running of the estate and continue at school. Cora and I would love it if you and Sybbie would consider staying here for awhile so we can enjoy your company in our final years. And I won't have to worry so much about what may happen if I were to die suddenly."

"I forbid the thoughts of your passing sir," Tom was taken aback by Robert's words.

"It is inevitable as the sun will rise tomorrow and I want to be prepared. It will give me peace of mind in my final years to know that my life's work will not be lost in a legal battle with solicitors battling for a piece or to pressure George into something he's not ready for yet. I don't want him bitter to the estate, I want him to love it someday as much as I do."

"I'm sure he will sir." Tom's response was still very neutral. He wasn't sure if it was what he wanted either.

"I think in time he will. But he needs to live a little first. That was my mistake. I made the estate my career and very nearly lost it all from my naivety and poor judgement." He paused for awhile while he prepared to sweeten the deal.

Tom looked at the floor, clearly deep in thought.

Robert continued,

"I am offering you a substantial salary for your efforts and Mary, forgive her for telling me, has expressed her concern that Sybbie may need some positive reinforcements in the months to come. Now, I know that living at the Abbey was a concern for you in the past, but what if I offered you a house to live in, so you may live your life as you see fit with no influence from the house?"

That piqued Tom's curiosity.

"That is very kind sir. Sybbie will need some extra care for awhile yet, even when she is discharged from the hospital. Her recovery will be long."

"I understand. She could stay at Downton while she recovers and you can maintain your independence living in one of the houses." Robert watched the younger man's face and saw the wheels turning. He was getting through to him.

"Your offer is very generous sir. May I have some time to think about it?" Tom was seriously considering the advantages for his daughter if he were to accept the offer.

"Of course. Take as much time as you need." Robert reached out his hand and put it on the younger man's shoulder. "You have done an amazing job raising my granddaughter and I will forever be in your debt for all you have done. I would like to repay you."

"I shall let you know as soon as I have made a decision. I need to discuss it with Sybbie of course, but I think some good influence would steer her right."

The two men stood in the hallway a while longer discussing Sybbie's progress. Robert looked up at one point and noticed Nurse Becker going into Sybbie's room with a cart. He turned back to Tom and asked his opinion on the nurse. Robert could have sworn that Tom blushed and looked embarrassed, but he wasn't entirely sure he had seen it. Tom told him that she was the most wonderful nurse he had ever met and her care for Sybbie had been beyond the regular call of duty and he admired her very much. Robert asked if Tom would send her out to talk with him. Tom was a bit confused as to why he would need to talk to her but he agreed.

He stayed with Sybbie while Lily went out into the hallway to speak to the Earl of Grantham, She was very confused as to why as well.

When she came back into the room a bit later, Tom was dying to ask her why she had been summoned. He seriously hoped his feelings for the nurse hadn't been apparent to the Earl and he hoped Lily was not in any trouble. He waited while Lily changed the bandages on Sybbie's head before he asked her.

"What did Lord Grantham want?" He was blunt in his question. Lily smiled at him from across the bed.

"He asked if I would consider being hired as Sybbie's private nurse for her recovery when she is discharged form the hospital." She tried to read Tom's face but he didn't give anything away.

"Oh. And what did you say?" He asked her.

"I told him I would have to talk to you, being Sybbie's father it would be your decision ultimately." She smiled at him again. She had a little dimple in one of cheeks when she smiled and Tom loved to see it appear. He couldn't help but smile back.

"Well, I've seen you care for Sybbie and I couldn't ask for a kinder person to continue with her recovery. If you want to do it, I am not to stand in your way. I would be honoured if you would consider the position. I've gotten quite fond of seeing you every day you know." The words slipped out before he could stop them.

She blushed. "I've gotten rather fond of you as well Tom."

They were silent for a moment. The first words of their mutual liking of each other were out there in the universe. They smiled sheepishly at each other until Sybbie piped up from the bed,

"Ask her Dad." Sybbie's eyes never opened, but she had taken in the exchange. She had been trying to encourage her father to ask Lily out for a few days now.

"You go to sleep." Tom affectionately told his daughter, and he chuckled. He looked back at Lily. "The family has a New Year's Eve gathering planned tonight, and I would very much like it if you would accompany me to it. If you are interested. You can see the Abbey and make a decision if you might like to stay there and work with Sybbie."

"I would be honoured." She replied almost instantly. Her dimple deepened and Tom felt a tug in his heart. It had been a very long time since he had felt that.

"Good then. Shall I pick you up at six? Dinner will be at half seven and that will give the family enough time to efficiently interrogate you before dinner." He laughed. He didn't want to scare her off, but he felt he should warn her.

Lily gave him directions to her home and let him know that she would be ready. Her shift ended at four, so she would have plenty of time to get dressed in something she hoped would be appropriate for such an outing. She was just a bit nervous.

He sensed her feelings and reached across the bed for her hand. She let him take it and he squeezed it gently.

"They will adore you as much as I..." He cut himself off. He couldn't explain how the words fell out like they did. In all his attempts at subtlety, she caught them entirely and dared to dream that he felt for her the same way she felt for him.

She hadn't known him long, but she respected what a wonderful man and father he was. And his expressive eyes made her heart sing every time he looked at her. She was positively smitten by this man who had come into her life only a few short weeks ago.

She left the family in the room and walked down the hallway pushing the cart with a smile on her face. She felt so lucky that the man who had stolen Sybil's heart all those years ago now might be interested in her. She felt like a school girl again. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world.

Lily spent the hours after her shift dressing in her best outfit and fixing her hair ten different ways. She finally decided on a style that she had read about in a magazine and hoped it would be modern enough for him to notice. She wasn't happy with it in the end, but time was running out so it would have to do. At exactly six o'clock she heard the rapping on her front door.

She opened the door and her heart leaped when she saw the handsome man standing on her doorstep with a flower in his hand. He just stood there staring at her and she became insecure. She wasn't fit company to be presented to his family, or so she momentarily panicked.

"You look absolutely beautiful. I knew you were pretty, but I've only ever seen you in your nursing uniform. Your hair looks divine, it must have taken you hours to get it to look like that." He stumbled over his words as the site of her made his heart drop. She was strikingly beautiful.

"Thank you Tom. You look very handsome as well." She accepted the flower he handed her.

He still looked tired as he had for many days now, but the smile on his face made him look years younger. Her heart skipped a beat as well when he narrowed his eyes and stared into her. She put on her jacket, with his assistance and followed him out to the car. He held the door open for her as she climbed in.

They chatted away as he drove them to the Abbey. He did his best to describe everyone that would be there that evening, and he let her know that if any time she felt uncomfortable just to let him know and they would make a hasty departure. He had told Cora and Robert he would be bringing a guest so they wouldn't be completely shocked, but he had no idea how everyone else would react. He hoped they would be gentle. He wanted to make a good impression for Lily. If she agreed to take the job, he would be able to see her every day after Sybbie left the hospital. He wanted to see more of her. He wanted to get to know her better because he very much liked what he knew of her thus far.

They pulled up to the Abbey and he parked the car in front of the main doors. He looked over at her and watched her eyes grow wide as she took in the enormous building. He smiled at her reaction. He couldn't help himself. He reached out to take her hand.

"There's something I want to do before we go in."

She turned to look at him. "What's that?"

He leaned towards her and kissed her slowly and passionately. She accepted it and kissed him back. When they pulled apart, they smiled at each other. The chemistry between them was palpable.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. You really do look beautiful tonight."

Her heart sang. Who knew something so lovely could have begun from such a tragic accident. When Tom turned to open the car door he was shocked to see Mary standing there. She had seen it all.

The look on her face was unreadable...

To be continued... only 3 chapters left...