Branson has handed in his resignation. The only reason Sybil knew this was because, the chauffer had told her himself. It was early evening last night, when she went to see him. She was curious on what he wanted to say when they had that moment alone together at the garden party. So after dinner, she slipped away and found Branson in the garage reading the paper, with a furrowed brow. He heard the click of her heels and watched as she entered, a smile creeping to his lips. He put his paper down and stood straight.

"Milady," he said giving her a look, "is there anything I can do for you?"

"Nothing really," Sybil sighed, "I just wanted to ask you something. You know when we were at the garden party and you said I don't suppose? Well what were you going to say?"

Branson sighed and looked at his feet.

"Well I'm going to leave any way," he sighed, "so what have I got to lose. I love you Sybil Crawley, I think I have the moment I saw, just not realised it. I know it costs me everything to say this but I'm leaving anyway."

Sybil froze her mouth gawping open at what she just heard. She had no idea what to say, there were so many things, she was scared of coming out with something very stupid.

"You can't leave!" she found herself saying, "I won't tell anyone."

"Its not that," Branson sighed, "its just I think because of this war Ireland will be coming of age. I need to be part of that."

They were silent for a while, neither of them sure what to say.

"Anyway I have nothing to stay for here," Branson said looking into Sybil's eyes for possibly the last time, "you don't love me back."

Sybil looked at Branson and sighed.

"Tom," she sighed and he took a deep breath just hearing her say his name, "I'm sorry. In another world, a fairer world maybe we…"

But then, she stopped, turned around and walked away.

"Sybil!" he called and she didn't care that he used her name in formally.

She turned around and he smiled, Branson taking in the last sight he would probably ever see of her.

"Yes?" Sybil asked, wanting to cry though she had no idea why.

"Nothing."

By the morning, he was gone.

Sybil just couldn't take her mind off Branson. She felt like a massive part of her was gone. She had only known him for a couple of years, but yet he was part of the most important times of her life. To take her mind of him she decided to go for a walk, by the lake.

It was a warm day and she rolled up the sleeves of her blouse and let her hair down, to flow in the soft summer breeze. It didn't seem like there was a war on. She went to stand on the edge of the lake and she watched the water ripple in the light of the summer sun. Sybil breathed in the scent, of a perfect summer.

Suddenly, she felt someone tap her shoulder, she turned around and faced Matthew. His eyes were a very cool blue today and he had a white shirt on with his sleeves rolled up and cream trousers. He looked very relaxed.

"I see you had the same idea as me," he smiled making all thoughts of Branson flow from Sybil's mind.

"Yes."

Matthew mistook her one word answer for annoyance instead of awe.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," he sighed looking at her rather guiltily.

"Its fine," Sybil smiled.

"No, I shouldn't have spoke to you like that, I had no right, I was just so angry at your sister for messing me around."

Sybil reassured him with a smile and they stood in a awkward silence.

"It doesn't feel like there is a war on," Matthew sighed.

She didn't know what made her say it but she did.

"Are you going to join up?" she asked him.

He looked at her. The first person who had actually come out with the question and he rather admired her for it.

"I suppose I will," he said, "I have to do my duty for my country."

"Very noble!" Sybil exclaimed.

For a minute they both looked into each others eyes and then Sybil burst out laughing.

"I'm so sorry," she giggled.

Just watching her laugh, was enough to make Matthew start laughing. Then suddenly, they were both unable to stand because of laughter.

Once, they had stopped laughing, they looked at each other and started to laugh again. Finally, when Matthew's insides were hurting from to much laughter, he took Sybil's hand shaking it.

"Thank you," he smiled, "you have really cheered me up. You're a good friend."

Letting go of her hand, he walked off leaving Sybil dreaming of something much more than friendship.