Rules

The next afternoon Sybil showed up in the garage while Tom was under a car. Her shoes clicked on the cement of the floor as she moved to stand near where he was working.

"I wish I knew more about cars," she said.

"I can teach you," Tom said with enthusiasm. "You could learn how to drive."

"Perhaps," she replied shyly.

Tom had decided that he would not pressure her about personal matters when he saw her. He would let her take the lead. His earlier pressuring had almost driven her away. He had been a wreck when he thought she was lost to him. Now it was time to ease back and let Sybil be in control for a while.

"It could be a useful skill, especially after the war if you want to keep working," he said hopefully. "You could drive yourself. It would give you more independence."

"I suppose," Sybil replied. She was blushing slightly and shuffling her feet.

"Come on, let's go for a drive. I'll show you how. It will be fun."

Sybil finally nodded and smiled at him. His enthusiasm was contagious and she felt a thrill at the prospect of trying something new. Tom retrieved the keys and started the car. Today he just wanted to put some distance between them and the Abbey. What better way to do it than under the guise of a driving lesson? They got in the car, made the necessary adjustments to the seat and started with Sybil's first driving lesson. She had a few false starts but did amazingly better than her sister had at getting the car rolling in her first lesson. She managed to get the car up to second gear and was holding the steering wheel in a death grip.

"You need to shift up to the next gear," Tom said.

"Oh, it seems so fast when you are driving."

"Don't worry, I'll help you steer if need be," he said reassuringly and flashing a smile that caused her apprehension to fade into thin air.

Sybil took a deep breath and shifted up to third. It seemed the car was flying down the road. Tom directed her to take one of the lanes that meandered around the estate so she would be away from any traffic on the roads around the village. Sybil was starting to get the hang of driving and glanced at Tom with a huge smile.

"You were right, this is fun," she said.

They drove for about twenty minutes until they came to a hayfield that had been cut and was drying in the sun.

"You can stop here," Tom told her. "I'll turn us around. You can drive back if you like."

Sybil pulled to the side and switched off the engine.

"I didn't mean for you to switch it off," he said.

"I realize that," she said. "Lets go for a walk. It's such a nice day."

They got out of the car and started to walk between the rows of cut hay. Tom left his hat in the car but kept a respectful distance.

"I've been thinking," Sybil finally said, "about us."

"And?" he replied, holding his breath.

"I don't want to loose my family and I don't want you to loose yours either. I don't see how this can work. My family will never accept us and I doubt your people will accept me. I'm sorry, but I just can't see a way."

"It will take time for our families to accept us together. Please don't give up," Tom said. They had stopped walking and stood looking into each other's eyes. "We have something other people don't have. It's more than most base a life together on. It won't be easy but a future together is worth having no matter what the cost."

"Are you so sure of your feelings?" Sybil questioned. "You don't think they'll fade under adversity?"

"How could being with the person you love be an adversity? No one knows the future for sure."

"If I stay with my family, my future is mapped out. If I follow my heart everything is uncertain."

"What can I say to make it right?"

"I don't know. Maybe if we had some plans…we could tell my parents out in the open."

"It might be easier to get married and tell them afterwards. That way it can't be undone."

"What about my work and your work? How would we live?"

"I can find a different job. You can get a job nursing anywhere. I wouldn't stop you. Our life wouldn't be elaborate but we can make our own rules, not the rules that are dictated to us."

"Life has rules Tom."

"Rules that were meant to be broken and made into something new. This war is changing everything. Nothing will ever be the same."

They had taken a seated position on an old stonewall well away from the road.

"There are just so many obstacles," Sybil said looking away across the fields.

"You've given me every logical reason why not to accept me except the one that matters. If you don't love me I will accept your refusal and move on. If you do love me then I beg of you to try. Just try, I know we can do this."

Sybil looked down at the hay around her for a few minutes. Then back at Tom.

"I'll accept you under one condition."

"Which is?"

"You have another job lined up and we have some type of plan. I don't want to run away you with no thought to what we are doing."

"I've given it plenty of thought."

"So have I. For this to work we are going to have to think things through," Sybil sighed.

"Your answer is yes then?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes, you are my future come what may."

Tom moved to kiss her, when Sybil stopped him.

"Nothing more than kissing until we are wed."

"For now, God knows it's enough," he murmured against her lips.

They sat on the wall together kissing each other and murmuring endearments. Tom held her close. Sybil marveled at the feel of his strength through their clothes and how free she felt just in her acceptance of her feelings. They stayed like that until they realized it was past teatime and Tom would soon have to go and pick up the Dowager Countess for the evening meal. They headed back with Sybil at the wheel. Tom was right. Driving was fun, Sybil thought and what better way for them to spend time together than by him teaching her to drive. She managed to stop the car in front of the garage before she left him with the promise to return the next day.

Tom's mind was racing with the million things he needed to do to secure another position and how to find out about a marriage license without being too obvious. This wasn't going to be easy. Sybil hadn't come right out and said she loved him in so many words but his heart couldn't help but soar at the promise of what could be.