AN: regarding a certain review: please remember that this is fiction. I also believe that Tom and Mary would move quickly and they were both married before, it's far different than if they were in their early 20s. Thank you to everyone for the kind reviews. ? This is kind of a filler chapter but I had an idea about Mary and wanted to see Tom talk it through. BTW who's up for a surprise before the wedding?
It was six in the morning as the three settled into a first class carriage departing Downton station for London in a matter of minutes. A groggy Sybbie curled up on the plush velvet seat and put her head in Mary's lap. Tom sat across from his two sweethearts and smiled contentedly. As the train left the station amidst a cloud of white steam, Mary, who was never a morning person, followed her goddaughter's lead and fell asleep mid sentence.
Tom laughed quietly and shook his head. His girls made a beautiful picture, how he wished he could draw. Darling Sybbie had been so excited when they told her of their planned visit to London for her birthday and it seemed she hadn't had much sleep the night before. Her curly brown hair, growing so long and tied back partially with a ribbon, spread throughout her aunt's thin lap. They had decided against bringing George, fearing that the city would be too much for a boy his age. Tom was rather disappointed, the boy was such fun. He'd inherited his mother's giddiness, and thankfully none of her restraint in public.
Turning his attention to his darling fiancée he was again struck by her beauty. Of course he'd noticed her when he first arrived at Downton and had been struck dumb on their first meeting. Her dark brown hair, almost black in some light, contrasted wonderfully with her porcelain skin. He swore to himself that that amount of beauty was bound to corrupt, and in a way he was right. Mary was the beauty of the Crawley family and it had given her a superiority complex which mercifully has faded after many years. He knew she felt that she ought to have been a boy, that it would have saved Downton. He smiled as he realised that even though she was a woman, she had saved Downton repeatedly. She was still saving Downton. They together would keep Downton afloat and make it a valuable estate once more for Matthew's son.
Although she was beautiful, Tom was also drawn to her mind. She was far cleverer than anyone gave her credit for. Her wit and sharp tongue entranced him as did her fierce love of Downton. He shook his head again..what had happened to that Branson who hated the aristocracy? Tom was proud of how far he had come, he was no longer a hater. In fact he never really knew anyone within the aristocracy back in Ireland. Everyone back home just positively loathed the idea of the English. Opening an Irish newspaper he had sent to him every week, the Irish Press, he laughed at how wrong some of them were. Not every aristocrat was bad news, just look at his Mary.
"The Ritz, Mary isn't this a bit excessive?" Tom asked as their taxi stopped outside of the luxurious hotel. She pouted at him as she took Sybbie's chubby hand.
"It's only for two nights. I think we deserve it don't you. Besides this is London and we can share a room if we please. Even in the Ritz,"
He grinned at her logic and took his daughters outstretched hand so that the birthday girl had one loving adult on each side.
"Where to first then my darlin'?" He asked the excited five year old as she jumped up and down on the busy path.
"Toys! Da and Ma toys first please!"
Both laughed as they checked into the hotel, left their luggage to be brought to their room and started on their way.