A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter. Many thanks to my patient betas, Tripp3235 and mswainwright.
Disclaimer: Not mine. All Downton Abbey characters belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV. I'm just playing with them.
Chapter 4
At dinner, there was plenty of talk of the wedding and Matthew's move back to Crawley House in the morning. Now that Matthew could take a few steps with just the aid of a walking stick, Dr. Clarkson felt it best if he were to return to his home. Sybil tuned out most of the conversation while she thought of what to write to Tom's mother in her letter. Her inattentiveness was so evident at one point that her grandmother commented that Sybil's head must be in the clouds. After that, Sybil focused more on the conversations around her and even managed to ask a few questions of her own of the happy couple.
Soon after Granny, Cousin Isobel and Lavinia left, Sybil said good night to her family and headed to her room to write that letter she promised Tom for tomorrow. She knew that it would take some time to compose and she didn't want to be rushed.
After Anna helped her undress, Sybil sat at her writing desk and pulled out a sheaf of her plainest note paper, opting against the standard Downton Abbey stationery. She didn't want to alarm Tom's mother who might think her a privileged girl only toying with her son's affections. She wanted to convey that the decision to marry her son was not something that was spur of the moment.
In the end, it took ten drafts before she was able to write something that expressed exactly what she wanted to her future mother-in-law to know about her and how much she loved Tom. It was definitely easier to write than the elopement letter.
Sunday, March 2, 1919
Downton Abbey
Downton, Yorkshire
Dear Mrs. Branson,
As you've likely read in Tom's letter, I am writing to introduce myself. I am Sybil Crawley. I will be twenty-two years old in two weeks time and I will be coming with Tom to Dublin in the next several months to marry him. I've known him since 1913, when he became a chauffeur at Downton Abbey and since that time we have become friends and then eventually it became more than just friendship. He is my best friend and my dearest love.
While it is true that I am the youngest daughter of the seventh Earl of Grantham, my mother's parents owned a dried goods business that flourished in America and I am not afraid of hard work. Before the war, I worked numerous charities to help with the sick and those who are less fortunate as well as visited our tenants when they were in need of our help.
During the war, I trained as an auxiliary nurse and worked regular shifts at the local hospital and when Downton became a convalescent hospital, I continued my work there. When we arrive in Dublin, I intend to find work as a nurse to supplement any income Tom may bring home. Ours will be a partnership of equals and I will not become a burden.
I should also mention that I am for women's rights. I intend to aid the Suffrage movement in Ireland however I can. I am aware that women who own property over the age of thirty now have the right to vote, but I believe that all women over the age of twenty-one should have the right and I mean to work toward that goal.
I will contend that while I know how to make tea, bake a cake and make a bed, I am still lacking in some basic household skills and I am hoping that you can help me round out my knowledge in those areas.
I look forward to meeting you and the rest of Tom's family when we arrive in Dublin.
Sincerely yours,
Sybil Crawley
As Sybil signed her name to the note, she hoped that Tom's mother would welcome her, but she would understand if she did not. She tucked it in Pride and Prejudice for safekeeping and went to sleep dreaming of Tom.
Tom waited in the servants hall after dinner for the visitors to leave with a newspaper in hand. As he read, his thoughts wandered to the letter he will be writing to his mother after his duties were over for the day. His mother already knew about Sybil and how he had hope to bring her home to Ireland as he had described her in detail in previous letters. However, he had always left out that crucial bit of information about her being the Earl's youngest daughter. His family had always thought that he reached too high, but you can't help with whom you fall in love.
Anna broke him out of his reverie when she asked, "What news of the peace treaty?" She had been doing some darning and she knew that Tom was always up on the news. She also wanted to know how he was faring after the other night.
Tom looked up from the newspapers, smiled. "They're still negotiating it in Versailles in France. The French want more compensation than the British or the Americans do, but most of the fighting was on French soil so that's not surprising. I'm sure that at this rate there will be negotiations until the summer."
"I don't know why people have to fight," said Anna. "Why can't we all just get along?"
Miss O'Brien who was also there said, "You'd have to be satisfied with your lot for everyone to get along."
"And of course, you're never satisfied." Anna shot back.
Just then, Jane came into the hall. "Miss O'Brien, her ladyship is a little chilled. She wants her shawl and asked for you to get it."
"Of course, she has," muttered O'Brien when she put down the darning she was doing and went upstairs with Jane, leaving Anna and Tom alone in the hall.
"You're no worse for wear, Mr. Branson?" asked Anna after the voices receded up the stairs.
"Why should I be?" asked Tom innocently.
Lowering her voice, Anna said, "It was a daring expedition with a daughter of the house."
"Daring perhaps," said Tom quietly, still pretending to read the paper. "But fruitless." To throw off suspicion that he knew she was there, he added, "How did you know?"
"I was with Lady Mary and Lady Edith that night," said Anna. "I waited in the car, but I think you know that."
"I see," said Tom, pretending to scan the newspaper as he tried to think of anything else to say, now that Anna shared that she had the upper hand.
"Lady Sybil speaks very highly of you and your prospects," said Anna. Seeing his hesitation in answering, Anna added, "You needn't worry. I won't give you away and Lady Mary doesn't want a scandal. As for Lady Edith, though she hasn't said it outright, she doesn't want to go back to the way things were, so your position is safe."
"Well, that's good to know," said Tom relieved.
"I've kept your secret for this long," said Anna with a smile. "If you ever need an ear, know that what you say to me will go no further."
"Thank you," said Tom returning her smile.
At this juncture, Mr. Carson entered the servant's hall and said, "The Dowager Countess, Mrs. Crawley and Miss Swire will be ready to depart shortly."
Tom and Anna stood up. Tom then nodded at Mr Carson and folded up the newspaper before grabbing his jacket and heading to the garage.
After Tom dropped off the visitors in the village, he parked the motorcar into the garage and entered his cottage. Since Sybil's visit that afternoon, he could still feel her presence and remembered how they had shared kisses on the chair by the fire. He noticed how she had cleaned and put away the tea things and even cleaned out the basin where he had washed and replenished the pitcher. Getting his letter paper out, he sat down and started writing the letter to his mother.
Sunday, March 2, 1919
Downton Abbey
Downton, Yorkshire
Dear Ma,
I hope that you, Cathleen and Connor are keeping well. I'm writing to tell you that I will be coming home to Ireland in the next few months with the girl I've been telling you about and we want to get married in Dublin as soon as possible. Once we settle on a date, we'll send word.
You must be wondering why we want to marry in Dublin. Something I've not told you before is that her name is Sybil Crawley and she's the daughter of my employer, the Earl of Grantham. I'm sure you think me daft, but I love her and she loves me. We both know that her family will likely not approve of us, but she's willing to take the chance and marry me anyway, so rather than have no one attend, we decided to marry in Dublin where at least you and the rest of the family would be there.
If you're wondering whether she expects to be waited on hand and foot, think no more on that score, she doesn't even like it when I open the door for her to get into the car which is part of my duties. As you know she's also worked as a nurse during the war and intend to find a position in Dublin to continue her career. She does know how to make a cup of tea and bake a cake, but I suspect she'll need a little help. I'll show her as much as I can, but I would like it if you could show her the rest.
I've saved enough money for the passage to Ireland and a few months rent after we've arrived, but we're hoping that you or Cathleen or Connor could find the addresses to the editors of all the newspapers of Ireland. Sybil thinks that I should have a job to go to before we leave since I'm not likely to get a reference here and that I could be a journalist because I've published a few opinion pieces in the last few years. With the addresses, we would be able to write to the editors to apply. I will also be applying for other positions in Dublin in the mean time.
Please find enclosed £5 for Connor's schooling and a letter from Sybil herself.
Your loving son,
Tom
With that, Tom placed the letter and a £5 note in an envelope, addressed it, but left it unsealed waiting for Sybil's letter on the table in the cottage. He then undressed and went to bed dreaming of Sybil.
A/N2: So the letters are written and are awaiting a reply. I'd love to hear what you think good or bad, so please do review.
