A/N: Thank you so very much for all the reviews, etc., for the last chapter. Thank you to those who reviewed the story for the first time. Your thoughts are much appreciated. I hope that you will choose to review again. :)

As always, many thanks to my ever patient betas, Tripp3235 and mswainwright, without whom, the quality of this story would be much poorer indeed!

Disclaimer: Not mine. All Downton Abbey characters belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 19

The rest of the day and all of Saturday, Tom spent learning to use the typewriter, while Sybil worked with Mrs Branson on dinner that evening. They did both take a short break after lunch to post Sybil's letters home and to choose the paints they wanted to be ready for next week, but then it was back to work after that. At one point, Mrs. Branson sent Tom into Cathleen and Sybil's room so that he would make less of a racket. By Saturday night his fingers were rather sore, but at least he could type a simple sentence without having to look at the keyboard much.

The next morning, Tom came by to pick up Sybil so that they could attend their first service at the church in Rathgar. Surprisingly, the church filled to near capacity which was about one hundred and fifty parishioners. After the sermon, they knew why. Pastor Whelan's sermon on the ascension of Jesus in the Gospel of John was thought provoking and came at the issue from a completely different angle than they had heard before.

As they were chatting with some of the other members, Pastor Whelan came to see them. "How did you like the sermon?"

"Very much, Pastor Whelan," said Sybil with a smile. "I have to say that I will never think of the ascension in quite the same manner again."

"Good," said the pastor, returning her smile. "I always found the usual sermons to be mind-numbingly boring. How many times can someone listen to a recitation of the Beatitudes before his mind wanders to something more interesting that has nothing to do with God? Which was why when my calling came, I decided to ensure that my flock didn't stop thinking."

"Obviously, your plan has worked," said Tom, suitably impressed. "When we came into the church today, we were quite surprised to see the numbers in attendance on the Sunday after Easter. Usually, churches are half empty this Sunday, but that's not the case here."

"So do you think you could consider attending again after the wedding?" asked Pastor Whelan.

"I will not judge a church by one sermon alone," said Tom as he held his hand at the small of Sybil's back. "We will be attending service for the next five successive Sundays. Ask me again on that last Sunday."

"You can count on it," said the Pastor before attending to other flock.


After they left the church that Sunday, they were unable to visit their picnic spot as it was raining, so they decided to dine at a nearby public house to celebrate Tom's new job.

After their orders were taken, Tom asked with a smile, "Since we're in a better position financially than we originally thought, what do you think if I were to sleep in our flat by mid-May rather than waiting until after the wedding?"

"I don't see a problem with that so long as we at least have the bedroom furnishings and linens delivered by then," said Sybil with a return smile as she placed her napkin on her lap. "Why do you ask?"

"I think that my staying at Ciaran's is causing tension between Ciaran and Aileen," said Tom as he placed his napkin on his lap and reached over to take her hand in his. "I've heard some verbal arguments between them when they think I'm asleep. I know that Ciaran is worried about another strike at the docks and so he's been saving up some money in case that happened and Aileen is complaining that my staying there is adding more work to her load because they can't afford more help."

"Are you not contributing with the household budget as we had discussed?" asked Sybil as she stroked his hand with her thumb.

"I am," said Tom as he returned her caress. "But Aileen has been feeling poorly of late and has had to miss some work, so my contribution is going towards helping with that and Ciaran won't take more from me. I've offered."

"In that case, I feel we should try to get our flat ready as soon as possible," said Sybil. "What will you need to move in?"

"We'll need it painted and it would be nice if there was a bed at least," said Tom with a loving smile, "But I'd rather sleep on the floor than cause problems between my brother and his wife. Not to mention if I needed to work late that I would feel better working in our own flat than at Ciaran's or Ma's with that noisy typewriter. We should also arrange to send the wash out and while I'd like to have tea in the mornings, I think that we can wait on the coal delivery for now as I'll still be eating at Ma's until we're married."

"Do you think that with your salary we'd be able to have someone come in to clean once a week when the children come?" asked Sybil as she thought ahead.

"I think so," said Tom as he gave her hand a loving squeeze. "Though, I think we can manage when it's just the two of us."

"You don't mind that I wait until after we're married to start work?" asked Sybil as she returned his squeeze.

"Of course not," said Tom, puzzled that she would be worried about such things. "You need to get your bearings and we need to get established first. That reminds me, Ma asked what we were planning to do about wedding invitations."

"I actually never thought about it," said Sybil sheepishly. "I suppose that we need to send some to your relatives outside the immediate family. If your mother has some ideas, I'd be happy listen to them."

"Ma probably knows someone who can print them for a discount," said Tom. "If we're not too picky, I'm sure that we can get a good deal."

"I'm not picky at all," said Sybil, who never thought too much about these things before. "Whatever is available is just fine. Of the ones we saw last week, which of the bedroom sets did you like best?"

"I think that the oaken set would last us the longest," said Tom as he picked up his drink with his free hand. "But it would mean that we would have to wait on some of the other items." He then took a sip.

"Well, while I would like a couple chairs by the fireplace, we could get those later on," said Sybil as she looked in the distance to think. "What we must have when we are married is somewhere to sleep, somewhere to put our clothes, somewhere to eat and somewhere to put dishes and our food. So at minimum, we will need a bedroom set, a table and chairs and a pantry. Our budget including Granny's gift should cover all that."

"We'll also need cutlery, dishes and pots and pans as well as the start of a pantry." Tom reminded Sybil.

"Not the dishes," said Sybil as she fiddled with her tea. "Did I not tell you? According to Mama, Aunt Rosamund is sending a complete set of twelve including serving dishes."

"Knowing your aunt, we'll probably have the nicest dishes in the neighbourhood," said Tom with a chuckle. "Would we want to use the set for everyday?"

"Probably not in the long term," said Sybil as she looked at him. "But while we're starting out with no other dishes, I don't see the point of not using the ones we have."

Tom nodded in acquiescence. "What else is your family bringing?"

"Mama didn't get into details other than with Aunt Rosamund's gift," said Sybil. "But I asked for more details when I wrote back on Friday night, so hopefully when she writes again we'll have what we need to plan. I don't expect much other than from close family."

"That's good because my family will ask Ma about what we still need," said Tom. "I never expected anything from your family, so whatever we receive is most welcome."

"So when I'm out tomorrow, I'll order the oaken bedroom set that we saw and have it delivered for mid-May or later as well as linens, pillows and blankets," said Sybil with determination. "What about a table and chairs? I liked the table that we saw at the same shop, but I don't think we could afford both the table and the chairs at this point."

"If you don't mind having mismatched chairs for the time being, we could have Ma ask around to see if anyone could spare a chair here or there just so we have somewhere to sit," said Tom. When he saw the expression on Sybil's face, he added, "Alternatively, we could look in the classified ads in the paper to see if anyone is selling chairs or even a full set."

"I do like that table, but we should take a look at the ads to see what's out there," said Sybil. "Let's look at the papers when we get to your mother's place and as a last resort we can ask your mother to see if people have spares that they can part with or even sell."

"Actually, I might ask anyway, to go with the desk/table in the second bedroom," said Tom.

"Could we not use one of the chairs from the table until we can afford one?" said Sybil. "I don't feel right asking people less fortunate than ourselves for things."

"Sybil, this may surprise you but not all my family are 'less fortunate' than ourselves," said Tom, a little affronted. "Look at my mother's cousin who is our landlord. He may not live at Downton Abbey, but he's by no means destitute. If he or someone like him had a spare chair, he would be happy to share it among family."

Sybil blushed at her faux pas and looked down at the table before looking back at Tom. "I'm sorry, Tom. I didn't mean to imply that your family was destitute. I'm just not used to asking people for things."

"No harm, love," said Tom with a smile. "We'll have chances to share our things with other members of the family in the future."

This was when the server came with their food and the conversation turned to the sermon they heard earlier.


When they returned to Tom's mother's place later that day, Cathleen was working on supper, while Mrs. Branson was working on a client's dress and Connor was in his room working on a school project, so Sybil went to change so that she can help Cathleen. Meanwhile, Tom went to see his mother.

"How was the sermon today?" asked Mrs. Branson as she looked at Tom from above her glasses.

"Surprisingly good," said Tom as he sat down at the table across from his mother. "The Pastor makes you think, which is a nice change."

"That's good to hear," said Mrs. Branson. She went back to the work at hand as she continued to speak to him. "Did you and Sybil have a good time despite the rain?"

"We had lunch at a public house near the church and had a good discussion about our flat," said Tom with a smile. "Sybil wants to stop at the store tomorrow to order the bedroom set. I'll be moving into the flat hopefully by mid-May."

"Why would you do that when you can stay with Ciaran and Aileen?" asked Mrs. Branson with a raised eyebrow.

Tom grimaced a little before he said, "I don't want to cause more trouble for Ciaran by staying longer than I have to."

"What do you mean?" said Mrs. Branson, her brows furrowing.

"I don't like to say," said Tom. "But I think you should know that I overheard some arguments between Ciaran and Aileen when they thought I was asleep that Aileen finds the extra work with my living there being too much especially in her condition and with Ciaran worried about another strike at the docks, they can't afford more help."

"I know that Aileen's been having more trouble this time than with Maeve," said Mrs. Branson with a sigh. "I would have sent you to Mairin's, if I thought they had the room, but you might have slept in the bath there. Maybe you're right that you should move out to the flat sooner than planned since you take possession next month."

"That's what I'm thinking," said Tom.

"I presume that you would still be eating here until after the wedding," said Mrs. Branson. "If you want breakfast and a packed lunch, just come by in the morning before going to the office. We're all eating anyway and it's no trouble to have Cathleen making an extra lunch while she's at it."

"That'd be wonderful, Ma, as it would save on coal delivery until our wedding," said Tom. "That reminds me, do you know of anyone who can take in our washing? With the salary I'll be earning, I'd rather send it out."

"Let me ask Marni when she comes tomorrow morning to pick up ours," said Mrs. Branson. "If she can't, I'm sure that she can recommend someone. Oh, I was talking to Molly Reid's aunt today at church. I guess she's Molly Hayes now. Seems like she's planning to visit Dublin next month."

"Oh?" said Tom as nonchalantly as possible as he had never told Sybil about Molly, the girl he was walking out with when he was apprenticing at the motor depot. "How is she?" His mother had broadly hinted before he left for Yorkshire that if he wanted to marry her, she would have no objections.

"Doing reasonably well in Killarney," said Mrs. Branson. "She's working as a shop assistant part of the time to augment her widow's pension. Her boys are five and three now. I'm planning to invited her and her little ones for dinner one night. You know that Molly and the family all got along."

Tom swallowed hard when he heard that Molly's eldest was five. In the past his mother had never specified their ages and the last time he was together with her was about six and a half years ago, so there was still an outside chance. "Do you know when she's here?" asked Tom getting more uncomfortable by the minute with the direction of this conversation, especially since Sybil was just in the other room.

"Her aunt said the early part of May," said Mrs. Branson as she looked at Tom. "Likely in the next two weeks. Why?"

Tom smiled uncomfortably and said more quietly, "I never told Sybil about Molly and I'm going to have to do so before Molly comes for dinner."

"That's not my problem, Tom," said Mrs. Branson. "See that we don't have a scene when Molly is here."

Tom continued softly, "Sybil would never cause a scene."

"Good," said Mrs. Branson. Seeing the door to Cathleen and Sybil's bedroom open, she added "Have you talked to Sybil about the wedding invitations?"

On hearing her name as she came out of her room after changing, she went over to where Tom and Mrs. Branson were, looked at Tom and asked, "Have you talked to Sybil about what?"

Tom nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard her voice, but recovered quickly by grabbing her by her waist and brought her over to lean on him. They looked at each other and smiled. Tom took one of her hands in his and said, "Ma was just asking if I had talked to you about the wedding invitations."

"Tom mentioned you may know someone who can print them," said Sybil as she looked at Mrs. Branson.

"My nephew works at a printers," said Mrs. Branson with a smile. "He can get them printed for you at cost after hours one night if you'd like."

"That would be lovely," said Sybil as her mind went to the copies of Tom's article she made by hand just last week. "I can draft something in the next few days."

"Excellent," said Mrs. Branson. "We should get them out soon as some of the family have been asking about theirs. As well, they've been asking if there is anything you will need to start your married life."

"Aside from bare minimal furniture and bedroom linens, we will need just about everything. I do know that my aunt's gift is a complete set of dishes for twelve including serving dishes, but I asked my mother about the other gifts so we will have an idea of what's coming and what we still need when we hear from her next. Oh, how many attendees are we expecting? My mother asked me that in her letter."

"I'm not sure," said Mrs. Branson. "I know that there will be many more invitations sent out than attending. Quite a few will only be sending a gift as the date and time may not be suitable. I'll draw up a list of people we will need to invite so that we'll at least have a starting number."

"Thank you," said Sybil. "Was there anything else? If not, I'd best go help Cathleen with dinner."

"No, that's all."

Sybil looked at Tom, smiled and headed off to help in the kitchen.

After Sybil was immersed in cooking supper, Mrs. Branson said, "That girl of yours has a good head on her shoulders. She may yet end up being the favorite out of all my children's spouses."

"I thought Kevin had that distinction after Mairin finally agreed to marry him," said Tom as he looked at Sybil working in the kitchen, wondering when he could tell her about Molly.

"Yes, but Kevin never lived under my roof and asked to do chores or helped me with my knee. Did you know that since I started taking the aspirin on the bad days, the swelling has gone down to almost nothing? And to think I spent the last ten years in pain for nothing."

Slightly distracted by the news his mother just imparted, Tom was slow to reply. After a moment, he finally said, "Yes, Sybil does like to help and as I mentioned before, she's very good at what she does."

"I hope you treat her well or I may keep her and disown you," said Mrs. Branson with a smirk. All her children knew that Tom was their Ma's favorite, so this was quite a compliment to Sybil.

"Well, I can't let that happen, can I?" said Tom. With a more serious demeanor, Tom said, "I waited for Sybil in Yorkshire for nearly six years. Her happiness is of paramount importance to me. If she were to ask me to jump, I would ask her 'How high?' Whatever she asks of me within my power and within reason, I will grant her. So you need not worry."

"I am happy to hear that."


After dinner with the rain having stopped, Tom asked Sybil to go for a walk around the neighbourhood, while Cathleen and Connor did the dishes. Tom was abnormally quiet as they walked and Sybil was puzzled but she didn't push. When they arrived at the local park and Tom wiped off the wet bench for them to sit down, she turned to him and asked, "A penny for your thoughts?"

"I'm sorry I've been so distant this evening," said Tom as he took her hand in his. "I'm not exactly sure how to say this … "

"Should I be worried?" asked Sybil, partly curious, partly worried.

"No," said Tom as he glanced at her. "You shouldn't be worried. It's just that there's something you should know about the family friend coming to dinner in the next week."

"The one your mother mentioned at dinner? Mrs. Hayes?" asked Sybil very curious where this was going. "What's special about this family friend?"

"Yes, I guess that's her married name," said Tom nervously as he looked at Sybil but couldn't quite look her in the eye. "Look, Sybil. What I haven't told you is that Mrs. Hayes—Molly and I—she was a girl I used to see when I lived here in Ireland."

"I see," said Sybil as she looked to her lap as she tried to process this new information. Finally, she looked at him and asked "Were you sweethearts?"

"You could have called us that at one point," said Tom as his heart beat rapidly. "I'd known Molly since we were in school together and I started taking her to dances after I started my apprenticeship. I guess you could say that I was walking out with her then." When Sybil said nothing, Tom continued nervously, "I suppose she was my first love, but we drifted apart after I started in service though she kept in touch with my family. She married soon after I took the job at Downton Abbey. The last time I saw her was about six months before I left for Yorkshire. She's now a widow living in Killarney with her two boys, her husband having died in the Great War. I'm sorry I never told you about her before, but I didn't want you to be unaware before we had dinner with her."

After a few moments to process the information, Sybil said slowly, "I knew even before there was an 'us' that you likely had other loves before me. After all, you were in your twenties by the time you started at Downton and I had reconciled myself with that possibility for quite some time. However, now that the facts are in front of me, I don't quite know how to feel about this yet."

"This is why I'm telling you now to give you some time to sort out your feelings on the matter," said Tom as he looked anxiously at her. "I just found out this afternoon that she was coming to Dublin when you were changing. Know that I've not had feelings for her since well before I declare myself in York and that I love you with all my heart."

As she considered how Tom was acting all evening, a thought came about that clenched at her heart. Sybil then asked very quietly while looking at her lap that Tom had to almost strain to hear, "Something I need to know is whether you and Mrs. Hayes had been intimate and if so when was the last time?"

Tom, at first was surprised by the question, realized the level of Sybil's perceptiveness. He looked in the distance for a bit before turning to Sybil and saying, "Yes, we had been intimate a few times and the last time was the last time I saw her." Tom debated telling Sybil about the age of Molly's eldest, but decided against it until he had more information.

Sybil closed her eyes to deal with all she had heard. While she knew intellectually that this had been a possibility, Sybil was not prepared for the feelings the information had caused. She felt jealousy toward this woman that she had never met simply because Tom had loved her once. She felt hurt by the fact that he had been intimate with Mrs. Hayes even though it had occurred well before Tom had even met her. Her head knew it was irrational, but her heart felt otherwise.

"Does your family know?" asked Sybil once she thought it over. "Is that why your mother invited her to dinner?"

"My family doesn't know," said Tom as she looked at their clasped hands. "If they did, Ma would either have made me marry her or not have kept in contact with her depending on when she found out."

"Why did you not tell me before now?" asked Sybil quietly as she looked at him.

Tom smiled a little at the absurdity of Sybil's question. "Because, my dear love, you don't generally tell a woman, who is trying to make up her mind about you, about other women in your past and because once that woman made up her mind all you could think about is her."

Sybil blushed at the obvious answer to her question. "I suppose." Sybil felt Tom squeeze her hand and she squeezed his back lovingly in response.

"You ought to know that I never proposed to Molly," said Tom as he looked into the distance. "Despite how close we had been, I never considered asking."

"And yet we are getting married and we've never …" said Sybil as she looked at Tom.

"And we agreed not to until we are," said Tom as he looked at her earnestly.

"Do you not want to …" asked Sybil, confused.

"Every waking minute, but I am honouring your wish because it is right."

For a fleeting moment, Sybil had the urge to make Tom love her before the wedding as if she wanted to prove to someone, perhaps herself, perhaps Tom, or perhaps even Mrs. Hayes, that Tom loved her more, but it passed quickly and they continued to sit in silence on the park bench as the sun dipped toward the horizon.

Eventually, Tom asked as he gestured between them, "Are we all right you and I?"

Sybil nodded and said, "Thank you for telling me. I appreciate your honesty."

"I should take you back to Ma's before the sun starts to set," said Tom.

"Before you do," said Sybil who now needed to know everything. "Are there other women in your past I should know about?"

Tom spent the next half hour recounting the litany of girls he had walked out with in his past especially highlighting the two others in Ireland with whom he had intimate relations before Sybil would let him take her back to his mother's flat.

A/N2: Please don't kill me that I made Tom someone who has experienced intimate relations. *Ducks under the table* Tom is much older than Sybil and much more precocious. As well, in my research, in his social class at the time, he could get away with it so long as he didn't get the girl pregnant and Tom, in my view, is someone who would push the boundaries as far as they would stretch, because if he didn't he wouldn't have tried for Sybil. As well, while he is entirely honourable with Sybil, he was also much younger then and hence more impulsive.

Please feel free to point out typos and grammatical errors. Sometimes no matter how hard you or your betas look, these things get missed (especially those pesky verb tenses with which I have so much trouble). As always, I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter good or bad, so please do review. :)