A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, etc., since the last chapter was posted. As always, all of it is greatly appreciated. I value every single one. Thanks to those who reviewed for the first time. I hope that you choose to review again.
Thanks to those who noticed various typos in the last chapter. They have all been fixed. :)
I want to especially thank my wonderful betas: Tripp3235, mswainwright and _livingfree (on Twitter) (in absentia for the remainder of the story due to school work). Without these wonderful people, who listen to me gripe and have the patience to slog through chapter after chapter despite their busy lives, the quality of every aspect of this story would be much poorer indeed! :)
To provide a time reference for the weekly readers, we pick up in this chapter the morning of Sun. June 1, 1919.
Disclaimer: Not mine. All Downton Abbey characters belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV. I'm just playing with them.
Chapter 38
When Sybil and Tom arrived at the church the next morning, Mary and Edith were just descending from their cab and Sybil approached them with Tom in tow. "Good morning, I'm happy to see you both here on time."
"Good morning! We couldn't possibly be late for your church," said Edith, smiling. "Hello, Tom."
"Good morning, Edith," said Tom from behind Sybil. "Good morning, Lady Mary."
"Good morning, Mr. Branson," said Mary, looking at the quaint church in front of them. "Sybil told me that your mother found this church. I'm surprised that she would know of its existence."
"She probably didn't know of it initially," said Tom with a great deal of patience. "Likely, she mentioned that she was looking for a church to marry us to everyone she knew and anyone who heard would have shared their information. She knows nearly everyone in the neighbourhood and I'm sure that someone would have known."
"Shall we go in?" asked Sybil, trying to head off further remarks.
"Let's," said Edith, smiling, and they headed in.
"I publish the banns of marriage between Sybil Patricia Crawley, daughter of Robert Crawley, retired colonel of the North Riding Volunteers in the Parish of Grantham and Tom Quinlan Branson, chauffeur, of the Parish of Dublin. This is the third time of asking. If any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are to declare it."
Both Sybil and Tom looked intently at Pastor Whelan when he read the banns for the third time. Tom took Sybil's hand and squeezed it when they spoke her name and his. Once the banns were read, Sybil looked shyly at Tom and smiled.
When the service was over, Pastor Whelan approached them after speaking with other parishioners. "Nurse Crawley and Mr. Branson, I received the note you left on Friday, Nurse Crawley. These must be your sisters."
"Pastor, this is my sister, Mary Crawley," said Sybil, gesturing at Mary. "And this is my sister, Edith Crawley. Mary and Edith, this is Pastor Sean Whelan."
Mary and Edith both shook hands with Pastor Whelan and Mary said, "A pleasure to meet you, Pastor Whelan."
"The pleasure is mine."
"Pastor Whelan," said Edith. "I don't believe I've ever had such an interpretation of the Book of Daniel before."
"I like to offer a unique perspective to my parishioners," said the pastor, smiling. "What did you think of my interpretation?"
"I thought it was rather insightful," said Edith. "In fact, I find myself questioning the interpretations I'd heard before."
"Good, good," said Pastor Whelan. "That's what I like to hear. Oh, Nurse Crawley and Mr. Branson, I believe we need to discuss the change in plans with respect to who will be walking the bride down the aisle."
"After a discussion with Tom, I will be walking down the aisle alone, as Mary and Edith have both agreed to be my bridesmaids" said Sybil, a little demure. "We were hoping you would have some suggestions on who will give me away to Tom."
The pastor thought on the matter for a few seconds. "Would one of your sisters be willing to stand near where Mr. Branson would normally take your hand and physically hand you to him when you reach that spot?"
"Is that not rather unorthodox, Pastor Whelan?" asked Mary.
"I wouldn't consider it unorthodox, but rather as a creative solution to the problem." Pastor Whelan chuckled. "There is no Bible commandment that says, 'The bride must be given away by a male relative."
"I see," said Mary. "With that in mind, I can hand her to Mr. Branson once she has walked down the aisle."
"And Edith can be the bridesmaid that walks directly behind me," said Sybil, looking at both Edith and Mary. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all," said Edith. "I would be honoured."
"It's settled then," said Pastor Whelan, smiling at the group.
"Thank you, Pastor Whelan," said Tom. "See you Thursday afternoon."
"Excellent," said Pastor Whelan. "If you would excuse me, I must see a few of my other parishioners before they leave."
"Good afternoon, Pastor Whelan," said Sybil before the party headed out the door.
After a little discussion between the sisters on the church lawn with Tom standing slightly apart, it was decided that Sybil and Tom would head to their favorite public house for lunch while Edith and Mary returned to the hotel to get ready for the dinner that evening.
Once they parted company, Tom asked, "I thought you wanted to take your sisters to luncheon."
"I did," said Sybil, looking at Tom. "But I don't think Mary was ready to wander into a public house in the dress she wore. No matter as it would give us a little time to ourselves before we have to get ready for the dinner tonight." Sybil fidgeted with her ring.
"Are you nervous?" asked Tom, leading them in the direction of the public house.
"A little," admitted Sybil, taking his arm. "Mary was kind enough to let me choose the courses for the wedding breakfast. I'm not certain if she'll remember that some of your family may not know how to use a lobster pick."
"They're quick learners," said Tom. "Don't worry too much. We just need you to start eating first to show us."
"I'll try to remember that," said Sybil. "Before I forget, Mary is planning to invite Cathleen to stay at the hotel on Wednesday night in order for the bridal party to depart from the bride's house as it were. Do you think your mother would object?"
"I don't believe so," said Tom. "Ma thinks that Cathleen should experience the greater world before she settles down in a few years. Staying at the hotel with you and your sisters would fit into that plan nicely."
"Oh good," said Sybil, smiling. "Mary wanted to know if the plan would be favourably received before she asked. Will you be going to the flat to change before dinner?"
"I wasn't thinking of it since this is my Sunday best," said Tom. "Is there a reason I need to change?"
"Usually, one doesn't see the same people the same day in the same outfit," said Sybil, unable to look at him.
"But I wore the same clothes yesterday?" said Tom, puzzled.
"Yes and my sisters were dining at your mother's last night," said Sybil. "Tonight we dine at my sisters'."
"I don't see the difference," said Tom, dismissively.
Sybil gave him a look. "You don't need to do anything elaborate. You must have another tie for this suit."
"I suppose," said Tom. "But I usually wear this tie with this suit."
"We can return to the flat after luncheon to look for a new tie before heading to your mother's," said Sybil.
Tom looked at Sybil. "If you wish."
After a quick luncheon, Tom and Sybil returned to the flat. When Sybil placed her pocketbook on the worktable by the door, she was struck by an odd feeling.
When Tom turned around after locking the flat door, he looked at Sybil, who was still holding onto her pocket book. "Is everything all right?"
Sybil turned to look at Tom. "Yes. I was just struck by the feeling that I was home. I didn't expect that until at least after the wedding."
"Isn't it a wonderful feeling?" Tom walked into the kitchen to get a cup of water from the dewar flask. "Did you want some water? I'm parched."
"Yes, please." Sybil then took off her hat before she took the cup of water from Tom.
Tom leaned against the other worktable as he drank from the cup. "The flat is coming along. What are we expecting on Monday?"
Sybil walked over to where Tom was standing and leaned against the worktable beside him. "The remaining bedroom furniture will be arriving and three small crates of wedding gifts my sisters brought with them."
Tom looked at Sybil. "When we save up some money, we ought to find a sofa or chairs for the area in front of the fireplace. Those chairs from the table are fine for now but I doubt they will be very comfortable when winter arrives and we want to sit in front of the fire."
Sybil looked into the distance. "Perhaps that's something for which we could use my salary?"
"Perhaps." Tom drained his cup and put it into the sink. "Shall we go and look for another tie for this suit?"
Sybil nodded before finishing her water and her cup went into the sink beside his. Sybil then followed Tom into the bedroom. She hadn't been in the bedroom other than to show her sister since their little escapade on the bed over two weeks ago and it looked as neat as it did on Thursday afternoon.
Tom walked over to his valise and placed it onto the bed. After opening it, he started to take his clothes out. Sybil couldn't help but run her fingers over his clothing on the bed. Tom then found the ties and he laid two down on the bed. "This is all I have. What do you think?"
Sybil looked at the three ties in front of her. Tom was right that the one he was wearing was the best for the suit. The brown one was out as Tom was wearing his grey suit. The blue one might work. Sybil held it against Tom beside the tie he was wearing. It wasn't the perfect shade of blue, but it will have to do. "This is the one." Sybil then laid the blue tie back on the bed.
Tom took off the black tie while Sybil leaned against the foot of the bed not daring to sit on it directly. Looking at him, Sybil realized how handsome he was and had a sudden urge to kiss him. As Tom pulled at the two ends of the tie to make it even to tie, Sybil walked over to him and pulled him in for a kiss. At first surprised, Tom recovered quickly and pulled Sybil to him to close the gap between them. Sybil's arm wrapped around his neck and she played with the ends of his hair. Nearly losing himself to the kiss, Tom had to fight the urge to lay Sybil on the bed and love her. Already his mind was running over the scenarios in the book he mysteriously received. They didn't need to be at his mother's for another half hour.
When Tom ran his hands down her back and held her backside, Sybil finally came to the realization that they needed to stop. She had been losing herself in the kisses, but they weren't married yet. Before Sybil could make herself stop, Tom pulled out of the kiss. Leaning his forehead on hers, Tom said hoarsely, "I want to show you how much I love you, but we need to wait. Just four more days."
"Yes," said Sybil breathlessly. "I better wait for you in the main room."
"That would be best." Tom leaned in for a quick kiss before pulling away.
Sybil quickly left the bedroom before the temptation became too great. At first, she made a beeline for the chairs in front of the fireplace, but then thought that she probably should check her appearance. We only kissed but you never know when hair might need to be pinned again.
Looking at her appearance in the mirror, Sybil tucked a few of the hairs that came loose. Then she saw Tom's toothbrush and his open razor case on the small shelf above the sink. Such intimate property in a bathroom where she will have her toothbrush. In the hurry to get married, Sybil never considered that the things they owned individually like toothbrushes and clothes would be together.
While she felt at home when they arrived through the front door that afternoon, she never thought of what it would be like to be sharing every aspect of the home with Tom. When she unpacked the wedding gifts, she knew that they were for them to share and that made perfect sense, but sharing intimate space was something else entirely.
It was at the same time exciting and slightly disconcerting. It was exciting that she will have her toiletries in the same area as Tom because only married people did that. On the other hand, she always had room and a bathroom of her own at Downton. When she didn't, like at nursing training and currently at Mrs. Branson's, she was used to taking her things back into her bedroom with her and storing them in her suitcase. That wouldn't do when they were married and living in this flat together. Sybil realized that she needed to get used to sharing her personal space.
"Is everything all right?" asked Tom, jostling Sybil out of her reverie. "You've been staring at the toiletry shelf for a bit now." Sybil turned to look at Tom who was standing in the doorway. He had tied on the new tie and looked handsome as ever.
Sybil quickly considered brushing it off as something childish, but she didn't want to lie to Tom when they've both always been honest with one another. "I was just thinking of how much sharing we will be doing once we're married. I'm not talking about the bed or our salaries, but rather where we put our personal items such as our toothbrushes." Tom raised an eyebrow at this juncture and Sybil continued, "It's just that at home, I've always had my room and bathroom. I'm not used to sharing those types of spaces."
"Are you discomforted by the idea?" asked Tom, worried that this was what will finally make Sybil realize that she didn't belong with him. While he knew that she loved him, there was always a part in the back of his mind that he couldn't do well enough to provide for her in a way that made her happy.
Sybil looked down at this juncture. "A little, but it's not something I couldn't get used to in a short while." Looking up and seeing Tom's brows furrow, she quickly added, "Is it not a part of adjusting to married life for every couple?"
"I suppose," said Tom, not entirely convinced.
"Don't think of it, then, as my adjusting to sharing personal space, but rather as my adjusting to married life with you." Sybil looked at him imploringly. "Consider that I'm just getting an early glimpse of the domestic scenery. Likely most women don't have the opportunity to spend this much time in every part of their married homes before the wedding."
"If you wish." Tom humoured her.
Sybil smiled at him. "I daresay that if you were to ask me again a month after we're married whether I've gotten used to sharing our personal space that I wouldn't remember what it was like when we didn't."
"Very well," said Tom. "If you're ready, we can walk to my mother's."
"Give me five minutes and we can be on our way."
Tom nodded and went to look at a few papers on his desk in the second bedroom while Sybil got ready.
When they arrived at Mrs. Branson's at half past three, Connor was in his room finishing his homework and Mrs. Branson was in her bedroom ironing her dress for the evening. Cathleen was still deciding which hair adornment to use. She was wearing her Sunday best blue dress and couldn't decide which of the two hairpins that went with the dress would be best.
She immediately asked Sybil when she and Tom entered the flat. "What do you think, Sybil?"
Sybil looked at Tom, who indicated he was going to sit on the sofa. She then turned to Cathleen. "Let's go into the bedroom, so that I can change while you show me how you were planning to use those pins and I'll give you my thoughts."
Soon after Sybil and Cathleen disappeared into their own room, Mrs. Branson appeared with the ironing board and put it away by her sewing machine. "I thought you had planned to return earlier?"
"We were waylaid as Sybil wanted me to wear a different tie," said Tom, adjusting his tie to show his mother. "As I now understand it, one does not see the same people the same day in the same outfit."
"I see," said Mrs. Branson, raising one of her eyebrows. "Then it is advantageous that the sisters did not come to Mass this morning. The others are expected in a half hour. Is Cathleen still deciding on which pin to use?"
"Yes, they're in the bedroom," said Tom. "Cathleen is showing Sybil how she's going to wear them and Sybil is going to give her opinion while she changes. You should know that Lady Mary is planning to invite Cathleen to stay with them on Wednesday night so that the bridal party can leave from the home of the bride as it were. I told Sybil I didn't think you'd have any objections."
"You know me well, Tom," said Mrs. Branson, smiling. "That's very kind of them and an excellent opportunity for Cathleen to know how things are outside our little neighbourhood."
Tom returned her smile. "Is there something I can do to help while we wait?"
"Nothing unless you want to sweep the floors or dust," said Mrs. Branson, heading back to her bedroom. "I must dress for dinner as well. I've already planned to buy bread this week, so there's been no Sunday baking."
"Yes, Ma." Tom then got up, took off his jacket to hang on the back of a dining chair and proceeded to sweep all the common areas of the flat.
Mairin, Kevin, Ciaran and Aileen had all arrived at Mrs. Branson's by quarter after four and were seated in various chairs while Sybil went over the types of servants who would be serving them while they were there, who had precedence when entering the dining room, which order utensils were to be used, how many wines and courses were likely to be served, and how to eat certain courses. When Cathleen asked about unfamiliar utensils, Tom pointed out that Sybil would use her utensil first and to watch what she did. Sybil then added that Edith enjoyed embroidery and playing the piano while Mary was an accomplished horsewoman and had traveled with their grandmother, the Dowager Countess, to the Continent when she was sixteen and had many stories to tell about France and Italy.
Soon after Sybil was done, there was a knock at the door as the cars to take them to the Gladstone had arrived. Mrs. Branson, Cathleen, Connor, Sybil and Tom rode in one car while the others rode in a second car. Tom held Sybil's hand to calm her on the ride.
When they entered the hotel, Cathleen stood near the entrance with her mouth agape until Mrs. Branson nudged her and they continued to the lift. Even Aileen said nothing from the time they entered the building until they arrived at the sister's suite.
The Branson party was greeted at the door by the second footman, Peter, then Anna and another housemaid appeared to take their hats and the ladies' gloves. Anna smiled at Sybil and Tom for encouragement. Tom and Sybil noticed that Mary had added a screen to separate the dining area from the sitting area.
As they were shown to the sitting area, Mary exited one of the rooms, followed soon by Edith. "Sybil, you've arrived. How delightful to see you all again so soon," said Mary with her hand extended to Mrs. Branson who shook it before greeting the others in turn. "Please do sit down."
The Branson party dutifully moved to seat themselves in the remaining seats and waited for Mary and Edith to sit before doing so.
"I trust that the cars were comfortable?" asked Edith.
"Yes, they were quite comfortable, Lady Edith," said Mrs. Branson. Turning to Mary, she added. "This is a lovely suite. You must be able to see most of Dublin from this height."
"I do believe we are," said Mary. "I don't see another building this tall from the windows."
"That's because there isn't another yet, Lady Mary," said Ciaran. "Though the buildings on his street are taller than most, the next tallest ones are only six stories high. There's talk of building one down the street that's ten stories, but at the moment, it's all talk."
"Are there many tall buildings in London, Lady Mary?" asked Cathleen.
"I'm afraid not," said Mary. "After the Queen Anne Mansions were built as a residential building in the 1870s with fourteen stories, the London Building Act was passed that limited buildings to eighty feet in height throughout the City of London. The tallest building I've seen are in New York City, when our parents took us in 1905 to visit our mother's parents."
"How did you and your sisters find America?" asked Mrs. Branson. "I have a cousin who emigrated to New York City with her husband and three children twenty-five years ago. When I receive a letter from her occasionally, she says that there are more and more people living there every year as more immigrants arrive and fewer leave the city."
"It was very crowded as I recall," said Sybil, looking at her sisters. "At least in the eyes of an eight-year-old girl who had lived her whole life in the Yorkshire countryside."
"It was crowded, Sybil," said Mary. "I was nearly fourteen and I remember thinking that I could see more people looking down a street than in the whole of Grantham village."
"It's quite like London, in terms of noise," added Edith. "Dublin seems much quieter in comparison."
"It might depend on the part of Dublin you're in, Lady Edith," said Mairin. "On certain feast days in our neighbourhood, the noise can be deafening."
The first footman approached Mary discreetly and once he was acknowledged, he said, "Dinner will be served in five minutes, my lady."
"Thank you, Lorcan." Mary turned back to her guests. "Shall we proceed to the dining room?"
Everyone rose to their feet and followed the precedence order that Sybil had given to them earlier that day to the dining room where they were seated by the footman accordingly. This meant that Mary and Edith were seated across from one another as the hostesses and the others were seated accordingly.
When the first dish of salmon was served, Mary turned to Mrs. Branson. "I understand that we have not met all of your family."
"Yes, Lady Mary," said Mrs. Branson after she took her portion of salmon. "My daughter, Niamh, will be arriving by train on Thursday afternoon for the wedding. She works just outside of Athlone and will not be able to leave her post until that afternoon."
"What is her occupation, Mrs Branson?" asked Edith, curious.
"She's the assistant housekeeper for the Padraig Dillon family," said Mrs. Branson. "He's the Mayor of Athlone. The new Earl has yet to visit."
"How interesting," said Mary with a polite smile. "Do you see her often?"
"Not as often as we would like," said Mrs. Branson, suddenly feeling less pride than she normally would for Niamh. "We normally see her at Boxing Day."
"How nice that you are able to see her during the Christmas season," said Edith, trying to salvage the conversation.
Mairin who sat beside Edith asked, "Lady Mary, I understand from Sybil that you've been to France and Italy. What did you like best about each country?"
Mary turned to Mairin. "I adored the food in France. Each meal is like a celebration. As for Italy, the architecture is exquisite. Sadly the second Earl of Grantham preferred the Jacobethan style over the Italian Renaissance style for Downton Abbey."
"Where did you stay in France and Italy?" asked Mairin.
"In France, we were mainly in the countryside in Provence visiting one of our grandmother's friends, but we did stop in Paris on the journey home," said Mary, slightly nostalgic. "In Italy, we stayed in Venice where my grandmother's friend owned a palazzo."
"Does Venice really have those canals?" asked Aileen, who heretofore had been listening in rapt silence.
"Yes, it does," said Mary. "The boats are pushed through the canals by boatman."
"Can you imagine it, Ciaran?" said Aileen in awe. "Having to ride a boat just to cross the street."
"There are bridges if you wish to cross the street," said Mary. "But if you want to travel a long distance, it's easier by the canal boats."
At this juncture, the next course of chicken was served and Mrs. Branson took the opportunity to change the subject. "As Sybil will be staying here from Tuesday, when is the bridal party arriving at the church? We wouldn't want to the bride and groom to arrive at the same time."
"As the church has a room in the hall to be used for photographs, I suppose that the bridal party could arrive by four o'clock and stay there until the start of the ceremony." Mary then turned to Tom. "Mr. Branson, are you planning to arrive at the church on Thursday before four o'clock?"
"Lady Mary, I will be driving back and forth transporting my family to the church on Thursday afternoon," said Tom. "I doubt that I will be at the church longer than necessary to drop them off. However, I can arrange to be away from the church at four in the afternoon, if the plan is for the bridal party to arrive at that time."
"Excellent," said Mary. "Miss Branson, would you care to stay at the hotel with the rest of the bridal party on Wednesday night? I understand from Sybil that you will be taking the day of the wedding off to prepare. We have the room and then the bridal party can head to the church together."
Cathleen looked over at her mother excitedly, who gave a slight nod. "I would be delighted, Lady Mary. Thank you for your invitation."
"Then it's settled," said Mary. "We will send a car to pick you up at nine o'clock Wednesday evening."
After the invitation, the conversation flowed much more smoothly, though Cathleen in her excitement spoke out of turn several times and Aileen, in turn, seemed miffed at Cathleen for getting such an invitation and pleased for her. Eight further courses appeared over the course of the dinner before dessert was brought out and Tom's family all followed Sybil's example of how to use the utensil for the more elaborate dishes. After dinner was consumed, as there was no host of the dinner, the men and the ladies were not separated and the party moved back to the sitting area to converse and tea was brought out.
At the chime of ten, Mrs. Branson laid down the teacup and saucer on the table in front of her. "Lady Mary, could we have the cars brought round? It's getting late. We need to return home, especially the men who have jobs to return to in the morning."
"Of course," said Mary, who summoned Lorcan from the back of the room.
"Yes, my lady." Lorcan bowed to hear Mary's request.
"Please ask for the cars to be brought out front to take the Branson family home," said Mary.
"Of course, my lady." Lorcan gave a nod of his head and left, while conversation resumed.
Before long, Lorcan approached Mary discreetly.
"Yes, Lorcan." Mary looked up at him
"The cars are ready downstairs, my lady," said Lorcan softly in her ear.
"Excellent," said Mary. Turning to Mrs. Branson, she added, "The cars are downstairs."
"Thank you, Lady Mary, for such a lovely dinner," said Mrs. Branson, rising from her chair. The others rose in turn.
"Thank you for coming," said Edith. "It was lovely to get to know all of you a little better."
The others said goodbye and by the time they walked to the front door, Anna and the other housemaid had all their belongings ready to hand to them.
When the others were out in the hall waiting for the lift, Mary and Edith said their goodbyes to Sybil with Tom waiting by the open door.
When Mary was hugging Sybil, she said, "We'll see you on Tuesday. When did you want us to send a motor that morning?"
"Would half past nine be too late?" asked Sybil, releasing her sister.
Mary smiled. "No, the fitting at Madame White is at ten o'clock and we can arrive in separate motors. The crates will be delivered to your flat in the morning at eleven o'clock."
"Any plans for tomorrow while I'm at the flat receiving crates and furniture?" Sybil hugged Edith.
"Mary and I are planning on a day of rest to prepare for the following days." Edith glanced at Mary after releasing Sybil. "If we feel bored then maybe we'll visit the University."
"I'll see you on Tuesday, then." Sybil smiled at her sisters before walking to Tom to take his arm and exit the suite.
A/N2: Everyone was more relaxed during the second dinner at the hotel. Next up is the crate and furniture delivery, the final fitting and Sybil moving to the hotel.
As always, please feel free to point out any typos and grammatical errors. Sometimes no matter how hard you or your betas look, these things get missed. Also, please feel free to point out cultural misnomers or anachronisms, I live in Canada and I know that our terms are often different than those in the UK and Ireland. As always, I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter good or bad, so please do review. :)
