Thanks for the reviews. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Here chapter2...a little more tease :)
The silence between them was beginning to drive her crazy but Sybil decided that it was his problem. Her only regret was that her inability to express her feelings for him was probably costing her her best friend; but she couldn't think of a way to answer that could work for both of them. She had too much to lose right now and they were in the middle of a war. Deciding to distract herself from her dark thoughts, she began to undress. She turned her back to Branson who was thoughtfully looking by the window and striped down quickly but soon, her corset got in the way. She let out a frustrated sigh, cleared her throat and turned to Branson.
"Could you help me, please?" She asked, showing him her back.
Branson who was lost in his thoughts, jumped and looked at her blankly, realising she had undressed and was only in her underwear and corset. He gulped the lump down in his throat.
"Hem, what?"
"Could you, please, loose the knot so I can take off my corset? Some water is stuck under it."
"Hem, sure", he answered while going to her.
His fingers were trembling when he reached for the knot and he struggled to loosen it, trying his best not to touch her skin at the same time. Touching her would mean his destruction. But he failed and when one of his fingers slipped on her soft skin, he felt her shivered and he took a step back as if he had been burned.
"All done", he murmured while going back to a safer spot near the window.
"Thank you", she said softly.
She took off her corset and sighed with contentment when the water was free to slide along her skin. She was now left only in her underwear and felt very vulnerable with Branson in the same room. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. She was so far less innocent now that she had been two months ago, tagging along with some young women had awaken her to things she didn't even know were existed, especially things that could happen between a man and a woman. And now, as she was almost naked on her own will in the same room as HIM, she was more than aware of his feelings for her and hers for him. But all that was her idea so she had to be strong and not show him that she felt not as confident as she seemed.
So she sat down on the sofa, concentring on the fire that was now warming the room. She didn't hear Branson when he sat down next to her and that's only when he waved something in front of her eyes that she acknowledged his presence.
"You should take this. It's not very soft but you'll be warmer."
She took the plaid he was giving her and put it around her shoulders, feeling immediately a lot less exposed to his piercing eyes and thanked him silently. But she tensed a bit when she felt him move next to her and realized that he was finally listening to her.
"So, you changed your mind?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I had a professional advice. Better listening to it rather than flirt with death."
Sybil chuckled seeing him being a little bit dramatic about the situation.
"I thought Irish people were used to rain."
"Rain, yes. Not downpour."
She looked at or maybe admired him as he went to the fireplace and put his pants and shirt on a chair.
"But", he added. "I count on you to explain to your father or whoever may come to rescue us why we're both in our underwear alone in the middle of nowhere. I think my job is already in jeopardy because of my stupidity and I don't see this situation playing for me."
"You're not stupid; you just forgot to take a spare wheel."
"Maybe, but it's my job to think about it. And because of it, you're stuck here now with me and I don't think your father will be a big fan of it."
"I don't mind, really", she answered shrugging. "It could have been worse. I could have been stuck with Pratt."
They both chuckled but Branson realized suddenly their currently state of nakedness and his face tensed up. He cleared his throat and went back to the window. Joking with her wasn't a good idea.
They were in for about half an hour now and the rain didn't show any sign of stopping. Branson had started his pacing again while Sybil was busying herself with the fire to try to stop to think about things she shouldn't think of. Her friends from the nursing training had really had bad influence on her because apart from kisses, she never thought about doing other things with Branson. But now, she didn't know if it was because of the situation, her appearance or her friends, but she couldn't let her mind at peace.
Branson, for his part, was quietly going insane too.
He stood at the window, trying in vain to see past the wall of rain if someone was coming to rescue them. Because, he needed someone to come soon or he wasn't sure to be able to stop himself from jumping at her. He usually didn't have anything against spending time with Sybil in the car or even in the garage. He rather enjoyed it in fact. But this situation was causing some problems: they were both half naked AND alone. And seeing Sybil in her silky underwear was more than he could bear. It was torture for him, especially after her rejection. The damn thing was like a glove on her, fitting so tightly to the curves of her body that he could almost count her ribs. But one of his problems was that it wasn't her ribs his eyes were drawn to.
He passed in front of where she was sitting on the sofa for the umpteenth time and Sybil couldn't stand it anymore.
"Would you sit down please! You're driving me crazy!"
"Sorry", he muttered, dropping into the armchair in front of the fireplace.
"No need to stress", she said. "We'll get out of here soon but until then, we're warm and safe."
"I know", he grumbled, trying not to take it out on her.
"I didn't know you were claustrophobic", she said, leaning a little bit in his direction, causing her breasts to show up a little from her silk chemise.
Branson discretely adjusted the fit of his pants.
"I'm not claustrophobic", he shot back." I'm restless and worried, there's a difference."
"You're also testy," she replied with a bit of hurt in her voice.
"Aw, I'm sorry. Yes, I'm testy and I shouldn't be taking it on you."
"You seem on edge since you picked me up at York. Did something happen at Downton while I was away? Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?"
Branson sighed. That was what he was dreading. Talking about it was the last thing he wanted to do. He wanted to act on it rather but it was likely to get him slapped anyway.
"I, uh, no, I don't think it's a good idea", he stammered.
"Why not? I'm your friend. Maybe I can help you."
Branson almost groaned at her words and Sybil knew she was playing with fire but she couldn't stop herself. Maybe she was wrong and that his state of nerves had nothing to do with her.
"Honestly", she added. "If something is bothering you, I'd like to help if I can. Don't shut me out", she finished while taking his hand in hers.
The platonic touch was too much to him and he shot to his feet desperate to put some distance between them.
"Milady, please. Don't push. I can't talk about it. Not right now."
"Can't or won't", she challenged.
"It's the same."
He had to hide these things from her. He already told her how he felt and she hadn't really received the news the way he had expected so he needed to protect his heart. He couldn't possibly to tell her:"Hey, rememberSybil. Two months ago I told you I wanted to marry you and now, all I can think about is that I want you so bad it hurts." Yep, it would go very well, he thought sarcastically.
Sybil sighed and joined him to where he had retreated.
"Come on. It's not like you to be this way. Where's the Branson I know and I lo…like?"
She bit her tongue at her almost slip and he stared at her. She felt her cheeks redden; knowing he probably heard her mistake.
"It's nothing, really", he finally said looking through the window. "It's just that I'm doing a lot of thinking lately."
"About what?"
Damned stubborn woman! He thought. Couldn't she drop the subject and let him all alone with his misery? He turned around, looking down at her. She was standing so close…yet so far away regarding her rank.
"About a lot of things. About the choices I made in my life so far, and the consequences of them, wondering if things would have been different if…anyway, a lot of things, OK?"
"No, not OK if it makes you feel this way."
"If you insist on knowing, I've been thinking a lot about the direction my life had taken."
It got her attention and she looked at the floor before searching his eyes.
"And, do you…like the direction it gone?" She asked softly almost hesitantly.
"Like it? I don't know. I mean, I'm glad I came in England to work at Downton but sometimes…"
"Sometimes?" She prompted.
"Sometimes, it seems like what I have is not enough. And sometimes, I get a little sick of it. I don't know why things had to be so…"
Frustrated with his inability to express his thought, Branson paced away.
"It's always so damn…difficult", he finally said.
"What is? What's so hard?"
"Me", he growled.
AN / tease !