I wanted to do something for Easter, so here is a special "Easter-themed" chapter. What I love about it is that it really starts to show the differences between the characters of Sybil and Larry. There's also a little introduction to another well known Downton character. Anyway, I dedicate this chapter to Grey Ribbon, author of "Star-Crossed Lovers" (which you should go and read if you haven't) and who is a big fan of this lil' story. HAPPY EASTER!
Partners
April 1902
It was Sybil's idea, he learns.
Her American grandmother came to visit, telling stories about certain holiday traditions that happen in America. She says that the American President has a big Easter egg hunt on the grounds of his house. The woman even brings postcards of the event to prove her story is true. Naturally, according Lady Grantham, this excited Sybil, and so here they are at Downton, on Easter Sunday, and all the children of the village are invited for a great big Easter egg hunt.
Mary sits next to the Dowager Countess and smiles like a queen watching her subjects from afar. She's too old for such "frivolities", or so she says.
Edith can't seem to make up her mind; clearly she wants to copy Mary, but at the same time she wants to play.
Sybil, however, is delighted, and upon arriving, runs up to his sister and grabs her by the hand. "Be my partner!" she exclaims, before dragging Mariah off to search for eggs.
His job was to help his sister, but now he's been freed of the burden. So he finds himself standing awkwardly off to the side, watching as these silly children run around like idiots over painted eggs of all things.
"So gracious of Lord and Lady Grantham to invite the children of their tenants to this festive occasion," he overhears someone murmur.
"Very magnanimous," another answers.
Larry can't understand why.
Just then a farm boy bumps into him in an attempt to grab an egg that's near the flowerbed where he's standing.
"Watch it!" he snaps at the boy, his nose wrinkling because the boy has a smell about him, that no matter how many baths he may have had before coming, still permeates his body. "Ugh, you smell like pig shit," he mutters in disgust.
The boy stumbles backward, swallowing nervously. He doesn't look to be much older than Sybil.
"William!"
Both he and the farm boy turn their heads to see the very girl approach, a big smile on her face. "William, how many have you found?" she asks, showing her basket off and beaming.
"Six," William mumbles.
Larry frowns. "Six, milady," he corrects, sending the farm boy a look of warning. This is the problem with allowing these tenant children to play with their betters; they forget their place!
Sybil frowns and he's surprised to see that she's frowning at him! Why? What did he do?
"Come on, William," Sybil announces, turning on her heel and tugging the boy's arm, her dainty little nose in the air as she marches away with the farm boy in tow. "You can be my partner for the egg roll! Grandmama told me all about it, and it sounds like so much fun!"
His jaw clenches as he watches the two walk away.
He was prepared to be her partner if she needed one. He was hoping she would ask him.
But instead she asks the farm boy?
What's wrong with her?