This is one update of several, all dedicated as a birthday gift to the lovely darlingsybil! Happy birthday my dear! Enjoy it with fiendish Larry (and the Bransons) ;o)

Just a really quick note about this chapter; I tried to look up what I could about "draft-dodging" in Britain during WWI, and found very little. I would assume, however, based on money, that a family (especially one like the Greys) could wield their "aristocratic fists" about in order to keep someone like Larry *out* of the War, but still more or less "purchase" him an office in the army, while not having to do a great deal in the sense of actual fighting. I know this happened in Jane Austen's era, so I would think it still happened in post Edwardian Britain as well. Anyway, thanks as always for reading! MORE TO COME! Stay tuned!

Duty and Honor
February, 1915

His father doesn't say anything, doesn't even look at him. Larry knows that he's ashamed, but the question is, ashamed of whom? Ashamed that he hasn't run off to volunteer along with Lord Grantham's heir, who by doing so, is bringing "such pride" to the Crawley family name?

…Or ashamed that he, his father, hasn't been encouraging his one and only son to rush off to war?

Probably a little of both.

But really, it's utter nonsense. After all, he's his father's heir! He can't go to war! So what if the current heir to Downton and Lord Grantham's title is rushing off to France as if he has something to "prove" to the world? That's none of his concern, nor should it be anyone else's.

Let the rabble volunteer; what do they have to live for anyway? What honor can they provide other than to serve God, King, and Country?

"Oh this is awful!" Mariah moans at luncheon one day. She's holding a letter and looks like she's ready to weep. Larry can't help but roll his eyes.

"What is it my dear?" his mother asks.

"Do you remember Mr. Tom Bellasis?" Mariah sniffles.

Larry frowns at the mention of the name. He hasn't seen hide or hair of Tom Bellasis since that New Year's celebration at Downton, when Sybil was still a chubby thing, but he hasn't forgotten the adoring way she and half the women at that table looked at him.

"He's gone to war!" Mariah wailed. "Sybil says it right here!"

Sybil?

"HEY!" his sister gasps as he takes the letter right out of her hands and scans it quickly, realizing that yes, it is Sybil's hand and that she is confirming what Mariah is moaning about; Tom Bellasis, her "dear friend" has answered the call to serve his country; both he and Cousin Matthew are very brave men. She wishes there was something more she could do, but she's not sure what…

…Both he and Cousin Matthew are very brave men…

She thinks them brave for willingly volunteering? For willingly putting their lives at risk? He doesn't know about Bellasis, but doesn't she realize how irresponsible and selfish Crawley is being? He's the heir to earldom! Patrick would NEVER have been so stupid! What does expect of him? He's his father's only son and heir! He has a responsibility here, he can't go and do something so frivolous as sign up and join the army and fight in a trench over in France!

…Both he and Cousin Matthew are very brave men…

There's a solution to his dilemma.

It pays to know the right sort of people. Within a few weeks, he speaks with a friend of his father's, who as a connection to several high ranking generals. His situation is explained, and of course because they are gentlemen, they understand.

Within a few months he completes his "training". Before the year is over, he's lifted to the ranks of lieutenant.

…And not once, does he set foot outside of England.