Unexpected Correspondence

Chapter 4

Sylvie had never really liked Lady Agnes's School for Girls, Mummy hadn't either. Her first day had been dreadful, the teachers and other girls had been haughty and cold, and when Sylvie eventually went home it was in tears. Mummy had held her as Sylvie cried and told her all about what had happened. The resulting argument between Mummy and Father had not been intended for her ears but the raised voices from their bedroom caught her attention and she found herself sitting by the door, doing her best to hear what they were saying. She knew she shouldn't have been eavesdropping, she had been told off in the past by Father and Julie, the housekeeper, for sticking her nose where it didn't belong, but she knew that the conversation concerned her and she wanted to know how it would end.

"She hates it there, Elliott, and I don't blame her. She's surrounded by girls who have been raised from birth to look down on everyone else!"

"Those are the people she should be associating with in order for her to marry well, Catherine, and I will not hear another word about it!"

"But-"

Whatever Mummy had been about to say was cut off with a loud bang shortly followed by a thud that startled Sylvie, then Father spoke in the same voice he used whenever Sylvie was in trouble.

"Catherine, I've told you before, when I make a decision you are not to question it." There was a muffled sound that Sylvie could not make out, and it was at that point that Sylvie left. She did not understand most of what had happened but she did manage to grasp that she would be going back to Lady Agnes's.

Since then a lot had changed in Sylvie's life, it had started with the day that Mummy had packed up some of her and Sylvie's things and they had gone to stay with Mummy's friend, Francis. Mummy had been very upset, she had tried to hide it but Sylvie could see that she was crying. She wanted to ask what was going on but didn't want to further upset Mummy.

They stayed for a few days with Francis, the more time they spent there the calmer and happier Mummy seemed to get. The last day Mummy had left to meet Grandmother to speak about something, she asked Francis to look after Sylvie while she was gone. Less than an hour after she left, Father came.

"Sylvie, come here!" She hadn't dared to disobey, Francis had been standing next to Father, he hadn't looked very happy and neither did Father for that matter. As soon as Sylvie came within reach, Father grabbed her none too gently by the wrist.

"You've made a wise decision today." Francis's gaze did not rise from the floor as Father spoke to him. "If you interfere again, I will ruin you." With that final sentence, Father pulled Sylvie along through the door and took her home. Sylvie tried to ask about Mummy but Father cut her off.

"You are not to speak of her again. Not to me or anyone else." That rule had not applied only to Sylvie. Over the next few weeks she would occasionally catch the servants whispering about Mummy but they would stop as soon as they saw her or Father. She once tried to question Sarah, the maid that Mummy had always liked, about what was going on but Sarah refused to answer and begged Sylvie not to ask her again.

Months passed and Mummy did not return. In the meantime Father had been having lots of visitors, women mostly, they would be very kind to Sylvie while Father was around but once he was gone it was as if Sylvie was invisible. If a group of women had visited, they would talk about Mummy while Father was out of the room. The word 'whore' was often used but Sylvie did not know what it meant, she once tried to ask her favourite teacher at Lady Agnes's, Miss Brown, what the word meant but was quickly informed that it was not a word she should know, nor ever repeat.

Miss Brown was not like the other teachers at Lady Agnes's, the others were strict to the point of being cruel, and Mrs Murray was the worst. Mrs Murray disapproved of most things, impropriety and fun amongst them. What disgusted her more than anything else was the weekly event where the girls from Lady Agnes's would congregate with the boys from one of the nearby expensive schools. There was little Mrs Murray could do about it as the assembly was fully endorsed by the upper class parents as a way of introducing their children to the children of other upper class parents in the hopes of eventually leading to marriage.

Sylvie faced a lot of criticism from Mrs Murray and the other teachers, she wasn't ladylike enough, her handwriting was a mess when it should have been neat and elegant, and she was sometimes found without an uncomfortably tight corset. Instead of yelling, Miss Brown had a gentler approach to correcting Sylvie's ways, even if she didn't always agree that those ways needed correcting.

When Sylvie found a slip of paper in Father's study (where she wasn't allowed to go) with the title 'Catherine's Address', the first person who came to mind who might help her was Miss Brown. Though initially reluctant, Sylvie eventually managed to convince Miss Brown to help her send the letter. That had been a month or so ago, Sylvie had waited for a reply every day to no result until quite suddenly, in her extra class with Miss Brown to try to correct her handwriting, Miss Brown handed her an envelope.

"You're lucky I found the letter and not one of the others." Miss Brown said quietly. "I know it's difficult for you to be separated from your mother, but I cannot keep helping you with these letters, it is dangerous for me as well."

Sylvie did not reply, she clutched the letter tightly and merely nodded her assent. Sylvie waited until it was late at night to read the letter. The situation reminded of her of the nights she couldn't sleep. Mummy would sneak in with a candle and they would read together stories about great adventures until Sylvie eventually drifted off. In a way, reading this letter would be like those night but this time it would be Mummy's adventure.

My darling Sylvie,

I've missed you so much, my little monkey. I was so excited to get your letter, I didn't think I would hear from you. I know this entire situation is very confusing for you, no doubt you will understand when you are older and I pray that you don't judge me too harshly before hearing my side of the story. As soon as the war ends I'll try to come see you and explain a little better what has happened, but as much as I hope this is possible I think that it is very likely that your father will not permit me to speak to you. If I can't see you, I want you to know that I love you very much and that I think of you every day.

My greatest worry is that while I am away from you, your father will force you to repeat my mistake. This may all seem a little irrelevant right now, but it will become important when you turn eighteen and I don't know if I will be able to send you a message then to give you this advice. I know that your father already has plans for your future, but whatever you do, do not let him force you into a marriage you do not want. It is not a decision that should be rushed and it should not be made by anyone other than you. The war should be over before you turn eighteen and if you find yourself with no one else to turn to you can always come find me, I will never cast you out, and when you are eighteen there is nothing the law or your father can do to stop you from coming to find me.

After that serious note, the letter became much more light-hearted as Mummy described her life as a nurse as well as all the friends she had made. The letter lingered for a little while on a man called Thomas before moving on to what Mummy was thinking of doing once the war was over.

I might try to come back to London, but I'm not sure. Society in London will not treat me kindly and I do not embrace the prospect of seeing your father, but if being in London means that there is a chance I will see you I can handle any number of things. Scotland is another possibility, I've heard that Edinburgh is a beautiful city, the only downside would be the distance from you.

The final few lines were more expressions of love and regret for their current separation. The comforting words of the letter, which in Sylvie's mind were spoken in the voice of her mother, a voice she still remembered with surprising clarity, had a very calming effect and the final sentence of "I love you, my darling, and I hope to see you soon" lulled Sylvie to sleep, the letter still clutched in her hands.

AN: So Kitty has replied to Sylvie and we get a chapter in Sylvie's point of view. I hope you've enjoyed it, my attempt at research didn't go so well so I have invented a reason for upper class girls to go to a school. I've not quite decided what my headcanon for KittyxThomas location post-war, I'm currently leaning more towards London due to my headcanon about Kitty's father, which will probably end up featuring in the post-war fanfic I've been considering. My plan for it doesn't really have a plot but is mostly interconnected post-war KittyxThomas drabbles featuring my headcanon on both their families, let me know if you guys would be interested in reading it because I'm not totally sure yet whether or not to write it. Next chapter for this will be another point of view switch, thanks for the reviews for the last chapter!