Note: For my Unlikely Bonds series I have been re-watching season two. It is my least favourite season, so I usually skip it except for the Christmas Special. I had forgotten one of the reasons I didn't like it was that Branson was an arrogant tit for nearly the whole season. Constantly telling Sybil what she thought and felt aaagh! And I thought to myself, you know who wouldn't put up with the BS Mary . Sybil wants to be free, I don't think she particularly needs Branson for that. So, here's the beginning. Don't worry I will definitely finish Unlikely Bonds part 3.
A Scandalous Affair Chapter 1
Mary and Edith's frantic search had led them to a dusty old coaching inn in Carleton, a small town south of Carlisle. The worn signboard creaked ominously in the night breeze as the sisters hurried inside. The dimly lit interior felt like a relic from another time, with ancient oak beams and a musty aroma that clung to the air.
Mary's eyes darted around the room, scanning for any sign of Sybil. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached the guestbook on the counter. The ink on the ledger was faded, but there, in the corner of the page, was the entry they had been searching for: "Mr & Mrs Branson."
She exchanged a worried look with Edith, their unspoken fears laid bare. They couldn't fathom how their youngest sister, Sybil, had ended up in this remote inn, masquerading as someone's wife.
Without a moment to lose, they rushed upstairs, following a gnawing sense of dread to the door marked 'Branson.' Mary clenched her fists, her knuckles white, as she burst into the room.
Sybil stood there, her fiery spirit undiminished despite the circumstances. She spoke first, her voice tinged with determination. "What are you doing here?"
"Sybil, you have to come home," Mary said authoritatively.
"I love Tom, and we are getting married," Sybil boldly stated.
"Sybil, this is utter madness. Think of our parents," Mary pleaded, desperation seeping into her voice.
"I have thought this through, Mary, and this is what I want," Sybil said, though a hint of uncertainty quivered in her voice.
"Think, Sybil. If you want this marriage to be accepted, you have to do it right, not sneak off into the night like a thief," Mary passionately argued.
"Don't listen to them, Sybil," Tom pleaded.
"Think of Granny, Sybil," Edith added.
Mary could see that Sybil was wavering in her convictions, and she held her breath in anticipation.
"I would like to see my parents. They don't deserve this," said Sybil. "So, I'll go back and tell them I am going to marry you," she continued.
"Don't go with them, Sybil," Tom said. "Believe it or not, I'll stay true to you," Sybil promised Tom with a gentle kiss goodbye, and then she and Edith left the room together.
Mary glared at Branson once Edith had left the room with Sybil, the door closes.
Mary remained with Tom. "You've got her to return with you," Tom accused, "so you can bring her around."
"I intend to try," Mary said with determination.
"Do you want some money for the room?" Mary asked.
"It's like you believe I can't pay my own way," Tom replied bitterly. "Like we are not real people to you."
Mary rolled her eyes. "Oh, please! The chip on your shoulder is showing," she replied coldly.
Suddenly, shrill whistles split the air, and the sound of boots running up the stairs echoed through the inn. Yelling and banging on doors followed, creating a sense of chaos and alarm.
Mary quickly engaged the lock and stepped back from the door, her eyes meeting Tom's in shared alarm. Suddenly, there was a thunderous pounding at their door.
"Open the door!" a gruff male voice demanded.
"Should we open the door?" Mary whispered to Tom. Tom just shrugged no clear idea what to do in this situation.
Another bang on the door, "Open up! This is the police."
Mary, who was closest to the door, reached out and unlocked it. As soon as she turned the key, the door was violently thrown open, almost knocking Lady Mary over. Tom, quick on his feet, caught her before she could fall.
Two burly men strode into the bedroom, their expressions stern and unyielding. "Right then, this here is what is commonly known as a raid," the gruff voice stated. "You're under arrest for solicitation and public indecency."
One of the men moved to grab Lady Mary, but Tom instinctively moved to protect her. "None of that now, you're under arrest too," he said to Tom.
Tom tried to reason, "There has been a mistake."
"That's what they all say," the other man grumbled.
"No, it's true," Tom argued. "This is Lady Mary Crawley. I'm Branson, the chauffeur. I was taking her ladyship to visit family in Scotland when the motor broke down. I had to get a room for the night."
Lady Mary finally regained her voice, adopting an imperious tone that only Lady Mary could manage. "Yes, I was going up to my cousin Shrimpy's estate, and the motor broke down. I instructed Branson here to get me a room. This is the only one left."
The men looked at Tom and Mary suspiciously, not quite sure if they believed their unexpected guests. The room felt charged with tension as the reality of their predicament sank in.
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