Home Plot - Part 3

[adifferentlife]

There had been little sleep for Sybil that night, unable to stop her mind from racing. Each word that was spoken at dinner played over in her head, followed quickly by her stilted conversation with Henri and then the one with her sister. When the maid comes to wake her she's already up and dressed, sitting at her dressing table and counting the minutes until she can go down for breakfast and then to the hospital.

Breakfast was a rushed affair as well, nodding and answering when asked a question and grateful that Mary was still abed. When she excuses herself she declines the offer of a ride into the village, wanting the walk to clear her head. This is her home, and yet she feels out of place. Has she changed so much? Will they be here forever, and will she have to find a way to make this her life again? These are the things that she wonders on the way to the hospital, thoughts that deserve more time than she has to dedicate to them. There's a transport there which means a morning of blood and sweat as they take in patients and get them clean and settled.

Sybil rushes toward Henri, barely making eye contact as she hurries to help him settle a patient. "Good morning."

Comments

[adifferentlife]

“Nor I you,” she says sincerely, her hand gripping his tightly. Almost as if she worries that should she let go she will lose him entirely. Sybil clears her throat, unsure of how exactly she can explain what she has to tell him next. “Thomas told me once, in Darrow, that I eloped with Branson in my future. He was- is, our chauffeur. I would gladly marry you tonight if I thought it might end our worries.”

[jaimemieux]

“Branson.” Combeferre had met a number of people in the last wild twenty-four hours, and had forgotten many of their names as swiftly as he had been told them. But Tom Branson had stuck, if only because he had seen in the man a kindred spirit of sorts. He had even wondered if he might seek the man out, cultivate at least one friendship in this strange world that seemed right and familiar. “I- I think I met him,” he said after an uncomfortable silence.

[adifferentlife]

It worries her immensely that he doesn't respond to her offer of marrying him, but rather to her mention of the chauffeur who is a friend but nothing more. Sybil takes his hand, clutching it. "That's not important Henri. You and I, we are what's important."

[jaimemieux]

“Of course. Of course we are.” Henri clasped Sybil’s hands fiercely and brought them to his lips. What a fool he was, riddled with petty jealousies, when he might lose the woman he loved entirely. But it was easy to be jealous, even for a sensible mind, when his fear of losing her had never felt so fierce.

He had thought before of marrying Sybil - had thought about it quite a bit, in fact. But in Darrow, the idea had been as idyllic and easy to contemplate as their nights spent together. Here, it overwhelmed him. “I would marry you in an instant, you must know that. But such would only compound our troubles, pull us apart more swiftly. I have nothing-“ Henri took a breath, straightening. “I will not always have nothing. I will find a way for us, I promise you that."

[adifferentlife]

"I do not care what we have, if you are there," she says, and she knows now that she means it. All of the wealth means nothing to her without him. "We could work, and make our way. Unless-"

There is a thought that has wormed into her head, and it is one that is hard to dislodge. "Do you not wish to?"

[jaimemieux]

“More than anything,” Henri assured her quickly. “I love you so. I am-“ Damn it all, he was doing this all wrong. He did not want to hurt her, and God only knew how desperately he wanted her by his side, but they had to think sensibly. “We can work, yes, but Sybil- I must have something besides a room at an inn and a patron who is already halfway to regretting his kindness to me. I fear Doctor Clarkson will turn me out eventually, and then what?” He took a breath. “I only need some time to get my affairs in order. Please understand, Sybil."

[adifferentlife]

“We can do this together,” she insists, though she’s no time to say much else. Two other nurses come out of the door, already fumbling with cigarettes. Sybil takes a discreet step back from Henri, and bows her head slightly to seem deferential.

“I love you,” she whispers as she walks past him and back in the door. Hopefully that is enough to see them through..