April 1919

Leaving the dining room alone after breakfast, Sybil was immediately accosted by Anna, who dragged her as respectfully as she could behind a pillar in the entrance hall. Here, nearly hidden to the view of anyone who would be passing by or coming down the stairs, the maid shoved a very small slip of paper into her mistress's hands.

"He asked me to give it to you as soon as possible," Anna provided by way of explanation.

No need this time to clarify who this 'he' was, Sybil guessed instantly whom the maid was referring to.

But she suddenly got worried. What was the rush? Why such a small paper? Was the message he had to pass on her so short?

Were they discovered?

Oh God, no! Not that!

Keep calm, keep calm Sybil. It's not like they were some spies, or traitors, or criminals. And eventually, everyone would know, they had promised each other to marry and love each other out in the open. After all if they were discovered, even a bit too early, it would spare her the stressful prospect of having to announce them the news… Because as gutsy as she fancied herself to be, she knew she will have her heart in her boots when she tells her family.

He said 'as soon as possible'. That was worrying enough, though. Did Mary reveal everything, despite her reassurance that she would not provided they wouldn't act in an improper and unseemly manner.

Turning, she leaned back against the pillar and, a knot in the pit of her stomach and a lump in her throat, she unfolded the note with slightly trembling fingers. It was not typed like the previous ones, but hastily scribbled:

Exciting news by today's mail.
Must see you as soon as possible.
Come. We have matters to discuss.

'Exciting'… He wrote 'exciting', and not 'dreadful' nor 'bad'.

Exciting. 'Exciting' was definitely on the same side as 'good', as far as news was concerned. Wasn't it?

Still, there seemed to be a matter of urgency: 'Must see you as soon as possible'… Sybil wondered where was the fire.

Still propped against the pillar in the hall, she looked again at the small leaf of paper.

'By mail'… News from home? From his mother?

Or… Would it be…

'We have matters to discuss'… Seemed pretty serious, she thought with a wee bit of dread. Serious but good, she reminded herself: 'exciting news' can only be good news.

But something they had to discuss about? If that was that good a piece of news, why discuss it? What would there be to discuss?

Unless it was life-changing news… something they had to make a decision about. Well after all, weren't they precisely expecting – seeking – a specific and drastic change of life?

'By mail'… Oh dear Lord! Did he finally receive a positive answer to one of his many job applications?

With a spring in her step, though still a little apprehensive, Sybil strode along the now more than familiar way to the garage…

The End (or The Beginning?)