Over the next week the occupants of Grantham House didn't travel too far, as Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson continued to recuperate. Henry and Ella took the opportunity to spend as much time together as possible, as did Sybil and Tom, away from their families and the life that they would soon be returning to and Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes took the opportunity to spend as much time together as possible, to talk about their wedding plans. They were so blissfully happy and it pleased everyone to see them together, but all of that was about to change for them all, in a way that no one could have seen coming.

At the start of their third week at Grantham House, all six of them were sat around the dining table having breakfast, which was kindly prepared by Ella and Sybil, who were both delighted that their cooking skill shad come on. They'd prepared all the usual cooked items, sausages, bacon, eggs etc, and Ella had even tried her hand at making kedgeree, which she had to admit was very tasty, as they all sat chatting happily around the breakfast table when the post arrived. Sybil received a letter which she opened casually at the table, but as she unfolded the paper, the opening line frightened and concerned her.

Dearest Sybil,

The news I am about to deliver in this letter is, at this stage for your eyes and your eyes only; do not, whatever you do read any further until you are out of Ella's presence, as this very much affects her.

At the end of the sentence she did exactly as she was instructed and stopped reading. She knew that the news must have been serious for Mary to write such a thing, as her handwriting seemed more rushed than normal, but was still recognisable as her older sister's.

She quietly folded the letter and tried to conceal it the best she could, whilst attempting to re-join the conversation and act as if nothing had happened, but the letter had peeked Ella's interest.

'Who was the letter from?' She asked as she sipped her tea.

'Just a note from Mary, she's having a lovely time in France with Matthew.' Sybil lied quickly, but instantly regretted it as Ella then, of course, wanted to read Mary's news for herself.

'Oh may I see?' She asked.

'Well actually, Tom and I were just about to go out, weren't we Tom? I'll let you read it later if you want, but perhaps she's written to you too.' She said as she quickly stood up from her place and looked at Tom in a way that instructed him to follow her.

Ella noticed this behaviour and grew concerned for her sister. Sybil was a very bad liar, which was a nice quality in some respects, but not when it came to a secret of such magnitude. The young couple disappeared quickly out of the house, barely saying a word to anyone as they left which was of course noted by them all.

'What on earth was that all about?' Ella asked as she stared after them. 'I really hope it's nothing serious.' She added.

'Well whatever it is Ella I'm sure she will tell you when she is ready, but try not to push her; it's obviously something between her and Tom and we shouldn't pry.' Mrs Hughes replied, but the look of concern on her own face very much matched her daughter's.

Outside Tom and Sybil walked away from the house as fast and as far as they could until they were well out of view. Tom was struggling to keep up with his wife as she desperately tried to find somewhere quiet and secluded to read the rest of Mary's words.

'Sybil will you please slow down and tell me what's going on?' Tom asked as he grabbed at her elbow.

'I don't know Tom, not until I read the rest of Mary's letter, but it sounded really serious and she told me not to read it in front of Aurie.' She replied as she at last found a large oak tree in Hyde Park that she could sit under. She pulled out the letter and Tom watched as her eyes furiously moved from left to right with each word she read and he watched as her mouth gaped in shock.

'Sybil what is it?' He asked again after a few minutes of silence, fear in his voice as he wondered what it could be.

'It's too awful to think about.' She said as she handed him the letter, which he read quickly for himself.

'But I don't understand; Lord Grantham said that he was dead?!' Tom said as he turned to his wife with a questioning look.

'He is or he was supposed to be; I don't understand. Mary hasn't been able to give me too much detail, only that he's walked back into our lives, bold as brass.' She said.

'What are we going to tell Ella? She has to know, it's not the kind of thing we can keep from her.'

'I know that, I'll have to tell her, but how exactly am I supposed to break this to her and what about poor Mrs Hughes? She'll need to be told as well, but how does one even deal with that?' Sybil said as she felt her eyes prickle with tears.

Tom held his wife in a deep comforting embrace as he thought about what they were about to unleash and he couldn't even begin to comprehend what they were about to do.

'We need to go back now and tell her immediately. You don't want Ella to hear this from someone else, in fact I'm surprised it's not already been in the papers; "Earl's brother back from the dead" or something to that effect, it'll be quite a story when it gets out.'

'We can't let it get out Tom, it mustn't. This would destroy Aurie, you don't know her yet like I do and I just know that this would absolutely destroy her if this got out. She doesn't even want to acknowledge that he exists, let alone that he's her father. He should have been hanged for what he did.' Sybil spat angrily and Tom was so unused to hearing this harsher side of his wife.

'When we get back to the house ask to speak to Mrs Hughes and Ella together. I won't say anything about this to Mr Carson or Henry, but you need to talk to them or at least prepare them for what is about to come.' Tom said as he took charge of the situation.

Reluctantly she nodded her head and knew that he was right, as they marched back in the direction of the house. In her head she rehearsed what it was she was going to say, but the scene she played in her head always ended the same way and she really didn't want to be the reason why her sister was crying, but no matter how she worded it, of course that was always going to be the case.

'I think I should tell Aurie on her own first, that way she can break the news to her mother.' Sybil said after several, very long, minutes of stunned silence.

'Well you know them both better than I do, so you'll know what's best for them.' Tom agreed.

'What's best for them is to not have to be facing this situation right now. They've worked so hard to get to where they are and it has been so lovely to see them together. I won't deny that it is strange to see my sister with another mother and to be able to accept her so readily, but Mrs Hughes deserves Aurie in her life; she didn't deserve what happened to her then, she didn't deserve giving up her only child and she certainly doesn't deserve having to face the man who forced himself upon her!' She said, a little too loudly for Tom's liking, as she became more upset and agitated.

'Shhhh! Keep your voice down!' He said as he tried to keep her quiet. 'You are absolutely right, of course, but you'll be no good to either of them if you work yourself up into a state. You have to be strong for them now.' He added as they finally made it to the front door of the house and prepared themselves to go inside.

It was clear that Ella had been sat waiting for them, as she came rushing out into the hallway to greet them as soon as they arrived.

'Sybbie what's going on? Is everything alright?' She asked.

Sybil gave a nervous glance towards her husband, who gave a curt nod back in her direction.

'I'll just go into the drawing room and leave you two ladies to it.' He said awkwardly as he excused himself.

Sybil looked at her sister for ages before she could pluck up the courage to speak to her. She couldn't even find the words to ask if they could go somewhere private. Her voice seemed to stick in the back of her throat and gagged her.

'Aurie, we need to talk; but we can't do it here. Can we go into your room?' She asked quietly.

'Yes of course we can.' Ella said with her brow creased as they walked in silence to her bedroom. All sorts of things were running through her mind, but nothing could have prepared her for what was about to come as they sat and made themselves comfortable of her large bed.

'I'm so sorry that I've been so cloak and dagger Aurie, but I didn't know what to do for the best. My letter was from Mary and she asked that I didn't read it in front of you, because it contained some very sensitive information, information that is going to be most distressing for you; but please know I am here for you, no matter what I'm always here.' Sybil explained.

'Now you really do have me worried Sybbie; tell me what's wrong.' Ella asked.

'Mary wrote to say that she and Matthew were asked back to Downton from their honeymoon because a man has turned up, claiming…well he's saying that…oh Aurie I don't know how to find the words to tell this to you.'

'Well you must tell me Sybbie, who is this man that's got you so worked up?'

'The man is claiming to be Richard Crawley, the youngest son of the late Earl of Grantham.' Sybil revealed at last and for a few moments what she was saying didn't seem to register with Ella.

'No he can't be…but then that would mean…but he's supposed to be dead!' Ella stumbled as she tried to make sense of it all.

'I know and I can't really tell you much more than that; Mary doesn't give me much information, only that he arrived about a week ago and Murray is trying to help Papa confirm whether or not he really is who he says he is.'

'But he can't be, surely he can't be who he says he is. God couldn't possibly be cruel enough to deal me this hand as well, just when mam and I are getting on so beautifully. Oh good Lord please tell me she doesn't know yet?!' Ella panicked.

'No, Elsie doesn't know yet; I thought you would want to be the one to break the news to her.' Sybil sat as she ran her hand along her sister's shoulder, just as there was a knock on the door.

'I wanted to check to see if you girls were alright; Tom said that you'd received some bad news.' Mrs Hughes said as she entered the room, to find Sybil comforting her daughter and Ella sobbing her heart out.

'Oh Mam, I have something I need to tell you!' She cried in despair.

I hate to break to you guys, but that's the end of that story; but don't fret, I'm already working on the next instalment, so in the meantime please leave me a review and let me know what you think.