Author's Note: I wanted to see how well I could write scenes that contain intense feeling, so bear with me please. This is a bit of a dark, sad story, and it's not very fluffy. I'm experimenting with some new stuff. Ye be warned. I have had this idea and I've been itching to write it. I'm not gonna give away the ending, but you guys are free to PM me your predictions.
Disclaimer: Sadly, Downton is not mine. If it was, there would be happy endings and cake for everyone. Even Edith.
Limited Happiness
Prologue
Anna readied Lady Mary for the big dinner tonight. Mary was pregnant, and told Anna explicitly that she was to look her best when she told everyone. Anna could only smile at this wonderful news. Though Anna was exceedingly tired, she tried her best to make Lady Mary look great. After long days of work, Anna did notice she fatigued easily. Even so, when she woke up in the morning she seemed fighting fit.
Anna now slowly brushed Lady Mary's silky chocolate hair. She did feel exceptionally tired, so tired that she could barely focus on Mary's excited gabbing. But Anna's smile stayed on. She couldn't worry Lady Mary on this joyous occasion. Anna continued to brush her hair. Then, abruptly, the hair brush seemed to tumble out of Anna's small fingers. After the brush hit the floor with a clatter, Anna quickly bent down to grab the now aslant brush. Bending down in such a motion, she felt a harsh jolt of pain in her chest. Her eyes snapped shut as she placed a hand on her aching chest. Anna rubbed it slowly as she grabbed the brush with her other hand. An almost inaudible yelp escaped her as she straightened back up. "My apologies, milady." Anna choked out. Mary stared at her, slightly annoyed.
"It's quite alright…" Mary sighed. Anna resumed to brush as she could feel her heart thumping through her chest. She didn't know why this was happening, but she knew she had to finish dressing Mary. It was then that Anna's breath began to shorten and steepen.
She finished situating Mary in her best dress and started to style her hair. Anna felt as if she wasn't breathing in any air at all. Mary heard her inhalations begin to weaken. "Anna…" Lady Mary began suspiciously. "Are you quite alright?" It was at this time Anna began to panic. She breathed with much difficulty, as if something was obstructing her from taking air in. She looked up helplessly to Mary. Only sickening rough wheezes took place of her empty, unheard words. Mary turned quickly to her. "Anna?" she exclaimed. Her excitement was taken over with fear. "Good God! Sit down!" She helped Anna over to her bedside. "Let me get Mama and Papa! They will call Dr. Clarkson!" Mary, while maintaining composure, she literally scrambled out of the room, ribbons of her untied dress flying behind her.
A few seconds later, Anna was able to take in at least a small amount of air in small rasps. She gripped onto one of the bed's wooden posts as her short, quick breaths started to lengthen gradually. Anna managed to look up as Mary, Lady Grantham, and Edith entered the room. How Anna hated to worry them like this. She was sure she would be fine. She did occasionally have the sharp chest pains in the past, but not breathing complications like this. "Lord Grantham is getting Bates now." Said Lady Grantham.
"T-thank you." Anna choked out. Mary placed herself next to her. She placed a prim hand on Anna's shoulder.
"How are you feeling now?" Mary asked inquiringly, trying to keep her concern hidden from the others, especially Edith. Anna was about to lie that she felt fine, but then Lord Grantham and Mr. Bates let themselves into the room.
John did notice things were amiss with Anna recently. He asked her over and over again if anything was wrong but with no avail. "Anna, tell me what's wrong." He demanded. He took her petite hand in his very large ones and looked her in the eyes. Anna's eyes were not the deep sapphire blue he was used to seeing, but a distracted, disoriented washed-out blue.
"I honestly don't know." She admitted. What could be wrong with her? Dr. Clarkson then appeared in the doorway.
"Alright everyone." He began in his all-knowing voice. He made his way into the room. "Give her some space." He motioned for the Granthams to leave the room, leaving Anna and John. "Now tell me, what happened here?" he questioned.
"Well… I recall that I fatigue easily when working hard…" Anna gulped. "And it's been a stressful day. For maybe a couple days I've had chest pain when I bend down. I do not really know where this breathing thing came from…" Anna tried to answer as honestly as possible. Dr. Clarkson pondered for a moment. He turned to her with his stethoscope he brought with his bag. He pressed it to her chest and told her to try to breathe normally. John tenderly rubbed her back.
"Well…" the doctor began "It seems your breathing and heartbeats are both irregular. I would advise strongly that you spend a night at the hospital. We could run some tests there. The heart and lungs are not something you fool around with." Dr. Clarkson then turned to her. Anna nodded weakly. John helped her up so he could help her pack a bag. Helping her past the worried Granthams, he nodded at them to say that he would fill them in later. John still couldn't help but wonder what happened to his Anna.
Reviews are welcome! What do you think will happen to Anna? More chapters to come!