John checked his pocket watch. He sat in an alcove on one of the upper floors, a fair way down the corridor from Lord Grantham's chambers. He hadn't been waiting long, only a few minutes. He wasn't impatient, but there was nothing else to do. He smiled to himself. He enjoyed these opportunities, these chances to surprise her. Even if ever so slightly.

"These wretched sheets" Anna thought, struggling to gather up the pile tumbling out of her arms so she could carry them more comfortably. She was in a relatively unused portion of the Abbey. Last night some Earl or another had stayed over and Mrs. Hughes had put him up here. He liked to drink and he liked to tell stories. Loudly. For everyone's sanity, Mrs. Hughes had put him in a room away from the others. She was fumbling with the sheets when someone grabbed her hand.

She hadn't seen him. That was his favorite. John reached out for her free hand and smiled at her surprised expression as he gently twirled her and pulled her back to him.

"Hello."

"Hello! How did you find me?"

"I'm a rather patient man."

"Oh come on. Stop being silly. How did you find me?"

"Mrs. Hughes always puts the buffoons up here and I took a wager."

"How long have you been waiting?" She asked, impressed but slightly incredulous.

"Not long."

He pulled her to him and kissed her. She kissed him back, gently, but quickly pulled away.

"John! Not here."

"I've already checked the corridor, it's deserted." He smirked at her.

Anna smiled and shifted the bedsheets into her left arm so she could wrap her right around his neck.

"Deserted, you say?" She whispered, pressing into him. He kissed her back, gently, and she responded enthusiastically. She pressed into him more, pulling him to her with her free arm. She could feel him responding.

John pulled away, smiling but giving her a stern look. "Mrs. Bates." He said with mock seriousness.

She glanced at the bulge in his crotch and gave him a sly smile. "Don't scare any maids."

He leaned toward her. Pressing his cheek to hers, he whispered into her ear. "Thanks for that."

She was about to reply when he suddenly grabbed her bottom and gave it a forceful pinch. Her hand flew to her mouth as she almost called out in surprise. Clenching her mouth shut, she glared at him. He gave her a sinful smirk and turned to walk back down the corridor.

Turning back to the bedrooms to be cleaned, Anna thought to herself "I cannot believe him." She decided suddenly that it was probably best to tidy the linen closet as she smiled and felt the flush rising up her face.

...

John eyed the new footman with little interest. Alfred had gone on to cooking school and this was his replacement. Unlike most new footmen, he wasn't overly young. Probably in his early 30's. But he seemed eager and had worked at a big house before. John stood to shake his hand as Carson introduced him and Anna stood beside him to do the same. He glanced back at Anna. As they said their hellos she seemed to linger. Only for a moment. John tried to catch her eye but she went back to her sewing. "Let it go" he told himself. She was focused on repairing a torn hem. Everything was fine. He turned back to his book.

As Carson announced a new footman, Anna stood up instinctively. Ordinarily they went around the room shaking hands with anyone new. She was tired and not paying particular attention. When Carson said Mr. Bates's name, she knew she was next and looked up and feigned a smile. She was met with striking blue eyes and what could only be called a startlingly handsome man. He appeared to be a few years younger than her, but not much.

Suddenly she remembered back to the first time she met John. When she had shaken his hand and introduced herself, she felt her breath catch. It had never happened before. Here was this man, older, limping and using a cane, and she couldn't breathe. When she got back to her room to splash water on her face, it seemed so silly. "Get a hold of yourself" she told herself in the mirror. She sat on her bed to dry her face and relax, but all she could think about was the man whose hand she had just touched. John. She barely remembered his name, but she felt warm all over.

This time, however, she found herself thinking that Timothy, as it turned out his name was, was extremely handsome in the conventional way, but otherwise uninteresting. Except that he quickly took an interest in her.