Hello fan fic world! A bit of housekeeping first off – The date of Vera's death I've guessed, based on the fact that she was declared dead and the Armistice was declared in the same episode in S2. So … just kind of go with it!
So – this is a sort of prequel to my story "What the future holds", I don't want to milk the thing dead but I liked showing the Bates' family, in snapshots – so this is going to be 9 chapters each a year apart, showing their family grow and evolve. If you've already read "WTFH" ( unfortunate acronym!) then I hope you'll enjoy this I hope, and if not – then I hope you can enjoy the story from the start!
Thanks for reading and please review!
January 1921
Dr Howard Winters paused and adjusted his papers, he was small man with thinning hair and round glasses perched on his round face. His wife would be thrilled, seeing her husband work on such a high profile case. He inhaled deeply and scanning his eyes across his cramped notes he continued,
"These tests confirmed my suspicions that Mrs Bates had been ingesting arsenic for quite some time, six to eight weeks in my opinion."
"So Dr Winters," began Mr Murray, with a satisfied smile at the judge. "you would say that Mrs Bates could not have been killed by arsenic ingested solely on the night of the 9th?"
"No, this would have been a much longer process. I … if I may Mr Murray, I examined Mrs Bates' stomach contents in my post-mortem, in her stomach was the quantity of arsenic … and that was it. No food and as far as I could see, no drinks."
"Ahh so you're suggesting that when Mrs Bates consumed the arsenic that killed her, she consumed it willingly?"
"Objection my lord – leading the witness!"
"I'm sorry my lord," Continued Murray irritably, "You would then suggest that she couldn't have … taken the arsenic disguised in food?"
"Not as far as I could see no."
"That's all your honour." said a satisfied Mr Murray, he paused to enjoy a sly smile at the prosecutions weasly young lawyer, who was starting to look very uncomfortable in his ill-fitting suit. He almost felt sorry for the poor man, but, thought Mr Murray, if one was going to play with the big boys – one must really be prepared. The judge, the Hon Mr Justice Brown nodded slowly, eyeing his own notes, he nodded once more before turning to address the court.
"Court will now adjourn for 2 hours, we shall reconvene after lunch for my verdict, he nodded again before allowing himself a moment to observe the court as they prepared themselves to leave, John Bates was not a healthy looking man, he looked defeated as he stood in the dock, the only time the man ever seemed to perk up was when he caught sight of his young wife sat with various friends, colleagues and family over the course of the trial. A pretty young woman, the second Mrs Bates, much younger than Mr Bates of course, as the trial progressed he had considered whether perhaps she had been behind Vera Bates' death. He collected up his papers and turned to make his way out the door to his right, but he had quickly concluded that she was not behind the devious killing of the first Mrs Bates, she wasn't the jealous type, she might have been sparky – he could see that, but she wasn't the type to kill her husband's ex-wife, she was cooler, calmer, more true than that.
Anna stood in the court hallway; she waited for John to walk past, she had always promised that she wouldn't watch him as he came and left the court, he said he felt like a condemned man and didn't want her to see that. She heard the uneven footsteps before she saw him, flanked by two policemen each handcuffed to an arm of Johns. As they levelled with Anna, John raised his head for the first time since he had turned the corner and looked at her; she raised a small smile at him and held out a hand for him, he paused on his walk and shot the two policemen escorting him a quick glance. The tall one on his left with a impressive and daunting moustache gave him a small nod.
"Anna … what are you doing here, don't wait for me, I don't like you waiting for me …"
"I know, but I wanted to see you, it looks hopeful … doesn't it?"
"I gave up on hoping … it's you who's been so … resilient. Which I'm grateful for …"
"Don't be grateful John, I'm your wife, it's my job to stand at your side, come what may."
"Come on Bates – time to go." Said the policeman, taking a swallow and staring straight ahead, in his mind trying to offer the Bates' at least a semblance of privacy. She knew that should couldn't touch John, she wanted to hold him, take his hand and show him how much she loved him. But she couldn't, each of his wrists were attached to its own police man, Anna extended a hand tentatively; faltering halfway she settled on resting her fingertips on his forearm.
"We will be alright John. I promise … for better and for worse, remember?"
"I do."
Around the corner of the corridor Mary sat down at Mathew's side, who was wearing a trail into the carpet with the toe of his shoe, the steady thud of footsteps along the corridor made them both turn their heads, to see Robert Crawley walking towards them with the small round figure of Dr Howard Winters.
"Ahh Mathew, Mary, I would like to introduce Dr Winters. Dr Winters, this is my daughter Mary and my son in law Mathew Crawley."
"Ahh how do you do Mrs Crawley, and I take it you are the Mr Crawley who wrote to me requesting I examine the autopsy?"
"I am indeed, I haven't had a chance to thank you for your work, it really has been tremendously helpful."
"Oh your very welcome Mr Crawley, it's a very interesting case, my wife's thrilled that I've had this chance …" A queer quiet came over the quartet as Dr Winters reflected on the unfeeling statement he had just uttered, Mary gave a small smile as she thought to herself how 'of course his wife is pleased, these middle class types are always thrilled by their husbands minor success'. But instead she smiled at the awkward doctor,
"… I must say," continued Dr Winters. "that I'm very impressed that you've all come out for your valet's trial, especially in your condition Mrs Crawley." Mary ran a hand across the bump on her stomach and gave Mathew's hand a small squeeze.
"Well of course, but Bates and I are old comrades in arms. He's far more than just a servant to us." Replied the earl, puffing his chest out a little as he mentioned his experience in the war. "And my daughter has always been strong willed, we couldn't have kept her home if we had tried." The figure of Mr Murray eased into view from behind the earl and with a small bow to the gathered company he ushered the group back into the court room.
Sat back on the bench Anna felt the cold clammy air of the court around her and she gripped the cool metal bar in front of her for support. The Hon Mr Justice Brown took his place and the room fell silent, Anna could feel the pressure around her increase and the air felt heavy as she inhaled, and could feel John's eyes on her from the dock.
"I have considered the evidence put before me, before I begin, I feel that I should say that this case has been singular in my career in that the evidence on both sides has been so circumstantial, making my job here unusually difficult. I feel that I have made a … objective decision based on the evidence put before me, and I am indeed aware that my decision may not satisfy all parties. However – I believe that in my position as a defender of the British Public, I have made the correct decision. On the charge of the murder of Vera Bridget Bates, on the night of the 9th of October, year of our lord 1918, I find the accused, John Bates, not guilty. And so I find Vera Bridget Bates murdered by person or persons unknown. That's all. Mr Bates – you're free to leave. Thank you all and goodbye." John felt a weight lift in his chest and he inhaled clearly for the first time in months, he turned in the dock and looked into Anna's eyes and saw for the first time in a very long time, joy, relaxation and peace. She smiled at him, a small smile that grew slowly into a beam, he returned her smile as he felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to face the policeman with the moustache – who raised an eyebrow at him before nodding towards the now open back of the dock, he gently steered John to walk out before giving him a small pat on the back.
There was a moment where there was utter silence for Anna, she stood in the carpeted corridor, for some reason her eye was caught by a painting on the wall, a portrait of a high court judge sat against a navy blue curtain, she didn't know why the portrait caught her eye, or why she noticed it in so much detail, it was as though her brain knew she was waiting, and wanted to distract her. She heard the muffled shuffle-thud around the corner that she knew had to be John. She wanted to look up, she wanted to see him walking towards her, but instead her eyes were captivated by the painting, she couldn't drag her eyes away until out of the corner of the eye she saw the dark shadow of her husband come round the corner, and she forced herself to turn and face him.
"Hello stranger …"
"Hello." He replied, he looked her up and down before he held out a hand to her. Watching her falter as she took a step forward before she fell into his arms and held him tightly, John squeezed her inwards towards his chest and felt her back shake as she took a raspy breath and the tears began to fall. "Don't cry Anna, or I'll think you don't want me home!"
"No – I'm just … just relived to have you home."
John sat in the servant's hall, a cup of tea in one hand and Anna's small palm in his other beneath the table. The house hadn't changed at all from what he could remember, although he had to remind himself that he had only been away 2 years although it felt so much longer. Everyone, including the new staff seemed very pleased to see him, even bizarrely Mrs O'Brien seemed pleased to see him, or at least as pleased as she ever was .
"Well Mr Bates, it certainly is a relief to have you back at Downton, we've missed you certainly." Said Mrs Hughes, "I suppose things have changed a little?"
"No as much as I was expecting … or had hoped." He added as Thomas sauntered into the room, he had changed over the two years since John had seen him last, now in a black suit rather than his footman's livery he had an air of pomposity and grandeur about him, he gave a greasy smile at the gathered company.
"Well hello Mr Bates."
"Thomas."
"It's Mr Barrow now, valet to his Lordship. Mrs Bates – Lady Mary wants you, the dressing gong just went … in case you had forgotten your position here. And Mr Bates – his Lordship wants to speak to you, before dinner. Can you remember the way?"
"I'm sure I can – but thank you for your concern … Mr Barrow." After giving Anna's hand a small squeeze, John stood up slowly and made his way out the door, and followed the well-worn stairs up into the belly of the house.
The Earls bedroom was just as he remembered it, save for a few new suits hanging in the wardrobe, Lord Grantham was waiting for John, stood at the window he turned to beam at his Valet.
"Bates, my dear dear friend. It really is wonderful to have you back in the house. How are you?"
"I've been better, but thank you my Lord, It's good to be back."
"And I'm sure Anna's thrilled, she's been on edge the past few weeks … which brings me rather neatly to something I wanted – uh – needed to speak to you about. Will you have a seat?"
"Thank you – but no thank you my lord. I'd rather stand."
"Very well – you've been gone 2 years Bates, and lots has changed … including that Thomas is now my valet …"
"I know, I saw him downstairs."
"Oh lord, I'm sorry Bates, this doesn't make me happy you know. But – I've spoken to my wife and I think I have a solution to this … problem."
"It's not a problem my lord, I lost my job after going to prison, I could hardly have expected to retain my position."
"It's a problem for me Bates, now – the Marquis of Flintshire is looking for a new valet, I have suggested to Lady Grantham that we offer Barrow over to the Marquis. He'll have to have his months' notice, but of course that would allow you to take up your old position."
"I'm very grateful my Lord, but I can't possibly accept."
"Bates – I know that this might seem like charity, but I assure you it is a purely selfish endeavour … I would rather have you dress me than Barrow – and if you're not working here, well, Anna would be destroyed – and Lady Mary would have no-one else as her ladies maid. And besides, I owe you one grace and favour cottage, four weeks should allow you enough time to prepare it."
"I'm very grateful my Lord …"
"As am I Bates!"
Taking a stolen moment in the courtyard John sat on a crate beside Anna, he couldn't quite get used to the open-ness around him, just as the close impersonal nature of the prison had made him feel restless and sick at first, now the freedom made him feel lost. Anna placed a hand on his knee and rested her head against his shoulder, he turned to kiss the top of her head and smiled at her.
"So – are you pleased to have me back?"
"More than you know. So – will you be looking after the cottage?"
"Oh yes, I don't know what state it's in. But I'll have a look tomorrow; it'll give me something to do while I'm jobless."
" Don't say that John. You're not jobless, you're just … between positions."
"If you say so."
"I do! Where are you staying tonight."
"At the Grantham Arms in the village, I was offered a bed here, but it wouldn't feel right."
"You'll come and see me though won't you?"
"Of course! I've been without you for far too long Anna, and I don't want to be without you anymore!"
"I wish I could stay with you tonight …"
"So do I … but that'll have to wait, I've managed for two years on the memory of our wedding night. I'll manage a few more days."