AN: Sequel to "And so it begins". This one covers from the end of episode 1 to episode 4 in series 1.

All characters and places belong to J. Fellowes.


"What are you laughing about." Gwen's question made her jump back to the present and the duvet both of them were carefully placing over Lady Sibyl's bed.

"Oh, it's nothing," Anna said, but a chuckle undid her words.

"Go on! I'd like to have a reason to laugh, too."

"It's O'Brien. I was just remembering the look of her when she saw Mr Bates coming back and it was obvious he would not be leaving after all."

Gwen chuckled. "I wish I'd been there."

"She looked as if somebody had put salt on her tea," Anna grinned.

"You mean, more than usual?" both girls giggled.

"It is odd though, isn't it?" Gwen said after a while, taking a bundle of sheets and exiting the room, followed by Anna who was carrying the used candles.

"What's odd?"

"His coming back," Gwen spoke much quieter this time. The corridors were hardly suited for having private conversations.

Anna thought about it, while entering the servants' stairs. She really had no idea of the reason, and having been so happy about seeing him back, she had forgotten to ask him how had that been possible, when they had spoken about his leaving only the night before, and he had been carrying back his suitcase when she had bumped into him. Truth to be told, though, she was not sure if she would had dared asking him, even if she had thought of it.

What was it about Mr Bates that some of the most natural questions seemed to be too intrusive to ask?

They were hardly the only members of the staff curious about it. Anna smiled again, on her way to the laundry rooms, remembering Mr Bates, entering the kitchens as if it was just a regular day and he had only taken his suitcase for a walk. He had greeted everybody in there with his usual "Good morning" and then, apparently oblivious to the stares, he had sat in his usual place, right in front of O'Brien. Anna's eyes had been fixed on her, and her expression had been something that, she was sure, would cheer her up in days to come.

"So you're staying, then?" Mrs Patmore had asked, blunt as usual.

"I am," Mr Bates had nodded.

"Good," the cook had muttered on her way back to the kitchens.

O'Brien had made a funny noise with her throat.

Oh how she hated being outsmarted. It was nothing, Anna had thought, sitting next to Mr Bates and reaching for a cup of tea as well, even though she had not been supposed to have had free time at the moment. Her discomfort and her anger were nothing compared to the humiliation Mr Bates had had to endure before of her. Well, it was a consolation nonetheless.

Not long after they had taken their seats, O'Brien had left without a word.

Anna had glanced to her left and had seen Mr Bates grinning into his cup.

"Cat caught her tongue," he had whispered.

"Poor cat," Anna had retorted.

"Indeed."

It wasn't until mid afternoon that Anna saw her again, this time talking to Thomas in the courtyard, smoking. It was too good an opportunity to miss, and although a loud voice in her head was screaming about how nothing good could come from eavesdropping, she decided to ignore it and came as close to the couple as she dared.

"- does not make much sense, does it?" O'Brien was sneering.

"No. But he's back anyway," Thomas said shortly. He looked thoroughly downcast; Anna had not realised how important the post had been for him. Or maybe it was just the fact that his plans had not worked?

"There's something we're missing," O'Brien spoke again. "What did Lord G said exactly?"

"That's it, isn't it?" Thomas snapped. "I was at the door, I couldn't hear. The Duke was in the car, Bates too, and the chauffeur had driven them a couple of yards when Lord Grantham just decided to run after them."

"Run?" the Lady's maid pus as much contempt in the word as humanly possible.

"Travis pulled over and he caught up with them," Thomas ignored it. "And then Bates was coming down with his suitcase and-"

"And five minutes later he was having tea in the kitchen," O'Brien finished.

Thomas just nodded and took a long drag from his cigarette. Anna was about to come back inside when he spoke again. "I heard what he said to Carson, though."

"What was it?"

"'It wasn't right, Carson'. That's what he said."

O'Brien huffed and threw the butt of her cigarette to the ground. Anna turned around and left, as quietly as she could. She felt suddenly warm with gratitude towards Lord Grantham.