Based loosely off of the tiny scraps of dialogue from Season 5's Christmas Special that has been floating around Tumblr and Facebook recently, this totally "only in my head" story is presented hopefully, for your entertainment. There will be one more short chapter to follow. Julian Fellowes and his lot own all the characters. I just wish he'd treat Banna better.
Robert looked at the evidence Molesley had just handed him. Joining him in the drawing room were Mary, Edith, Molesley, Baxter and Carson.
The owner of the Pickerel on King Street in York confirmed Bates presence in his pub for nearly the entire afternoon on the day Mr. Green died. Mr. Salter was willing to swear to it. This was all the proof they needed to secure his valet's freedom from his holding cell in York .
"I suppose this information will guarantee Bates release, Papa." Lady Mary uttered her words slowly and with some caution.
While she had first person knowledge of the terrible toll Mr. Bates "confession" and subsequent imprisonment had taken on Anna, she was concerned that this new evidence may backfire, causing more grief than relief.
Lady Mary knew that Vyner had been clearly grasping at straws throughout the investigation. He had no solid evidence as to who was guilty of the supposed murder of the evil valet. But he was hell bent to find and arrest someone for the supposed crime. The affidavit held in her father's possession would prove Bates' innocence, despite his desperate admission that he was guilty of killing Green. It was a plea that everyone at Downton knew had been made solely for the purpose of freeing his wife from prison.
With Mr. Salter's willingness to confirm being with Bates in York at the time of Green's death, Mr. Bates would have to be released. But, then Mary's greatest fear could become a real possibility, that Vyner might refocus his unwarranted suspicions back on to Anna.
Mary shuddered at the thought of her most trusted servant being handcuffed and taken back to prison. Perhaps there was some way her father would be able to make sure that Anna was not put in jeopardy a second time for Green's murder. Before she had a chance to bring up the idea of an alternate approach on how to present the evidence, her father spoke.
"Carson," Lord Grantham called out to his butler. "Please arrange to have the car brought up from the garage immediately. I'm going to the prison in York where Bates is being held. Vyner had left a message earlier today that he would be at the jail in York this afternoon and I want to personally hand the information over to the Inspector. Nothing will give me more pleasure than to watch that officious prig sputter and squirm when he realizes his case against Bates has crumbled. I will insist that he free Bates immediately and I be allowed to take him back to Downton this afternoon!"
"As you wish milord. But, may I suggest that rather than you take time out of your busy schedule perhaps I or Mr. Molesley could go as your personal envoy and obtain Mr. Bates release for you?" Carson hated the thought of Lord Grantham associating with the riff raff to be found circulating around a prison. And if he or Molesley could prevent such a comingling of his Lordship with the criminal element found in and about the jail Charles considered it his duty to do so.
"Nonsense, Carson. I still owe Bates for saving my life. And don't forget what happened when I testified at his trial for Vera's murder! Needless to say, after that debacle, I owe him even more. Personally securing his release and escorting him from jail and back to the arms of his loving Anna is the least I can do."
"Has anyone told Anna yet?" Lady Edith queried.
"No, not yet," replied Baxter. We thought it best to show the family and his Lordship our findings before getting Anna's hopes up."
At the mention of Anna's name, Mary felt the time was right for her to interject her concerns.
"May I make an observation, Papa? Should we not consider the possibility that our evidence won't be enough to convince the inspector of Bates innocence? In fact, calling his attention to Mr. Bates' alibi without proof of who the real murderer is, might cause more damage than good. Why don't we step back and take a few days and carefully figure out how to present this proof of Bates' innocence in a way that Vyner cannot use it to switch his unwarranted attentions back to Anna.
Robert looked puzzled as he turned to face his eldest daughter.
"But if we don't say what we know, Bates will hang. Were you unaware Mary that they are planning to move him to London tomorrow? That's why Vyner is here, to personally escort him to the gallows. I'm not sure I understand why the hesitancy on your part?"
"I mean, we need to think of all the possible outcomes once we present this new evidence to Vyner?
Mary could feel the exasperation building up within her.
"Outcomes…? There can and should be only one outcome, Mary. Bates will be released and return to Downton."
"And what of Anna?" Mary pressed on.
Robert looked at his eldest daughter questioningly. "Why Anna will be ecstatic I should think. Her husband will be free and they'll be able to live their lives out together, as they were meant to be. I see no reason for Anna to be concerned or negatively affected by her husband's release?"
"Honestly papa. Sometimes you can be so utterly clueless."
"I beg your pardon, Mary. What did you say to me?" Lord Grantham's features took on a harder edge.
Mary was startled at the tone of her father's voice. Immediately, she assumed it was the stress of Anna and Bates situation that made him react so. But then quickly realized that she had hurt him with her flippant remark. She knew she had to explain what her concerns were as her father clearly did not consider there to be a downside to this new evidence.
"I'm sorry Papa, please forgive me. It's just I'm concerned for Anna. She's gone through so much. I can't imagine her under the spotlight again, possibly going behind bars again."
Mary saw her father's forehead wrinkle as he considered his eldest daughter's words. Slowly he realized why Mary was concerned. He placed his hand on her shoulder before speaking.
"Ah… yes, I understand now. I believe Mary, there is something that I can do to prevent this mess falling back onto Anna."
"Carson dial up Judge Willoughby in London. Tell him a classmate and fellow King's scholar from Eton is calling. I plan to call in a favor he once offered to me several years ago"
"M 'Lord?" queried Carson.
"Never you mind, Carson. Just please make the connection, and do so quickly man."
Carson rushed out of the drawing room with great haste and direction of purpose. He was aware of the importance that time played in the equation of securing Mr. Bates release. Within minutes he returned and informed Lord Grantham that he had Judge Willoughby on the line and could he kindly take the call on the library phone.
"Judge Willoughby, my good man. How are you? And Philip?" Lord Grantham rolled his eyes as he listened to Willoughby wheeze and sputter his was through a recounting of how his son Philip was doing abroad where he was serving as the chargé d'affaires, for the newly appointed governor of India.
"Excellent…excellent Judge. So happy to hear that Philip is doing so well" Robert hoped that the Judge hadn't noticed the dismissive edge to his voice as he responded to the news of young Philip's position.
"Judge Willoughby, I'd love to spend some time catching up with you and how your family is doing, but I'm afraid I'm in the middle of a bit of urgent business and was hoping I could ask for your assistance in clearing it up. A man's life hangs in the balance, so I'm sure you understand that I'm in great need to quickly engender your help."
Robert explained clearly and precisely to the Judge his need for a writ or court order that would instantly remand Bates into Robert's custody and protection. It would be supported by the contents of the sworn affidavit from Mr. Salter. He also mentioned Anna's predicament once her husband was released but was informed that unfortunately with no evidence to the contrary, a similar writ was not possible to issue on behalf of the lady's maid.
Robert thanked the Judge for his agreement to help and then returned to the drawing room to face an anxious Mary.
"Papa, were you able to make sure that Anna won't be re-arrested upon Mr. Bates' release?"
"I'm sorry, my dear, but unfortunately not. The judge said without similar evidence to Bates' his hands were tied and he could not offer Anna the same kind of protection."
Lady Mary's shoulders slumped and her head dipped as she stared down towards the floor. "Then I guess Bates release will result in Anna's re-arrest." She delivered the line in a monotone fashion, struggling to maintain some modicum of control over her emotions.
"Now we mustn't be pessimistic, my dear," Lord Grantham gently urged his daughter. "We've no knowledge of the fact that Vyner will go after Anna again."
"No proof other than he's a vile, rude, bully of a man, Papa. He's arrogant and thinks himself above the rules of society. He'll do anything to prevent from being proven wrong." The bitterness in Mary's voice was not lost upon her father.
"Well, we won't know what he'll do until we get to York prison and present him with the facts. Carson, I want you to accompany me." Robert wheeled to his left as he addressed his butler.
"I'm honored your Lordship," Carson humbly replied
"Don't be too honored Mr. Carson… I'm bringing you along to supply some muscle. I believe there's a very good chance that Bates might need some "persuasion" to leave the jail…Particularly if he believes that Anna will be in jeopardy again once he's free."
Carson's face reddened slightly at the realization that his Lordship regarded his butler as "the muscle"…True, he had been a bit of a scrapper in his youth. But, a desperate Mr. Bates would not be an easy man to handle under any circumstances. "Um…perhaps we should bring Mr. Molesley along, M' Lord, or ahem, maybe Mr. Branson?" Carson saw no reason to not bring reinforcements along, just in case.
'Nonsense, Carson. It will be fine. Besides we won't have room for all of us in the car.
As if on cue, Molesley appeared at the entrance to the drawing room.
"I beg your pardon Lord Grantham, but Pratt is outside with the car…ready to take you to York."
"Very good, Molesley. Now come on Carson, let's head off. We have to stop and pick up a telegram from Judge Willoughby on the way up to the prison. He was going to telegram his orders that will give us permission to immediately take Bates home upon turning over the evidence.
Carson raced to grab his lordship's overcoat and hat as he also snagged some outerwear and a bowler for himself.
There had been a slight delay at the telegraph office, but eventually the anxiously awaited telegram came over the wires. Lord Grantham quickly perused the note and then folded it and put it in his left breast coat pocket, joining Mr. Salter's signed testimony resting near Robert's heart. He smiled as he engaged in a bit of déjà vu remembering Bates' words to him regarding placement of "important papers" and the two forms now residing in his coat pocket were very, very important indeed.
I really do owe Bates a lot, Robert mused to himself as he stepped back into the car. Getting his valet out of jail, he thought, is small payment to the man for all that he's done and sacrificed for the Crawley family.