1925
Anna Bates stood in the doorway to the small parlor in the cottage she shared with her husband, John. Head down, he had yet to notice her, his attention wrapped up in the novel he was reading. Anna allowed herself to observe him for a few moments. Five years of marriage, real marriage, had done nothing to diminish Anna's amazement that he was hers. He was such an amazing husband to her and father to their two year old, William. She watched the fire light glint off of the glasses he now grudgingly used to read. So handsome.
Finally, he looked up at her. "William asleep?"
"Yes." She said softly, moving to sit next to him. "He's asleep."
She leaned against him, his arm going around her as he went back to his book. Anna though, had other intentions.
"John. Don't you want to ask how my errands in town went today?" Anna asked, coyly.
Bates closed his book, amused and curious. "Well, you wouldn't let me come with you, so I imagine you were up to something mischievous."
Anna smiled. "No, I just wanted to be sure before I got your hopes up, Daddy."
Bates' mouth fell open. "Really, again? Oh, Anna!" Tossing his book on to the side table, he gathered her up in his arms. Squeezing her tightly, he whispered in her ear. "You have made my life, do you know that? Your love alone was more than I could ever have dreamed of, but then you gave me William and now another baby."
"I'm glad you're pleased." Anna laughed at her husband's exuberant reaction. "I think I'm still a little in shock! How are we going to manage around here with two children? Nanny will never be able to manage a new baby, the way she did when William was born." Bates and Anna had considered themselves lucky that Lady Mary had offered her son George's nanny to mind William as well, so that Anna could continue working, but it was unlikely to work out that neatly a second time.
Bates pulled back and his face grew serious. "Well, I had actually been thinking about about that. Not two children, but our family's future. Anna, I think it's time that we leave Downton."
"What?" It was Anna's turn to be surprised.
John pulled her close to him, beseeching her to understand. "Hear me out. Anna, the world is changing. Our children won't have the option to live the life we have. I want to teach them how to succeed in the modern world. When I'm gone," he held up his hand to prevent her from interrupting. "I want to leave our children a legacy. Whether or not they join in the family business, I want them to be in control of their own futures, to whatever extent is possible."
Anna nodded seriously. "I agree. Although, I expect you to be around for a very long time, I don't think service is the best example to raise our children in."
"So we're agreed. We'll begin diligently looking for our hotel. Hopefully, by the time this child is born, we'll be hotel proprietors." He smiled at Anna and squeezed her waist. "Children." He said with a disbelieving tone, shaking his head.