Anna woke up suddenly and felt out of place. About thirty seconds later, she realized that she was not in her cottage with Bates; she was still at the hospital with Mary.
Oh no, she thought, I must have fallen asleep on the sofa! Oh, I'll be in such trouble if they notice! And I forgot to go back to the house and get that special blanket!
She darted up, putting a hand to her hair to make sure she was somewhat presentable. The clock on the nearby desk said that the time was 4:45.
At least Daisy will be the only one up at this hour, she mused, setting her bun back in place.
With that, she grabbed her shawl and made her way up to the main house. Oh, how could she have forgotten the blanket? Thank God it was early morning and Mary was still asleep; she had asked her to fetch it the previous afternoon. It had been hers when she had been born but the baby came on so suddenly that he hadn't had time to go and get it.
The house felt cold; something hung in the air, something she couldn't quite place.
I wonder why the house feels so dark and cold… Lady Mary just had her baby and she's all right; surely that's cause for celebration!, she mused as she quietly wandered up the stairs to Mary's room. When she got there, she knocked very gently and paused. No answer. She opened the door slowly and found the room empty. She was sure Matthew would have been asleep. Perhaps he stayed at the hospital last night in another room?
She shrugged and went over to the bureau where she had last seen Mary put the blanket. She rummaged through the drawer but didn't find it.
Hmm. That's odd. Maybe I'm just tired.
She proceeded to look in the bureau's three other drawers but still no blanket.
Oh, I knew I should have done it last night! Then there would have been time… but now… what do I do now?
She took a moment to think.
I know; I'll ask Mrs. Hughes.
With that, she turned and left, making her way down to her room.