Snaps of conversation reached his ears as he polished Lord Grantham's riding boots in the boot room. The door was open, as usual, and the two women talking in the hall were not exactly yelling, but they were not whispering either.

"It is too much, Anna," Millie, the new housemaid had been complaining for a while now. Part of what she said was unintelligible over the sound of the brush on the boots, but, from time to time, a stray phrase would reach his ears.

"Nobody ever said it was not," Anna's voice was calm, but it has lost all of the friendliness Bates was used to. It had been that what had made him pay attention. "You knew what sort of work you would have to do when you applied."

"I know but the drawing room, and then the dining room, and then the small librar-"

"That's enough, Millie," she said. "I've been covering for you, and some of the other maids tell me they have been doing that, too."

"Who said that?" now the younger maid's voice sounded indignant. Bated could not catch Anna's response, both had lowered their voices. And then, there was silence.

He did not want to interrupt whatever that was about, but he had to take the now perfectly clean boots upstairs. The women seemed to have taken the argument someplace else, so it might be safe for him to go.

He was mistaken though.

Anna and Millie were standing at the bottom of the stairs. Millie, a good half a head taller than the head housemaid was glaring at her. Anna was not flinching, doing a good glare of her own. They did not seem to have noticed he was standing there. It struck Bates how small Anna looked and yet how strong and unflinching she seemed.

"This is your last opportunity, Millie, I am sorry," she said softly, but there was energy in her voice and Bates suddenly wished never to be at the other end of her anger.

"You're not being fair!" the maid said rebelliously.

Anna did not say a word; a hand on her hips she kept on staring. Finally, after several very long seconds, Millie bowed her head, defeated.

"You know what you have to do," Anna said, now a little friendlier. She seemed to have sensed his presence, though, because the next second she looked at him and the smallest of smiles lighted her features, albeit quite briefly. Finally, Anna gave the younger maid a pat on the upper arm and left.


It was very late when Anna came down after settling Lady Mary for the night. It was usually the other way around, Bates noticed, from his post at the table. His Lordship's habit to be the last one going to bed meant that he was usually the last returning to the servant's hall.

"Cup of tea?" he offered Anna over his book, as she sat heavily at his side.

"Warm milk, or else I won't sleep a wink."

"That's hard to believe," O'Brien seemed to be unable to keep off other people's business even when it was about trivial matters like this.

Bates was about to offer to fetch the milk for Anna, but she was already on her feet, heading to the kitchen. A moment later she was back, a cup and saucer on her hand, and with a deep sigh she resumed her place at the table.

"I did not know you were in the boot room, or else I would've taken the scolding somewhere else," she said conversationally, as if just a moment had passed instead of a complete afternoon. "But I think Millie did not see you, so she was spared of the humiliation."

"What happened?" Bates asked. It had been so strange to see Anna so serious; he had become accustomed of her being warm and kind to everybody.

"You know she's supposed to replace Sue. It's just... she doesn't seem to be able to cope with her share."

Mrs Hughes entered the room at that very moment. "I'll turn in. Have you talked to Millie, then?" she addressed Anna.

"I was just telling Mr Bates about it," she said with another sigh and a smile that did not reach her eyes. "I did. And I hope it'll work this time."

"Good," she turned around to leave, but stopped at the door and looked back at Anna. "Let's give it a week, and if she doesn't improve, we'll have to let her go."

"Yes, Mrs Hughes," Anna prompted.

Bates looked at her. The moment the housekeeper had left, a small frown appeared.

"I don't think a week will be enough," she whispered, probably to stop O'Brien from listening in. She did not have to worry, though, for Thomas had just arrived and the two of them were doing some whispering of their own. "Or a lifetime."

"That bad…?"

"It's not only the fact that she's not doing her share. It's that she's getting the other maids to do it. That means extra work for them and myself. I don't really mind, but some of the younger ones have complained to Mrs Hughes and me."

Bates had never truly understood until this point what being head housemaid really meant.

"So, if she does not do her job, it reflects badly on you."

"On us all," Anna explained. "And Mrs Hughes won't have any of it. Only… I am to do the scolding when these things happen. And how I hate it."

She took a gulp of milk and set the cup back on the table, staring at it.

"I hate that her staying might depend on me."

"So you're trying to convince Mrs Hughes Millie will do well, even though you don't believe it yourself?"

Finally Anna smiled. "One has to try, right?"