A/N: Thank you again for the response, and thank you testship. Hope you all enjoy this chapter, time is starting to move on a bit more.
The Long and Winding Road
Chapter Six
Their week off work passed too quickly for any of their liking, but it did end, as all things must, and the three of them began to settle into their new routine. John and Anna would wake up early – earlier than they would ever had had to at the Abbey – get prepared for the day, and then wake Lizzy, who they would drop off at Mrs Hatchet's farm. In the afternoon, Lizzy and Mrs Hatchet would often go back to the Bates cottage, and the old lady would stay there with her until either John or Anna finished work and arrived back, and one of them would make the walk back with her before returning themselves.
And so the months passed like this. Lizzy had started to overcome the worst of her grief it seemed, and her crying and nightmares had become a rarity. She was still quiet at times, some more than others, but it was nothing that either John or Anna could handle. Lizzy had become quite adept to speaking with her aunt or uncle about any of the issues that plagued her six-year-old mind, and either one of them could make her feel better.
Anna sat in the servants' hall with a cup of tea on a particularly warm January afternoon, mending one of Lady Mary's dresses. The hall was empty, everyone else was either tending to the family or away doing their own tasks. Anna found that this silence began to encourage her mind to delve into the memories of the last few months.
She thought about Lizzy, and how proud she had been with her over the last few months. The little girl had shown such strength of character, stronger than her at times, and Anna found that she would always admire her niece. Lizzy had formed a strong bond with John, often asking him to tell her stories or read to her at night. Anna had once joked that she could read her stories too, and Lizzy had cast a sheepish glance before holding out the book to her before Anna had dismissed her with a laugh and a shake of her head. But she loved to watch John in this role.
She had told him this many times, but one always stuck in her mind. A time when she had been tired, fatigue had caught up with her, and so had the grief. She had returned home later than usual, just a few days after Christmas, John had already been home, taken Mrs Hatchet back and returned by the time she had trudged through the door, sighing loudly. He had been sat up in bed with a book waiting for her, offering her a smile as she walked into their bedroom. It was then that everything surged over her like a wave and suddenly everything came crashing down. She crumbled. She stood there, crying loudly, as John leaped out of bed and wrapped her up in his arms. He had led her to their bed and held her while she cried, which turned out to be a long while, rubbing her back and soothing her with his words. Anna revealed that now, at Christmas, was the time she missed her sister most. She told her husband about her childhood memories with Rose, especially at Christmas, and with Daniel and her parents. She mourned the loss of them all that night. When she had calmed down completely, she had smiled and apologised for her outburst. John had dismissed that instantly. She had earned a scornful glance for needless depreciation. Anna had changed the subject by telling John that she loved watching him interact with Lizzy. He had smiled warmly, and had revealed that it had been his best Christmas, what with being free with her as his wife, and also a child to brighten it up even more.
Christmas had been wonderful, Anna thought as she remained sat at the table in the hall. It had been one of the best Christmas periods she had ever had. John had been here with her, and having Lizzy around added a sort of seasonal magic that could only really be had with a child in the house.
The family had been incredibly kind and given them the morning off together. Although this had, sadly, not meant that John or Anna could have a lie-in. Instead, Lizzy was in their bedroom bright and early, eager to go downstairs and see whether Father Christmas had been. Husband and wife were only happy enough to indulge her. They had both picked up a fair few things for Lizzy over the past few weeks during their trips to Ripon or Thirsk, and there was quite a pile under their glittering Christmas tree downstairs.
Anna and John had watched her happily from their little settee, wrapped up there together, and the morning had only brought one mournful moment. Lizzy's eyes had clouded over with tears when she had opened a present containing a little bag full of pretty, new hair ribbons and some basic, but attractive, hair pins. It had reminded her of one Christmas where Rose had bought her something similar. Anna and John had welcomed her up onto the settee with them, and within minutes the two of them had reassured and calmed her, indulging her with stories of how her mother would be celebrating too now. That had earned a smile from the little girl and John had proceeded to go and make them all a hot chocolate as a treat.
John and Lizzy had snuck themselves a few sweet treats that had been opened once Anna had gone to make them some breakfast, the former pressing a finger to his lips to ensure that his wife did not discover their treachery. Anna did question the sudden appearance of melted chocolate that was traced across the side of Lizzy's mouth, but John simply shook his head and claimed he had no idea what she was talking about.
The three of them had made their way to the Abbey for lunchtime, the family insisting that Lizzy could join the downstairs staff for their festivities, and neither Mr Carson nor Mrs Hughes minded in the slightest. She had laughed and squealed when she had pulled a cracker with Alfred and won, wearing her hat with pride as Anna stroked her hair lovingly, the others smiling at the burst of joy and excitement. Even Miss O'Brien liked having Lizzy around. She had even asked Lizzy about when she would be starting school, and the little girl had replied animatedly, revealing that she was to go to the local school, starting in January.
And she was flourishing. Anna was extremely proud when she had ran into one of her schoolteachers, Miss Bunting, in the village and the woman had praised Lizzy for settling in so well, despite having been there just less than a week. She had made good progress with her reading and writing, and although she was prone to some quiet moments she did interact well with the other children in her class.
Mrs Hatchet would now take Lizzy to school in the morning and collect her in the afternoon before giving her some tea at the Bateses cottage. Once every two weeks, Anna would have her afternoon off and she would pick Lizzy up from school. When she and John had different afternoons off, he would go and pick her up himself, although as a rule they would always try and get the same afternoon off so they could do things together as a family.
On a weekend, when Anna and John were not too busy, Mrs Hatchet would bring Lizzy up to the Abbey to spend some time with them. She was a little helper, often found around the kitchen helping Daisy and Mrs Patmore with little things. Mrs Hughes loved having her here, and Mr Carson rarely minded, as long as the family were not entertaining. Little Sybbie also enjoyed spending time with Lizzy, even if she was still young.
And that was how they found themselves this Saturday afternoon.
"Is Lizzy with you?"
Anna was brought from her thoughts as her husband entered the hall. She looked up and smiled at him, putting down her mending that she had all but finished. There was only one more button to stitch on, and that would barely take a minute.
"No, she went for a walk with Mr Branson and Miss Sybbie." Anna grinned.
Sybbie had recently been learning how to crawl, much to the chagrin of Mr Branson who had 'lost' her a few times now, having taken his eyes off her for a moment. Anna still remembered the day she had been walking down the corridor after setting out one of Lady Mary's dresses for the evening and had come across him looking flustered, a look of panic in his eyes. The two of them had found Sybbie together, she having crawled through an open door into one of the guest bedrooms.
Anna smiled in amusement as she remembered the event.
Sybbie had also become fond of Lizzy, and Lizzy of her. When Tom had come downstairs earlier to ask if Lizzy fancied coming for a walk with them – he must have seen her arriving earlier with Mrs Hatchet – she had jumped at the opportunity. She had asked if Anna would come with her, but she had to finish her mending, although she promised she would come and find them once she had finished.
"It is a lovely day."
"Unusually so for January."
John smirked. "England, unpredictable as ever."
Anna laughed lightly and got to her feet.
"I told her I would come and find them once I had finished this." Anna walked up to her husband, smiling sweetly as she reached for his hand. She asked him teasingly, "Would you care to join me?"
"Maybe we could look into taking a weekend off come spring."
"We could also take Lizzy away for a weekend," John suggested.
Anna seemed to think about it for a moment as the two of them walked around from the servant entrance to the front of the house where Tom had taken Lizzy and Sybbie for their walk. "That sounds lovely."
Both knew that in service their time off would be limited, that was always in their mind, and the two already felt as though they had taken advantage of the family's kind and giving nature. But as it happened, Lord Grantham had mentioned to John that morning about them taking some time off for a holiday, as a family. John promised he would mention it to Anna and they would consider the offer.
"Take you on a long overdue honeymoon," John suggested amiably, emitting a chuckle from Anna. "Spoil you."
Anna took his arm as they walked. "You know I'm not interested in any of that."
"Even so…"
Before John could continue, the two of them saw the others. Tom was holding a shrieking Sybil as she laughed and pointed at Lizzy who was running away from the two Bransons as they chased her around near the temple.
John watched as Anna lit up, her smile widening. They walked a little more of the way together before Anna let go of his arm, prompted by him, and went across to join them. John stood a little way from them, but not too far. He was part of their scene together, but he would not join in their game. Anna was now being chased with Lizzy, little Miss Sybbie still shrieking as her father laughed heartily at their interactions.
It suddenly struck John that he would never be this kind of father to their children, should they be blessed with them one day. He would be a loving and interactive father, that much he had made himself promise years ago when he had received little of the same from his father, but he would never be able to chase them around their garden. Would he even be able to lift them once they reached a certain age?
John was brought out of his thoughts when Mr Branson came over and joined him, thoroughly worn out from his exertions. He smiled at the man he still considered a friend, despite his position now upstairs as part of the family, before his eyes moved to settle back on the other three.
Anna had now taken Tom's place, holding Sybbie in her arms as they chased Lizzy.
"How is everything? At the cottage." Tom asked in his thick Irish brogue, in the middle of putting his jacket back on, having removed it earlier.
"Good," John replied. "Very nice."
"I expect you enjoyed your Christmas very much."
John answered with a nod, but he noticed the sadness in the voice of the younger man. Whilst he knew Mr Branson had enjoyed his Christmas thoroughly with his daughter, their first Christmas together, it must have been painful too, it being the first since Lady Sybil had passed away. He knew Lord Grantham had found it especially difficult.
The two men fell into a comfortable silence, both watching the most important people in the world to them interact.
Soon, Anna had worn herself and Lizzy out. The three of them subsequently made their way over to the men, all of them wearing wide grins. Lizzy instantly came to stand at John's side, asking as to whether he had been watching Anna chase her. He smiled and nodded, saying he did.
When John looked up, he noticed Anna speaking to Sybbie, whispering something in her ear and making her laugh loudly. John beamed at his wife, and if he looked to his side, he would have seen Tom smiling just as happily at the reaction Anna had provoked from his daughter. Sybbie was at the age now where she was becoming much more animated, often crawling and moving around of her own accord, causing quite the scare for her poor father on more than one occasion.
Anna was currently holding quite a conversation with Sybbie who was babbling and shrieking in response, her chubby, little hands clapping loudly.
"Did you really?" Anna asked Sybbie animatedly, shooting Mr Branson a smirk. "And what did Mr Carson say to that?"
John smiled, relishing watching the moment. He looked up at the sky, however, and noticed that a few clouds were drawing in. "Maybe we should start to head back." He gestured to the sky.
Anna looked across at him and nodded. She shuffled Sybbie around in her arms, intent on handing her back to her father when he shook his head. "She looks settled there."
Tom shot her a knowing look and Anna blushed and nodded, hitching Sybbie up a little more in her arms, sighing softly when the little girl rested her head in the crook of her neck.
Anna breathed in her baby scent as she walked just a step behind the others back to the house. She felt her heart tighten as she watched Lizzy reaching for John's hand as they walked and her mind suddenly flashed to an image of the future, she hoped, where she would be holding their own sleeping daughter whilst John walked ahead with Lizzy.
She had thought about children ever since John had first proposed all those years ago in the middle of the war. Even more so once they were married, although she had often avoided that train of thought during his time in prison, finding it too painful when the question of his release had still not been answered. When he had returned to her, it had been a different matter altogether. For the past few months she had watched him interact with Lizzy and had found herself longing for a child.
"Anna?"
John was calling her. She shook herself and looked up.
"You were away with the fairies!" Lizzy exclaimed. Anna chuckled, it was a phrase she had no doubt picked up from her, or her mother.
"So I was," Anna smiled, shaking off their concern.
All but John's.
He looked at her questioningly, concerned.
She shook her head, mouthing that she was fine.
And she was. She was sure.
Within a couple of weeks, Mary had also revealed some news to Anna.
"I suppose you ought to know, we were going to tell the others after dinner tonight."
Anna was stood, zipping up the back of her dress for tonight.
It was late January, and the biting cold had returned to Downton. Anna shivered just thinking about going back outside, even wrapped in her scarf and coat, to go back home.
"M'lady?" Anna asked, slightly confused.
It could be anything. She might be leaving for a trip around the world with Mr Matthew. She would need a maid, and Anna would not be in a position to do that. Even for a holiday that lasted over a week would be difficult. Anna hated to impose these troubles on Lady Mary, although she had always planned to hire a new maid herself if the situation would ever arise, as she was planning on doing when John had been imprisoned and Lady Mary and Mr Crawley were honeymooning.
Anna was spared the troubles.
"Mr Matthew and I are going to have a baby," Lady Mary responded gleefully, turning to look at Anna with a smile on her face. "You may have noticed certain changes recently."
Anna smiled in response and gave Lady Mary heartfelt congratulations. She started on her hair.
Now that Anna thought about it carefully, she had noticed some changes to her lady recently. Anna had simply thought she was putting on weight when she had struggled to tighten her corset as much as usual. She had never been regular either. And now she thought about it, it would explain Lady Mary swatting away Mr Matthew's hand from her stomach earlier that morning when she had come in with her breakfast tray. And she had made a trip to Doctor Clarkson just the other day for some medication that Anna could have collected for her, and usually would.
"That is wonderful news, m'lady. You must be excited."
"I am, we are," Lady Mary corrected herself, although Anna could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. She pinned up one section of her hair and started to arrange the other.
She questioned it.
"Well, after Lady Sybil…"
"Of course," Anna shook her head, feeling foolish. "I should have realised. But surely…"
"It's not likely," Lady Mary replied, her voice a little hoarse with emotion. "But it does make me quite nervous."
"Of course."
"But still, we have quite a while yet."
"When?" Anna smiled.
"Doctor Clarkson thinks around June."
Anna smiled and finished pinning up her hair, framed it with her hands and then asked if that would be all.
"Yes, thank you," Lady Mary replied. She stopped Anna just as she was by the door, "And Anna, thank you."
Anna simply smiled and nodded before closing the door behind her, instantly making her way downstairs.
However, as she made her way down the staircase, Anna stopped. She began to think about it all. Baby Sybil, Lady Mary's child… Anna placed a hand across her stomach and thought about it for a moment or so more. She remembered interacting with Lizzy as a baby and this started to impound her longing again.
She wanted a baby.
But she shook her head after a minute or so, distracted by a door opening upstairs, and continued down to the hall where she sat with the others.
However, whilst everyone there was absorbed in conversation, Anna remained silent, fiddling with a cup of tea Daisy had brought her through and swirling it around aimlessly.
No one really noticed except John, who had been sat across the table ever since Anna had come down. She had smiled and nodded at him, and they had shared a few words but now she was lost in her thoughts. He frowned, watching her closely, knowing something was amiss. He would ask her about it later that night.
That night, as Anna lay with her naked body pressed against him, he asked her, "You looked troubled today."
He was trailing his fingers up and down her arm in a way that comforted them both.
"It's nothing."
"It didn't look like nothing."
Anna sighed, knowing she would have to tell him. Not that she did not want to tell him, eventually, but it had crossed her mind today that he had not been released for even a year, not even half a year. She was hardly in a position to start fretting. He might not even want to start a family yet.
"Lady Mary's pregnant," Anna began.
"That's brilliant news," John started, although there was a nervous edge to his voice. He did not know where this conversation was going. He added, "Isn't it?"
"Of course," Anna nodded, swallowing. "It just makes me think about when we will have children, if we ever have children."
John smiled slightly, glad that this topic was her source of worry and not anything else. He stroked her arm lovingly before moving it to rest across her stomach, causing her to smile slightly.
"It's not even been a year," John reassured her, and Anna nodded.
"I know, I guess it just hit me. And since we talked about having children…" She paused, and both their minds drifted back to the first time it had come up in their conversations, that night in the servants' hall. "It just makes me realise how much I want it all, now you're finally here with me."
"I want children with you."
Anna smiled tearfully, just as she had that night.
"And there is nothing to stop us trying." John raised his eyebrows suggestively, and Anna let out a laugh, slapping his chest playfully before she willingly caught his lips in a slow, but fierce, kiss.
Later that night, or morning, Anna was resting her head against his chest, listening to his heart beating, letting it sooth her.
"I was thinking," Anna began, her fingers playing with some of the coarse hair on his chest.
"Ominous," John muttered.
He received a light slap for his troubles. He chuckled.
"I was thinking about my leaving service. If I don't do it for a baby, then for Lizzy."
"Are you saying you want to leave?"
"Yes. Maybe. I don't know. Not yet." Anna sighed. "But this arrangement won't work forever. Even with Lizzy at school now, it can't go on forever. I need to be here for her."
"You are," John reassured, unsure as to whether she meant that physically throughout the day or in her life.
"Not like that," Anna replied. "I just mean to be here throughout the day, to look after her like Rose would have done."
"You have the option to leave whenever you want to," John began. "We have savings, we have the rent from the house in London. We can live on my wage alone."
Anna nodded. "I know. I might speak with Mrs Hughes about it."
"Just promise you won't worry about this alone. Talk to me. Let it be me."
Anna turned and smiled at him, treating him to a kiss, "Always you." She kissed him again. "Always."
"So, we take this one day at a time. And we see how you feel."
On their next half day in the first week of February, Anna was surprised to find that it had moved to a Saturday afternoon. Upon questioning Mrs Hughes when she had mentioned it to Anna during a rare, peaceful cup of tea in her sitting room, the housekeeper had replied that Mr Bates had asked as to the possibilities of the two of them sharing their day together, and on a weekend. Anna scrunched her face up in confusion momentarily before realisation dawned upon her, and her face lit up instead.
"I wonder what he has planned…" Mrs Hughes proposed, smirking a little as she lifted the tea cup to her lips.
"I'm not sure," Anna replied, glad to be here sitting peacefully with the woman she saw as a mother figure. "But rest assured, I will find out."
Mrs Hughes had laughed. "No doubt you will."
And when Anna had brought it to John, he had simply replied that he thought the three of them should spend some time together in Ripon for once. Over the past few weeks, the three had barely had time to themselves, let alone together. John knew that Lizzy needed to spend time with her aunt, and that Anna needed to feel assured that she was in fact there for her niece, considering the doubts she had been having recently. He had also noticed that Anna had been feeling a little out of sorts, but the two of them had both put it down to their working schedules for the past weeks.
"And no arguments," John demanded as the three of them boarded the bus to Ripon. "Today I want to treat you."
"Well, I might have something to say about that," Anna teased him as she pushed her hat a little further down on her head, it having come loose in the wind during their walk through the village.
"Uncle John says you have been moody lately and we need to cheer you up."
"Did he now?"
This time, John struggled to find the teasing nature in her tone. He watched her carefully as she took Lizzy's gloved hand in hers, making an issue of studying her fingers instead of looking up at him. John frowned but dismissed it a few moments later once the bus had jerked into action, starting to move along the roads.
"So what is it you have planned?" Anna asked eventually, looking up at her husband.
John noticed that she looked a little weary, despite the small sparkle in her eyes that seemed to accompany them whenever they took a trip anywhere, or spent time with each other.
"Well, I thought we could stop at a tea shop first. Then, that little antique shop you like? We could pick up a few things for the cottage."
This earned him a beautiful smile from his wife, even though it was still only small.
"Are you feeling better?" John asked, concerned as the bus jumped a little on the road, throwing its passengers around a little.
"Fine," Anna insisted, nodding to prove her point. "I just feel tired. It really has been non-stop recently."
It was true. The family had thrown a large house party towards the end of January, and as lady's maid Anna had been required to assist some of the visiting guests who had not brought their own, although why that was the case Mr Carson had stressed, he did not know. It had meant longer nights for Anna and him, so much so that Lizzy had been required to stay with Mrs Hatchet at her farm for some nights. Anna and John had been trudging through their cottage door past two o'clock on some mornings, and that was when they had not been persuaded by Mrs Hughes to spend the night at the Abbey.
"I know," John sighed. "But things should lighten up soon."
"Does it ever?" Anna replied, trying to sound light-hearted but it came across as anything but.
John smiled at her warmly, and the three kept up conversation until the bus stopped at Ripon.
John kept to his word and took them to a lovely, little tea shop in Ripon. He sat them down in a nice seat by the window before going to the counter himself and ordering them a pot of tea, some juice and also a vast selection of cakes and pastries. He smirked as he walked back across to the table, sitting himself down with the two girls in his life.
"What has you looking so smug?" Anna asked him, raising an eyebrow.
She was answered just a few moments later when a waitress brought their food and drinks across on a tray. Anna stared at it, and then John. She looked at him as if he had grown two heads.
"You might as well have bought the whole shop!" Anna exclaimed, although laughed when he began to fill her plate with a jam tart and a delicious looking pastry.
John simply smiled at his wife, before turning to Lizzy and motioning for her to choose something to eat.
They did eat them all, surprisingly. And after John had gone back to pay the bill, the three of them went to the antique shop as he had also promised. Anna delighted in looking around and even chose a few things for the cottage, an ornament and also a set of candles. John also bought her a set of her favourite bath salts, to which Anna tried to stop him and was fixed with a stern, but amused, glance.
"There was no need for that," Anna smiled at her husband, taking his arm as Lizzy walked ahead of them.
"There was every need," John countered. "It helps you relax."
Anna was about to open her mouth and argue back once more before she remembered their conversation earlier and found that she would probably be contradicting herself.
"Fine," Anna admitted defeat. "But we go to your little bookshop now."
"It isn't my little bookshop."
Anna dug her elbow into his ribs playfully, causing him to chuckle. "You know what I mean. I always thought you could run one in another life."
"I don't want to think of another life," he began. "Especially if I wouldn't meet you."
Anna turned her head and raised an eyebrow at her husband. Sentimental fool.
But Anna ensured that the three of them went to the bookshop, and they enjoyed spending a good hour or so in there while John scoured the shelves for something new. Whilst her husband looked at the poetry section Anna scoured the shelves for some new novels – it had been quite a while since she had read a good, new book. The old bookkeeper came along and showed her some of their new collections, she noticed a new Anne of Green Gables book in the series but ultimately decided to leave it for this time.
Just as she was about to go and search out John, a Baum novel Glinda of Oz caught her eye, and she decided to buy it for Lizzy. She and John had bought her the previous two as a Christmas present since she had collected the others and read them with Rose before. Anna did not recognise this title and therefore took the copy from the shelf to go and purchase.
As she passed another section, a new Lawrence novel also caught her eye. Anna recognised the title and remembered John telling her that it was a little risqué and had caused quite a bit of controversy. How this old bookkeeper had this on his shelf she did not know, when she had asked after a copy of The Rainbow during John's imprisonment, the two having spoken about it during a visit and she had decided to buy it for him, the old man had been aghast, had turned blush red and had stammered that she would never find anything by that man in his shop.
Anna giggled, taking the book from the shelf again and adding it to the other.
She would surprise John later with this.
Turning the corner, intent on finding her husband and niece, she was not prepared for the sight that met her eyes – a sight that she had slowly become used to seeing since Lizzy had moved in with them, and one that she hoped she would never become too used to.
John and Lizzy were huddled over one book, both of them deep in apparent conversation. John had one arm around her shoulders, the other holding onto the book with his cane hanging on one of the shelf edges.
Anna was suddenly struck with the image, once more, of John with their own children. Maybe they would bring their own son or daughter here one day, a daughter with her looks and John's quiet and gentle nature and a son who looked like his father and was a mix between the two of them. Both would enjoy listening to their father read to them, and would love choosing their books from here even more.
Anna sighed softly, shaking herself free of those thoughts as she carefully hid the books behind her back as she walked past them and to the bookkeeper's little desk and till.
She would surprise them both later, she thought with a soft smile.
The only issue with having their half day was having to go back to Downton afterwards.
Luckily, however, both of their masters and mistresses respectively had decided to take an early night, presumably as a result of the tiring house party that had worn the staff out just as much. Consequently, John and Anna were walking home with Lizzy just after ten. Usually Anna would have taken Lizzy home by now, but since it was Saturday and they would be finishing earlier, she had relented.
Once back at the cottage, Anna had presented Lizzy with her new book. The girl had squealed excitedly and embraced her aunt enthusiastically, thanking her over and over again before asking if John would read it to her. Lizzy loved the books, so much so that she had already finished the two others she had received for Christmas. Anna had lost count of the nights she had found Lizzy straining her eyes in the moonlight, having opened her curtains just to catch a few more glimpses of the pages. And she still suspected that John had found her a couple of times, even though he insisted he hadn't.
He probably read it with her, Anna thought with a smirk as she watched them both, sat together on the settee.
Lizzy had crawled into his lap, her head resting against his shoulder as she followed his reading on the page. Anna felt her heart warm with pride. She really was doing well.
Anna placed their tea down on the little table, along with some warm milk for Lizzy, and then settled down beside them. She loved being a part of their scenes together, relishing in the times with her family. Times that she had thought might never be possible during some of the bleakest moments of John's imprisonment.
John turned another page, the clock on the mantelpiece chiming eleven o'clock.
Anna peered her head around John to look at Lizzy and saw that her eyes were closed, her breathing even.
She nudged John who stopped reading. She nodded her head to Lizzy and he nodded, understanding.
"Bed I think," Anna sighed loudly, enough to wake Lizzy up suddenly. Anna smirked as she watched, aware of the inevitable…
"Just another page!"
John chuckled. "It's late, come on."
"But…"
"It's eleven o'clock!" Anna exclaimed. "You'll never be up tomorrow!"
Lizzy huffed and sighed, but relented as Anna held out her hand for Lizzy to take. She took her hand and made her way upstairs with her aunt, slipping into her night clothes and then into bed without so much as a word. Her eyes were closed again as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Anna smiled as she looked at her niece, pulling the duvet covers up before bending down to place a kiss on her forehead. She murmured a quiet "sweet dreams" before leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.
John was just coming up the stairs as she entered the bedroom. He had promptly washed their pots and put out the lamps and he gave Anna a warm smile as he came into their room.
"Asleep?"
"As soon as she hit the pillow."
John chuckled.
"It was a lovely idea to get her the book."
Anna smiled as she started to remove her dress and corset, "Well, I saw it and couldn't resist."
"It's just a shame she has them all now," John answered. "Otherwise birthdays and Christmas would be a lot easier to buy for."
"Quite," Anna laughed in response as she sat down at her table, looking at her husband through the mirror as he began to peel out of his waistcoat and shirt, having removed his tie and collar as soon as he had returned home.
Anna continued to watch him as he changed into his pyjamas, and felt her breath hit when he began to run his fingers through his hair, removing all traces of the pomade.
"I may have a surprise for you too."
Anna watched and had to stifle her laughter when she saw her husband turning to look at her, his brow furrowed.
"And what would that be?"
Anna was vaguely aware of him walking towards her, only his bottom half covered as she pulled her nightgown over her head. She swore her breathing had stopped when his lips dipped to meet the side of her neck, teasing her there.
"You might have to wait," Anna teased him, her hand on his head as she kept him in place by her neck. Her eyes closed and her neck titled sideways to grant him further access.
Anna felt his lips twitch into a smile against her neck, and soon his lips were by her ear, "Really?"
She almost moaned when he removed his lips completely, but sighed once more when she felt his fingers begin to remove the pins from her hair. Anna knew her husband loved to do this when he had the opportunity.
He handed her the pins as he removed each one.
"And what might I expect from this surprise?"
"Now, Mr Bates, I see patience is not your forte."
He grinned, "Not now. Not when it comes to you." She watched in the mirror as his lips teased her neck once more, his fingers still somehow pulling the pins from her hair. She felt her hair fall rather than saw it. She then felt him pull away.
"Go on," Anna smiled, turning around. "Get into bed, and I will show you."
John raised an eyebrow.
"And you can wipe that look off your face, it's not like that."
John chuckled before walking across to their bed. He watched as Anna brought a package out from a pile in the corner where she had previously placed her clothes, and smiled as she walked across to the bed and placed it on his lap above the duvet cover as she slid underneath them beside him.
"When did you buy this?" He asked. "I don't remember."
"You were with Lizzy," Anna smiled, eager for him to open it.
He did, and she watched him eagerly.
"Women in Love?" John asked her, raising an eyebrow. It was clear that the two of them were thinking the same thing. "You bought this?" He imagined Anna buying this from the old bookkeeper.
"I did feel a little risqué," Anna laughed.
John laughed too, before closing the distance between them and kissing her softly. "Thank you, my darling. I can't wait to start it."
Anna ran her fingers across his shoulders before moving to his chest. "I was hoping we might read it together."
"That we will," John smirked, kissing her again as their embrace became heated.
But as he was about to deepen their kiss even more, he pulled away, grimacing slightly.
Anna looked up at him, her brow furrowed in concern. She soon realised the problem and promptly sought to reassure him. "How is it?"
John pulled away from her, turning in embarrassment as his hand went to his knee, "Much the same." John sighed. "The winter is the worst, but it should ease up a little come spring."
Anna knew that these last few weeks had taken their toll on John more than anyone, and especially his knee.
She nodded and murmured. But before she could reassure him, he turned the conversation back to her.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better," Anna smiled. "Today was lovely. Thank you."
John smiled. "As long as you are."
Anna sighed, "I am. Now, will you let me look at your knee?"
Even now, John sighed at the suggestion.
"Anna…"
"John."
John looked up at his wife and recognised that look. He sighed and nodded, pulling away the covers as Anna reached over and brought a tub of cream from his bedside drawer that Doctor Clarkson had given him. It would help, especially over the winter, to ease some of the strain in his knee, even if only for a short while.
As he rolled up his trouser leg, Anna scooped some of the cream onto her fingers and then began to apply it to his right knee.
"You know you should stop berating yourself," Anna began, looking at him as she waited for a response. She continued to massage the cream into his knee, watching as his head rested back on the pillow, his eyes closed. "You do yourself no favours either."
Anna watched as John smiled knowingly and then opened his eyes. He watched her carefully. She knew, secretly, that he loved her fussing over him. It was one of those things that she was now allowed to do, as his wife, and both of them revelled in it.
"I know," he sighed.
Anna rolled her eyes as he closed his eyes again, his head lulling back onto the pillow. She finished massaging the cream into his knee and wiped her hands on a nearby cloth before putting the pot back onto one of their bedside tables.
John had rolled his trouser leg back down by the time she had turned around and had pulled the covers back up over his chest.
Anna smiled at him warmly, and was about to open her mouth to speak when she released a loud yawn.
"You're tired."
Anna murmured, wanting to argue but finding it difficult as she stifled another yawn.
"Come here," John opened his arms for her, and Anna instantly went to him, resting her head upon his chest. "Make the most of the early night."
Anna murmured and nodded, closing her eyes.
"We might be up earlier tomorrow." John suggested wryly.
Anna murmured once again.
"Are you trying to sleep?"
Anna murmured again.
"Do you want me to be quiet?"
Anna murmured again.
John chuckled and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, letting her fall asleep as he soon followed.
