I own none of the characters of Downton Abbey.

The Quiet Man

Chapter 10

Anna crept back into her room as quietly as she could, and was thankful to discover that Gwen was fast asleep and even snoring just a little bit, so she would not realise just how late it was when Anna returned.

Anna knew now that all the horrid experiences she had encountered in London to get to the bottom of the mystery of John Bates had been worth it, more that worth it. Not only was he now able to remain at Downton, he had also finally felt able to admit that he did love her just as much as she loved him. Nothing that she had found out about his past deterred her; he had become the man he was because of his past. Now she felt that she could help him to leave the past behind and look instead to the future - hopefully together in some way.

She lay there, unable to sleep, unable to stop smiling. She ran her fingers over her lips trying to recapture the wonderful sensation of John's lips on hers. Then she ran her hands down her body to her waist, recalling how just the touch of his big powerful hands had thrilled her, stirring feelings in her that were still making her tingle and shiver, how she hadn't wanted him to stop, hadn't wanted the moment to ever end. Oh, he had felt so good, had smelt so intoxicating as she'd put her head against his big broad chest, and she longed to feel him against her again. She couldn't help herself, she let her mind wander, imagining how it would feel if they could be properly alone together , touching each other in ways that she now yearned for more than she had ever thought was possible. She blushed in the darkness at her wantonness, but couldn't help herself, as she continued to imagine how wonderful it would be to have John Bates making love to her.

xXx

John Bates also lay awake in the dark, alone in his room, unable to sleep. Of course he loved Anna, he loved her so much that it physically hurt at times, and it was a relief to finally be free to tell her out loud what he thought she already knew in her heart.

His body ached for her; just her touch today had set him on fire with desire for her, as he had known it would. It was why he had resisted any contact with her for so long, given his very passionate nature. He groaned to himself as he recalled the feeling of her firm, full breasts pressed up against him, of her lips kissing him, so warm and sweet. She was such an innocent young woman, she could have no idea of how her actions stirred such strong desire in him, but he would not do anything to insult her virtue, in that he was determined.

But it wasn't just his physical feelings for her that drew him to her so completely. He found it astounding that she had gone to such lengths to clear his name, so determined was she in her belief that he was innocent of the charges against him. What must she have gone through to find Vera, and then be with her when she died, having listened to things that she must have found disturbing and upsetting? But still she persisted in declaring her love for him. She was undoubtedly an incredible woman and he still could not truly believe that he deserved her. But he would do everything in his power to ensure her happiness and well being, of that he was certain.

xXx

"Is something the matter Bates?" Robert asked, realising that he was lingering after he had completed his duties.

"No…that is…I…well, I wondered if I might have a word milord, on something…of a …somewhat personal nature," Bates finally managed to say. He felt incredibly nervous about the matter he wanted to speak about.

"Of course. Well? Out with it man!" Robert prompted, as Bates still hesitated.

"First of all, I wanted to thank you for your generosity in deciding to keep me on here at Downton."

"Ah, well, you have Anna to thank for that. Quite the detective she proved to be, it would seem. Knew you would never have been a petty thief Bates, had to be more to it than that, but let's not speak of it any more now, it's best forgotten about hmm? But I do think you're a lucky man to have a woman like her fighting in your corner, eh?"

"Yes, indeed, and you see it's Anna that I need to talk to you about, milord," Bates finally managed to confess.

"Oh, really? In what way?" Robert asked, his curiosity now piqued.

"I…I… wondered…that is, I know…staff are not normally allowed to get married whilst in service, but I just wondered if there was any way that you would consider allowing an exception to this. You see, I…I wish to propose to Anna, but with my disability, I would not be able to obtain another position somewhere else that would allow me to support a wife. But maybe if you would possibly consider allowing us to stay in service here at Downton, perhaps if we could be considered for one of the workers cottages, then we could complete our duties in exactly the same way as we do now. But if that would not be acceptable to you milord, then I will not be in a position to ask Anna to marry me. And indeed, as I have not yet asked her, she may well turn me down in any case, but I need to know about this first, to be able to make an informed offer to her. I trust you do not think me impertinent to ask about this, milord."

Bates now held his breath to see if Lord Grantham was appalled by his request. He hated asking his Lordship for yet another special favour after he had already been remarkably good in keeping him on, but he really could see no other solution that would allow him to ask Anna to be his wife.

He was surprised to be thumped on the back by his master.

"Well, well, Bates, I'd thought that maybe Anna had a bit of a crush on you, to have gone to so much trouble to clear your name, and now it turns out that you're sweet on her too," he chuckled in amusement. "Of course I shall have to discuss this with her Ladyship, to see what she feels about it, but I can't say as I'd raise any objections to such an arrangement. With the war that's undoubtedly coming, we shall no doubt lose quite a few of our young men as they volunteer or get called up, so it would be good to know that we still have someone with your experience that we can rely on. And I know Cora was keen to keep Anna here, didn't like the idea of losing her to my sister in London at all, she feels she does such a marvellous job looking after our girls you see. Leave it with me old man, I'll let you know. But in the meantime, I'd suggest it's best we keep this just between us two men hmm? Just until it's sorted one way or the other, you'd best be discreet about things between you and Anna," Robert suggested and Bates happily agreed with this, realising that it was a very sensible suggestion.

Robert continued chuckling to himself as he watched his valet leave the room. Bates hardly needed his walking stick these days, his leg was much improved, but it would never be completely normal, that much was obvious, and he would not be going off to war again.

It was good to have some cheerful news, after all the horrid events of late, and the gloom of impending war hanging over their heads, and Robert decided that he rather liked the idea of Bates finding some personal happiness after so many years of turmoil – maybe he was just an old romantic at heart. And Anna would be good for him, he thought, so he decided that he would impress on Cora that he thought it was a good idea, and hope that he could persuade her of the benefits of a rather unusual arrangement.

xXx

Now when they sat next to each other at mealtimes, Anna and Bates let their legs brush against each other under the table, or their hands touch as they passed the salt or whatever else they could use as an excuse. Both felt a frisson of excitement at the merest touch between them, but they had to keep their feelings secret they both knew. However strong their attraction, neither wanted to risk anything that could lead to the other being dismissed. And with O'Brien and Thomas only too keen to find an excuse to stir things up and make trouble for either of them, they knew they had to be extremely careful and discreet.

Being dismissed without a reference, as would be the case for such inappropriate behaviour, would mean no prospect of attaining any other gainful employment; it would mean total ruination. This was why Bates had been so nervous in broaching the subject with Lord Grantham. A different employer may well have decided to dismiss one or both of them anyway, at even a hint of 'feelings' developing between staff. Bates had felt pretty confident that his master would not react in such a way, but it had still been a gamble. And he had not yet received an answer back from him – with her Ladyship still recovering from her miscarriage, Lord Grantham felt that he had to wait for the right moment to discuss it with her.

So there were not many opportunities for them to be alone. Bates knew that if they both lingered behind every night with him offering to lock up for Mr. Carson as he had done before, it wouldn't take long for someone to work out what was going on. And no way would he ever dream of suggesting to Anna that she should come through the locked door between the male and female quarters to his room at night, or that he should ever come to the room she shared with Gwen. It would be very un-gentlemanly behaviour and would mean instant dismissal if they were caught.

So Bates and Anna just had to wait, wait to get an answer back from Lord Grantham to a question that Anna did not even know he had asked, and make do with snatched conversations and longing looks to supplement the ever increasingly erotic dreams they both experienced every night.