A/N: Sorry for the break. You'd think that the events at the end of series 3 would've given me a burst of creativity, but it didn't. Thanks for the reviews.
Disclaimer: O'Brien said that I had a chance at owning DA. Should I believe her?
Dearest,
I'm sitting in the servant's hall writing this letter. Everyone has gone to bed and the only sounds to be heard are the flicker of the fire and the scratch of my pen. As you well know, I love sitting here, long into the night, and allowing my mind to wander and dream. I haven't allowed myself the opportunity very often over the past few months, but I needed to dream tonight. I accompanied Lady Mary to Ripon this afternoon. She was being fitted for a new dress and on our way back to the house, we drove past some of the cottages. I doubt that she even noticed them, but all I could think of was how we should be in one. I believe that I have arranged our little home a hundred different ways.
Mrs. Hughes asked me to extend her good wishes to you. She also said that she was planning to visit you on her next day off, but you know how infrequent those are for her. You should have heard her when she visited you last time. She was telling Mrs. Patmore about how thin you looked and how she wished that she could bring you a basket of Downton's best. You always say that I'm quite the mother hen. I must've learned it from her.
Daisy has finally started to visit with Mr. Mason. It took a great deal of talking from Mrs. Patmore and I even talked to her a few times, but she eventually realised that she should go. Mr. Mason is a truly lovely gentleman. He always brings Daisy something from his farm whenever he visits. It's clear that she keeps a little bit of William alive for him.
Unfortunately dear husband, I won't be able to visit on my next day off. I'm going to visit my family and help them prepare for the harvest. I don't always do it, but my father has not been well. I am hoping that I will be able to get everything done for him.
I've just noticed the time my dearest and I must go to bed, or I else I will be a bear to work with tomorrow. Rest assured that I will go to bed and dream of the best man that I know, you.
All my love,
Anna
He sighed as he finished his wife's letter. It was short. They were always too short for him, but then he knew that she could write 100 pages and still it wouldn't fully satisfy him. He was glad that she was going to her family. He had never met her father, but he felt a wave of emotion for the man.
Craig was stirring on the bunk above him and he knew that Craig would be up momentarily. He stroked the letter for a moment and then placed it under his pillow. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift to his wife.