A/N: As always, huge thanks to my reviewers. Ya'll are truly the best, and I love hearing what you think of each chapter.
Time travel was a thing of fiction, something that happened in Jules Verne or H.G. Wells novels. But just like giant sea monsters and aliens from distant planets, such ideas belonged in books, not in the real world. But despite its impossibility, his reality was very much like a science fiction novel. Bates had given little thought to anything besides the mission he had assigned himself in this new life, this second chance, and it had nothing to do with seeking out Anna again. All that mattered was keeping her safe. But he still thought about the fact that he was in possession of knowledge regarding future events.
The changes he'd wrought by avoiding the fall in front of the Duke had been minor, and gradually events had returned to normal. But by the time the date of the house party arrived, he began to wonder how much he should interfere in other happenings. Bates knew what was to occur with the Turkish ambassador Lord Napier would bring with him to Downton. While Anna had never given him a full account, he knew the man would end up in Lady Mary's bed and die there, inciting a series of events which would harm not only the Earl's daughter but potentially Anna as well.
Bates knew that he could not change everything he might wish to alter. He could not avert the war which was coming. And if he did try to stop it, he would be labeled a madman and shut up in an institution. Even working on a smaller scale, he very likely could not save William's life or prevent Matthew from being injured. His helplessness to stop the death and destruction of so many young men left him anxious and guilty, as though he were colluding with the enemy by keeping silent. But what could he do? Even now, events were in play which would bring about the largest war of his lifetime. Even worse, he was denied the ability to serve his country.
But he could make certain that the scandal which allowed Vera to take him from Downton, to take him away from Anna's side, would not be repeated.
Lord Grantham joked about German spies at Downton, and Bates smiled at the notion even though his heart was not in it. He was preoccupied with how to prevent Pamuk from dying in Lady Mary's bed. Should he make sure the man did not reach the bedroom? But if he were caught on the gallery in the dead of night, he'd surely be sacked. And if Pamuk lived, how much would that change the future? Of course, he was assuming that the Turk would live if he avoided Mary's bedroom, which was not guaranteed. Having died of a heart attack, he might die in his own bed or live long enough to return to London.
What if he died in London, and controversy erupted over its suspicious nature? What if the war started early, and in doing so, the entire course of history was changed-
"Bates?" Lord Grantham asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Are you all right?"
"I am, milord," he answered automatically, turning his attention to his work.
"If there's something troubling you..."
Bates paused for a moment, but then decided that consulting with his employer might actually help. "I was thinking of something the other day, and it has been vexing me for a while."
Raising an eyebrow, the Earl told him, "Go on."
"If you could fix something... go back in time and change the past, would you?"
The Earl looked amused by the question but gave it due consideration. "I think there are chapters we would all prefer to re-write, especially the painful ones," he ventured.
Waiting for him to say that the past was left to the past, that such things could not be changed, Bates had already decided on the course of action that he would take. But Lord Grantham surprised him.
"There are certainly things I would change," he finished with a sad sigh. "And perhaps it is for the better that I cannot go back in time."
Bates nodded, and their conversation shifted to a lighter topic as he finished brushing off his employer's coat.
Later that evening, the Turk's arrival was the subject of much conversation below stairs. Bates made sure he took a seat next to Anna at dinner. The occurrence was not as fare as it used to be, but it certainly drew her attention. Anna held herself with a sort of stillness, making no extra effort to converse with him. He surprised her greatly when he commented quietly, "Is the Turkish gentleman as good looking as everyone says?"
Anna blinked at him for a moment before smiling, either pleased at his attention or embarrassed, he could not tell. Bates knew from a private admission from his wife that she'd found the Turkish ambassador attractive the first time she'd seen him, although moving his dead body about the house had certainly put a damper on that feeling.
"He's handsome enough," Anna allowed, coloring slightly.
For a split second, he found a feeling of jealousy coursing through him. Pushing it away, Bates noted, "I heard he rode a great deal with Lady Mary today."
He could not ignore the pleased expression she wore and it only took him a second to realize it was because they were talking so openly. Gossiping in the servants' hall was common enough, but he rarely partook. She, on the other hand, had always enjoyed hearing reports from the footmen after dinner, and as a woman, she tended to demonstrate keen insight into all manner of situations.
Anna responded, "She seems to like him well enough."
"Of course, nothing can come of it," he mused aloud.
Anna's forehead wrinkled in consternation. "Why do you say that?"
He had not considered it much before after Pamuk's death, but there were real impediments to such a match if the Turk had not died. Bates knew the Crawleys would never approve and he rather doubted that Mary would settle for someone that was not her social equal if she did not truly love him.
Aloud, Bates ventured, "He is a foreigner. Their cultures are too different, and I doubt either of their families would approve of such a match."
"But it isn't impossible, not if both parties are willing to sacrifice to be together," Anna said quietly, not looking at him. "It would be worth it, if they fell in love."
In an instant, he realized that she was no longer talking about Lady Mary. She spoke of her feelings in code and he did not realize it until he'd walked into the landmine.
"He'd bring her to ruin," Bates said, referring to himself in the guise of Mr. Pamuk and Lady Mary, silently adding, and death.
"What would that matter if they truly loved each other?"
She spoke so solemnly, and he knew she was betraying her own growing feelings for him. Somehow, despite treating her so poorly since he'd come to Downton, she'd developed such a strong attachment to him anyway. He hated to encourage her feelings, but he needed her to trust him on this one night.
"Anna," he began. "I know I haven't been very kind to you since my arrival. But I do regard you very highly. I hope that you know that you can call on me, if there is anything I can ever do for you."
Confused by his sudden turn in the conversation, she said, "Thank you, Mister Bates."
He nodded thoughtfully. "I wish everyone was as understanding as you. I'm not as unfit as they all deem me. I know I can't serve at table, not for the carrying, but for the look of it. But I could help with the luggage, if they would give me a chance."
"But... wouldn't you have trouble lifting?" Anna asked.
Shaking his head, Bates informed her, "I'm not weak. I have a bad leg and trouble balancing at times. But I can lift with my other arm. If I take it slow, I think I could assist somewhat."
He let the conversation die out there as their dinner finished and Anna was called up to attend Lady Mary. But in doing so, he hoped that he'd gotten his message across. While Bates had no desire to help carry the luggage, he wanted Anna to know that she could ask him for help. Years ago, or years later, as he was beginning to think of his own time, his wife had told him that Lady Mary had suggested asking him for help in moving Mr. Pamuk's body. She'd turned down the suggestion on the belief that he could not carry. Bates knew it was a decision she always regretted because if they'd involved him instead of Lady Grantham, perhaps the whole thing would have stayed secret.
It was a small chance, but if it proved to make Anna's life easier in the long run, he would do anything necessary.
As he'd hoped, there was a quiet and gentle knock on his door in the small hours of the morning. Bates hadn't been to sleep yet, although he'd removed his coat and was left in his shirt and waistcoat. He answered the knock immediately.
Outside stood Lady Mary. Anna stood at the end of the corridor by the open door to the women's side. "We need your help," the dark-haired woman whispered, the panic alive in her eyes enough to startle him.
He needed no other convincing, nor would he have had he did not already know what this was about. Bates followed the women quickly, ignoring the pain in his knee as he hurried behind them, barely letting his cane make a sound as it touched the ground.
The trip to the family's rooms took little time. Once they were there and Bates observed the state of Pamuk's body, he looked at the two women with a questioning gaze.
Mary could not meet his eyes, but Anna knew what needed to be done even before he spoke the statement aloud. "We should take him back to his own bed," she declared.
Nodding, Bates stated, "I agree. He can't be found here, mi'lady."
The other woman nodded in embarrassment and misery, her eyes closed as she struggled to ward off the tears.
Between the three of them, they wrestled Pamuk's body out of his bed. The man's skin had gone cold and began to pale, but his limbs had not yet stiffened. The way to the bachelor's corridor was far, and even Lady Mary seemed to wonder if it could be done at all. But Bates was determined to have the errand finished and both women in their beds before the first servants stirred.
He had them wrap the man up in his sheet. Twisting the fabric around the corpse's feet, Bates took hold of the makeshift handle and steered them through the house with Anna and Lady Mary on either side of the diplomat's torso. They had no conversation. No recriminations were offered when one lost their grip and the young man's body plummeted to the ground in undignified heap. And after an exhaustive period of trudging through the house with their burden, they were finally able to deposit the man into his own bed.
Anna stripped the sheet off the Turkish gentleman and returned it to Lady Mary as Bates pulled back the covers to hide the man's nakedness. Mary accepted the bundle, her eyes wide as they swept over to Bates. She seemed to suddenly realize the power the valet held over her now. He knew her darkest secret, he and Anna both, though he was a stranger to her.
"I don't know what to say," she began, breathless. "Bates, I can never repay you-"
Shaking his head, he waved off her thanks. "Think nothing of it, milady. I was only glad I could help."
She would have said more, but Anna interrupted, "We should get to bed, mi'lady. Others will be up soon and it won't do to be seen out of our beds."
"You're right." The noblewoman sighed and took one last look at the Turkish diplomat. A goodbye.
Bates had never really felt anything regarding the situation with the dead man in Lady Mary's bed beyond the scandal of it harming he and Anna. But now that he saw her and the grief written in her features, he understood Anna's desperation in keeping her safe from ridicule. Lady Mary was but a girl with her first real infatuation cruelly torn from her. It was the same expression he saw on Anna's face when he was unnecessarily cruel to her.
Once they parted from Lady Mary, Bates walked with Anna back upstairs to the servants' rooms. They said nothing to each other, but several times he noticed her studying him as they walked together.
"You should hurry along," he suggested. "I will catch up."
"And have others wonder about you walking the house at night by yourself?" Anna responded saucily. "At least if I'm with you, their speculation would be something other than you creeping about and thieving under the cover of darkness."
He knew what assumptions would be made if they were caught together, and her acknowledgment of it caused him to have trouble drawing breath. Had she just suggested that if caught, he should use stepping out with her as an alibi? Never mind her reputation - her job would be forfeit. As much as Mrs. Hughes liked the head housemaid, she'd be out on the street within hours.
"Don't ever suggest such a thing again," he said finally, his anger barely contained. Anna could not sacrifice her position to protect him - not for this and not for anything.
Anna frowned at him, obviously hurt by his tone. Thankfully, they'd reached the kitchens unwitnessed and could part to return to their beds.
"Don't worry, Mister Bates," she declared boldly, both a challenge to him and an angry promise. "I won't make such a mistake again."
TBC
