Challenge: There's a mystery to be solved at the Abbey.

Some kind of skulduggery has go on and Anna and Mr. Bates are hot on the trail to solving it.

A theft? A murder? Something else? That's for you to decide.


'Are you sure you don't know where it is?'

'I am sure! I've told you, I put it in the drawer and now it's gone. I thought you hid it or something...'

'I did not. I would never hide it. You know that.'

'Well then...how can something disappear just like that?' she said with a snap of her fingers.

Anna didn't know what else to think. How could something go missing from your own house without a trace? Who would take such thing, and even if someone did, why? It was something so personal and no one had been in their cottage...well, no one who would put it to use. Just the thought made her shiver. Oh well, they would have to buy another one.

But John wasn't so sure.

'You know...I think I saw you placing it on top of your vanity table...after...you know... afterwards, now that I think about it...'

'It's not there now. I don't understand how could it go missing? It's not like it has legs and can run away, is it?'

John smiled softly at her words.

'Maybe you put it somewhere else without even thinking. It'll turn up, Anna, don't worry. I was going to buy you another one anyway.' His wink made her giggle, and for a moment she forgot all her frustration.

'Were you really?' she asked approaching him slowly.

'I was. A racy red one this time.' He grabbed her by the waist once she was within his reach and slowly his lips made their way up her neck until they reached her mouth in a heated kiss.

XXXXXX

Daisy smiled nervously at the piece of fine lace before her. She couldn't explain why she'd taken it. What had come over her? She'd never done anything like it before. But earlier in the afternoon, she had visited the Bateses at their cottage with Mrs Patmore and Mrs Hughes, for tea, and when she excused herself and went upstairs to use the bathroom she saw their bedroom door standing open. Without any malice and only curiosity she peeked in, and when she saw the garter resting on top of Anna's vanity table she couldn't help herself, she scurried into the room as fast as she could and snatched it.

Why? She didn't know why. But when she saw it she understood what it was. She had seen one once in a not so proper ladies magazine, and the feeling of having such item overwhelmed her.

Now it laid on her bed. She looked at it as if it were something from another world and the thought that Anna and Mr Bates actually...used it made her skin flush. She never thought that Anna would be so...daring, and Mr Bates neither. Daisy found herself breathing faster and she blushed at her thoughts and without a second glance, she grabbed it and threw it in her underwear drawer, hiding it at the very bottom.

How she would face them now she didn't know, and she went to bed feeling all funny like about herself.

XXXXXXX

'I see you are in high spirits today, Anna,' said Mrs Hughes as Daisy poured their morning coffee.

'Indeed I am Mrs Hughes. I had a good night.'

Anna looked at Mr. Bates with a mischievous smile on her lips and he smiled back at her. 'A very good night,' he whispered. Unfortunately for Mr. Bates, Daisy was beside him with the kettle in her hands, and upon hearing his words she dropped it to the floor, splashing coffee on his trousers.

'Daisy! What on Earth?' he cursed as he felt the hot liquid against his skin. 'What has gotten into you?'

Daisy's red cheeks gave her embarrassment away. 'I'm ever so sorry Mr Bates,' she said. But what she thought was...I have your garter in my underwear drawer and I can't stop picturing you and Anna using it!