Hi, everyone! I hope the website will work as usual soon enough. Meanwhile, here's a new chapter, and I'm afraid we're not done with the worries...
The next weeks were kept very busy with the preparations of the family's moving to London for the Season, and all the business regarding Lady Rose's presentation to the Queen. Bates scored a big point when he discreetly retrieved the Prince of Wales's letter to Ms Dudley-Ward from Mr Sampson's coat and handed it back to Lord Grantham. Later that night, Lady Mary assured Anna of the family's gratitude and loyalty to both of them.
They were all back from London, and every one was gathered that morning around the large table in the servants' hall, sharing breakfast as usual. Mr Carson was scanning the headlines in the Yorkshire daily newspaper, when he commented out loud:
- Oh, listen to that! "Backstreet abortionist arrested in Ripon".
Anna's heart skipped a beat and her eyes met Baxter's in a split-second. Mr Carson went on reading the article:
- "Mrs Janet Owens, who officially worked as a herbalist, was arrested last week in Ripon, on the charges of selling abortive potions, and performing illegal abortions. Ripon police are currently investigating about her customers".
Anna's cheeks went white as a sheet, as Mrs Hughes shot her a worried look. Mr Carson folded the newspaper and stated:
- Well I hope she rots in prison. What a horrible business. And shame on her customers.
- I'm afraid things are a little more complicated than that Mr Carson, said Mrs Hughes cautiously.
Anna was looking down to her knees, trying to swallow her last mouthful of toast, but a large lump had formed in her throat. It seemed this part of her life had not finished haunting her after all… She excused herself from the table and quickly went out to the courtyard. She was battling a fierce panic attack when Baxter and Bates both came out to her.
- Anna, are you alright? asked Baxter. Seeing her hyperventilating, she went on: Oh, you're not alright.
Bates put his hands on her upper arms and tried to help her handle the panic:
- Anna, darling, look at me, slow breathing, that's right, look at me.
Tears started falling down her cheeks. She pressed her fist to her mouth and cried:
- Oh my God, John, it's the woman I went to see! I can't go to prison!
- Did you give her your name? John asked worriedly.
- No… I gave a false name. Ethel Smith.
- Alright. Maybe you shouldn't have used your maiden name…
- That was the first thing that came to my mind… But it's such a common name, it can't prove anything…
- Did anyone see you go in or out?
Baxter answered:
- I don't think so. I was careful.
- Well, let's hope they won't manage to trace you. They can have no serious proof…
- Oh Lord what if they do trace me and come up here to interrogate everyone. My God I will die from shame! Did you hear what Mr Carson said?!
- We'll handle it, said John, trying to sound reassuring. To everyone but four people in this house, there is absolutely no ground in this accusation. And I know those who know won't sell you. I trust Mrs Hughes and Lady Mary. And I hope we can trust you too Ms Baxter.
- Of course! replied Baxter. I was myself one of her customers you know. That's how I knew her.
- Oh.
- Although it was eight years ago now, I don't see how they could trace me. Even she didn't remember me when we went with Anna. But don't worry Anna, we'll all support you if it comes to it.
John hugged Anna, and she quickly wiped her face. She deeply breathed in and out, and tried to regain her usual composure before going inside.
A while later, when she had finished dressing Lady Mary, Mrs Hughes called to her from the door of her sitting-room.
- Anna? Would you come in please?
As Anna entered, Mrs Hughes gestured for her to close the door behind her.
- Anna, said Mrs Hughes in a motherly tone, I just wanted to assure you that if the police come here and ask me some questions, your secret is safe with me. I won't give you. Even though I don't agree with the choice you made, I understand you made it out of distress, and I think you paid a high enough price for it. It's not my habit to lie to the police, but in this particular case I believe it will be a legitimate lie.
Mrs Hughes's kindness brought tears to Anna's eyes. Her voice was shaky as she answered:
- Thank you so much Mrs Hughes.
- Have you mentioned it to Lady Mary?
- No… Not yet.
- Maybe it'd be best to warn her. So that she's not caught off guard if the police come here. But I bet they won't. How could they trace you?
- I very very much hope they won't…
x x x x
Anna's anxiety reached once more a high level in the next days. Her sleep got worse, and the nightmares came back, although their content was different this time, involving her being ripped out from John's arms and sentenced to years in prison. She had talked to Lady Mary about Mrs Owens's arrest, and the lady had assured her that she wouldn't say anything to the police if they ever came to ask her. John tried to stay calm and focused for both of them, but his previous experience of justice and prison made him very anxious too. However, nothing happened in the following three weeks, and they all started relaxing a bit.
x x x x
- Mrs Hughes? Mr Carson? called Mrs Patmore from the kitchen's entrance.
Mrs Hughes was the first one to come across, and went to see what was going on.
- Yes Mrs Patmore? What is it?
- These gentlemen want to see you.
Mrs Hughes looked to said gentlemen. She didn't know the two men.
- Mrs Hughes, I'm the Housekeeper here. How may I help you gentlemen? she asked.
- Inspector Vyner, said the first one, introducing himself. From York's police, and this is Officer Powells. We are investigating a case of illegal practice of abortions in Ripon.
Mrs Hughes's heart fell when she heard that, but she managed to stay composed:
- I really don't see how I could help you with that, she said coolly.
- May we speak somewhere private? asked Vyner.
She led them to her sitting-room and closed the door behind them.
- So, how does this sad business concern me?
- Not you personally, but a witness has tipped us that someone from your staff may have been involved with this abortionist.
- What?! she exclaimed in a well-imitated surprise. Well I'm sure this is a mistake.
- I don't know, answered Vyner. That witness said she saw two women go in the abortionist's shop, one dark-haired and medium-sized, and one younger, short-sized and blond-haired, and the blond one looked worried. She didn't know the dark-haired woman, but she knew that the blond one worked at the Abbey, because she had served her in a shop in Ripon and they had discussed her employment. So, do you have a maid in your staff who would match this description?
Mrs Hughes was getting uncomfortable. She thought there was no point in lying about that, when all he would need was to summon the whole staff to find out that there was indeed a maid who matched this description perfectly… Unfortunately Anna was currently her only blond employee.
- I do have a lady's maid who is short and blonde, but she's happily married, she would never need to use an abortionist's services! I'm afraid your witness was mistaken!
- Well, that would be our job to tell, thank you Mrs Hughes. May we speak to this maid?
- Of course, I'll go fetch her. If you would wait a minute.
Mrs Hughes exited her sitting-room and sighed deeply. She hoped Anna would manage not to break down in front of them. She inwardly cursed the witness who had given her to the police. As she started to search for Anna, she saw Mr Bates coming down the stairs. She called after him:
- Oh, Mr Bates!
- Yes, Mrs Hughes?
- Oh dear… Two policemen are here, waiting in my sitting-room, they want to talk to Anna!
- Oh dear Lord.
- I'm sorry… It seems someone saw her and recognized her… Do you know where she is?
- I think she's in the laundry room.
- Let's go fetch her.
They both walked to the laundry room where indeed Anna was ironing some of Lady Mary's clothes.
- Anna? called softly Mrs Hughes.
When she looked up and saw both their anxious faces, Anna knew right away why they were here. She closed her eyes and slowly breathed out.
- So, that's it. They're here for me?
- I'm afraid so… frowned Mrs Hughes. They're waiting in my sitting-room.
John went to her and took her hands, looking straight into her eyes:
- Now remember. You were never pregnant, you never went to that shop, and if ever they ask about your illness, you had a kidney infection. Although I don't see how they could know about it. We're happily married and we are anxious to have children, so it wouldn't make any sense for you to go see this kind of person. Be offended.
- I'll try my best, she said, pressing her lips together, trying to soothe her racing heart.
They went back to Mrs Hughes's parlor, and she and Anna went in.
- Here she is, gentlemen. Do you mind if I stay while you talk to her? And her husband is right there, do you want to see him too?
- I'd rather he waited outside, answered Vyner. You can stay, as long as you stay quiet. Hello, Mrs? he said, looking to Anna.
- Mrs Anna Bates, she answered, trying to sound as calm and innocent as possible. Might I know what you want from me?
Vyner took a look at his notepad. Her name didn't match any of the names given by Mrs Owens.
- We are investigating women who might have used the services of an illegal abortionist. Have you heard of such thing?
Anna made a puzzled face.
- I do know that it exists, but… what does it have to do with me? I'm married, and I would be very happy if I were pregnant. What would I want to do with such a person?
- Well, you tell me, Mrs Bates. Because there's someone who described a woman looking just like you, and who worked here at the Abbey, going into this shop. Around mid-August last year. Does that ring a bell to you?
Anna felt suddenly hot. Who could have recognized her? She didn't know so many people in Ripon. It was someone who didn't know her so well, since they didn't know her name. That was something to be grateful for.
- Well, I'm afraid this person was mistaken. Because I have never set foot into this shop.
- So you're telling us that you've never been pregnant, and never tried to get rid of it?
- Of course not! she said hotly. As I told you, my husband and I are anxious to have a child, I would never do that!
- So, can you tell me what happened to you mid-August last year? I'm told you suffered a very serious illness, that almost claimed your life. It would fit quite well with some unfortunate consequences of an illegal abortion, just saying…
Anna felt sweat starting to show on her brow. How on earth had he come across this information?
Mrs Hughes cut Vyner:
- I'm sorry but how do you know about that? That's her private life!
- Mrs Hughes I asked you not to intervene. And for your information, your staff talked at the church bazaar…
- I had a kidney infection! stated Anna. That has nothing to do with an abortion.
- So you say. We'll check that with your doctor.
She wondered anxiously if Dr Clarkson would corroborate her lie. She hoped so, after all it was his idea in the first place, but it was one thing to tell it to people at the Abbey and another to lie to the police…
- Alright, Mrs Bates, thank you, I think we have enough for today. Might we talk to Mrs Bates's employer, Mrs Hughes? Lady Mary Crawley I think?
- Lady Mary is out at this moment, I'm sorry. I'm afraid you'll have to come back, said Mrs Hughes coldly.
- Alright, we will, don't worry. Well, ladies, good day to you. We'll be in touch, said Vyner, nodding to them.
He went out, followed by his silent acolyte. When they were gone, John entered the room and closed the door. Anna threw herself into his arms, her shoulders shaking in hard sobs.
- Oh Lord, John… They know about the infection…
- What?! But how?
- Apparently someone talked about it at the church bazaar and it fell into the wrong ears… said Mrs Hughes. Anna, she went on, do you have any idea who his "witness" might be? Someone who served you in a shop in Ripon and who you told you worked at the Abbey?
Anna wiped her eyes, and tried to focus on her memories of her last trips to Ripon. She was not one to babble a lot in shops and talk about her private life to anyone. But there was this time she went to buy some lace and silk for a new dress for Lady Mary. She had had to explain her employer's wishes to the saleslady.
- It might have been at Mrs Wiggins's store… I went to buy materials for Lady Mary's dress, so I had to tell her who it was for.
John clenched his fists at the thought of this person selling Anna to the police.
- I hope I never come across this Mrs Wiggins or I'll have a few words for her and they might not be civilized.
- We'll have to tell Lady Mary as soon as she gets back. When is she supposed to be back? asked Mrs Hughes.
- She's having tea at Crawley House with Mrs Crawley, she should be there before the gong. I'll tell her when I dress her for dinner, said Anna.
- Alright. Anna, my dear, said Mrs Hughes, squeezing her arm, they only have one witness. Here, everyone will tell them the same thing, that she's mistaken. I'm sure even Dr Clarkson will support you. They can't go far with just that.
Anna sighed and briefly closed her eyes.
- I very very much hope you are right, Mrs Hughes.
- So do I, added John, brushing his hand against Anna's back.
- Let's go back to work, said Anna.
Uh Oh... How are they going to get out of that one... (Thank you for reading, and please leave a review!)