At Crawley House, Lady Mary was enjoying a quiet afternoon having tea with her mother-in-law. In time, she had come to like Isobel's company, and she sometimes dropped by and spent some time with her. It was refreshing to hear a different point of view than her own close family's on some topics. This afternoon they had been discussing Isobel's efforts in helping a Ripon charity that took charge of Russian refugees.
- Those poor souls, said Isobel, they have lost everything they had, they have often lost a big part of their family too… They have to start over from scratch. And you know, a fair number of them were landowners back there in Russia, like your lot are here really, so they don't have a proper profession, it's hard for them to find any job…
- I guess… answered Lady Mary. She thought a bit anxiously that she would indeed not fare very well if she found herself alone in an unknown country, where she could not use her social position and she would have to find a job to sustain herself…
But Isobel dropped the subject and suddenly asked Mary:
- Oh, tell me, how is your maid doing? Anna? Is she better?
- Well, yes, she is, thank you for asking. I mean, she's recovered, but she and her husband are quite downcast, because Clarkson thinks that she won't be able to get pregnant again after… well you know.
Isobel face fell at that news.
- Oh. I can't say I'm surprised though… It happens quite frequently after this kind of infection.
- But you know, they seem to have handled the news, and now they're talking about adopting a child…
- That's nice, said Isobel, smiling. I know there are plenty of children out there who would be better off with them. They seem to be decent folks.
- Yes, they are. I do hope they find happiness, however they do.
- That's kind of you Mary, said Isobel with a twinkling eye.
- Don't look so surprised, I can be kind! said Mary, pouting.
x x x x
In the servants' hall, people were starting to gather, waiting for the gong to be rung. Mr Carson approached Mrs Hughes, asking:
- Oh, Mrs Hughes, what did those two men want earlier?
Mrs Hughes looked sideways to Anna who was sitting at the table finishing some sewing. She was sorry for her and Mr Bates, but she didn't see how she could avoid the story getting out downstairs, as the policemen would likely be back. She didn't like lying to Mr Carson, but she couldn't tell him the whole truth either. She answered him very quietly:
- Some policemen from Ripon. They're investigating the abortionist's case, and apparently some silly witness have been feeding them nonsense about Anna going to see her…
Mr Carson startled:
- What?! But this is preposterous!
- Yes indeed it is. That's why I hope this will be kept as quiet as possible and be settled very quickly.
- I agree. I'm sorry, I have to go ring the gong.
As the gong rang, Anna put her sewing away and went upstairs to dress Lady Mary. While she was helping her with her jewels, Lady Mary noticed her shifting uneasily, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare.
- What is it Anna? Is something the matter?
- Well… Yes m'lady, answered Anna, blushing a bit. You know when I told you about the police investigation? Well, they were here earlier.
- What? Oh no, but how did they find you?!
- Apparently someone recognized me… And they also knew about my illness…
- Oh Lord… Do you know who is it who sold you?
- I'm not sure, but I have suspicions. I think it is Mrs Wiggins, who owns the haberdashery. You remember, last year I went there to buy lace and silk for your dress, and I told her I worked for you. She's the only person in Ripon to whom I have given that information.
- Oh, what a nice person. I give her my money and she gives my maid to the police. Well we're not going to let her get away with that.
Anna looked concerned.
- Hum, m'lady, what do you mean by that? I don't know that it is wise to interfere…
- No, no, don't worry. I'll just remind her that she has a shop and a reputation to maintain.
- I'm not sure I'm quite comfortable with that m'lady…
She was growing nervous, fearing that Lady Mary's initiative would only make things worse.
- Anyway, she went on, the policemen said they wanted to talk to you too, so they'll probably be back soon. They're going to talk to Dr Clarkson too…
- My my, they're really going out of their way to bother women do they… Imagine a world where we could make our own decisions regarding our own bodies and men wouldn't have their say in it.
- That'd be nice, answered Anna, with a little smile.
- Well they can come to interrogate me, as I told you already I will stick to the official truth.
- Thank you so much m'lady.
Lady Mary had assured Anna of her loyalty a few weeks ago, and now was the time to turn her words into act.
x x x x
A few days later, Vyner had come back and had an interview with lady Mary, but obtained no new information from her. The doctor had also confirmed Anna's version of a kidney infection. Vyner was getting quite grumpy, and had doubts about the witness credibility. It did seem to make no sense that this married woman who had no child yet would seek to have an abortion. And he felt Anna was sincere when she said she would be very happy to be pregnant. His ground to prosecute her seemed feeble. He decided as a last attempt to organize a confrontation between her and the witness.
Next day at breakfast, as Mr Carson gave out the morning post, he handed out to Anna a letter from Ripon's police department. Before she could hide it, Thomas saw it and said out loud in his usual nosy manner:
- Ripon's police? What do they want with you?!
Anna ducked her head down and put it in her pocket. Bates stepped in and snapped at Thomas:
- Surely nothing that would concern you Mr Barrow.
- I'm afraid Mr Bates is right Mr Barrow. This does not concern you, added Mr Carson sternly.
Barrow made a tight smile and returned to his breakfast. The last thing Anna wanted was for Thomas to put his nose into this story. Right at this moment, Lady Mary rung, so Anna got up and went to retrieve her breakfast tray and went upstairs. John's eyes followed her away in a worried gaze.
Anna entered Lady Mary's room and put her tray in front of her.
- Good morning m'lady.
- Good morning Anna. How are you today?
- Fine m'lady. Although I just received a letter from Ripon's police.
- Oh, what did it say?
- I haven't opened it yet.
- Well, do open it!
- What, now?
- Of course, I want to know what they want with you!
- Alright, said Anna, pulling the letter out of her pocket.
She started reading it, and her heart fell.
- They're summoning me at the police station, for a confrontation with their witness.
- Jesus… They won't let it go… When even Clarkson told them to leave you alone… When do they want to see you?
- It says next Thursday at three.
- Alright. I'll tell Papa to let Bates come with you.
- Thank you m'lady… Will that be all?
- Yes, thank you Anna.
x x x x
That night at the cottage, Anna was pacing back and forth the living-room, the letter in her hand. John looked at her, worried, and grabbed her shoulders to make her stop.
- Darling, sshhh, stop it. It'll be alright.
- But how do you know? What if he decides to arrest me and put me in jail right after the confrontation? Oh Lord I can't go to jail… Maybe we should run away! she exclaimed with a desperate look in her eyes.
- That would only make you look more guilty… Come on, they have no solid proof, only one witness's affirmation, when everybody else, including a respected doctor, tell them the contrary. I don't see how they can prosecute you.
- I hope you're right… she said, hiding her face into his chest.
He held her tight for a while. He wished more than anything in the world to tell her that he would protect her and that nothing wrong would happen to her ever again, but he knew that it was a promise that he could not keep, and it broke his heart.
x x x x
On the eve of the confrontation, Mary entered the dining-room, to share breakfast with the others. His father looked startled at seeing her downstairs for breakfast, as she usually ate it in her room.
- Mary, you're down early? Do you have something specific planned?
- Yes, Papa, I need to go to Ripon today, and as I know you need the car this afternoon, I figured I'd go this morning.
- Oh, alright. What do you need to go to Ripon for?
- Oh, just some shops to visit.
Lord Grantham accepted her explanations without asking further, and went back to his tea and his newspaper. Tom Branson asked her:
- Do you need me to go with you Mary?
- No, no, I'll be fine with Stark. I won't be long. I'm sure you have plenty of other things to do.
- Alright.
An hour later, Lady Mary was walking decidedly in a Ripon street, and entered Mrs Wiggins's haberdashery. Fortunately, this early in the morning, no other customer was in the shop. Mrs Wiggins came to her, smiling:
- Good morning Ma'am, how may I help you?
Lady Mary put on her most contemptuous face, looking down on her with her "I'm a grand Lady" look:
- Lady Mary Crawley, from Downton Abbey. I've been told you have gone to the police and told them ridiculous lies about my maid.
Mrs Wiggins frowned when she realized what she was talking about.
- I'm afraid they were not lies, m'lady.
- I'm afraid they were. You are supposed to see her tomorrow at the police station for a confrontation. I can only advise you to think very seriously on what you think you saw, and ask yourself if you've not been mistaken from the beginning. My maid is a fine person, she doesn't deserve her life to be ruined because you think you saw a person who looked like her.
Lady Mary paused for a few seconds, and looked around the shop with an interested look. She looked at the shopkeeper and said:
- This is a fine shop you have here, Mrs Wiggins. I bet it's working out well. I think you have plenty of customers among my friends in the local nobility. It would be a shame to hear some lies spread out that would ruin your reputation and turn your clients away.
She shot her a dark and piercing look, making it clear that she was not joking and she was ready to bring her down.
- Am I being clear enough? she asked
- Yes, m'lady, you are, answered Mrs Wiggins, looking scared and pissed at the same time.
- Perfect. Good day to you, then, said Lady Mary, turning around.
She went out the door and walked back to the car that was waiting a few yards down the street.
x x x x
Just like her two previous trips to Ripon, this one was spent in a heavy silence. John sat near Anna on the bus, holding her hand. He could feel she was very tense, as she kept chewing on her lips and bouncing her leg. As they got closer and closer to Ripon, she felt the bus was driving her to the scaffold. She thought that if she got away today, she wouldn't want to come back into this town ever again. Finally, much too fast to her liking, they found themselves standing in front of Ripon's police station. She squeezed hard on her husband's hand, closed her eyes and breathed in deeply.
- So, there we go. If I don't get out, just know that I love you, she said looking into John's eyes.
- They won't keep you darling.
- How can you know that, she said darkly.
She tried to collect herself as much as she could, and went inside, followed by John.
Twenty minutes later, Vyner was introducing her in a small office, where Mrs Wiggins was already sitting, looking nervous. It felt odd to Anna that she should be nervous when she was not risking anything, unlike herself.
- So, stated Vyner, business-like. I have summoned you two today to try and clear some facts. Mrs Wiggins says she saw a petite blond woman going into the abortionist's shop last August. Now, Mrs Wiggins, I want you to consider seriously your answer before giving it to me: Is Mrs Bates here the woman you saw going in?
Mrs Wiggins looked up to Anna, and scrutinized her face for a minute. Anna tried her best to look calm and innocent, although her heart was racing so fast she thought it would burst out of her chest, and she felt sweat running down her spine. Mrs Wiggins suddenly inhaled, and turned to Vyner:
- I… I'm sorry… I can't be sure it was her.
There we go. I think we can all thank Lady Mary... So, are we out of trouble yet?