We're back for the end of this party! This chapter is rather a high-and-low emotional roller-coaster, so fasten your seatbelts!

The night was warm, and chatter and laughter was rife amongst the guests of the Downton Charity Event. The Australian singer's concert had been a great success. After the concert, people had scattered around the lawns, enjoying the very well-garnished buffets Mrs Patmore's team had set up. Anna felt so good, at last free to be among people she loved, talk freely and simply enjoy a good time. John spent more time gawking at her beauty than anything else. He kept patting the inside of his tuxedo jacket, making sure the little box was still there. He had a plan for tonight.

- Would you mind taking a walk in the gardens? he whispered in Anna's ear in one of the rare moments when she was not in deep conversation with someone.

She turned to him and shot him one of her special smiles.

- Why, Mr Bates, have you already had your content of socializing? After a year and a half?

- You know me… I need no one else but you… he smirked.

He could see her cheeks flushing in the dusky light, as she took his hand, and they started walking towards some more secluded part of the estate at a leisurely pace. They strode along for a little while, coming across a few other couples from time to time. They ended up in the rose garden, which was opposite to the place where the party was going on. No one had drifted that far away, and they were alone.

The scent of the hundreds of flowers filled their noses and Anna closed her eyes as she inhaled it. Before she opened them again, John's lips were on hers, and she happily melted into the kiss.

- To the most beautiful rose in my garden, he whispered.

She flushed a little more, and shot him a shy smile. He suddenly looked down, and breathed in sharply, as if gathering his courage. The next moment, he was presenting her with the small box.

- Anna…, he started.

She frowned.

- John, I told you, you know I don't…she cut.

He held his hand up and gently put a finger on her lips:

- Anna, mo ghràidh, please, listen to me. Let me finish.

- Alright…, she granted, doubtful.

- Anna. In spite of everything that has happened lately, I've never been as happy as I have in the last months, since you've been part of my life. I love you with all my heart, and soul. The only thing that is important to me now is to keep you happy and safe, forever. I would gladly give my life for it. I know you don't want to get married. I heard you, and I respect that. I know you're a strong and independent woman, and I love you all the more for that. You're also the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, whether you're in your sweatpants, or your work scrubs, or all prepped up like tonight. I love you so much it sometimes hurts right here, he said, taking her hand and pressing it against his chest, right on his heart. So…

He let go of her hand, and slowly opened the small box to reveal the diamond ring hidden inside. Anna's eyes grew slightly larger at the sight of the beautiful jewel.

- Would you do me the honour of not becoming my wife? he concluded, with a crooked but hopeful smile.

Anna let out a small laugh, as tears ran down her cheeks.

- You silly beggar… she whispered, looking up to him through the tears.

- We don't have to make it public and official if you don't want to. It's our story and it doesn't concern anyone beside the two of us. I love you and I want you to know that I want to spend each and every day I have left on Earth at your side. Do you want that too?

- Yes, I do, she breathed, as she extended her hand to allow him to put the ring on her finger.

As they both looked at it, she said softly:

- I love you too John. So very very much. Thank you so much.

- For what? he asked earnestly.

- For so many things. For taking me as I am, for not pressuring me into being someone else, for being so patient with me. For not giving up on us when I had. For accepting my son as your own. For being there for us through and through. I have so much to be grateful for.

She held her face upwards, offering her lips to him. He admired her beautiful face for a second, bathed in the bright moonlight, before giving her the kiss she was asking for. In the space of a moment, things heated up and tongues were melting together eagerly. He guided her a few steps backwards until her back was resting against the nearest tree. She moaned slightly when his lips left hers and started roaming the side of her neck, right on that special sensitive spot below her ear.

- We should go back to the party, she mumbled.

- Yes, we should, he breathed, as his hand found its way up her thigh under her dress.

- We can't do this here… she tried once again.

- No, we can't, he agreed, yet showing no sign of slowing down.

She let out a little cry when his other hand settled on her breast and teased the nipple through the thin fabric of her dress. She could feel his desire hard on her other thigh. How hard it was to find one small bit of self-control… She finally found it and pushed him gently away.

- John, no, she panted, I don't want to do this here in the open. Let's go back, say goodbye to everyone and go back to our room.

- Alright, he said, not a little reluctantly. Although… I might need a little while to cool down before I go back. Go ahead, I'll join you in a moment.

- I could stay and wait with you, she offered.

- Then it'll take me three times as long to cool down, he said.

- Alright, she laughed. I'll miss you, she teased, leaving a sweet kiss on his cheek.

x x x x

The smile didn't leave her face all the way back to the party. She joined the crowd and soon found the Crawley family, in deep talk with the Australian singer. She melted in the small group, and started saying her goodbyes to Mary and Sybil, while the opera singer chatted with Robert and Cora. It turned out Dame Kiri Te Kanawa knew a lot about Australian wine, in which Robert meant to invest. Anna was about to leave to gather her belongings from the cloakroom, when she heard the Lady ask out loud:

- As anyone seen Alex, my assistant? He was supposed to go fetch me something, he should be back by now?

Anna's heart skipped a beat. No, it couldn't be. Alex was a very common first name after all. But the silhouette she had seen earlier had triggered some unwelcome memories… She shrugged the idea off, and left the group to walk inside the Abbey. The cloakroom was near the kitchens, and as she went by, Anna felt thirsty and thought she would pour herself a glass of water. She had drank several glasses of champagne during the evening, but now she longed for plain water. She knew the Abbey's kitchens very well, having worked there years ago, as a student job. She went in confidently, walking straight towards the sink, but froze midway when she noticed the man, casually leaning against the table, scrolling on his smartphone. He looked up when he heard her, and shot her a smug smile.

- Oh, hi there.

She was frozen on the spot, her insides turned into ice. It was him. How could it be? How could he be here?

- What… she stuttered. What are you doing here?

He frowned, studying her face curiously:

- Have we met?

She stayed motionless and silent. She didn't want to remind him of their previous encounter if he didn't remember it. After all, they had only met once, and it was seven years ago. It was likely he wouldn't remember her.

- Oh, yeah, he went on, recognition finally dawning on him. We've met. Sarah, was it?

- Anna, she corrected automatically, and immediately cursed herself for giving out that information.

- Right, Anna. How've you been, sweetheart, he said, taking a step towards her.

- I… I thought you had moved to New-Zealand?

- I had. And then to Australia. And then I got hired as the lady singer's P.A. How cool is that? Travelling around the world in business class, four-stars hotels, all that for free. Chicks in every country… Why, did you miss me? he smirked.

Bile rose in her throat, as he came closer.

- Would you like we had a little fun like last time?

Her heart was hammering into her ribcage, as if it was about to rip it open. Her mind went on Timmy, enjoying himself two flights of stairs above them.

- Your… your employer is looking for you, she managed.

He scoffed.

- Yeah, she can wait a few minutes.

He started raising his hand towards her face, when she finally found the strength to move again. She abruptly turned around and fled the kitchen. As she stumbled on the last of the stairs, she fell into the arms of a baffled John.

- Oof, he exclaimed, as he caught her against his chest.

- He's here! He's here! she repeated, sobbing into his shirt.

- What, who, my love? Jesus, you're shaking all over, what happened for God's sake?

- I ran into him in the kitchens.

- Who, Anna?!

- Green!

John tensed at the mention of his name, and fury filled him in no time.

- What?! But how? What is he doing here? Did he hurt you?

John searched his pockets and presented Anna with a tissue. As she wiped her face, she said in an anguished voice:

- He works for the singer! I thought I had recognized him earlier, but I had only seen a glimpse of him in the distance, so I thought I was mistaken.

- Did he hurt you darling?!

She shook her head.

- No, not really. I mean, he was inappropriate, but I left before he did anything serious.

- He recognized you?

- He did.

John looked around, and spotted Mary crossing the Great Hall.

- Hey, Mary, he called after her. Would you mind staying with Anna for a minute?

Mary came to them and looked at Anna, surprised.

- What's the matter Anna?

- She's upset, replied John. Would you stay with her, there's something I have to do, I'll be back in a minute.

- No, John, no, don't! pleaded Anna.

- Don't worry, darling, I know what I'm doing.

And he turned around before she could stop him. Mary was eyeing Anna, puzzled:

- Now, what's all this about Anna?

Anna sighed, wiping her eyes one more time with the tissue.

- Green's here. Down in the kitchen. He's the singer's PA.

At first Mary didn't seem to understand. The man's name was not familiar to her, she had never met him and Anna had only mentioned his name to her once.

- Who's…

- Alex Green. Who moved to New-Zealand, added Ana with a meaningful tone.

A look of horror broke on Mary's face as she added two and two.

- Oh my God, you mean… The guy who…

- Yes, said Anna through her gritted teeth.

- And he made a move on you again?!

- Well I didn't wait to see if he was going to, see. But he remembered me, for sure.

- Jesus, Anna, what a shock it must have been, she said, wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulders.

- Yes, quite. He was bragging about travelling in business for free, and having chicks in every country, I though I was going to throw up on him.

- Oh he would have deserved it.

Anger was boiling inside John as he quickly went down the stairs. He stormed into the kitchens, where Green was still hanging out on his phone, seemingly in no hurry at all to attend to his employer's demands.

- ALEX GREEN! bellowed John.

The man looked up curiously, a little startled.

- And who might you be? he answered in his usual smug tone.

- I am Anna's partner, and this is what you deserve for what you did to her!

Before Green had time to react or protect himself in any way, John crashed his fist into the man's jaw. Green stumbled backwards and fell flat on his back, his breath cut short. John knelt down beside him, lifting him up by the front of his shirt. He lowered his head so that his mouth was right next to the lying man's ear, and whispered dangerously:

- Don't you EVER come near Anna Smith again, or I swear this will be the last thing you'll do. Do you understand me?

A quick nod from Green gave John satisfaction, and he let him fall back on the ground, clutching his cheek. John got up and walked away without looking back. Back up the stairs, he smiled at Mary:

- Thank you Mary. We'll go back to our room now.

Mary nodded as she released her friend into John's embrace. As he took Anna into his arms, he noticed that Eileen had joined Mary and Anna while he had been downstairs.

- What's going on? asked Eileen. Why is she so disturbed?

Anna peeked out of John's chest before anyone else could answer, and said:

- It's nothing mum, don't worry. I just met someone I used to know a long time ago and it stirred some bad memories. I'll be fine in a minute.

- Do you want me to go and fetch Timmy? asked Mary.

- Yes, please, said Anna.

Anna and John had alternatively checked on him during the evening, and come to the conclusion that he was having the time of his life with George and some other new friends. He would probably be exhausted and excited and high on candy, but after all, it was an end-of-Covid party, and they all hoped it would happen only once in their lifetime. Mary went up the stairs of the Great Hall to go to the temporary playroom and bring back the boy. Meanwhile, Anna tried to gather her spirits, held close into John's embrace, her eyes closed, making her best to chase the bad feelings away. Minutes later, Mary was back with Timmy, who ran to his mother.

- Mummy! I'm not tired, I don't want to go to sleep, he tried to argue.

- Ah ah, said Anna, tell me about it. It's one o'clock in the morning… Come on sweetie, let's go.

As they made to move towards the door, Green emerged from the stairs leading to the kitchens, a red bruise starting to show on his cheek. He froze when he saw the four of them still standing here, and his eyes curiously darted back and forth from Anna to Timmy, who was holding her hand. Anna thought she could see the wheels turning inside Green's head, figuring out the boy's likely age and counting years. She felt panic rising into her, cursing herself for not leaving sooner. Mary put her hand on Timmy's head and said icily to Green:

- May I help you sir? Do you have something to say about my son?

He was lucky she did not have guns in place of her eyes or he would have been dead on the spot.

- No, no… stuttered Green, as he walked quickly away, one last worried glance to John.

As he disappeared outside, Anna broke into tears again, holding tight to a very puzzled Timmy. Next to them, Eileen didn't look at all less puzzled than the boy.

- Mum, why are you crying? he asked. Why did you say I was your son, Auntie Mary?

- It was just a joke Timmy, don't worry, said Mary, patting his head. Your mummy's crying because she's been afraid of a nasty man. But she'll be alright now.

- Yes, I'm alright, said Anna, sniffling and wiping her eyes. Everything's alright my darling. Let's go to sleep. Thank you Mary, said Anna, giving her a hug.

- Jesus, I was so afraid Timmy was going to spill the beans before that bastard left, whispered Mary in her ear.

Anna shuddered, thinking what could have happened if Green had seen through Mary's lie. As they walked away, Eileen asked Mary:

- What on Earth was that about?

Mary looked back at Anna's mother and said coolly:

- It's not my secret to tell, Eileen. You'll have to ask Anna. She'll tell you if she wants to. But please don't push if she doesn't.