Hi dear readers, I had put that story on pause for a little while, but here we are, back to Baxley/Banna life changes. Let's see how everyone is adjusting.
- Now, come here, lad, called the old Mr Molesley, to the little boy.
Stephen toddled behind the old man into the Molesleys' cottage's backyard.
- We need to pull out all these weeds, before we can plant new flowers. Will you help me?
- Yes!
In the few weeks since they had become acquainted, the youngest of the children and the old Mr Molesley had developed a friendly relationship. Mr Molesley father had taken on the habit of coming almost every morning to his son's cottage, to work on their backyard, and keep company to Stephen and Beckie. Sometimes he would take Stephen fishing or go run errands with him, while Beckie stayed home.
The old and the young started working in the backyard. Stephen seemed to have a taste for gardening, like his foster grand-father, and old Mr Molesley was very glad to be able to pass his knowledge on to someone. Beckie had been cleaning in the house and preparing lunch, and when she was done, came to sit on the back-door's steps, a book in her hand. When she had arrived, Joseph had asked Mr Dawes if she could borrow some books from the school library, and since he had allowed her, she could be seen her head bent over a book anytime she could spare a moment. She read everything she could lay her hands on, from novels to encyclopaedias, history books, geography or natural history or even engineering. Her thirst for knowledge seemed to know no exception. She had never complained about her lot since she had arrived at Downton, but Phyllis and Joseph had noticed that she seemed bored with her daily life, and knew she was yearning to go back to school. They often talked about that topic in the evenings when the children were in bed, searching for a solution to offer further education to the young girl, according to their financial means, which were not very high as they were.
- Hello everyone, called Joseph as he entered the cottage, back from school for lunch break, the young Joseph tailing him. Have you had a good morning? he asked Beckie and his father.
Beckie silently nodded, going back to the kitchen to serve lunch, while old William Molesley got up from the ground where he had been working and rubbed his hands together.
- Well, this lad has been pretty helpful! he said, gesturing to Stephen, who was having the time of his life patting some dirt. I think we might make a good gardener out of him! Now go wash your hands boy, before lunch.
The boy ran to the kitchen's sink to wash up, as William slowly walked to the backdoor to meet his son.
- But, I'm afraid Beckie's not very happy with life, he said to Joseph lowly.
- Has she complained? asked Joseph.
- No, no, not out loud. But it's plain obvious on her face that she doesn't fancy the housework. She only seems happy with her head in a book, that one.
- Yes, I've noticed, agreed Joseph. I told Phyllis I will try to talk about it to Mr Dawes, see if he knows about good schools that are not too expensive.
Beckie's voice called from inside the cottage:
- Luncheon's ready!
x x x x
At Downton Abbey, the Bates family were living their last days in service, as the end of September was getting nearer. They had already moved all their belongings from the cottage to the Grantham Arms' lodgings, and the modernizing work in the inn was almost finished. They had kept the previous cook, and hired a new waiter and maid, so everything was well on tracks for the opening mid-October. That afternoon in the Servants' Hall, Anna was sitting at the table, knitting a baby cardigan, while supervising Lily who was mending one of Lady Mary's blouses. Baxter was sitting across the table, polishing some of Lady Grantham's jewels.
- So, Anna, is everything going alright at the inn, asked Phyllis with a kind smile. Are you excited?
- Yes, thank you Miss Baxter! Everything is going fine. We're almost ready. Only slight final touches to be done. The next two weeks will feel almost like holidays!
- Aren't you too sad to leave here?
- Hmm, yes, a little, replied Anna with a bittersweet smile. But things cannot go on forever, one has to move forward in life…
A moment of silence passed, and Anna asked:
- And what about you Miss Baxter? How are the children settling?
- Oh, fine, I think. The young Joseph goes to school with Mr Molesley, Stephen stays home with Beckie and the old Mr Molesley comes to visit almost everyday. It's Beckie I'm a bit concerned about…
- Oh? Why is that? Is she having a hard time getting over her mother's death?
- Maybe a little, but no, it's not my main worry. She seems sort of… lifeless. She does what we ask her to do, but she barely speaks, she doesn't seem to enjoy her life. Except when she can go to the school library and borrow some books. She misses going to school very much.
- How old is she again?
- Fifteen. So, she's too old for the village school. We're looking, with Mr Molesley, for a way to give her further education, but the girls' schools in the area are very expensive…
- I understand… She must be frustrated. Maybe she could work at home with Mr Molesley, and Mr Dawes could have her take the exams, like they did for Daisy?
- Maybe… But I think she'd fancy going to a real school…
- Oh, you know what? You remember my friend, Gwen Harding, who visited the Abbey with her husband about two years ago? She's on the board of a school for working-class women. Lady Edith and Lady Rosamund are both trustees. Gwen will be there next week for our house-warming party, I've invited her. You could talk to her, see if she could have Beckie admitted.
- Oh, er, yes, why not. But, where is this school?
- It's called Hillcroft, it's in Surbiton.
- Where's that?
- A bit south-west of London I think.
- Oh, wow, that is awfully far from here!
- Yes… But, if Beckie really wants it…
- I'd prefer if we could find somewhere nearer…
- I'm only suggesting you talk to Gwen, then you and Mr Molesley can decide whatever you want.
- That's kind of you Anna, thank you.
- And what about you? How are you settling into married life and foster motherhood? smiled Anna.
- Oh, me…
Phyllis hesitated for a short moment, as if she didn't dare voice her thoughts aloud.
- I'm… alright, but… To be honest I'm a little frustrated too. I'm here all day, from dawn to dusk, and I enjoy that work, really, but, I don't see them at all… They're my nephews, but in truth it is Mr Molesley who is raising them. I leave in the morning when they're barely awake, and when I come back, usually the two boys are already asleep… And I'm not seeing a lot of Mr Molesley either. And one half-day a week is not really enough to catch up.
- I see. I can imagine. I couldn't have gone on with the hours if I'd had to leave Johnny at home with someone else. I was lucky he was taken in here in the nursery, so I can visit him several times a day. Otherwise I would not have stayed on. So, are you thinking of leaving?
- I don't know yet. I'd have to find another job, because it would be hard financially otherwise. We'd have difficulties making a living for five on Mr Molesley's sole income. He already supports his father, see. And finding another job in Downton… It's a small village, and I'm only trained as a Lady's maid… I don't really know what to do about it.
- Maybe an opportunity will turn up. Like it did for us with the Grantham Arms. Wait and see.
The gong rang as Anna was talking, and Baxter answered her with a smile as they all put their work away to go up and see to their respective ladies.
x x x x
- So, Anna, ready to abandon me? teased Lady Mary when Anna was getting her ready for dinner. Only a few days left…
- Oh, don't talk like that, Milady…, Anna scolded respectfully. It makes me feel so bad. I'll be only in the village, and you know you can visit whenever you want. And we have had the telephone installed at the inn, so you can even call me if you need to!
- Good to know, said Lady Mary. And I'm only joking Anna, I am happy for you and Mr Bates, really.
- Thank you Milady. I am very happy too. But I'll miss working here too.
- And thank you for inviting us to your house-warming party.
- I'm glad you'll be coming. I thought it would be merrier to have a house-warming party at the inn rather than a leaving party here in Downton. I know I would have spent the better part that kind of party crying, she chuckled.
- Yes, I might have too. I agree with you. Look forward to the future, not behind.
- And Mr Bates agreed with me too.
- Does Bates ever disagree with you, Anna.
Anna laughed.
- Yes, of course he does, Milady, sometimes!
Looking at the smirk on Lady Mary's face, she had to admit:
- Yes, alright, not often, I'll give you that.
Both women laughed good-heartedly. It was no secret for anyone in Downton that Bates worshipped his wife and would never say no to her.
x x x x
Two days later, John was opening the day's mail in the Grantham Arms' lodgings. He started reading a letter, and Anna saw him frowning, then exclaiming:
- Oh, no!
- What is it, darling? asked Anna concerned.
She was sitting next to him, feeding his dinner to Johnny.
- It's from Miss Stone.
- Our future maid?
- Well, not anymore. She won't be coming after all.
- What?! Why?
- She's newly engaged. She wants to follow her fiancé.
- Well. I won't begrudge her on that… said Anna with a smile.
- But that leaves us in the lurch. How are we going to manage with no maid and you being six-months pregnant? You cannot do all the work yourself!
- We'll think of something.
Anna went back to feeding Johnny for a while, before she went on:
- In fact, I might have an idea.
- Oh yes?
- Miss Baxter told me the other day that she found the hours too long at the Abbey, and she was frustrated she could spent so little time with her husband and her nephews.
John eyed her curiously.
- You want to hire Miss Baxter?! But she won't want to be a hotel maid, when she's a Lady's maid now… And we can't pay her what the Granthams pay her.
- I know. I thought she could be more than just a maid. She could help us with the running of the hotel too. We can always offer her the job, we'll see what she says.
- If you want to…
But John looked doubtful about Anna's idea.
x x x x
- So? What do you say? asked Anna to Phyllis next morning.
- Er… hesitated Phyllis. Thank you very much for offering, Anna. But, I need a little time to think about it.
- It's not just a maid job I'm offering. More like assistant-manager. Although, yes, as there will be no proper maid, we'd have to do the cleaning work ourselves. And I'm sorry we cannot offer you the same wages you're making here. But you'll be working with friends, and you'll be back home every day at the end of the afternoon. You'd have all your evenings with your family, and a whole day off a week. And you can bring Stephen with you until he goes to school, we don't mind. We'll have our children anyway.
- I must say you have good arguments. I must talk it over with Mr Molesley.
- But please, don't take too long, because if we have to start looking for someone else, we need to do it very soon. We're opening in two weeks…
- Yes, about that, even if I said yes, I won't be able to start in two weeks… I've got a month notice here, and I don't want to leave her Ladyship before she's found someone to replace me.
- If you accept the job, we'll find a solution for the interim. I can even manage on my own for a few weeks. Despite what Mr Bates thinks, I'm perfectly fine, I can work. Oh, I know, added Anna, you could ask Beckie if she wants to come help us for a while, until you're free. That could be a nice change for her, to get out of the house a little, and then she could make a little money for herself.
Phyllis smiled at her friend's eagerness to solve the situation in her own way.
- You've thought this through, haven't you? I like how you're determined to have things your way!
- Yes, Mr Bates would tell you I'm stubborn. And maybe he'd be right… Anyway, could you give me an answer tomorrow?
- Alright, I will. And again, thank you for offering. I'm very touched.
x x x x
The next day, the family was gathered in the drawing-room before dinner. The Dowager Countess and Isobel Crawley had come to dinner. Lord Grantham, Lady Mary and Tom Branson were discussing the estate's affairs, when Lady Grantham came in.
- You'll never believe what just happened!
- What? asked Isobel, alarmed.
- Baxter just handed in her notice.
- What?! exclaimed Lord Grantham. I thought she didn't want to leave?!
- Baxter, is that your Lady's maid? asked Isobel, somewhat relieved that the news was not that bad after all.
- Yes. And you'll never guess where she's going!
- I know where she's going, said Lady Mary. Anna told me.
- Where? asked the Dowager.
- She's going to work at the Grantham Arms, with the Bateses! said Lady Grantham.
- So, you're telling me that we are losing our valet and both our Lady's maid at the same time?! exclaimed Robert.
- Seems so… pouted Lady Grantham.
- Now, let me get this straight, pointed the Dowager. The Bateses have poached your Lady's maid?! That's so disgraceful!
- Now, Granny, cut Lady Mary, who was obviously not having anyone speak ill of Anna. It's not at all what happened. Baxter wanted to leave, because she wanted to be able to spend more time with her family. Anna only offered her a substitute job, because the maid they had hired for the inn has turned them down at the last minute.
- Yes, to be honest, added Lady Grantham, Baxter had told me when they took the children, that she would try to stay on, but she didn't know if it would work out. Well it turns out she thinks it's not working out. Like Mary says, she wants to be able to spend more time with her husband and the children.
- Who can begrudge for that? asked Isobel in a rhetorical fashion.
- Yes, well, plainly it's not you who will have to search for a replacement, pouted the Dowager.
- But she assured me she would not leave before I've found someone, said Lady Grantham.
- That's the least she can do, concluded Violet.
- But she's going to be a housemaid then? That's sort of a step down for her, isn't it? pointed Lord Grantham. And less money too.
- She says she prefers less money and more family time, explained Cora.
- And a wise choice to me, said Isobel.
- Anyway, I'll miss her, she was the best Lady's maid I've ever had, concluded Lady Grantham sadly.
Thomas Barrow entered at that moment, announcing:
- Dinner is served Milady.
- Alright, everyone, let's go in, said Lady Grantham, getting up.
x x x x
In the closed Grantham Arms, Anna and John were settling into bed.
- Can you believe that tomorrow is our last day in service? marvelled Anna.
- No, I can't, chuckled John. The day had finally come.
- I'm so happy…
- Me too, he said, kissing the top of her head.
- And see, Phyllis accepted the job. It's all settled.
- You're always here to save the day…
- What was it you said to me once? "Wherever I see problems, you see only possibilities" it was, I think.
- And it proved true once more. What would I do without you, Mrs Bates…
Anna chuckled, and looked at him with a saucy look:
- I'd rather know, what you could do with me, she replied, her hand sliding under his pyjama shirt.