The sun was low in the sky on this late afternoon in early October, and the Bateses were putting the final touches to the Grantham Arms' dining-room. Phyllis and Beckie had come earlier to help them decorate and put everything together, but Phyllis had gone back to the Abbey to attend to Lady Grantham. All the guests to the house-warming party were expected in less than half-an-hour. About all the inhabitants of the Abbey, both upstairs and downstairs were supposed to come, along with some people from the village, providers and a few friends, like the Hardings. The cook had prepared a large buffet for everyone to enjoy. It was not of the level of Mrs Patmore's cooking, of course, but then the guests of a village inn did not expect the same sort of food that the upper class ate in places like Downton Abbey. No, the Grantham Arms offered simple and nutritious family cooking, and Mrs Sherby, their cook, was a master in that.
Anna sat down on a chair, sighing and rubbing her belly, as she looked around the place:
- Well. I think we are quite ready. Andrew, you'll only need to fetch the champagne bottles when the family arrives, she said to the waiter.
- Yes, Ma'am, replied the young man.
Lord Grantham had insisted to offer them a box of champagne bottles to celebrate the inn's re-opening. John came to stand behind her back, and rubbed her shoulders.
- Are you alright, love? Maybe you should go up and lie down a moment, before everyone comes?
Anna smiled, took one of his hands in hers and turned her head to kiss it.
- I'm very much alright, dear. In fact, I've never been better.
She got up from her chair, turned around and lifted herself on her tiptoes to kiss him.
- Me neither, he replied, smiling too. Here we are. Finally. Opening our own hotel.
They both laughed happily, until Anna felt a tugging on her skirt. She looked down, to see Johnny, holding out his arms to be taken up.
- Mama, Dada, kiss!
John gladly picked him up, and they both kissed one of his cheeks. Contented, the boy swiftly slid down his father's arms and ran back to his toys.
x x x x
The party was in full bloom, and everyone was chatting amiably around the buffet. Mrs Patmore had complimented the quality of the food, which Anna had taken for a great honour, and would make sure to repeat to Mrs Sherby. Mary and Isobel Crawley had been glad to see Gwen Harding again. Everyone in the family remembered the last time the Hardings had come for luncheon at the Abbey. Anna soon introduced them to the Molesleys:
- Gwen, Mr Harding, I'd like you to meet Mr and Mrs Molesley.
The newly acquainted exchanged polite handshakes and greeting, as Anna went on:
- Mr Molesley is a teacher in the village school, and Mrs Molesley is Lady Grantham's Lady's maid, for a few more weeks, and then she's going to come work with us here at the hotel.
- Oh, how nice, said Gwen.
- I wanted them to meet you, continued Anna, because they are raising their young niece, Beckie, who had to quit school when she was thirteen, but she would really like to go back to school and get an education. So I told them about your school. Maybe you could discuss it?
- Mrs Bates tells us you're running a school for working-class women? asked Joseph.
- Yes, indeed, replied John Harding. How old is your niece? Does she know what career she'd like to embrace?
- She's fifteen, answered Phyllis. And she wants to be a teacher.
- Alright. Interesting goal. Our school takes in pupils sixteen-years-old and older. Maybe she could take the admitting exam next April, and if she passes, she could be admitted next year?
- But, your school is near London, isn't it? It's so awfully far, I don't know if she'll handle being all alone, that far from her family… said Phyllis, worried.
- Oh, said Gwen, but there's something new. I've not told you yet Anna, but we're opening a second school next year! In Huntington, up here. Since we're both Yorkshire people, John and I, we wanted to extend the opportunity to local women.
- Huntington near York? asked Molesley.
- Just the one, yes, smiled Gwen. Your niece could apply for that school. Then she could come home in the week-ends.
- Oh but that would be just perfect. She'd be over the moon, said Phyllis.
- She'd have to pass the admitting exam though, warned John Harding.
- Oh, I know she would work hard for that, replied Phyllis.
- And I'll help her the best I can, added Molesley.
- Alright, well, we'll send you an application form then, concluded Gwen.
Anna smiled happily as she watched them continue chatting. She was happy, and she wanted everyone around her to be happy too. Soon she excused herself from the group, to join the Crawley family, who were talking to her husband. As she came next to him, Lord Grantham said warmly:
- Ah, Anna! I was just telling Bates how glad I am you two accepted to take that inn over. He showed me around, and I must say, you've done some amazing work here! The whole place looks as good as new!
- Thank you Milord, said Anna, beaming. We are so very grateful you thought about us. This is just what we had been dreaming for, for so long. Since before we were even married in fact.
- Well, Lady Mary and I can't say we're happy to lose your service, and Lady Grantham too with Baxter, but we can all see that this is your rightful place. You've worked very hard and you deserve to be your own masters.
Later, it was the Carsons who came to congratulate them:
- Anna, I'm so proud of you, beamed Elsie Carson. To think I hired you almost twenty years ago… That doesn't make us any younger, does it? she laughed. From house-maid to business-owner, I must say, this is a nice path. And a happy wife and mother too… There were days when we both thought that would never happen…
- But it has, replied John, taking Anna's hand with a wink.
- I must say, added Carson, you two have not had the best of luck in the past. I'm glad to see tables have turned. It was about time.
- Thank you Mr Carson, said Anna.
Later in the evening, as the family was about to leave, Baxter came back to Anna:
- Anna, I'm sorry I have to leave, her Ladyship is going back, I have to be there to put her to bed.
- Oh, yes, no problem.
- Thank you so much for introducing us to the Hardings. You might have changed Beckie's future for the best.
- I'm glad if you found a solution for her.
- And, I didn't have time to tell you, but Mrs Hughes and her Ladyship have hired a new Lady's maid. She can start in two weeks. So you'll have only a few days to manage on your own. And Beckie can come help you.
- Oh, great! That's good news.
- Thank you, really, for everything you've done for our family. Since you told me to go and talk to Mr Molesley after he first proposed. Now I must go, really. See you soon.
- Good night Phyllis.
x x x x
When all the guests had left, and they had sent the waiter back home too, Anna and John walked up to their private lodgings and started getting ready for bed.
- I had such a nice evening, said John.
- Yes, me too, agreed Anna.
- It was a very good idea you had, throwing an opening party here instead of a leaving party at the Abbey.
- That would have made me feel sad for leaving… Instead here I enjoyed myself, and everyone was happy for us. It's better to look out to the future, not in the past. Tonight marked the opening of a new era in our life, and I'm so happy about it.
- You're right.
As he finished putting on his pyjamas, John came close to Anna and gently stroked her large belly.
- Next step now is having this baby… I can't wait…
- You'll have to wait three more months, she laughed. And, I'm not in such a hurry myself though. The birth in itself is not the best of times… Even if the result is worth it.
John nuzzled her hair, still stroking her belly.
- God knows if I could spare you the pain I would gladly.
Anna smiled as she brought her hand to his cheek, with a look full of love.
- I know you would. But it doesn't work that way.
- Unfortunately not.
- I'd like you to be there this time. For the birth. Holding my hand. Last time we were in Lady Mary's room, we didn't get to make the choices, they had you waiting outside. But this time, we'll be in our own home, and if you're alright with it, I'd want you at my side. Would you?
- Of course. If you want me, I'll be there. Will Dr Clarkson let me though?
- Well we won't ask him, she stated firmly.
- Alright. I'll be there then.
He knew that when his wife had set her mind onto something, not many people could make her change her way. He couldn't, and he bet Dr Clarkson wouldn't either.
x x x x
The next day, in the Molesleys' cottage, Phyllis had come back from the Abbey to have lunch with her family. Since she had only two more weeks to work there, Mrs Hughes allowed her to go out more often. The meal was joyful, both Josephs telling about their morning in school, and Stephen boasting about the large fish he had caught with Mr Molesley elder. When the meal was over, Phyllis sent the two boys to play in the backyard, while she brought the dishes into the sink and Beckie started to wash them. Phyllis grabbed a cloth and dried whatever Beckie had finished washing, and Joseph put everything away in the cupboards.
- So, Beckie, yesterday, at the Bateses party, Anna introduced us to some friends of hers, who are opening a school next year, near York, for girls like you.
Beckie frowned a bit:
- What do you mean, girls "like me"?
- Girls who are determined, and knowledge-thirsty, and want to get an education, but don't have much money to pay for it.
- Oh. And…
- And, there is an admitting exam next April. If you want to take it, and if you pass, they could admit you next year.
Sudden joy and hope made Beckie let go of the glass she was washing, and it noisily broke against the edge of the sink.
- Oh, damn, I'm sorry Aunt Phyllis. But…
She turned to her aunt, bringing her wet hands to her mouth in emotion.
- Is it true? You'd let me go?!
The happy tears gleaming in her eyes told Phyllis they had been right to pursue in that path.
- Yes, of course. If that's what you want.
- Oh thank you, thank you, cried Beckie, throwing herself into Phyllis's arms, almost knocking her down. I'm so happy! It's all I've ever wanted!
- But you'll have to work hard until April, to have a chance to pass the exam, warned Joseph.
- Oh, I will! she said, beaming.
- Then I'll help you. I'll teach you Literature, History and Geography, and I'll ask Mr Dawes to give you classes in Maths and Physics and Biology. He's more the scientific one, said Joseph.
- Thank you so much, said the girl again, wiping her eyes on the kitchen cloth. I'm so, so glad you took us in, Aunt Phyllis, Uncle Joseph. I mean, I do miss my Mum and Dad, and… I don't want to sound ungrateful to them, but… if they were still alive, I'd still be cleaning houses.
- I'm sure they will be proud of you Beckie, said Phyllis. I know they would want you happy. And you might want to thank Anna Bates too, next time you see her.
x x x x
Two weeks later, as Phyllis came back home at the end of her first day working at the Grantham Arms, she found Joseph and Beckie seated around the kitchen table, shuffling through a stack of paper.
- What is that? she asked.
- It's the application form for Hillcroft School Yorkshire, exclaimed Beckie happily. I need to fill in those forms, and write a motivation letter, and here's the program I must study for the exam.
- Oh, good, replied Phyllis. And, does it look hard?
- I think she can quite easily tackle it, answered Joseph confidently.
- Good news, said Phyllis.
Later that night, Phyllis and Joseph were quietly reading in the settee, while Beckie was still bent over her papers, writing down lists of topics to work on and drawing herself a work planning. Phyllis smiled at her eagerness, but said:
- Beckie, you should go to bed. It's late, you don't want to exhaust yourself right away. We're going to go up too anyway, aren't we Joseph?
- Yes, you're right, said Joseph, getting up.
He went to lock up the front door, and started putting all the downstairs lights out.
- Come on Beckie, bedtime.
- Yes, uncle Joseph, said the girl, reluctantly putting her file away.
When they were settled in bed, Joseph turned to Phyllis and kissed her.
- So, how was your first day at the hotel?
- Oh, fine. It's not at all the same work as being a Lady's maid, but I like it. I like Anna very much, she's a good friend, we get along fine. And I love coming home and having dinner with you, she concluded, bending over a little bit to kiss him back.
After a short moment of silence, she went on:
- I think we'll have to watch Beckie and slow her down, or she is going to kill herself to the task.
Joseph laughed.
- You might be right. You know, I wouldn't be much surprised if she ended up high, that one. I don't think she's going to settle with teaching in a village school like me. Maybe she'll become a doctor, or a lawyer, or a university professor.
- Time will tell, stated Phyllis wisely. But like you, I think it is not at all impossible.