Thank you all!

Chapter 6

Anna actually felt like herself this particular morning. She smiled as she sat up in bed and rubbed her eyelids with the back of her hand. Glancing over at the clock, she saw it was nine and that John had let her sleep in. She hadn't even heard Jack waking up or John getting out of the bed.

Sliding from the sheets, Anna stood and made her way to their bathroom to check and see if her mother was in her spot below on the street. Perching open a slot in the blinds, Anna saw her mother standing there. But at this moment, it didn't cause her stress. She guessed it was because she had finally decided to speak with John about the letter and her feelings. Thanks to some friendly prodding from Mary, Anna was finally ready to say something.

Anna didn't know why she was so stubborn about telling him. Time and time again he had proven to her that he was always right there, by her side. He had never let her down, not once. And yet, her past still defined her in ways she didn't like, making it hard for her to confide in even him.

"Anna?"

John's soft voice made her turn and she smiled. He was standing in the doorway with a fresh cup of mint tea, one of the few things she had been able to hold down over the past couple of weeks.

His eyes darted to the window and his jaw tightened.

"I don't like her being around," he stated. Anna nodded.

"I don't either. Let's go sit down. Where's Jack?"

"He's with Alfred and Ivy."

"Good, I need to talk to you about something," Anna told him. She gratefully took the tea from his hand and then wrapped her free arm around his, resting her head on his shoulder, before walking the both of them to the big lush couch in their living room. Anna sat first, keeping her hand on John, loving the feel of his skin against his fingers.

"My mum wrote me a letter," Anna blurted out. "She wants me to give her another chance."

John sat silently before her. He let out a low sigh, before he dipped his head slightly in a nod.

"I know."

Anna sat up straighter.

"I spoke with your mother a couple of days ago and she told me."

Anna felt her body tense slightly and she twisted her lips, as her hands tightened around the warm cup.

"You must be so upset with me," Anna murmured, her eyes falling to the hot tea. John slid closer toward her and placed his hand on her knee, forcing her to look up at him. "I didn't mean not to tell you….it's just…."

"It's alright," he replied, giving her knee a loving squeeze.

Anna's eyes moved up to the ceiling as hot tears now threatened to escape her eyelids.

"I told Mary," Anna admitted. "Not right away, but I did tell her. It's not that I don't trust you….I…."

"Shh," John soothed. Anna's eyes met his and she only saw love staring back at her. "I understand. Mary has been in your life for a very long time, Anna. She is like a sister to you. I am not angry with you, Anna. I know that your relationship with your mother is complicated and hard for you to muddle through. I just need you to know that I am here and you can speak with me about anything."

A soft sob escaped Anna's lips.

"I know."

John's hand came out and rested on Anna's cheek. "I am worried about you." Those were the words that opened the floodgates. And within a split second, Anna was sobbing, her arms tight around John's neck. He just held her tightly and allowed her to cry.

"Why is this so hard?" Anna questioned, when she was able to sit back up. John shook his head, his eyes solemn.

"Because she's your mother, Anna. She's disappointed you, but you want her to be more than she is. That is a natural feeling." He paused. "What do you want to do?"

"I want to send her away," Anna said. It came out so clearly that she shocked herself. She thought she was conflicted, but she wasn't, not when it really mattered. She knew that she wouldn't allow her mother near her children.

"Then we will."

"I'll do it," Anna determinedly stated. "Tomorrow, when she's back outside, I will go and speak to her."

John's hand covered Anna's. "Alright. If that's what you want."

"I do."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

A chuckle left Mary's lips and she shook her head. It was three days past Richard's bribery date and she hadn't heard a word from him. She should have known that his bark was worse than his bite.

Mary made her way down the staircase of her home and saw Matthew sitting at his desk. She smiled, walking toward him. Her hand rested against his shoulder and she bent over to give him a kiss.

"You seem brighter today," Matthew smiled.

"I feel brighter," Mary replied. "I don't think Richard did anything."

Matthew's arm came behind Mary's back and he held her closer.

"I hope that's correct," he answered, before his brows furrowed.

"What? What are you thinking about?"

"Well, if Richard was able to get ahold of this book, who else holds a list of what is in it?"

Mary's blood cooled. She had been so lost in Richard and his threats that her mind hadn't even thought of that. Taking in a shaky breath, she shook her head.

"I…." Before she could say anything else, her phone began to ring. Mary stepped out of Matthew's grasp and answered it. "Hello?"

"Oh, Mary," Richard happily said into the phone. "Ready to sell me Grantham House now?"

"Your bribery date has passed," Mary told him. "You didn't do anything. What makes you think I would still give you Grantham House?"

"I did something," Richard replied, that annoyingly pleased chuckle leaving his lips. Mary felt sick.

"Wh…what?"

"I slid the list of names under a door of a very prominent magazine….one run by Edith Crawley, nonetheless. I know how you two sisters are. I give it a week before she publishes."

"Why would you do that?" Mary breathed, her entire body growing hot.

"Edith and you will do anything to destroy one another. This was my warning, Mary. It was my way to show that I am serious. Edith only has the list of names. I have the book. If you don't sell me Grantham House, I will publish ever sordid thing Kemal Pamuk had to say about you. I'll give you a month to convince your parents to sell me the estate."

"What….what keeps someone else from publishing this?"

"Mary, I have the only copy. I know people," Richard confidently stated. "And I will publish. One month." The line died.

Mary swallowed hard. Then she turned and grabbed her purse from the hook by the door.

"I'm going to Edith's," Mary told Matthew. His mouth was agape.

"Edith's? Who was on the phone? What happened?"

"I just…I need to go to Edith's office. Nanny should be here soon. I….I'll explain more later."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Anna sat at the kitchen table attempting to eat some of the biscuits before her. Nothing seemed to want to settle. She felt horrible. She was sure it was her nerves. Tomorrow morning, she would be confronting her mother. It was always so strange to her how her mother could make her feel 12 years old, again.

Checking her watch, she saw that it was time for the restaurant to open soon. She had promised John that whenever she felt sick, she wouldn't push herself. But today the Carsons were coming by and she wanted to be able to pop down and see them for a moment.

Anna stood, wobbling on her feet. She closed her eyes, pressing the heel of her hand against her forehead. She needed all of this business with her mother done soon; her body couldn't handle the stress much longer.

She had promised John she would go to the doctor first thing tomorrow, after she spoke with her mother. He wasn't convinced that this only had to do with stress. And Anna had to admit that he might be correct. She couldn't ever remember feeling this ill when she was pregnant with Jack.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Anna made her way downstairs to help open for the day.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"I know you have the list," Mary bit, slamming Edith's office door and crossing her arms firmly over her chest. Edith looked up from her laptop and sighed, pursing her lips into a thin line.

"What list?"

"Don't play smart with me, Edith. The list of names," Mary firmly stated. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Edith stood from her desk and placed her hands on the edge of the table.

She took in a slow breath and then met Mary's eyes, "Oh, that list." She looked proud of herself. "I guess I needed a few days to process it, Mary. Quite the scandal you've gotten yourself into."

"You're loving this," Mary fumed.

"Loving it? Why would I love it? My sister being involved in a scandal isn't something I love."

"So, you're going to publish it then?" Mary bluntly asked. She wasn't in the mood for going around and around in circles with Edith. The two had never gotten along. They merely tolerated one another.

"No," Edith chuckled, "I wouldn't do that. Who do you think I am?"

Mary sharply inhaled. "Thank you," she then replied. She hated to thank her sister, but she guessed this, if anything, warranted it.

"But I did inform Mama and Papa."

"What?! Why would you do that!?" Mary's voice rose with each syllable.

Edith wasn't fazed. At this moment, she had the upper hand. She walked around the side of her desk. Her face was full of mock worry and concern.

"Mary, I had to prepare Mama and Papa for this scandal. If I was given this information, who knows who else has it. They needed to know."

Anger boiled beneath Mary's skin and she could feel her hands tightening into fists by her side.

"No," Mary stated, shaking her head. "That wasn't what this is. If that was it, you would have come to me first, you would have asked me about it. You are tired of being the 'disappointment' of the family. Ever since you slept with a married man and had Marigold, you've felt like everyone speaks about you behind your back and views you differently. This was your way of bumping me down a peg or two so that you could rise back up."

Edith huffed, clearly not enjoying being called out so sharply.

"That's not it."

"It is! You should have come to me!"

"I had to tell Mama and Papa. Maybe you shouldn't have slept with Pamuk and ended up in his book of conquests! Then you wouldn't have to worry about the scandal."

Mary felt as though she had been slapped. Her brows knitted and she stepped closer to her sister, so that they were nearly eye to eye.

"I didn't willingly sleep with him," Mary lowly told her. "He raped me. He raped me in our family estate and then put it in that disgusting book of his. I have been dealing with this for over five years now and my sister, of all people, takes advantage of that part of my life."

Edith stepped back, blinking harshly. Her head shook and she muttered, "I….I didn't know."

"Of course you didn't, but instead of coming to me, you ran to our parents first. I….I don't even want to look at you anymore."

"I didn't publish the list," Edith said, grasping at straws.

"Do you want a medal for not completely sharing my story with the world?" With that, Mary left, slamming the door behind her.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

When his wife walked down the stairs, John immediately grew concerned. She looked like death. Her face was grey and her cheeks sunken in. He went right to her and gently grasped at her shoulder.

"You need to go to a doctor," he said. "We should leave right now."

"I…I'm alright," Anna barely got out, only making John shake his head.

"You're not."

"Look, Detective Hughes and Mr. Carson just arrived. Let me tell them hello and then we can leave, alright?"

John twisted his lips to one side, but he acquiesced.

"Hello!" He heard Anna greet, glancing up. He saw as their lips curled downwards into a frown.

"Anna?" Mr. Carson asked. "Are you alright? You look…" But before he could finish his sentence, Anna's eyes rolled to the back of her head and her body began to fall down toward the floor.

"Anna!" John screamed, rushing toward his wife. He was too far away from her, but thankfully Mr. Carson caught her and kept her from falling on the harsh ground.

"Someone call an ambulance!"

To be continued...