Hi everyone, long time no see! I've had a little break from writing since I had other projects to finish, but now I think I'll be back on writing regularly. ANd since my planned holiday in Dublin for New Year got cancelled (I'll let you guess why...), I should have some time during the week... So let's get back to our two lovebirds' letters. Hope you still enjoy it, and if you do, please review!

March 1920

My dear husband,

Mrs Hughes and I have been at your mother's house for two days now, and we have worked well. We've gone through all the leftover clothes and linen, and brought those who were in good shape to a charity. We started on the cleaning, and tomorrow a nice neighbour is coming over to help us do the heavy stuff. She agreed readily when I offered to pay her in exchange for her help. There were a lot of broken items in the kitchen, or some that were so dirty that they were beyond cleaning possibilities, so we had to throw away a good number of things. It seems Vera has also broken two lamps, and a chair. The neighbour told us her husband would take the chair to fix it, but we got rid of the lamps. While we were going through Vera's personal belongings in her room, Mrs Hughes found a notebook filled with names and addresses. I'll bring it back to you next time I come to visit you. I think tomorrow evening we will be pretty much done, and we will be coming back to Downton the day after tomorrow. It's been a bit weird, sleeping here in your late mother's house, where I met her for the first time so many years ago, surrounded by Vera's stuff. But I am glad to have brought our son in the house where his grandmother lived, and where his father grew up. Johnny is becoming more and more chatty by the day. He was a darling though during the whole train journey. I was quite worried about that, but he slept almost all the time. However I paid for it the following night… It seems sleeping in an unknown house unsettled him quite a bit. But he's fine now.

In between our cleaning sessions, I also went to meet the real estate agent, and I signed a letting contract. When we leave, I'll go and give a key so that he can start having people over to visit the place.

I realize now that so busy was I telling you about the house, I didn't even mention our last Tuesday date. I was a bit worried things would feel different after giving birth, but I was wrong, it doesn't. It still feels as good, and I was so happy to meet you in my mind again and pretend it was your hands I was feeling on my body. Of course things are a bit trickier now that I'm sharing my room. Johnny's no problem, a thunderstorm wouldn't wake him when he's asleep, but I wouldn't want Leslie to overhear embarrassing things… I can't wait to be with you in a proper way, in our own room and no one to disturb. However well I manage on my own, it will never come close to what I felt when you were holding me in your arms. I know you feel the same, and this is why I am so determined to have you back. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

Now I have to go to bed, we still have a lot of work tomorrow. I love you forever more.

Yours, Anna.

x x x x

- Hi, love. I'm happy to see you, John greeted with a smile.

- I'm happy too, she replied, sending him his smile back.

- How's Johnny? Has he settled down after the trip?

- Yes, he's alright. He had a bit of a hard time sleeping the night after we came back, same as when we travelled down to London. But he's fine now.

- I miss him so much… I would so wish to see him smile.

- Yes. How nice would it be if there were some little device that I could use to make a little motion picture of him? You know, like in the movies? So you could see him?

- That would be so nice, he smiled, amused by his wife's imagination. Although I would like it much more if I could see him for real…

- Of course, she agreed. Speaking of which, we've got work to do, she went on in a business-like tone. Here's the list. It's all there, every entry.

- Where did you find the book?

- Behind the bureau. We moved it out to clean, and there it was. Vera must have dropped it or something.

- So, what do you want me to do?

- Make notes on all the names. Close friend, relation, workmate, tradesman and so on. Then I'll copy those and I'll send them with the book to Mr Murray.

- Haven't you anything better to do?

- I have not. Because I'd rather work to get you free than dine with the King at Buckingham Palace, she said with a crooked smile.

Once again, he felt like he did not deserve her. He hated that all the work and all their hopes weighed on her frail shoulders right now. He offered her a tight smile back.

- So, what news have you got?, she asked.

- What news could I have in here?, he replied, dejected. Oh, I've acquired a new cellmate. To be honest I'm not sure about him. He looks much less friendly than Julian was. I wished they had put me back with him.

- Well, just remember what my mother used to say. Never make an enemy by accident. Now, she said, pointing back to the sheets of paper standing on the table between them, do you think you can get the notes done before my next visit?

- I don't see what can come of it…

- Probably nothing. And my next idea will probably lead to nothing, and the next, and the next. But one day, something will occur to us, and we will follow it up, and the case against you will crumble.

- Do you never doubt? For just one minute?, he asked earnestly. I wouldn't blame you.

Before she even replied, the fierce love he saw in her eyes brought him the answer he needed.

- No, she said calmly. And I don't doubt that the sun will rise in the East either.

He smiled weakly.

- Thank you my love. I couldn't do it without you. You're an angel.

x x x x

My beloved John,

Things are a bit hectic around here lately, with all the preparations for the wedding. Things are moving both upstairs and downstairs. Lady Sybil and Mr Branson have made it after all, although apparently it is still a mystery who sent them the money to travel. Lady Mary is very glad to have her baby sister back. I know she was rather sad that she wouldn't be there for her wedding. We had a very nice time, the three Ladies and me, helping Lady Mary trying on her honeymoon outfits. She's going to be very classy, I can tell you. His Lordship didn't seem too keen on seeing Mr Branson again though. From what Lady Mary told me, their first dinner back was quite a frosty affair… But Mr Branson came downstairs on his first night back, and he talked to me, and told me Lady Mary has kept him informed about you, and that he sends you his best wishes. I found that very touching.

Mrs Levinson is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. That will be another fine moment I believe. I don't know her that well, but she does have quite a reputation.

There have been talks between Lady Mary and Mr Matthew about where they wanted to live after the wedding. Lady Mary tells me he doesn't want to live at Downton right away. That would put me in a rather difficult position, as Lady Mary's maid, because she would probably ask me to go with her wherever they decide to settle, but I don't want to leave Downton. I hope she can be her usual persuasive self and convince him to stay at Downton.

There have been changes downstairs too: Mr Carson hired Ms O'Brien's nephew as a new footman. I was wary of him at first of course, knowing his aunt, but after a few days, Alfred seems to be a nice lad, good-willing and straightforward. Maybe he's not too much like his aunt after all. This new addition to the staff has unleashed Daisy's ire, since Mrs Patmore had promised her to give her a promotion as assistant cook, before Lord Grantham froze all new expenses. So now we've got some sort of war raging in the kitchen. I don't know why Lord Grantham decided that, but I hope it's nothing too serious. I would hate to know the Crawley family in a difficult position. (And moreover we must face the fact that we depend on them…)

I hope you are well and things are going alright with your new cellmate. In the midst of all the wedding shenanigans, I've set myself to the task of writing to all the people you've listed from Vera's book. A few letters have already gone to the mail. Every minute I can spare, I pray for an answer to one of these letters, that would bring us something to work on.

I realize that with all this I haven't told you anything about your son. He's doing very well, he's all smiles and babbling. Lady Sybil came to see him, and she seemed very fond of him. I think she's really looking forward to having her own baby. She seemed a natural when she held him.

Once again John felt a pang of jealousy reading those lines. It seemed every single person could enjoy dotting on his son, but him. How unfair was this.

I think he's taking after you size-wise. He's getting bigger and heavier by the day. I guess he's going to be a sturdy little thing. But his hair, at least the little he's got for the moment, looks rather fair, so maybe that's something he got from me. I'm so happy so see that he's taken from both of us, it reminds me day after day that we are one forever, no matter what comes, because we've created this beautiful little life together. I would like so much to bring him to you. It feels so unfair that you are deprived from each other. But I tell him about you every day. I show him pictures of you, although right now he's only trying to eat them.

At that John couldn't help but let out a little laugh, picturing Anna trying to prevent the baby from putting the precious pictures in his mouth.

My only hope is that we will soon be reunited as a family, and you can get to know each other for real. Meanwhile I'll bring him back to the photographer for his three-months, so that you can have a recent picture of him. Leslie is doing alright too, my time away in London seems to have done her some good. She needed a few days off from nannying.

I'm looking forward to seeing you next Monday. I love you time and again.

Yours faithfully,

Anna.

x x x x

Once again, Anna sat on the prison's hard stool, a small smile on her face as John entered to sit across her:

- Good day, darling.

- Hello love, she replied. How are you? How are you getting on with your new companion?

- I'm alright, thank you. As for him, I don't like him that much, but so far I've kept it to myself. I miss Julian though.

A small silence spread between them, before he went on:

- So, who are the bridesmaids?

Anna smiled crookedly, her head tilting a little on the side:

- You don't care about all that.

- You're wrong. It's the stuff of my dreams. The panic that a dinner won't be ready, or a frock isn't ironed, or a gun wasn't cleaned. Where is Lady Mary going on her honeymoon?

- Oh, that. They'll stay in London with Lady Rosamund for a couple of days, just to get used to each other…

Anna couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of their own "getting used to each other". A hot gleam glowed in her eyes, that was mirrored in John's gaze.

- And then they'll go to the south of France. Obviously I can't go there with them, so Lady Mary asked Lady Rosamund to hire her a replacement who will go with her to France.

- Alright. Pity you can't go though. I would have loved to hear you telling me all about this. I wish you could have gone to France, seen some sights, gotten us some memories.

- Yes, well, turns out I have a three-month-old baby to nurse every three hours, so it wouldn't have been very practical.

- If I ever get out of here, we'll take a trip. Just the three of us.

- I'd like that.

A flicker of hope shone in her eyes as she imagined themselves walking freely outside as a family.

- Have you received some answers to your letters yet?, asked John.

- Not yet. But I haven't set many, and it was only a few days ago. We've been so busy with the wedding business. I haven't had time to write more of them, sorry.

- Don't ever apologize to me, my darling. You doing so much already.

- I wish things would go faster. I don't know how much longer I can bear to see you in this place.

- I know.

His hand burnt with the need to touch hers, and he had to put in a great deal of effort to refrain himself from reaching out to her.

- I'll bring you a new photograph of Johnny next time. I wanted to wait until he was three-months old to have it done.

- Thank you. I'm looking forward to it.

x x x x

My dear John,

Yesterday was finally the day of Lady Mary's wedding. I was relieved to see her walking down the aisle, because only the night before, she'd had a row with Mr Matthew, and wanted to call it off… But between myself talking to her, and Mr Branson talking to Mr Matthew, we managed to bring them back together. I don't know if I had told you that Mr Matthew had asked Mr Branson to be his best man? He did after Mr Grey pulled this horrible prank on Mr Branson at dinner and Mr Branson made a fool of himself in front of the whole family. I thought it was ever so kind of Mr Matthew, but then I have to admit that he chose well, since he and I managed to solve the pre-wedding crisis. Now we must hope that the topic of their disagreement resolves itself too.

Just before we went to the Church, I was finishing to get Lady Mary ready, and Lady Grantham joined us and the two other young Crawley ladies, and it was so funny when she started asking Lady Mary if there was something she wanted to know about being with a man… I shouldn't be telling you that really, but it made me laugh. Lady Mary told her mother not to talk about that in front of me, but I replied that I was a married woman too, so I wasn't afraid of that. (Lady Edith should have been the one not listening really!) Anyway, I had to refrain to agree heartily when Lady Grantham told Lady Mary that when two people love each other, being together was "the most terrific fun". I had to fight the memories of the "fun" we had ourselves, in order to stay focused on finishing Lady Mary's hair…

Lady Mary was really beautiful in her wedding dress. You should have seen the looks on both Lord Grantham's and Mr Carson's faces when we walked down the stairs of the Great Hall. One couldn't have guessed which one was the proud father between the two of them… Lord Grantham told me you had written to him to offer your congratulations on Lady Mary's wedding, he told me he was very touched about it.

The ceremony was of course magnificent. I missed part of it unfortunately, because your son decided to howl his lungs out in the middle of it, so I had to get out of the church.

Now they have left for their honeymoon, and though Lady Mary was not glad that I couldn't go with her, she kindly agreed with me that I couldn't bring a three-month old baby on such an extended trip. So now I have a sort of month-long holiday. I won't stay idle of course, I'll help Madge and also Lily with the Head Housemaid work. But it'll give me more time to focus on my work on your case too, which is good. I can write more letters now. I'm hoping to get some replies in the upcoming weeks. Of course I'll keep you up to date on any further developments.

I am taking Johnny to the photographer next week, so you'll have your new photograph on my next visit.

I love you and I miss you, every day a little bit more.

Your loving wife,

Anna Bates.