Chapter 5

Mrs. Hughes studied Anna with much concern. She had come back to Paris weeks ago. And with her return, Mrs. Hughes had hoped that Anna would return somewhat to herself. Anna did act as though she had. During her free time, she worked to find evidence in order to free Mr. Bates from prison. While she worked, Anna smiled politely and even joined in on conversations. She attempted to make everyone see just how much better she was. But Mrs. Hughes knew it was all an act. She noticed the way Anna would stare off when she was supposed to be cleaning shoes or how she'd hardly touch any food on her plate. Anna was not doing well.

Any time Mrs. Hughes tried to bring this up, Anna would say she was fine. She reminded Mrs. Hughes that her focus was on bringing her husband home. She would even say that yes they had suffered a loss, but that when he came home they could grieve together.

Mrs. Hughes believed they would. However, she worried about Anna now. There was no knowing of when Mr. Bates would return back to them. She couldn't know how Anna would hold on until then. She needed to release some of that grief now.

With a sigh, Mrs. Hughes sat down at her chair and decided to write Mr. Bates a letter. Perhaps, he could shake some sense into Anna.

Dear Mr. Bates,

I hope this letter finds you well. You are missed here at Downton Abbey. I write because I am concerned about Anna. While she acts as though she is fine, I find that she is not eating. She also hides away when she can from everyone.

She has decided to move into your cottage. I do not know if this is a good or bad thing, Mr. Bates. I think it may be better if she were to stay here while you are not with us. I can keep a better eye on her while she's upstairs. Perhaps, you can convince her to stay?

All the best,

Mrs. Hughes

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

John sighed, folding the letter that he had just received from Mrs. Hughes. It was not his first letter of concern about her. He had even received another from Lady Mary. It seemed there was a lot of worry for Anna. But what could he do while he sat in this jail cell away from her?

Every time the two of them met up, Anna refused to speak with him about their shared pain. She would just say there was time for that later and how they needed only to talk about finding someone who could prove he was innocent.

The door to his cell opened and he stood. Today he was meeting with his wife. He placed the letter from Mrs. Hughes in his chest pocket and followed the guard to the area where they would meet.

He was grateful for his wife's intentions to bring him home. Of course he wanted to be home with her. It was just that he wanted her to care for herself first. None of it mattered if she wasn't alright.

When he entered the meeting room, he found that Anna was already there. She sat in her chair, turned away from him. Her shoulders were slightly bent forward and she seemed smaller than normal.

John made his way around the table and sat across from her. She looked up at smiled, but it didn't quite meet her eyes.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi." Anna inhaled and then got right to work, focusing on what came next. "I spoke with her."

"With whom?"

"Mrs. Bartlett," Anna reminded him.

"Right, of course."

Anna seemed frustrated with him that he wasn't on the same page as her. Her teeth gritted slightly and she began to pick at the edge of her nails. Her eyes wouldn't even directly meet his, instead he could tell she was staring at the corner of his mouth.

"What did she say," he tried asking in an attempt to get her to look at him.

"She spoke a lot about seeing Vera before she died, how she was scrubbing pastry out from under her nails."

This news perked John up.

"Wait, pastry?"

"Yes, isn't that an odd detail to remember?"

"It is," John agreed. "Wouldn't that mean she was making the pie that she would eat that night?"

Anna did meet his eyes then. "So she planned this. She meant for you to be imprisoned and hung for murder. It was her revenge." Tears shinned in Anna's eyes. Oh how much Vera had hurt them both.

"And what a revenge, for both of us."

"Oh, I hope she's burning in hell!" Anna angrily stated.

"Don't go down that road," John gently said and Anna sighed. "Once you do, there is no way off it."

Anna nodded in agreement. She adjusted herself in her seat and placed her hands together in front of her.

"We will need to get Mrs. Bartlett to tell this to Mr. Murray. He'll know what to do with it," Anna stated. "Then we can bring you home. This has lasted far too long."

"It has," John agreed. "How is Lady Edith?"

Anna shrugged. She had only told him in passing in one of her letters how Lady Edith was left at the alter.

"As well as one can, I suppose," she just said. "Lady Sybil is back. She is having a child with Tom."

"I had heard." He frowned. He wondered really how Anna was handling it all. Soon there would be a baby at the Abbey and he worried how that might make her feel. "Mrs. Hughes says you've moved into the cottage? Are you not lonely out there all alone?"

"Does Mrs. Hughes write you often?" Anna glared into him, obviously not glad to hear that people were writing about her behind her back.

"Many people write me, Anna," he explained, not wanting to tell her just how many letters he got over concern for her. "They know how lonely I am."

"Of course you are," she softened slightly. "And no. I rather like the quiet. I'm preparing the cottage for when you return. I cannot wait for that."

"Me either."

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

The past several days had been frantic. They had nearly lost Sybil during childbirth and she was still in the care at the hospital. There was no promise that she would make it, but she was still here. Robert had to have hope that she would survive to be a mother to her daughter.

He sat at his desk when he heard footsteps behind him. As he turned, he saw Mary, Edith, and Anna all before him with bright smiles upon his faces. Quite the difference than the somber faces they all had earlier in the day.

"I'm ever so sorry to interrupt my lord," Anna said. Her voice was shaky from excitement. It was the most joy he had seen on her face since before the loss of her child. "But Mrs. Bartlett has given a statement that will clear him. At least, Mr. Murray says 'it will make the verdict unsafe'. So Mr. Bates is coming back to Downton."

"Isn't it marvelous?" Mary asked.

"Yes, that is absolutely marvelous," Robert agreed. Finally, they had some good news. "Do you want to telephone Murray?"

"Yes, please," Anna replied. Her lips were curled up into the biggest smile.

"Carson will manage it for you."

He gave them all a quick nod. "Now, your mother and I are off to visit Sybil. This is good news, Anna. Marvelous news, really."

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

John was now a free man. He still couldn't believe it. But believe it he must, because he was being escorted to the gates where he would be set free. He could now be with his wife and the two of them could begin their future with one another.

He stepped out from the gate and there he saw her. She stood with much anticipation and the biggest grin on her lips. His eyes couldn't have torn away from her in that moment, no matter what went on around them. He would be able to hold her, really hold her now.

Anna rushed toward him, before wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him close to her. She laughed, giddy that he was here with her. He couldn't believe just how wonderful it felt to have her in his arms again. It was all he had dreamed about for so long.

"Thank god," Anna said, as they pulled apart. Her hands were still touching his chest, as though she was afraid to let him go and he might disappear.

"Yes, thank god," John agreed. "And you."

They then kissed. The first kiss they had shared in such a very long time. Oh how he had missed her lips and that happiness that came from just being with her. Anna then rested her head against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. He wouldn't rush this time with her. Now was just for the two of them. So much time had been lost.

"I think about him often," John whispered into her hair. "And now, we can mourn together."

Anna tensed beneath his touch, not saying anything. He thought he felt some wetness against his chest, but Anna just tucked her head further into him and didn't move. John tightened his hold. Yes, now they could mourn together.

To be continued...

John is finally home :)