This story will be told solely through their letters and their meetings in prison. It might be a little challenging, but I hope I'll do them justice. Enjoy! And please review...

April 1919

My dearest John,

It's been only a few hours since they've come for you, and I still can't believe that God would be so unkind as to take you away from me so soon. To grant us only three days of marriage, after seven years of waiting seems so cruel and unfair.

Wet patches formed on the paper sheet where her tears had fallen, as she remembered that awful moment earlier in the day when the two policemen had torn him away from her arms, and how it felt her heart had been shredded in two and one half had left with him. She quickly absorbed the moisture with a blotting paper, and wiped her eyes. She reminded herself she had to stay strong for him.

I'm still glad we managed to get married before they came for you. If we hadn't, maybe they wouldn't have let me visit you. Mr Carson has let me call Ripon's prison to inquire about visiting hours. Visits are allowed every first and third Mondays of each month, in the afternoon. Now I know what I will be doing on my half-days.

And since we got married, I have these wonderful memories that help me keep warm at night. I remember that heavenly first time you offered me. I remember how tired I was afterwards, but how I didn't want to fall asleep because I didn't want to miss a minute I could spend with you. I remember how we fell asleep anyway, as you held me close. I never slept better, even if it was only a few hours. I remember how we woke up together in the small hours, and you made love to me again, and again, how it was so marvellous. I don't think I could ever have found a better husband, despite what fate keeps throwing at us. I remember also that third time, as we hid in the shed…

A small smile crept on her face as she indeed remembered that hasty time, as they were both afraid they would be found out.

It was less comfortable, but very exciting… When I go to sleep tonight, alone in my little bed, I know I will feel cold and lonely, but the memories of these moments will glow warm into my heart. You will be there with me, in my mind and in my heart, every minute of every waking hour, and in my dreams at night. I will pray for your welfare before I go to sleep. I pray that you are not cold, I pray that you are fed enough, if not "well". I pray that the prison guards are fair and treat you well, and that the other prisoners are not too harsh on you. But I know you can fend for yourself. I pray that you keep the faith, and that our moments together will keep you warm too. I pray that Mr Murray will manage to have you out, to prove that you are innocent of that crime.

Please, don't worry about me. You know that I am well taken care of. Mrs Hughes is a great support, and the family is very kind, as they always are. His Lordship was devastated when Mr Carson went up to tell him that the policemen had taken you. He went to call Mr Murray right away. I think Mr Murray should visit you shortly. Lady Mary was very kind to me tonight. She says I can take any time off necessary to deal with our situation. But I don't really see what I can do about it, except visit you every time I can. I feel so powerless about it. I wish I was a criminal who could break into that wretched prison, take you out so that we could run away together to a foreign land where we could hide forever, just you and me. Anyway… I guess we must take life as God sees fit to give us. I can't wait to see you next week and I will keep you close to my heart until then. I love you with all my heart and soul, and I always will.

Your wife, now and forever,

Anna Bates

x x x x

He smiled as he read her last words, and her married name. It was the first time he saw it written in her neat and well-formed hand. New wet patches had formed on the sheet, where his tears had joined hers. He tried to absorb them with his sleeve, since he had no blotting paper in his prison cell. He brought the sheet to his face and inhaled, trying to find a trace of her sweet lavender scent. Then he took a blank sheet of paper and started to write back to her.

Anna, my beloved and most beautiful wife,

I can't tell you how happy your letter has made me. It is so good to read you. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for the miserable life I am offering you. From the beginning, I have brought you only hurt and heartbreak, and I will never forgive myself for that. You deserve a happy and fulfilling life, not the sad life of a prisoner's wife. Marrying Vera was the worst thing I did in my life, and I would give anything to be able to go back in time and not do it. I always knew I was not worthy of you, and I tried very hard when we met not to fall in love with you, because I knew I would only bring you trouble, and you deserved so much better. But I couldn't help it. You were so bright, so kind, so beautiful, and I was drawn to you like a moth to a flame, no matter how hard I tried to fight it. I would have happily settled with loving you silently from afar while you made a happy life with someone more suitable. But in the most unlikely fashion, that I still can't explain, you returned that love to me. And now I have succeeded in ruining your life… You will always be known as the murderer's wife, by my fault. I hope you can one day forgive me for that. I am weak, because however hard I berate myself for that, I can't bring myself to regret the time we've had together, no matter how short it was. Those three days have been the best in my whole life. Like you, I think back on those moments we shared, during our wedding night and after, and it makes my heart swell with love. You know that unlike you, it was not my first time, but never had it felt that way before. Never had I felt such complete fusion and harmony with anyone. I love you so completely and desperately. I love your body, your blond hair, your blue eyes, your bright and optimistic character, your stubbornness, your kindness of heart. I would happily go through hell only to see one of those wonderful smiles on your lips. I am a complete fool for you, and my soul is yours for eternity. And this is why I am so devastated that I am stuck here, and can't give you the happiness you so deserve. I do hope I'll be out of here one day, so that I can devote the rest of my life to make it up to you for everything I did to you.

I saw Mr Murray yesterday. He seems cautiously optimistic, says the evidence against me is rather light. The police has interviewed me twice already. Be reassured, no one has assaulted me, or manhandled me to this day. The guards, well, they're guards, not friends, but until now it's alright. I am alone in my cell, so I see the other prisoners only at meal times and when we walk outside. We're not supposed to talk during any of those times, so I can't say I've made any companion yet. As for my physical welfare, don't worry about that. I have in the past lived in direr circumstances. The accommodation is not worse than what we had during the Boer war… I'll live through that.

Please, thank His Lordship, and Lady Mary for their support. I will forever be indebted to them. Please continue in your letters to tell me about every little thing that is going on at Downton. It makes me feel like I'm still part of the household, and not the outcast that I really am. It will help me take my mind off my own misery, if only for a little while. And please, when you write to me, don't feel like you have to hold back your feelings to spare mine. Please tell me things how they really are, tell me how you really feel. I'm your husband, and I can hear or read anything. I can't wait to see you next week. Even though I see you every time I close my eyes, event though you are the sole person in my dreams at night, I long to see you in person. Would you please bring me or send me a photograph of you? So I can watch your beautiful face any time I want? That would make me very happy.

I have to go now, they will be calling for dinner any minute. I'll keep your letter against my heart at night, and it will keep me warm until we meet again. I love you and I always will,

your devoted husband,

John