Thank you all so much for your kind reviews. I do hope you continue to enjoy this story. It will be a longer one. Their journey takes place over many decades, but I think it'll be worth it. At least, I hope so. Thanks again!
Chapter 4
1920- America
When the car had pulled up to pick up Anna and Mary and take them to Grandmama's, Anna had sat in the front, as a maid does. Mary could see Anna sitting before her and she shifted uneasily within her seat. It was quiet here in the back. Normally, she would have been pleased with the silence. She wasn't one to enjoy chattering about random topics just to fill the air with their words. But she found she missed Anna. Though she was there, the shift in what they had been for the past few weeks and what they were now made her feel empty.
She knew it was only because of the companionship the two had shared. It had been nice to have a friend. True friendships in her life were rare. She only really had her sisters growing up and they were not friends. She adored Sybil, of course, but she was the little sister. Then there was Edith and well…
Her thoughts were drawn back to Anna as she heard Anna gasp when the car hit a bump on the road. Instinctively, Mary's hand reached forward and rested on Anna's shoulder.
"Are you alright, Anna?" Anna gave a small nod.
"Yes, m'lady."
Mary dropped her hand, sliding back in her seat. She reminded herself that this was how it was supposed to be. Anna was her friend, but they could only be friends in the way of a lady and her maid. It couldn't be like it was on the ship. Societal rules prevented that.
Anna had been right on the ship: now things had to return to normal.
Clasping her hands in front of her, Mary allowed her eyes to draw toward the sights around her. It was only now that she remembered that she was in America. This should be a time for her to explore and see the world outside of Downton.
The car jolted and stopped in front of her grandmother's home. Both Anna and the driver stepped out. As the driver assisted Mary out of the car, she saw Anna standing at the back, waiting for the bags.
"Oh Anna, you can't lift those," Mary stated, shaking her head. "I'll have the butler bring them in."
"Yes, m'lady. I'll go around to the servant's quarters and wait for further instruction." Anna dipped away quietly, making Mary's brows furrow. Since the moment the two had stepped off of the ship, Anna had seemed quieter and withdrawn.
"Mary! You're here!" Grandmama's vibrant voice made Mary turn. She pressed a smile upon her lips and nodded.
"I am, Grandmama."
"I trust it was a lovely journey?"
Mary's eyes fell back to where Anna had just been.
"It was."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Anna entered Mary's bedroom with a mended dress within her hands. She had spent the previous day sleeping. Lady Mary had insisted she take the day resting from their journey and not working until today. Today had been spent learning the lay of the new house. Anna didn't know how long they would be here, so she knew she needed to get familiar with the way things were set up. She also needed to get to know the staff. But it only made her miss Downton. She missed Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes. Though she didn't miss Thomas or Miss O'Brien. No. It did make her wonder if there were any staff members like them here. Anna would need to be careful. Life had been cruel to her and now she knew she had to be careful with whom she trusted.
"It's so lovely to see you!" Mary greeted. Anna gave a brief nod. She hadn't seen Mary in over twenty four hours.
"How are you getting along, m'lady?"
"It is different, but it is going well. I trust everyone is treating you kindly?"
"Yes, m'lady."
"You will tell me if anyone does not?" Mary made little room for arguments.
"I will."
"So," Mary turned on the bench where she sat to face Anna. Her eyes were bright and it made Anna genuinely smile. "I thought we could go tomorrow to see New York. We could walk around and sight see."
"Wouldn't you rather go with your grandmother, m'lady? It isn't common for a lady such as yourself to explore with your maid. My job is to stay here. I can explore on my half days."
"But that's a bore, Anna. You'll come with me," Mary stated, matter-of-factly.
"M'lady, I appreciate all you have done for me, but I will be alright. Losing Mr. Bates is hard, probably the hardest thing I will ever have to live through. But I will never regret loving him. I had a great love and I know some are not as fortunate as I was. I don't need you to overcompensate. I really will be fine."
Mary frowned, her brows creasing. She turned back around on her stool and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her hand brushed through her dark locks, before she met Anna's eyes.
Anna wondered what was going on in that head of Lady Mary's. She knew that she was much deeper and thoughtful than many knew of her. The time on the ship had been unlike anything she had lived before. It had been fun to pretend she was a true friend of Mary's. Though her heart was broken, Mary had made the sting a little less harsh.
"I do think we'd have fun," Mary then said, breaking the silence. "We're in America now, Anna. Surely we can change up tradition somewhat. And I am not doing this for you. I want you to come. I really enjoyed your company these past few weeks."
Grabbing the brush from the vanity, Anna began to brush through Mary's long, dark hair. She had always adored Mary's hair. It was silky and smooth, but easy to pin up. Her fingers came up to run through her hair and their eyes met in the mirror again. They remained still for a moment, before Anna shook her head and Mary cleared her throat. It was all so strange, Anna thought. Their heartbreak must be drawing them closer. It was the only reasonable conclusion.
"Yes," Anna agreed. "Let us explore tomorrow."
"Magnificent."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Anna woke up the next morning in severe pain. She doubled over, clasping her hands to her stomach. Tears stung her eyes.
"No," she whispered. "No, no."
She should have known that she would lose this baby. Everything was always stolen from her. Her father had died when she was a young child. Then her mother sent her away after her stepfather's unwanted affections. She lost John, the love of her life. And now she was going to lose her baby.
Anger and sadness coursed through her. She should have known better than to believe that she would actually be given such a beautiful gift.
She cried all morning and missed breakfast. Even when the head housekeeper banged on Anna's door to tell her Lady Mary had rung for her, Anna didn't move. Her heart was too broken. The last bit of hope she had been holding on to was gone.
"Anna?" The door was partially opened, letting light shine into Anna's face. She dug it deeper into the pillows. "Anna?" Mary asked again, widening the door. Anna heard the door open fully and then shut again. Then she felt a dip in the bed, before Mary's hand came to rest upon her shoulder.
"Please go away," Anna pleaded. She knew that it wasn't proper and that she could lose her job for asking such things from her employer, but she didn't care.
"Oh Anna, are you missing Bates something awful today?"
"I…I'm losing the baby," Anna cried, a loud sob ripping through her frame.
"What?!" Mary gasped. "Are you sure?"
"Please, please go away," Anna tried again. She turned away from Mary and tightened her legs up over her cramping abdomen.
"I'm going to ring for a doctor. Stay right here."
Before Anna could protest, Mary was out of the room. The door shut behind her and Anna was left all alone again. She closed her eyes and wished that John was here. Why was life so terribly cruel?
Within only minutes, Mary was back. She sat back next to Anna, placing her hand back on her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Doctor will be here shortly, Anna. Are you bleeding?"
Anna shook her head. No, she had not been bleeding. That was one of the first things she had checked.
"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Mary questioned. But despite the lift in her voice trying to sound positive, Anna couldn't mistake the doubt in it. How much could she really know about miscarriages and pregnancies? Anna knew more than Mary and it still wasn't a lot.
Anna then felt arms curl around her and realized that Mary had laid down beside her. It was strangely comforting and not awkward as she would have thought it to be.
A knock came at the door and Mary was up quicker than she had laid down. Anna could hear her feet heading to let in the doctor and then heard the two of them whispering.
"Mrs. Bates?" Doctor asked. Anna sat up slightly, a shaky breath escaping her lips. "Why don't you let me give you an examination and we can find out what is causing this pain."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Mary had been sent out of Anna's room and left to pace in the library. Her grandmama had tried to ask her what was going on, but Mary could only shake her head and tell her that Anna was quite ill. The intimate details of what Anna was going through were not hers to share.
Finally, the doctor came into the library. Mary clutched her hand over her heart.
"Has Anna lost the baby?" She held her breath, finding that she was afraid to hear the answer.
"There has been no bleeding and she is showing signs of dehydration. She says she has been vomiting a lot?"
"She has." Mary backed up.
"Yes, signs of dehydration," Doctor repeated. "It is too early to say whether or not Mrs. Bates is pregnant. However, she does show signs of pregnancy, but no signs of losing that child."
"Oh, thank god," Mary breathed. She nearly fell forward with relief.
"She's exhausted, m'lady. I've given her a sedative to help her sleep after having her drink some tea. She needs to rest for a few days and drink a decent amount of liquids."
"I will make sure she does," Mary assured him.
"I'll return in a week to check in on her. Please ring for me if there are any other issues."
"I will, Doctor. Thank you."
Mary's heart was beating faster now. She knew that Anna must be relieved to know that the pain she was in had nothing to do with the baby. Her lips began to curl up slightly and she made her way back up to the maid's quarters to check in on Anna.
As the doctor had warned her, Anna was asleep. But she appeared peaceful. Her cheeks were rosy and her body rested against the bed. Mary pulled the chair from the corner closer to the bed and sat down. She glanced at the woman before her.
The sound made Anna's eyes flutter open.
"Shh, go back to sleep. Everything is going to be alright now. And we'll go on our adventure in a few days when you are feeling all better."
Fall 1970
Johnny Bates stood, pressing a kiss to his mother's cheek. His mother looked up at him and smiled.
"I have to leave now, Mum," Johnny said to her. "But I'll be back for the family dinner." His mother's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Who are you?" Johnny sighed, his eyes filling with tears.
"Mum, it's me, Johnny."
"Mary," Anna said, turning to face the woman who was standing over by his son, Jack. "Where is Johnny? Shouldn't he be washed up for dinner?"
Johnny watched as Mary shifted her cane beside her.
"Darling, that is Johnny. He's all grown now. He has a son, our Jack, right here," Mary reminded her.
"Right," Anna replied, her eyes darkening with sadness.
"Goodbye," Johnny said again. He stood from his chair and walked over to his Aunt Mary, kissing her cheek. His hand came up to squeeze at her shoulder. "You'll call me if it gets worse?"
"I always do."
"Thank you. Mum is lucky to have you. I'll see you this weekend."
To be continued...
Thank you for reading :)
