Chapter 7
1920-On the Sea
The waves on the way back to England hit Anna much harsher. Of course, she was further along now and she found that certain foods made her feel more sickly than others. But the waves made it difficult for her to even get out of bed. She wondered how she would make it the few weeks until they hit land.
Fortunately, much like the trip to America, Mary had insisted that for the trip back Anna would remain as a companion. Her duties as lady's maid wouldn't begin until they returned to Downton Abbey, and not officially until after the wedding. It was always what she had aspired to become since she entered service as a tweeny. Lady's maids were respected in their field. But now Anna didn't know how she could possibly do the job. She was to be a mother within the year and she didn't have a husband.
Tears filled her eyes and she wiped the ones off her cheeks with the back of her hands. She would just figure it out, like she always had. Anna Bates had never been a quitter. No, she would make it work. Her child deserved that.
Slowly she was able to sit up and nibble on a biscuit that was sitting next to her bed. Once more, she and Mary were sharing a room. However, Mary was hardly in the room. She was always off with Mr. Matthew, enjoying the bliss that came with having him back. It gave Anna a lot of time on her own. She was free to do whatever she liked on the ship, but she found she liked the quiet. Every evening, Mary and Matthew invited her to dinner, but Anna politely declined. She wasn't about to step on their happiness. She didn't need them to entertain her.
Standing, Anna walked to the balcony and took a seat. The salt air did help with the nausea. Her hand fell to her belly and she rubbed it. There was only a small bump, but it was there. Her son was growing inside of her. Her Johnny. Even though Mary kept reminding her that it could be a girl, Anna just shook her head. It was a boy. She knew it from the moment she knew she was with child. She was having John's son.
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"Before dinner," Mary began, inching closer to Matthew. She couldn't get enough of him. Any chance she got to touch him, she did and she found he did the same to her. Her happiness could not be matched. She was sure she had never felt this euphoric before in her entire life. "Let's get ice cream."
"Before dinner?" Matthew grinned. He kissed her, not caring if anyone around them saw. His hands remained on her cheeks for a moment, and then he nodded. "Sure, why not? We are celebrating. You are my fiancée."
"Oh, I'll never tire of that word!"
"Well, until you become my wife."
"Yes, until then."
They headed to the side deck where it was nearly empty. Off in a distance, they could hear playful voices and people chattering about. But here, they were alone. In the quiet, Mary felt an odd sensation flow through her. She realized that she missed Anna. Even though she slept in the same room with Anna, they had barely spoken or spent time together over the past several days.
She crossed her arms over the railing and looked over the sea.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Matthew's hand rested on the small of her back and he stood right beside her.
"I'm so happy," Mary said. "But I also worry about Anna. She and I grew closer over these past several weeks. I worry she's lonely."
Matthew turned to her and met her eyes.
"This is why I fell in love with you," he murmured.
Mary giggled. "Why is that?"
"Because of your warm heart. Don't worry, I won't give it away to too many people, but I could see it. You care deeply for people, Mary. You don't let others see that side of you often, but it is there."
"Yes, don't tell anyone," Mary teased, before kissing Matthew, again.
"I'm glad you and Anna have grown closer. She's a kind woman and she will need all the help we can give her now that she's lost Bates and is going to have his child."
"Though I'm sure we'll get some push back," Mary added, rolling her eyes. At that, Matthew chuckled.
"I'm sure we will. However, we can handle it."
"Oh yes, we will. Or you just let me handle it, anyway. By now, my family understands that I often get what I want."
"Yes, and I am quite glad about that."
Downton Abbey
After the long journey, they had finally arrived back at Downton Abbey. Mary and Matthew were eagerly greeted by their family, happy to hear about all the details of what was to come. Both Mary and Matthew had decided they didn't want to put off the wedding any longer than they had to. They had already wasted too much time for their liking. They wanted to be married as soon as possible.
"Of course!" Robert happily boasted. "We are thrilled."
"It really is about time," Granny replied, with her knowing smile. Mary's eyes were bright, even a throwaway line from Edith didn't grab her attention. Nothing was going to bring down her mood today.
They sat down to dinner and Mary was surprised at how quickly it all came back to her. She didn't know why. She had not been gone that long. However, her time with Anna in America almost felt like a distant memory now. Everything would have to go back to normal. The barrier between them had already begun to go back up. Mary's sighed. No, she wouldn't allow that to happen. She and Anna were now friends. There would be changes in their relationship already with her becoming her lady's maid, but they could also change some other elements of what made them, them. Who was to say that things needed to go back the old way? They had lived through a war. It was 1920, life needed to move forward.
"Mother told me that you and Anna were out all the time when you were in America. She said it was the strangest relationship she had seen between a lady and her maid," Cora finally broached the subject. Her eyes moved upward to Mary's and there was a look of disapproval over her face.
Mary shifted uneasily in her seat, angry that her grandmama felt she needed to share about her whereabouts in America.
"What does it matter?"
"Well, I know Anna lost Mr. Bates and that is very tragic. We were all so upset for him, for Anna, but we mustn't allow that to blur the lines, Mary."
Mary's eyes rolled.
"Your mother is quite right," Robert broke in. "We must keep things professional."
"Do you forget what Bates meant to you?" Mary said, eyeing her father carefully.
"No, of course not," Robert replied, clearing his throat.
"Your father has been distraught since the execution, Mary. How dare you ask him such a thing?"
"Then I assume you understand what Anna means to me. Plus, we were in America. I highly doubt what happens in America matters much here."
"No," Violet intervened. "It does not."
"I think it's quite lovely," Isobel added.
"Of course you do," Violet replied, unamused.
"After we marry," Mary continued on, "Anna will become my proper lady's maid. She is with child."
The entire table went silent then.
"A child?" Edith was the one to break the silence. "Surely, you can't have a lady's maid with a child."
"No," Cora agreed. "You cannot."
Mary ignored them both and continued to speak, "I've assured Anna that we will care for her and Bates' child. I know, Papa, that you promised Bates before his death that you would care for his wife. I would assume that also reaches out to his child, as well?"
Robert swallowed hard, but nodded. "I did. And Mary is right, we will."
"Good." Mary said, saying that it was the last of that conversation.
"What kind of flowers were you thinking for the wedding?" Isobel then asked and Mary was grateful for the shift of discussion.
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She had been invited in Mrs. Hughes' parlor after dinner. Mostly everyone was quiet as they ate. Anna was sure they didn't know what to say to her and she didn't know what to say to them. There had been glances shot her way, but anytime she'd meet their eyes, they would quickly look back to their food. It had been even more uncomfortable than she had expected.
"Anna, it's so good to have you back," Mrs. Hughes earnestly told her. "You've been missed."
"I…" She paused her words. She didn't know how to reply to that. "Thank you," she finally settled on. "I missed you." That wasn't a lie. She had missed Mrs. Hughes. Mrs. Hughes had been like a mother to her for all of these years.
"How was your trip? I'm sure you are exhausted. Tomorrow, I want you to rest. I will cover for you or have one of the other girls do it."
"Thank you, Mrs. Hughes," Anna said with a small smile. "I…" She paused again. "I am not telling anyone quite yet, not downstairs anyway, Lady Mary already knows, but….I am expecting. My last night with Mr. Bates has given me a child."
"Oh Anna!" Mrs. Hughes reached out to grasp at her hands. "How wonderful for you. I know it's what you wanted."
"I did," Anna nodded. "I don't know what it will mean for…"
"Don't worry about any of that now. What did Lady Mary say?"
"She's pleased for me," Anna answered. Mrs. Hughes seemed oddly impressed by this. Anna knew that she didn't see the kind side of Lady Mary that she often saw. "She says I am to stay here."
"Good," Mrs. Hughes simply replied. "We will speak more about this later. You have had a long journey. Go on up to bed and we will worry about the details at a later time."
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When dinner was over, Mary was pulled aside by Cora.
"You can't honestly believe that having Anna has your lady's maid is a good idea," she started.
"I do," Mary simply replied, showing she was not backing down.
"Mary, write her a lovely recommendation and help her find a job where she can have her child with her. She'll be much happier."
Mary narrowed her eyes.
"She'll be happier or you will be happier, Mama? Anna is staying. We owe her." Cora tightened her jaw and took in a deep breath, but she did not reply. "Now, I must go downstairs and speak with Carson and Mrs. Hughes about the plans I have for Anna. Goodnight."
Turning on her heels, Mary made the trek down the stairs. She easily found both Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes in her parlor quietly speaking. Mary stood in the doorway and knocked against the frame. Upon seeing it was Lady Mary, Carson immediately stood and Mrs. Hughes stood a moment later.
"My lady," Carson began with a nod.
"Hello, it's nice to see you both. I thought we might discuss Anna's future here at Downton."
"Yes, my lady," Mrs. Hughes replied.
"She will become my lady's maid once I am married. Until then, I don't want her overworking herself. I'm not sure if she told you, but she is with child."
Carson's face blanched and his cheeks sunk in. Mrs. Hughes, however, only nodded.
"Yes, she told me."
"You knew?"
"I did," Mrs. Hughes said, not concerned with Carson's indignation.
"Good," Mary just stated. "I thought we could perhaps find a larger room for Anna upstairs, one she could have of her own and that we could fit a cot. I also need recommendations for a nanny."
"You're hiring her a nanny? Lady Mary, I am sorry, but this is not proper at all. We cannot have a lady's maid with a child. I'm sure there is some other way to help Anna out. All of us want what is best for her."
Mary's arms crossed over her chest.
"This is what I want, Carson. Make it happen."
Mr. Carson made a low sound. "Yes, my lady."
"I'll make sure he does," Mrs. Hughes lightly replied. "Is there anything else you need, m'lady?"
"No," Mary answered. "Is Anna downstairs?"
"I sent her to bed."
"Oh good. I'll see her in the morning then. Goodnight."
Fall 1970
There were moments when Anna was here completely with Mary. These moments came further and further apart than they used to be, but when they did come, Mary could forget for a while. Tonight was one of those nights.
They had just had their dinner with their children and grandchildren. Those nights were always a highlight to Anna and something about being surrounded by them all made Anna come back to Mary more.
But tonight had been extra special, Jack and his wife, Linda, announced they were having a child. It would be the first greatgrandchild.
"Isn't it wonderful," Anna gushed, rubbing her lotion on her arms. "Great-grandparents. You and I are going to be great-grandparents!"
"Well, you are darling," Mary said, smiling. "I'll be Great Aunt Mary." Anna shot her a look, making Mary smile. "Do you think he'll carry on tradition and name the child John Bates the fourth?"
"I'm not sure," Anna stated, turning to face Mary. "I hope he doesn't feel like he has to. Though I wouldn't hate it," she added. "I am glad his legacy has been able to live on. I believe John would be happy with his son and grandson. And now there will be a great grandchild of his."
"But this one could be a girl," Mary remarked.
"A girl? You really think so?" Mary's smile grew. Oh how she wished it was always like this.
"We won't know until the child is born."
"No," Anna noted, "We won't."
Mary stepped forward and ran her fingers through Anna's long locks.
"If she's a girl, I hope she looks like you."
"And if it's a boy, I hope it looks like Johnny."
Mary laughed. "Johnny looks just like you!"
"No, he doesn't," Anna playfully replied. "He looks like John."
"That's Jack, Anna. He looks like John. Johnny is your twin. Jack is the doppelganger."
Anna's brows furrowed. "Who is Jack?" And just like that the air was sucked away from the room. Mary dropped her hand from Anna's hair and just gave her a crooked smile.
"Darling, let's go to bed, alright?"
The light was now gone from Anna's eyes, but she nodded. "Alright."
To be continued...
Thank you, as always, for reading! :)
