Love and Justice Chapter 3

Hey guys! I am so sorry that I am late! I was celebrating my birthday and time just got away from me. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please review and if anyone would like to, I would love a Beta. Also, I am American so please forgive any mistakes on the differences between English and American terms.

Disclaimer: I don't own Downton Abbey, if I did Anna and Bates wouldn't have suffered as much.

Previously: Anna turned back, "You have done nothing wrong" she said before walking down the hallway with tears sliding down her face.

John looked down at the floor in defeat. He didn't know what had happened in the past day that caused his whole world to change, but he needed to find out.

Robert Crawley, Lord Grantham was feeling very joyful this evening. Their house was finally void of guests and Edith's Mr. Gregson had secured his money from the card game. He was also excited at the attentions of Tony towards his eldest daughter. There might be a new relationship on the horizon for Mary. She could be happy.

He smiled as he double checked his tie. Oh yes, it had been a good day! And now for a good dinner with his family.

He opened his door to her room just as Anna seemed to be finishing up. Wait...

"Anna why are you here? Where is Braithewaite?"

"You won't believe what's happened, Braithwaite's handed in her notice" Cora exclaimed, still surprised at the news.

"What why?"

Cora shook her head, "Family troubles, or so she says."

"Are we living under a curse? Doomed to lose our ladies maid at regular intervals? Anna did you know about this?", he asked. She shook her head.

Anna looked quite pale, and she was rather quiet. Actually, it definitely seemed that she was upset.

"Is anything the matter?"

"No, Milord."

"You seem very quiet lately. I hope Bates is behaving himself."

She nods a little, "He never does anything else" her eyes remained downcast. "Will that be all Milady?"

"Yes, thank you". Robert watched Anna leave and turned to Cora. "Does Anna seem alright to you?"

Cora looked worried, "No, I believe something is wrong, but I am not sure what. Has Bates said anything?"

"He hasn't said anything, but I will try to ask him about it. Just to make sure she isn't being over worked.

Later that evening, after a rather serious conversation with Bates, Robert stood in his dressing room. He was worried about his valet, no not just his valet, his friend. Bates seemed to be in a dark place this evening about Anna. Considering her behavior earlier in the evening it wasn't surprising.

He went into the bedroom where it looked like Anna had just finished up. Cora was at her dressing table, looking concerned.

"Are you alright my dear?"

"I am quite worried about Anna; she was still very quiet dressing me for bed and when I asked her if she was okay, she didn't really answer."

Robert nodded, "I just spoke with Bates. He said that he knows something is wrong, but she won't tell him what it is. He blames himself, says he must have done something to cause this."

Cora nodded, "Of course he does, he is probably still full of guilt from the prison business." Robert looked at Cora with surprise. She rose and climbed into bed

She smiled, "What is it?"

"I must confess I am surprised at your level of interest. You used to not like Bates."

"You are right, I didn't. At the beginning I disapproved of his injury, your closeness. However, there has been a war, I have lost a daughter, and Bates was wrongly imprisoned. I have come to see that he is very loyal to us, to this family, to Anna. I believe I misjudged him and if something has happened to Anna, I hope there could be a way we can help. Besides Anna is a good person. Good to everyone."

Robert grinned and wrapped his arms around her, holding her to his chest. "Have I mentioned how much I love you today?"

She smiled into his chest, "I believe you did this morning, but I am always open to hear it again."

"Should we do anything?"

She sighed, "I think one of us should ask Mrs. Hughes. I'm sure Carson doesn't know anything."

"I will ask, I don't want you to worry about anything. Now it is time for sleep, I'm sure we have quite a day tomorrow."


Mr. Bates walked down the path from the house to his cottage, lost in thought.

Anna had returned from London, but she was still off. She hadn't wanted to speak to him, she didn't seem to enjoy her time there. The littlest thing seemed to spook her. Perhaps tonight he will be able to have a proper sit down with her. He could make tea, light a fire. Create a warm, comforting environment, maybe it will help her.

With this idea in his head John felt some weight lift from his shoulders. Even if she doesn't tell him what he has done, at least it is an idea.

When he approached the cottage John saw that Anna was leaving, with a piece of luggage in hand. She should be putting her bags in the cottage, not leaving with them. She has just returned!

"Anna? What are you doing?"

She stopped moving, lifted her head, but didn't look him in the eye. "I…I am moving back into the house".

The first emotion that hit John was shock. Pure shock that his loving, dedicated wife would want to leave their home. Then confusion set in. Yes, Anna had been acting very strange for the past few days, but he never thought it would come to this. "What? My darling, why?"

Anna's thumbs played with the handle of her luggage. She breathed in deeply, "Since I am dressing her Ladyship and Lady Mary until the new lady's maid arrived, it will save time if I am staying at the house". As she finished her bottom lip started to tremble.

John couldn't seem to form a coherent sentence. He stood in silence for a moment. "Were you going to tell me this idea? We can make something else work. We could leave earlier in the morning; I wouldn't let you walk to Downton alone."

"I asked Carson and Mrs. Hughes, I thought it would be enough. It will be easier, for everyone if I am there."

"Anna…what have I done? Why do you no longer want to share our home?"

"It's not you…you have done nothing."

"That can't be true, if it was true, you would not be leaving. Our whole lives would not have this sudden change. Please tell me what has happened."

Anna sighed and moved past John. "I keep telling you, nothing has happened. Now I must get on, I will have to unpack."

All John wanted to do was stop her. To stand in front of her and refuse to move until he was able to understand what is going on. But he couldn't. He couldn't hurt her any longer. "Well, I will see you tomorrow."

Anna nodded as she continued to walk and picked up speed. John went into the cottage and prepared tea for himself. Even though he had been in the cottage alone plenty of times, the uncertainty made the once cheerful cottage appear depressing. Normally if Anna were leaving town, he would have an idea of when she would be back. Or at least he would know she would be back. Now he was not certain of anything. Anything at all.


Mrs. Hughes sighed. Of course, life was also complicated. It just seemed that these days it was especially complicated. Scheming, social climbing maids and evil valets. Both tried to destroy the lives of good people in this house. At least Mr. Branson is safe now with Edna gone. Anna was who Mrs. Hughes was really worried about. It had been a few months and Anna was in the same shape she was only a week after.

A knocked startled Mrs. Hughes out of her dark thoughts. "Come in" she called.

Lord Grantham entered the sitting room. Mrs. Hughes immediately stood, surprised. His Lordship was rarely down here. Rarer still down here alone.

"Ah please sit Mrs. Hughes. I am sorry to bother you, but I feel I need to discuss something with you. A rather delicate matter," as he sat down.

Mrs. Hughes raised her eyebrows, "Is everything alright My Lord?"

Lord Grantham appeared to gather his thoughts, "You must know Mrs. Hughes that I feel quite uncomfortable in what I am about to ask you. However, I feel it is serious enough to warrant a conversation."

Mrs. Hughes nodded, "Of course, I understand My Lord."

"Lady Grantham and I have noticed, as I am sure you have that Anna does not seem okay. These past few months she has been quiet and seems rather sad. I have discussed it with Bates of course and he seems to blame himself. I have heard that she has moved back into the house. I was wondering if you know what is wrong. I normally wouldn't ask, but after everything that they have been through…"

"Of course, my Lord, I understand. I am just not sure what to tell you. Something has happened, but it is very private, and Mr. Bates doesn't know."

Lord Grantham looked confused, "Well, who does know?"

Mrs. Hughes hesitated. Lord Grantham was her employer, and he was sincere. She was sure that he only wanted to help, but it would be a betrayal to Anna. She didn't want to hurt her. "Well, I know, Anna knows of course, and…Dr. Clarkson."

"Dr. Clarkson knows? That sounds very serious."

"It is very serious my Lord. I wonder, would we be able to speak about this topic at a later time with Dr. Clarkson?"

"If you think it best Mrs. Hughes. Please contact Dr. Clarkson and when it is a better time come into the library. I am sorry to have pushed this conversation on you," he said and stood.

Mrs. Hughes shook her head as she also stood, "It isn't that my Lord. It's just that Dr. Clarkson will be able to provide some information."

Lord Grantham nodded, "Of course, well, have a good day Mrs. Hughes".

"You as well my Lord," she said as the door closed. Mrs. Hughes almost dropped into her chair. Now the Lord of the house could get involved, whatever else could go wrong?


Mary was sitting up in bed trying to shake the last remnants of sleep from her mind. The only thing that could really do it would be a strong cup of tea. With that thought in mind she reached over and tugged on the fabric strip that will call Anna. She shifted to sitting up in preparation for her breakfast tray.

She watched as Anna softly opened and closed the door with the tray in hand. Her head was down, instead of the smile she used to come in with every morning. Mary was growing increasingly concerned, especially since she had found out that Anna had moved back into the house.

After Mary began to drink her tea, Anna moved to the end of the bed to pick up some clothes.

"Anna are you alright? Only you seem very quiet lately", she asked.

Anna froze, her head still down, avoiding Mary's eyes, "Yes Milady"

"I heard you moved back into the house…"

"Yes Milady, it was easier when I was attending both you and her ladyship."

"But mom has her own lady's maid now, surely you can move back into the cottage?"

"I…I haven't had the time Milady"

Mary was tempted to drop the subject. Clearly Anna was uncomfortable with the topic, and it was not proper to discuss a servant's place of residence with them. Though Anna wasn't just a servant, was she? She hadn't seemed alright for months. She had become a different person and Mary wanted to help. With that in mind Mary decided to push a little.

"Anna if you don't want to tell me what happened I won't pester you, but I hope you know you can trust me. We have been through so much together, from carrying poor Mr. Pamuk down the gallery to helping me after Matthew's death. I…I don't just consider you my lady's maid, I consider you to be my friend. My closest and dearest friend." With that Mary moved the tray and approached Anna. Grabbing her hands to hold.

"Please tell me what happened and how I can help."

Anna started to shake her head, to protest it seemed. Mary's heart sank, she wasn't going to tell her. But then Anna started to speak.

"You have to promise Milady that you won't tell anyone or do anything about it. Please promise me."

Mary's mind started to race, whatever could have happened? "Yes, of course. I promise."

Anna shakingly nodded her head and took a deep breath. "I…I was attacked, the night of the house party, during the concert. I went downstairs to get some headache powder and he followed me. He… he wouldn't let me leave." Her lower lip was quivering hard. Mary tightened her grip on her hand. Horror running through her body.

"Anna, what happened next?"

"He…he hit me. That's why I had the bruise and cut lip. I didn't fall. When I tried to run he yanked me by my hair into the boot room. And I couldn't…Couldn't get him off me. He wouldn't stop Milady; he just wouldn't stop." With that Anna seemed to fall apart. The weight of holding the secret off her shoulders. Mary hugged Anna to her decorum be dammed!

"Anna, you still haven't said. Who did this to you? What monster did this?"

"Mr. Green, Lord Gillingham's valet." Mary was shocked and broke the hug. Tony said that he didn't particularly like him, but to commit such a vile act…she had to do something. She had to tell Tony or the police! The police! Why hadn't Anna told the police?

"Oh my God…Anna we have to tell the police! He needs to be arrested!"

"Milady no! You promised!"

"But why can't we tell the police? Or at least tell Tony to fire him?"

"The police would never believe me. He would say that I made it up to disguise infidelity or that I asked for it. When was the last time you saw a men charged with attacking and raping a woman in the paper? Because I haven't. And Lord Gillingham would want to know why."

Mary felt at a loss. She was naturally inclined to trust the police, but Anna had a point. Though she believed she persuade Tony to fire Green without a cause. Anna was not in the state to listen to that right now thought. Green, the repulsive man could be dealt with later. Now she needed to help Anna.

"Alright, for right now I won't say anything. We can discuss it more at a later time. She once again hugged Anna. Right now she could just be there for her friend.

Thank you for reading!