Thank you all for your kindness. Now the real journey begins that they are married. :)
Chapter 5
John took the brush and moved it over his lordship's shoulder. His thoughts were back at his home and the closed door that he hadn't seen opened since Anna walked inside of it the prior morning and shut herself in. He had knocked on her door that morning and told her he was leaving food out by the door like he had the night before. She must have opened the door at some point, because the previous night's food had been gone this morning.
He knew she was grieving and had been thrown into a life that she didn't want. Because of that, he would be patient, or at least, as patient as time would allow. He would need her to take over with Declan in a week. It was one of the biggest parts of the deal.
"You're a married man now, Bates?" Lord Grantham questioned John, drawing him from his thoughts. John nodded.
"I am," he agreed.
"And you're happy?"
"I am content." It was the most honest reply he could make out. "She was in need of a home and I was in need of a mother for my child, m'lord."
"Sometimes the best loves grow from necessity," Lord Grantham stated. John pursed his lips in thought. He had decided not to reveal to anyone the full plan he had made with Anna. There was sure to be some judgement if he shared that they would only be married for a year's time. One divorce was scandalous enough. If they were to know of his plan for a second, they might feel differently about him. He decided that he would deal with that when the time came.
"Yes, m'lord."
He finished preparing Lord Grantham for his day and then made his way downstairs. He had a few tasks he needed to complete before lunch. Part of him wondered if he shouldn't head down to his cottage and check on Anna. But he realized that she likely didn't want to see him right now. No, he would give her the space she needed.
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Throughout the week, John wondered if Anna was alive from time to time. She never answered when he knocked on the door and he still hadn't seen her come out. He knew she must, because the food was always missing later in the day. There was also no way she hadn't had to use the privy over the past several days.
But today was the first day of Declan staying at the house. Anna didn't have the luxury of remaining hidden in her room anymore. She would have to come out into the land of the living again.
He reminded himself to be patient when he knocked on her door. Just in case, he had given himself extra time this particular morning, so he wasn't late for work.
Surprising John, the door opened almost immediately. Anna's eyes were gaunt, but she was dressed in a new dress and he could tell that at some point recently she had bathed. Though, he wouldn't be able to pinpoint when she had done it.
"Yes," her voice was curt.
"Today is when you start watching Declan," John began.
"Yes, I remember our deal."
"He's still asleep. Are you sure that you'll be up to watching him all day? He is a spirited little one."
Anna looked annoyed. "I can handle it," she simply stated. "Shouldn't you go into work now?"
"Um, yes," he replied, thrown off by the harsh cadence in her voice. Was he wrong to leave her alone with his son? He shook it off and continued, "I bring home food from Downton Abbey. The cook, Ms. Patmore, is very kind and generous. However, if you need other food, you can go into the village. I have left you some money on the kitchen counter. I'll leave you some each week for whatever you need or want. This week's has more in case you need any new fabric for clothes or anything else."
Anna didn't reply. Her eyes still would not meet his and he could tell that she was staring at the corner of his cheek.
"Will that be all?"
John took in a deep breath. "Yes. That will be all."
Anna reclosed the door and John sighed. He hoped this wasn't a huge mistake.
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"So, she's there alone with Declan today?" Mrs. Hughes questioned John, as she stopped him in the hallway by the Servant's Hall.
"She is," John answered, shuffling uncomfortably on his feet. He didn't dare tell Mrs. Hughes his own worries about Anna alone with his son after she had been loud with her disagreement about the whole set up.
"And you feel comfortable today?"
John sighed.
"I don't think she'll harm him in any way, Mrs. Hughes. I wouldn't have left them alone if I did."
"She's adjusted well this week, then?"
John had been purposely tight lipped all week about how things were going back at his home. But he knew that now was not the time to lie.
"Well, no, but…."
"I don't like any of this, Mr. Bates. You've brought a woman that you don't know into your home," Mrs. Hughes lightly scolded.
"She isn't a burglar or anything, Mrs. Hughes," John then scoffed. "She's a widow who needed a home. It'll take some adjustment, sure, but I do not fear for my son or myself. Please leave it be."
"Oh, alright," Mrs. Hughes sighed. "May I come by tomorrow to meet her?"
"Yes, absolutely," John then replied with a smile. "We'll go together around lunchtime then?"
"Alright."
Mrs. Hughes sidestepped him and continued along with her tasks for the day. John glanced at the clock on the wall. It was growing closer to lunchtime and he wanted to check in on his boy. While he didn't believe that Anna would harm his son, he did worry about how the two were getting along. He had over an hour before he had to be back, so he decided to just pop on back to the cottage and see how they were doing.
The walk felt longer than normal, but he was sure his concerns were making it seem that way. It was only a fifteen minute journey that could last longer when his knee was acting up. Thankfully, his knee was in good shape today and he was able to walk at a steady pace.
When he reached the door, he turned the knob and found that the house was completely silent. His eyes scanned the house.
"Anna? Declan?" There was no answer. He stepped further inside and his heart began to race upon seeing the money from the table gone. Surely she wouldn't have taken the money and his son and just left? His mind was racing and he was having a hard time thinking clearly. Before his mind could go down any other paths, he heard Declan and another voice outside the door singing. He turned to see just as Declan and Anna walked into the house. Anna immediately stopped singing and the smile fell from her lips when she saw John. Her hands were full of fabric and a basket of knickknacks. Declan, however, grinned brightly and rushed over to hug John's knee.
"Papa!" He happily exclaimed.
"I…" Anna's eyes fell to the floor. "I…I wasn't expecting you until after dinnertime."
John patted his son's head and then moved him slightly to the side, so that he could help Anna with all she was holding. She allowed him to take them from her arms and set them on the table. He couldn't believe how much fabric she had bought. Just how many dresses did one need? Shaking that thought away, he decided it was no bother. He had given her the money to buy whatever she wanted. It was not his job to tell her what she could and couldn't buy with it.
"I just came by to check in and make sure that Declan wasn't being difficult for you."
"No," Anna said just above a whisper, "He's been very well behaved. We went into the village for some supplies."
"I got a bear!" Declan told his father. He pulled a small wooden bear from his pocket and showed it to his father. "Nana got it for me!" John assumed that Nana was the way Declan pronounced Anna's name. He took the small bear from his son and glanced at it, then he turned his attention to Anna.
"You didn't have to do that. The money was for you," he kindly said. Anna only shrugged her shoulders.
"It made him happy," was her simple reply. "We were about to eat our luncheon and then take a nap."
"Yes," John stated. Part of him wanted to offer to stay and eat with them, but he decided it might not be the time for that, yet. "I'll let you two get to it. Declan, be a good boy for Anna now."
John gave Anna a nod; she didn't respond. She only moved to the side to let him pass.
As he left his home, he felt immense relief. Declan was happy and cared for. He had nothing to be worried about.
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The next morning, John had informed Anna that he and the Housekeeper from Downton would be joining her and Declan for lunch. It seemed rather quick for her to be meeting others from the area. She only wanted to keep to herself and Declan. He was a sweet boy. The two had a good first day together. Declan helped her pick out fabrics and little knickknacks to make everything less impersonal. Anna had never needed much for she had never had much. When she had seen the amount of money John had left her to buy stuff, she had felt overwhelmed by the kindness of such things. At first, she wasn't going to touch it. However, she then realized that she needed to try and make the best of things for the next year. Her heart ached, but she couldn't remain locked up in a room for a year. No, she had to try and move forward.
Anna glanced at the biscuits baking. John told her that he and Mrs. Hughes would be bringing lunch, so she decided she could at least make a dessert and some fresh tea for them to drink.
Declan had begun to sing and Anna hummed along.
The door opened, however, and Anna dropped the sound from her voice and turned to pull the biscuits out and place them on top of the stove. Then she turned and forced a smile upon her lips. The woman was older than she was. Anna couldn't read her very well, but she seemed like the type that could be strict, but kind.
Anna stepped forward.
"Mrs. Hughes, this is my new wife, Anna," John introduced them. Anna froze at being called his wife. It was a reality she was still struggling to come to terms with. She was Lou's wife; Lou was her husband. Whatever this was, it wasn't the same. She felt she was tainting her late husband's memory by using those terms again. "And Anna, this is Mrs. Hughes."
"Nice to meet you," the woman said kindly. Anna barely nodded. She felt so uncomfortable, but thankfully, Declan rushed to his father and the Housekeeper, excited to see them both. "Oh, Declan! You've grown so much since I saw you last!" Declan giggled into his hands and then grabbed at his father's hand to tug him into the cottage.
"I…I've set the table," Anna began to tell them.
"Lovely," Mrs. Hughes replied. "Then let's eat."
The conversation was stilted and awkward. Anna didn't want to speak much of her life before now, it still brought up much sadness. It was hard to just make it through the day without bursting into tears over the memory of her lost love.
But Mrs. Hughes was a kind woman. She told Anna that she hoped she would like it here and that she was welcome to visit Downton Abbey at any time.
"That would be lovely," Anna earnestly answered. She and Lou had been told about the magnificent house by Mr. Mason on their journey to his farm. Lou promised he would take her there to see it after they settled into their new home.
"It's settled then. You and Declan are welcome at any time," Mrs. Hughes assured her. She then stood, checking the time. "Mr. Bates, we best be going now. Thank you for being a kind host, Anna."
Anna nodded. She watched as the two walked out of the cottage and then felt as Declan's hand encompassed hers. Turning to the boy, he pointed to the stairs.
"Nap?" Anna laughed. It seemed the little boy enjoyed to sleep as much as she did. But today she didn't plan on napping at the same time. No, today she had other plans to do within his naptime.
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"Alright, Mr. Bates," Mrs. Hughes said, as they walked away from the cottage. "I approve."
John laughed.
"I didn't ask for your approval, Mrs. Hughes."
"I know you didn't, but now you have it."
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That evening, John got home late. It had been a long day at the Abbey. He opened the door to the cottage, surprised to see lights still lit and Anna asleep on the settee. As he walked up closer to her, he saw that she had been in the middle of sewing something when she fell asleep. That was when his eyes scanned his home and he smiled. The old curtains were gone and replaced with new brighter ones. It seemed that Anna had not bought all of that fabric for herself.
Gently, he nudged Anna's shoulder. She jerked and her eyes quickly opened. At first, she seemed confused, but as the realization hit her, she stood from the settee.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Nothing to apologize for Anna. I just thought you might want to sleep in your bed. I see you've worked hard today." He motioned at all the new curtains on the windows.
"I do hope it's alright. If you don't like them, I can…"
"I love them," he assured her. "This place has needed to brighten up." He then noticed that Anna had small trousers in her hands. Anna glanced down with him.
"Declan needed new trousers. He's outgrowing the others. However, if you'd rather I order them or if you would rather…"
"No, this is wonderful. Thank you, Anna."
Anna just pursed her lips together. A beat later she said, "I should go to bed."
"Right. Goodnight, Anna."
Even though Anna didn't respond to him and instead turned to go upstairs, John smiled. It did seem that this arrangement would work out just fine indeed.
To be continued...
