Feelings for you:
Lady Mary realizes she has feelings for Anna in more than a platonic sense. Seeing Anna hurt forces Mary to come to terms with her feelings for Anna. In this bates and Anna aren't and item, Matthew and Lady Mary were only cousins they did not have a relationship and Lady Mary has feelings for Anna that she has been hiding for some time. This is set during season 4 and will confront Anna's rape scene so fair warning of that.
Mary's P.O.V
I'm staring out of my window when I hear Anna enter my room, the creak of a floorboard giving her away. I don't say anything rather just continue looking out the window getting lost in thought and mourning the loss of my cousin Matthew, his passing has affected me in a way I am not use to, he had become a good friend and we had grown close with his time at Downton, unlike my family had assumed we never fell in love like they had planned for us, for my heart was set on someone else. Not that I could ever act on these feelings as they were wrong, the person with whom I had feelings for my family nor society would agree with not just because they weren't in the same social circle as me, this person being a servant and I of course being a Lady, but because this person was also a woman. It was certainly frowned upon in any sense, so not only did I have to mourn the loss of my cousin, I had to hide who I truly was and who I like.
I was broken out of my thoughts by none other than the person who I was thinking about,
"I thought you might like to take this down with you, in case you want to walk, it's quite chilly out" Anna spoke as she held out a purple shoal to me, looking at me to see if she could gage my answer. She was ever so careful in how she worded being careful not to bring up the subject of Matthew, she knew I was close to him, but she like everyone else thought we were closer than we ever let on.
"Thank you, Anna, your always so considerate" I replied as I took the shoal from her, our hands lightly brushing each other, I could feel the heat rising to my face, and I retracted my hand probably faster than I should have, I thought I hadn't been caught but Anna knew something was up.
"Is everything alright Milady? your cheeks are a bit pink, should I call for the doctor?" Anna asked concern evident in her voice.
"No, no thank you Anna I'm fine, honestly, thank you for your concern" I replied smiling at her hoping she bought it. Honestly, I was fine just embarrassed about how the slightest touch of our hands made me feel and how unlike myself Anna had kept her hand there. I got lost in my thoughts once again she didn't retract her hand like I did, maybe she did like me, no impossible she is just doing her job she is use to touching me I surmised, returning my attention back to Anna.
"That is all thank you Anna, I will see you back up here before luncheon to freshen up" I told Anna as I started to leave the room.
"Alright Milady, I shall wait for your bell" Anna had whispered the last part but I caught it as I exited the room. A slight smile tugged at my lips as I walked down the hallway.
Anna's P.O.V
I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding as Lady Mary left the room, I wondered why she had such an effect on me and why I said I would be waiting for the bell, implying I would be doing nothing other than waiting for her to call. I was pulled out of my thoughts by some other maids entering the room to start going about the morning cleaning.
I continued on with my morning chores and getting lost in my thought about Lady Mary, I knew nothing would ever come of these thoughts they were against the will of god and not only that I was Lady Mary's servant no more no less, she would never like me like that, she has just lost Matthew who she cared for greatly, why on earth would she care about me.
Mary's P.O.V
I reached the top of stairs the smile still on my face, I had just started to descend the stairs when I saw Edith coming up there a letter held in her hand and a smile of adoration on her face.
"What is that your holding Edith?" I mused; the smile gone from her face as she looked at me with some fear.
"It's nothing Mary" Edith commented the fear still evident in her eyes. I had clicked as to what day it was.
"Of course, its Valentine's day isn't it?" I surmised, I smiled at her and continued on my way down the stairs. An idea coming to my mind as I decided to go for a walk in the garden. With it being valentine's day, I could send Anna a card, well from a secret admirer of course. That's it, it was settled I hurried to the library and started writing a letter to Anna, I didn't have as much time as I would have liked because I had to give it to the mail man before he delivered to the servants. I finished of the letter as quickly as I could and went to wait for the mail man.
Yes, it was unusual of course for a lady to give the mail directly to the mail man but this was important, I had to do it, all these pent up feelings for my servant, no she was more than that we had become friends well at least I thought we had, I had to tell her somehow.
Anna's P.O.V
When the post came, I thought I wouldn't get anything, but to my surprise Carson called out my name, I took the letter from Carson thanked him and left for my room. It had me bewildered as to why I had received a letter I couldn't think of whom it might be from.
I reached my room and proceeded to open the letter, I started reading it tears of joy springing to my eyes;
To my dearest Anna,
You have no idea, what feelings I hold for you, nor are the right but I must confess that I do hold them. I appreciate you and everything you do. I hold deep feelings for you and I feel as if I may love you. You are a stunning young woman and I doubt that you may feel the same. You may not even know my identity and it is probably better that way.
All my love,
Your Secret Admirer
I lay on my bed clinging the letter to my chest as if it may disappear at any moment, who might write such words, I don't think it would be Mr. Bates, we are just good friends. My thoughts turn to Lady Mary, it can't be her, it wouldn't be, I'm just dreaming now. All of sudden there was a knock at the door.
"Anna, Lady Mary has just rung for you" Mrs. Hughes called
"Coming, Mrs. Hughes" I replied placing the letter under my pillow and proceeding to my door, I had one of the brightest smiles on my face that I have had in a while, I hurried upstairs probably a little faster than what is necessary.
Arriving at Mary's door I took a minute to compose myself before entering .
AUTHORS NOTE: Hope you liked the first chapter, I noticed there wasn't many Mary/Anna fanfics and wanted to change that. This is my first ever fanfic/story really so may not be the best quality and I do apologise. Now I must point out I am Australian and do apologise if I use any Aussie slang, I have grown up with it and common words I use, I do not realize are slang. I will try my best to keep it prim and proper.