I've always had rather a soft spot for Isobel. She simply can't resist getting involved in an crisis, and having been involved in this one, I didn't think she'd bow out so soon.

Thanks to everyone for the faves/follows, hope you're all enjoying the story so far!

Within a couple of days, the Bates family had adjusted to the pattern of farmhouse life once more. Josie had taken to the place beautifully and was devoted to her 'Unca Bill', and happy to accompany him everywhere, splashing through the puddles in her boots, holding onto his big brown hand. On days when it was too wet for her to go out, she sat in the kitchen, babbling away to Mrs Patmore and Daisy. She loved to help stir the cake mixtures, and to lick the bowl when she was allowed to.

Anna's sickness continued and she rarely managed to eat more than a small portion of food in one sitting without vomiting. However, Mrs Patmore kept her well supplied with a constant stream of small snacks, such as toast, plain biscuits, soups and small bowls of chicken stew and beef broth, which were plain and simple enough for Anna to attempt eating. Once she was well enough to get out of bed, she was installed into Bill's armchair in the snug just off the kitchen, warm and cosy next to the fire.

John often sat with her, as the farm yard was overwhelmed with autumn mud, which made walking with his cane difficult. Luckily though, Bill's magnificent library had made the move to Yew Tree Farm and was installed in the parlour, so there was a plentiful supply of distractions available in the form of dearly loved favourite novels and beguiling new stories he had yet to encounter.

Anna longed to be able to help more about the house. Having worked since her early teens, she was deeply unused to doing nothing and it rankled in the back of her thoughts. She felt lazy and fretful, as if she was wasting time, although this was the first genuine holiday she had taken since their previous trip to see Mr Mason, and that had been an active and tempestuously busy time for both her and John. In the space of a week, they had changed their lives beyond recognition. This felt different. More like a welcome pause in their chosen reality. She missed her hotel, but was reassured that it was in good hands under the management of the Moseleys.

Several days after their arrival, Bill announced one evening that Market Day was coming, and he was in need of a few things and so he would take the wagon into the village if anyone needed anything. Cheered at the prospect of a new scene, John agreed to go with him and give him a hand, and soon Josie was clamoring to go too, if Daddy and Unca Bill were both going out. The one cloud in her little sky was that Mama couldn't come too, but with all the extravagance of a two year old, she promised to bring back 'sumptin weally nice' for Mama.

Mrs Patmore reached for the store cupboard records and started making out lists, chivying Daisy into going along.

"Y'can't expect me to walk around all day on my old swollen ankles, you go y'young whippersnapper, it'll do y'good to get out for the day."

Bill puffed away at his pipe and gave Mrs Patmore a sly smile and a half wink.

"Young Andy's coming with me, to get supplies for the pigs."

Daisy coloured up prettily and ceased any objections about going into the village. John and Anna exchanged a hidden smile at the hint of yet another Downton love story in progress.

"You won't mind if I go, will you love?"

"Not at all, you've been stuck here with me for days. Go out, get some air and see what the place looks like these days."

Despite herself though, Anna's heart sank. She had long since lost the habit of enjoying her own company, and while she didn't begrudge John the pleasure of a day out, she found herself feeling wistful. Mrs Patmore would be around, but she was just as busy as when she managed the Downton kitchens and rarely had time for a chat or a sit down.

Never mind, though, she told herself firmly. He'd be back in the evening with lots of gossip to talk about, with any luck.

The place was unusually quiet once the wagon departed the next day. The tick of the clock was noticeable and it grated on Anna's nerves as she sat in the snug trying to read. The words were nowhere near as interesting or satisfying in her own head compared to them being read in her beloved's voice. She was almost ready to go back to bed in a sulk when there was a rap at the back door.

"Just a minute...!" yelled Mrs Patmore, bustling over to the door.

"Why hello there Mrs Clarkson! What brings you out here?"

"I was in the village and saw the Yew Tree Farm contingent busy with their shopping, and realised that Anna must still be here on her own..."

Anna's heart warmed towards the good lady. She hadn't spoken much with her during her employment at Downton, but she knew Lady Mary had been very fond of her mother-in-law and she had been so kind to arrange their lift from the east coast back to Downton.

"Well, now, you just take yourself in and set down, I'll rustle up some tea for you both."

"Thank you, that would be most kind."

At that moment, her face appeared around the door, smiling over towards Anna.

"Hello dear."

"Hello Mrs Clarkson."

"Oh my dear, I think we're beyond that now, after recent events. Do you think you could get used to calling me Isobel?"

Anna felt warmed by the woman's offer of friendship and smiled up at her.

"I can try. It took a while to get used to Mrs Clarkson though."

"I can imagine," laughed Isobel. "It took some time for me to adjust too. I'd been Mrs Crawley for a very long time. Until I came to Downton, I wasn't used to hearing my Christian name at all, until Cora started calling me Cousin Isobel, and the others followed her lead as they always did."

Anna laughed and was reassured by the sound of her own happiness. If there was one thing missing from her life in Whitby, it was female companionship, and it was glorious to have a taste of it once more.

"Here we are! Thought the cake might be a bit rich for you, pet, so I've put some biscuits in case you fancy a nibble." Mrs Patmore bustled in with a tea tray, which included a slice of fruit cake for Isobel and some small rich tea biscuits for Anna.

"Thank you Mrs Patmore."

"Shout if you want more hot water!" With that, she was gone.

"Shall I be mother?" Isobel reached for the tea pot and strainer. "Although, you're the one who should be saying that."

"I don't know. It almost feels like bad luck, like I might tempt fate or something."

"How are you feeling now? Still ropey?"

"That's a good word for it. I just wish I could eat more than a few mouthfuls. Although Mrs Patmore is very good at bringing me small snacks, and keeps me well stocked with things to drink."

"It's a miserable condition isn't it? I nursed a few expectant mothers with it at one time or other. The only thing to do is persevere and try to keep drinking, if not eating."

"I know," Anna sighed, reaching for a rich tea biscuit and nibbling at it. "I'm just so bored... I like food, proper food that's tasty and hot, but one wiff of it up my nose and my stomach just swirls."

"You poor dear, what a dreadful thing. Did you have anything like this with Josephine?"

"A little early on, but it was gone by the time I was three months in. This time it didn't start until the fourth month, just after I found out I was expecting again."

"Well ... you're in the best place now," Isobel patted her hand kindly. "But I think you need more than just food and rest, too."

"How do you mean?"

"You must be getting so bored."

Anna's eyes welled up in relief that someone would have recognised her predicament.

"Yes... yes that's it exactly."

"Oh my dear, please don't cry..."

"I'm sorry ... it's just... I'm not used to doing nothing. I feel like I'm a waste of space just sitting here, I can't even walk very far without feeling sick all over again."

"It's absolutely natural that you should feel this way. You've been busy since your early life, and I know how hard you all worked at Downton, you never stopped. And running your hotel must be just as absorbing. Here, dry your eyes, come now..."

Anna took the handkerchief gratefully as Isobel poured some more tea.

"How did you know?"

"Well ... I was the same during my own pregnancy. Once I reached my second trimester with Matthew, my husband insisted I should give up nursing, because of the risk of me catching an infection. And I simply didn't know what to do with myself. I'd always been studying, or working, or involved in charitable causes. I felt lost for days when it was all gone. And then my husband gave me some good advice."

"What was it?"

"He said, 'find a way to keep your mind busy, even if your body is resting.' And he was absolutely right. I took up craft working again. I might not have been as active in my charity work, but I could still knit socks and scarves and all manner of things for the fund raising bazaars. I took up embroidery too, for a variety. Just little things, handkerchiefs and suchlike, monograms and corner designs. I wrote letters to friends who I had always wished to be in better touch with. And I wore my poor dear Dr Crawley out with requests for new books and magazines. But he never complained, not once."

"He sounds like a very special man."

"He was. Much like yours."

The two women shared a smile, thinking of the good men they had built their lives with.

"So to that end," Isobel reached for her shopping bag, "I have brought you a few things."

Anna gasped as the contents were revealed. A small embroidery box, well stocked with coloured threads and needles, along with a box of plain white linen handkerchiefs. Soft wool, in primrose yellow and rose pink, and some knitting needles, along with a couple of simple patterns. Two new books, "To The Lighthouse" and "Mrs Dalloway" by a writer Anna hadn't heard of, Virginia Woolf. And lastly, a small box of writing paper with matching envelopes, with a fountain pen.

"Oh Mrs Clarkson..."

"Isobel, my dear. Please."

"Isobel," Anna stuttered over the unfamiliar name. "Is all of this for me?"

"All for you, and I hope it will help to keep your mind occupied, while your body concentrates of taking care of little Baby Bates."

Anna didn't know what to say. The generosity of the gifts from a woman she had barely known before was overwhelming. Everything was excellent quality, of the sort she hadn't seen in luxury items since she left Downton Abbey.

Isobel smiled understandingly and squeezed her hand once more.

"I'd better be off my dear, I have one or two further calls to make. But I will pop in to see how you're getting along, from time to time."

Gracefully and in control as ever, Isobel took her leave. Anna sat surrounded by her treasures and examined them gleefully, wondering which project to start first.