A few short vignettes, all happening around the house in the same short time-span. None of these were really long enough to merit their own chapter, but all deserved a home somewhere, so I've popped them in together.

...

"Good evening Miss Greyson."

"Good evening Milady. Is everything going well?"

"We're going to draw thing to a close, the weather has turned suddenly, and we would rather people get home safely."

"Very good Milady. Do you want me to fetch little Josie Bates?"

"No, not just yet. You see, her mother has been having twinges. So she and her husband, and Josie, are going to stay here tonight. The Doctor is staying too, just in case."

"Oh my... is the poor dear alright?"

"I hope that she will be, but Josie will certainly need a bed for the night."

"I've already made one up in the nursery Milady. Little Bobby went down about ten minutes ago, and I don't think Miss Marigold will last much longer. She's started losing at snap, which is always the first sign that she's tired."

Mary smiled indulgently, peeping in at the door to see the next generation of little Crawleys and their friends engaged in their fun.

"Where is Josie?"

"Over in the corner there with George. He's showing her pictures of the horses."

Mary's heart melted to see her own dear boy being so kind and gentle to the little girl who he had only just met this evening. To see the two blonde heads bent together over the book was such a sweet and poignant moment that she needed a second to compose herself, before calling softly to her son.

"George? Could you come here for a moment please?"

George extracted himself and hurried over.

"Yes Mumma?"

"George darling, Josie's going to stay at Downton Abbey tonight, in the nursery with you and the others. Her mummy isn't feeling very well."

"Is it because of the baby?"

Mary blinked, taken aback. How had he put those ideas together?

"How did you know about the baby darling?"

"Josie told me that her mummy was having a baby. I didn't know that baby's made people feel poorly."

"They don't always, but sometimes mummy's need extra rest, and Mrs Bates needs lots of rest tonight. So she's going to stay here, so we can look after her."

"Is she going to have the baby straight away?"

"We hope not darling, it might just be that her tummy is feeling poorly after dancing. Like yours does when you've eaten too quickly and then want to run around and play with Sybbie."

George nodded thoughtfully, then turned to Miss Greyson.

"Nanny, do you have any ginger ale in your special cupboard? That always helps my tummy feel better, maybe it will make Josie's mummy feel better too?"

Mary was torn between wanting to hug George for his kindness and laugh at his solemn little ways, while knowing she must do neither if she wanted to preserve his precocious little dignity. Thankfully Miss Greyson had had significantly more experience in this area than many mothers.

"I shall go and have a look Master George. Perhaps you could go and tell Josie that she will be staying here tonight?"

"And look after her?" added Mary quickly, swallowing her spurt of mirth. "She might be worried about her Mummy, but we will take good care of her."

George's little chest puffed out with pride. Mumma could depend on him.

"I'll look after her Mumma. I'll do my best to cheer her up."

"That's my good boy." Mary turned for half a second, distracted by the sound of running feet. Later on, she would realise that this was the moment she had also misspoken to her child in a moment of panic.

"Do whatever you can to cheer her up then my darling, and let her know she will be going home in the morning. Now Miss Greyson, I need to..."

"Don't worry about a thing Milady, I'll see to these little loves. Now, who would like some nice hot chocolate...?"

Mary turned and left, following the sound of the rapid feet. Rounding the corner, she almost ran smack into Barrow, whose precision timing gave him the whole two seconds needed to stop and pull back.

"Barrow, what's happening?"

"Mrs Bates has had another twinge, milady. Dr Clarkson suggested that she should lie down, so we have been setting a room to rights for her in the guest wing. I'd just turned on the lamps when I heard them coming up..."

"Is she alright?"

"She seems to be, Milady. Mrs Clarkson and Mr Bates are with her in the Ripon room. I've settled Dr and Mrs Clarkson into the Handsacre room, next door. I thought it might be prudent to have them close by."

"On top of everything as usual Barrow, very well thought out."

Barrow beamed at this unexpected praise. Mary felt grateful to have one of her oldest stalwarts on her side tonight. He might have been through several ups and downs during his time at the Abbey, but he knew they place backwards and was certainly unflappable in any domestic crisis.

"How are things going downstairs?"

"Mr Talbot is bidding the guests farewell Milady, most of them have been seen to their own cars. Mr Branson has gone to fetch his own car to take the Yew Tree Farm party home, since Dr Clarkson won't be able to drive them..."

The footsteps receded down the corridor, back towards the remains of the party downstairs. It had certainly turned into an eventful night.

...

Back in the nursery, George was feeling the pressure. Poor Josie was distraught.

"It's alright Josie, Mumma will look after your Mummy, she will be fine."

It wasn't working. Poor Josie's face was tear stained and her cheeks were sodden.

"Come dear, here's a nice clean hankie, do dry your eyes..."

For the first time in his young life, George understood why such an odd and normally useless article was foisted upon him and stuffed into his pocket each morning. It was pointless in his own small world, but for mopping up miniature crying ladies, it was a saviour.

Josie hiccupped, her tears abating a little.

"Are you scared for her?"

Josie nodded.

"I was scared when my Mumma was having Bobby. Her belly hurt and Pappa was walking up and down the corridor outside her room looking all sad and angry. But she was alright. Doctor Clarkson looked after her and Bobby came, and everyone was happy."

Although it was not usually his policy to do so, George scooped up Josie's icy little hand in his own larger warmer one.

"Mumma said I should cheer you up. Do you want to see the horses in the book again? Or ... or come for a ride on the rocking horse?"

"You've got a rocking horse?"

"I do, he's over in the corner there. He's called Dobbin. Do you want to come for a ride?"

"Can I ride him in my dress?"

George considered the problem for a moment as he pulled his little friend to her feet.

"Let's find out. We can always tuck your skirt in your knickers if it's too long."

...

"I think it's just a false alarm dear," Dr Clarkson, rolling his sleeves back down, beamed down at a worn out Anna. "Your pulse is quite regular, and you've not had any other cramps?"

"Not since I lay down."

"You're sure darling? You're feeling alright?"

John sat to the other side of the bed, clasping her hand. The lines of worry across his face had begun to fade a little. Propped up against the thick pillows, with her feet slightly raised on a cushion, Anna was beginning to look more like her old self again.

"Yes John, I feel much better now. If it wasn't for the snow, I'd be fine to go back..."

"Yes well, your Doctor's orders are to stay put," Dr Clarkson gave a wry smile, tucking away his stethoscope back into his bag, which went everywhere with him, even to fancy parties.

There was a knock at the door, followed by a small call of 'Can I come in?'

Everyone was surprised to see Lady Edith's face appear around the door.

"Lady Edith!"

"Hush dear, don't get up. Bertie filled me in. I just thought, since you're staying tonight, that you might like some clean night things. I had some more things made in larger sizes before I came away, just in case I filled out," she patted her own slightly swollen stomach, smiling at Anna with a conspiratorial wink. "We mummas-to-be must stick together."

"That's so kind of you, Milady."

"Not at all. I won't stay, I'll just pop them here and leave you to get comfortable. See you in the morning dear."

In a moment she was gone, and Dr Clarkson was ushering his own wife out of the room to allow Anna to change and settle in for the night.