Who's ready for a (tiny little) bit of angst?

I promise it won't be the permanent variety...

The ride on Dobbin did much to brighten up the remainder of Josie's evening, even if she had to be persuaded to change into a spare pair of pyjamas in order to save her dress from ruin. Luckily Nanny had a great stack on hand in the nursery cupboard, and since Josie was staying over anyway, there was no harm in a brief wardrobe exchange.

George felt proud of himself. Disaster had been averted and smiles restored. Over hot chocolate, he had a devoted audience for his tales of daring and adventure in the Yorkshire countryside with his trusty pony Garnet, even if Sybbie did keep interrupting with details he would rather forget.

"Wasn't that when you fell off in the stream?"

"Wasn't that the time you landed in the ditch and got all muddy?"

"Wasn't that the time you ripped your jacket in the hedge and your Mumma got awfully cross with you...?"

Josie giggled to herself as the two older children bickered good naturedly. They were too fond of each other to really argue, as evidenced when Sybbie happily swapped her last slosh of hot chocolate for George's last half slice of shortbread. Marigold had been scooped off to bed, worn out after the long evening. Perhaps Mummy and Daddy were right, it might be nice to have a brother or sister of her very own to share games and stories with.

"Right everybody, I think it's time for clean teeth and bed now. Here you are Josie, a nice warm dressing gown for you, and a spare toothbrush." Nanny doled out the gowns and brushes, gathering up the mugs to rinse out.

"You can use some of my toothpaste Josie."

"That's very kind of you George, why don't you take her and show her with the bathroom is?"

"Will Mummy come and say goodnight?"

"I think Mummy's having a sleep sweetheart, but I will see if Daddy wants to tuck you in. Don't you worry little dear, you'll be home in your own bed tomorrow as soon as Mummy is feeling better."

Miss Greyson set the nursery to rights and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a long night, but the little Bates girl seemed to have settled well. With a bit of luck it would be a peaceful night with them all so worn out. Turning out the light, she went to settle everyone into bed, shushing them gently so as not to wake baby Bobby or Marigold. In no time at all George and Sybbie were settled, and Josie was tucked into the little extra bed squeezed in between the two. Turning down the lamp, she went downstairs to find Lady Mary and let her know that all of her charges were settled for the night.

...

Changed, washed and ready for bed, Anna was feeling a hundred times better. She had been foolish to get up and do that ridiculous dance, and was beginning to feel rather sheepish for causing such a fuss and worry to everyone. John helped her to brush out her hair in long smooth strokes, his gentle fingers detangling away the knots.

"I remember the last time we spend the night in a guest room in this place," said John softly, a wicked chuckle in his voice.

Anna giggled, a warm flush spreading under her skin at the memory of her wedding night.

"Shame that circumstances won't allow for a repeat of certain events," she said softly, turning to capture the soft kiss that John laid upon her lips.

Even after all these years, John quivered inwardly at the very notion that she could still desire him so much.

"I think you've had quite enough excitement for one night sweetheart," he said, with effort, reminding himself that the baby would be born soon, and the patiently borne wait to be intimate with his beautiful wife again would be over before too much longer.

"I am forced to agree," sighed Anna reluctantly. "But let the record show that the lady protests."

There was a soft knock at the door.

John went to see who it was, opening the door to find Miss Greyson standing there.

"Good evening Mr Bates, I just wanted to let you know that Josie's all settled, but would like someone to come and tuck her in."

"Absolutely Miss Greyson, I'll be along in..."

"John?" Anna called from the dressing table.

"Yes dear?"

"I'd like to do that, I don't want her worrying about me. I'll come along in a little while to see how she is. You can walk with me, if you like."

John was going to argue but a look at Anna's face stopped him. Something about this gesture was clearly important to her tonight.

"Very good Mrs Bates. I'll be in the night nursery next door if you need anything. Good night."

"Good night Miss Greyson."

John closed the door.

"Are you alright dear?"

Anna laid the hair brush to one side and turned to face John.

"I am, yes. I just remember the troubles we had a few weeks ago, when she thought that I didn't love her anymore because being ill kept me away from her. She knows the baby is coming now. I don't want her to think anything is going to make her less important to me. To us both."

"Are you up to it?"

"Am I up to a short, sedate walk down a flat carpeted gallery?" Anna pealed with laughter under her breath. "Oh John, I certainly hope so, or we are going to have trouble indeed."

John realised he was being overprotective. After all, what was the worst that would happen? That Anna might need to sit and rest for a few minutes before returning to this comfortable room, surrounded by friends and family who would take care of her.

"Alright love. We'll go together in a few minutes."

...

Back in the nursery, Josie's eyes had popped open as soon as Miss Greyson left the room.

Mrs Greyson had said she would be going home tomorrow.

As soon as Mummy was feeling better.

Mrs Greyson had meant Yew Tree Farm. But in Josie's little mind, Yew Tree Farm wasn't home. The hotel in Whitby was. And they were only going home once Mummy had the baby.

And Mummy wasn't feeling well again. George had said so earlier.

She hadn't been well before either. Daddy had told her it was because of the baby growing in Mummy's tummy.

If Mummy was going to be feeling better by the morning, that must mean the baby was coming out. Maybe that's why Mummy was asleep, and why Dr Clarkson had brought his big bag with him in the car tonight. Maybe he was going to help her take it out of her tummy tonight and then tomorrow they would all be going home.

To the hotel.

Away from the farm.

Away from Downton Abbey.

Away from the ponies.

With a sudden panic, Josie realised that Mummy and Daddy had forgotten their promise to take her to see the ponies in the stables. Mummy had promised earlier that they would go later. But now there was no later. Now she was tucked up in bed and would be going home in the morning and there would be no time at all. And no time to say goodbye to Unca Bill, or get Dolly back, or see Mrs Patmore or Daisy again...

The sense of panic and changes happening out of her control was more than the little girl could bear.

"Josie?"

George turned over, aware of a soft little noise in the bed next to him. In the seeping light from the door left ajar to the night nursery, he could see Josie's eyes wide open, streaming tears, her whole face white with terror.

"Josie!" His voice was an urgent whisper as he wriggled out of the bed covers. George could tell that something was very wrong. Scrambling out of bed, he leaned over and peeped around the edge of the night nursery door. Nanny Greyson wasn't there, the room was empty. He looked around, blinking sleepily. Sybbie, Marigold and little Bobby were all asleep.

No other help was available. This was up to him.

Scootching over onto the next bed, George awkwardly put his arm around Josie. She was shaking.

"Josie, what's wrong?"

"George?"

"Yes Josie?"

"Am I going home in the morning?"

George wracked his sleepy little brain to recall exactly what Mumma and Nanny Greyson had said earlier.

Let her know she will be going home in the morning.

"Yes, Josie, Mumma said so."

Josie's shivers turned to small wails. George, gazing around in a panic, frantically tried to shush her. Obviously this was the wrong thing to have said.

"What's the matter Josie...?"

"I don't want to gooooo..."

Gallantly, George pulled down the sleeve of his pyjama top and offered it to her to wipe her eyes.

"Why not?"

"Because I won't see the ponies..."

George gave her a little cuddle, his eight year old mind working quickly. If this was true, he knew that Josie would be terribly upset. And Mumma had said she'd be going home in the morning, and his Mumma never told lies. Mumma had told him to look after Josie, and she would be awful cross if he had made his little friend upset. She had specifically told him to make sure that she was alright, and to cheer her up.

Do whatever you can to cheer her up then my darling...

Do whatever he could to cheer her up...

Right now there was only one thing that would cheer Josie up. And it had four legs and a tail and lived in the stables. And if she was going home in the morning, this might be his last chance to keep his own little promise. Casting his eye around the room, he caught sight of the tall wardrobe across the room and began to come up with a plan.

The children of Downton Abbey might have been privileged, but their parents and nanny tried to make sure they were not spoiled, and each was encouraged to take responsibility for their own belongings, placing shoes in the rack to be cleaned and hanging coats and hats up on the peg with their name on it. Over by the door of the nursery stood his riding boots, still mucky from his adventure with the hunt earlier. Next to the big cupboard where Nanny kept all of the socks and clean underwear. Their overcoats were hanging up on the pegs by the door.

Looking down at Josie, George realised that Sybbie's boots would be far too big for her. As would her coat. But Marigold's... hers were far smaller, laid neatly on the rack next to his own. And her coat would do too.

"Josie?" he whispered coaxingly. "How would you like to go and see the ponies right now?"

Josie gasped, her tears shocked into stopping. It was the middle of the night, in a strange house, and Mummy had said the stables were a long way away.

"Are we allowed?" she whispered, shocked at the daring of her older playmate.

George puffed out his chest.

"I will be master of this house one day. And Mumma told me to cheer you up, any way I could. And I keep my promises. And I promised to show you the ponies. Do you want to come?"

Josie's despair had been replaced, in seconds, with an expression of shining joy.

"Come on then," he held out his hand to her, motioning for her to be quiet. "We mustn't wake the others, but you can wear Marigold's coat and boots. With some extra socks so your feet fit..."

The two little adventurers, fueled by excitement and daring, pulled on socks over their bare feet, stuffed their toes into boots and bundled themselves into the big thick overcoats. George helped Josie to do up the buttons on her coat and, as an afterthought, plonked his own riding hat on his head and wrapped Marigold's big scarf around Josie's head. Looking like a quaint little pair of refugees, the two of them slipped quietly out of the nursery and hurried down the carpeted corridor.

"Let's go this way," George whispered. "Mr Barrow showed me where the servants stairs are, they go down to the back, much nearer the stables..."

...

Wrapped into the floor length dressing gown of pink wool so kindly loaned by Edith, her feet stuffed into a little pair of silky Chinese slippers, Anna leaned heavily on John's arm. Baby seemed to have moved around a bit tonight and was lying heavily across her bladder. She remember feeling like this last time she was pregnant, longing to have the whole thing over with so that she didn't feel so much like a stuffed Christmas Goose any more. She puffed slightly, feeling baby wriggle into a more comfortable position.

"Are you alright dear?"

"Just fine... but Baby tosses and turns almost as much as you do."

John smiled. If she was making jokes, even at his expense, she must be feeling a little better.

"Well, we're almost there, and then you can come back for a nice quiet lie down."

"Oh that sounds nice. I almost overdid it tonight. I feel like I could sleep for a week."

"You're a guest now, and a married one. I'm sure you might even get breakfast in bed."

Across the end of the corridor, Miss Greyson emerged from a door, her hands full of little white mugs and a baby's bottle tucked into her apron pocket. She nodded to the Bates, and inclined her head towards the nursery. She would be along in a bit, once her little kitchenette was restocked for the morning's warm milky drinks.

Anna had the sense that something was wrong when she realised that the bed nearest the door was empty. Perhaps one of the children had just gone to the bathroom. But when John raised the light a little to allow them to see which bed their daughter was in, she recognised Marigold and Sybbie straight away, and heard the burbling of baby Bobby coming from the cot down near the window.

But the other two beds were horribly, unmistakably, empty.

There was no sign of Josie.

Nor of George.

Turning in a panic, Anna spun around staring wildly up and down the corridor.

No sign of them. No running little feet. No sleepy little childish voices.

"Mrs Bates? Is everything alright Mrs Bates?"

"Where is she?" Anna turned quickly at the sound of Miss Greyson behind her. Clutching at the woman's shoulder, she almost spat out the question again. "Where's my little girl, where's Josie?"

"Why, in bed asleep, I just..."

"No. She's not."

John's voice was clipped with worry as he came back towards the door, having torn back the blankets of both empty beds in his search for his darling daughter.

"She's not here, she's..."

"Gone..."

"And so is George."

Miss Greyson's eyes widened and she gasped. Overcome with panic, and with a sudden groan, Anna felt a grip in her stomach turn her insides over. She couldn't get her breath. Her heart hammered, and her knees buckled and she moaned as a low pain shot beneath her belly.

"Anna...!" John darted forwards to catch her, as Miss Greyson took her other arm. Footsteps echoed down the end of the gallery.

"Miss Greyson, is everything alright...? Mr Bates? Mrs Bates? What's going on?"

The footsteps quickened into a run. For the first time ever in his life, John was relieved to hear Barrow's voice approaching in the distance.

"Anna's going into labour, Thomas," he said, his eyes drawn tight with fear and worry. "And Josie and George are missing from the nursery."