A/N: Smut-free, safe for work chapter! Lots and lots of Edith - she needs to get some proper cred, so i gave her some.
Edith and Anna worked on the surprise together and Anna found that while Edith may have been a lady, she was not afraid to get her hands dirty. They had been hanging drapes, laid out plaids and cushions and now the folly near the pond was transformed into a slightly exotic, shielded and comfortable venue for a perfect picnic. They would get the hamper of food later, there were things that might spoil if they weren't kept in the cold larder.
Walking back to the house, Anna felt decidedly faint. She touched her forehead. She was running a fever, she was sure of it. Her hands were like ice and she could feel a cold sweat appear on her brow.
"I am sorry, milady..." she started her sentence and halted for a moment, trying to regain her composure.
Lady Edith turned to her. "My word! Anna... " she took a step closer and grabbed Anna by the arm. "I am taking you home. I'll have someone look in later, but i really think you need some rest." Anna leaned on Lady Edith, who almost had to drag her towards the cottage.
"I will help you get ready for bed and make you a cup of tea." Lady Edith took off Anna's cap with a careful hand.
"You can't, milady!" Anna exclaimed and her head pounded with the noise she made. She was indeed not well.
"Well, Bates isn't here and there is nobody else here to do it. So, lets get you upstairs and settled and i will make you that tea. Then you will have a good rest and i will tell Mrs Hughes you will need someone to look after you. There isn't anybody home tonight, so Bates can be with you quite early."
To have John here... that would be a comfort... But Anna did not say anything. Her head was spinning and she was doing all she could to remain upright.
"Come." Edith helped Anna to her bedroom, pulled back the covers and picked up her nightgown. She turned to Anna, who was still standing, leaning against the wall, her head down.
"Do you think you can get yourself dressed?" she asked quietly. "I don't mind helping you. You have helped me for years."
Anna couldn't object. Her legs were just about to give way and she could only think of her head on the pillow, her hot body between the cold sheets, a calming sleep falling over her. She turned her back to Lady Edith and felt tender hands loosening the band of her apron and opening the fastenings of her dress. She stepped out of her dressed and blushed.
"I'll go make that cup of tea." Lady Edith handed Anna her nightgown and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Anna's hands were trembling while she undid her corset and took off her skirts. She pulled her nightgown over her head and sat down to take off her stockings. The bed was so soft. So welcoming. She ripped off her other stocking without care and just dropped it on the floor. She could not face folding and hanging and making sure she could get back into them when... whenever. The covers were so soft. She closed her eyes and heard Lady Edith in the kitchen opening cupboards and rattling with a cup and saucer.
When Lady Edith returned to the bedroom, Anna was fast asleep. She left the cup of tea on the nightstand and left the cottage, making her way to the house , hoping to find Anthony there.
With Anna away, Edith could see the surprise sinking like a ship. Anna had been working too long on it for Edith to let that happen. Mrs Hughes and Carson deserved to know how highly both Anna and she thought of them. And since she had been hanging drapes and throwing pillows around and her newest idea coming to her while waiting for the kettle to boil, Edith had not thought of Carson and Mrs Hughes as two individuals, but as a pair.
Of course it was a coincidence she found Mrs Hughes and Carson in the hall when she came in. She saw Mrs Hughes straighten Carson's tie, it was a gentle gesture, done with ease. Edith was reminded of her mother brushing away something on papa's jacket. She coughed softly. Of course it was her imagination that made her think it seemed as if the pari sprang apart.
"Goodmorning milday." Carson said. He looked as solemn and dignified as if nothing had happened. Perhaps nothing had happened. Perhaps Edith had been reading too many cheap novels, had seen too much of her sisters and their romances.
"Sir Anthony is waiting for you in the library." Edith followed Carson, her heart fluttering a little. She was not like Sybil, who had let herself be whisked away on a flight of passion. She was not like Mary who had the whole family looking over her shoulder now she was married to Matthew. The whispered conversations between Granny and Mama were unbearable, they talked of little else but a future heir and how dreadful it would be if Mary would produce a girl. Not that anyone had even mentioned anything about 'producing' at all. Edith thought it rather undignified and she could not believe her mother and grandmother were talking about such a delicate matter with such ease.
Edith did not feel a grand passion for Anthony and she did not think him a way out of her life. She thought him safe. He was comfortable and comforting and she thought he was handsome and kind and caring. He read her poetry and never minded ringing for more tea and he made her laugh. Why would there have to be anything more than that?
'Lady Edith.' Carson announced as he threw the door open. Anthony was sitting in a comfortable chair, reading what looked like "The Pickwick Papers".
"Isn't that a tad Christmassy for this time of year?" Edith started.
"Very Christmassy. How are you?" Anthony never failed to ask. Many people asked Edith how she was doing. Sometimes with a sad look that was supposed to be sympathy. But Anthony never did. He was genuinely interested.
"I am well. Been up since the crack of dawn. How are you?" She sat down across from him and turned to Carson. "Could we have some tea sent up, Carson? And perhaps some cake or bread and butter?" she asked. Carson bowed and left.
"I am well. Better now i see you." Anthony said and Edith blushed. "What have you been doing if you were up so early?"
"Anna and i have been preparing a surprise for Carson and Mrs Hughes." she cocked her head to get a better listen and then she whispered: "Could you help me after we finish this tea? There is one more thing to make things perfect... well, a few things, but this one i cannot manage on my own."
When she heard footsteps, she quickly steered the conversation around.
"I am glad Mr Evans is recovering so swiftly."
Anthony did not catch on very quickly, instead welcomed Ethel who was carrying in a tray. Edith managed to stifle a sigh of relief.
When Ethel left, Anthony looked at Edith in puzzlement and Edith had to use all her restraint not to go over and plant a kiss on his mouth. She surprised herself, she had not before thought of anything as... thrilling... like that.
"I am not following... a surprise for Carson and Mrs Hughes? What for? I mean, I... well... i don't understand."
"Really, it is Anna's idea, but she is ill at the moment, so i have taken over. Anna feels Carson and Mrs Hughes deserve something nice for everything they have done for her when Bates was... well, you know all about that." She bent over to pour a cup of tea and handed it to Anthony. His hand brushed hers when he took it from her and smiled at her.
Anthony had a very winning smile, Edith thought to herself, temporarily losing her train of thought.
"You were saying Anna wants to thank Carson..." Anthony prompted her, stirring his tea.
"Yes, well, she came to me for a bit of help and we have been hanging drapes in the folly and there are plaids and pillows and i am to bring a hamper over in about half an hour, when Mama will ask Mrs Hughes to get me from the folly and Papa will ask Carson the same and they both can't refuse, because we have given all the maids and footmen an extraordinary amount of jobs to do and when they arrive there, they will find we have given them a bit of a haven."
Edith was very pleased with herself.
"I can't see Carson sitting on the hard floor of the folly." Anthony remarked and Edith chuckled.
"Neither could we, so we have made the stone bench a little more comfortable with throws and two pillows from a spare bedroom. Though i am rather afraid Mrs Hughes will tell Anna off when she finds out."
"It sounds very nice, dear." Anthony said. Whenever someone else said something like this, Edith found it dismissive and patronizing, but with Anthony it was exactly what he said: he thought it was a good idea. "What was it that you wanted me to help you with?"
And that was how Anthony Strallan found himself lugging an old gramophone through the grounds of Downton Hall to the folly.
A/N: Poor Anthony and especially Anthony's back. I do hope he will get a reward for his hard work...
(as always: reviews appreciated and so welcome!)