Chapter 9

Days had passed, and now it was the day before the wedding. Phyllis, Anna, and Lady Grantham were busy making sure that the dress she would be wearing to her wedding was ready for the big day. The dress was of an older fashion (which had meant hunting out a corset for the day), but Phyllis adored it, only hoping that Joseph would love it as much as she did.

"Are you excited about becoming Mrs Molesley?" Lady Grantham asked her, a smile on her face.

"I am, but I'm still nervous about it. I just want Joseph- sorry, Mr Molesley- to be happy," she said. "I only hope that I can make him happy, and keep him that way."

"You will do just that, Baxter, trust me," Lady Grantham said. "He's a good and kind man; you're a good and kind woman."

"You are," Anna agreed. "Mr Bates and I consider you both to be very good friends that we know would be there for us if we ever needed you."

"Thank you both," Phyllis said, her smile returning to her face. A knock at the door signaled the arrival of Mrs Hughes. When she came into the Mercia bedroom, she was all smiles.

"How is it going?" she asked, walking closer to the centre of the room.

"Very well," Lady Grantham replied. "We almost have the bride ready for her big day Mrs Hughes."

"Well, Mr Bates, Mr Carson, and Mr Barrow are taking the groom out tonight, then he's staying at his father's house, to keep him from seeing the bride," she said. "He wanted me to tell you, Miss Baxter, that he can barely wait for tomorrow, and that he loves you more than anything else in this world."

Phyllis felt herself blush. "He is really so sweet. Mrs Hughes, could you tell him that I love him the same and that I know tomorrow will be the most wonderful day of my life?" she asked.

"Of course I will," she replied. "And may I say that you look very beautiful in that dress?"

Phyllis nodded, blushing deeper. "It's one of Lady Grantham's old dresses that she was kind enough to loan me for the day," she explained.

"I thought I recognized it, and you wear it well," Mrs Hughes said, touching Phyllis' arm lightly.

"I thought it would suit her. We have similar colouring and such," Lady Grantham said. "She is beautiful and I'm so happy for both of them that Mr Molesley sees her for who she really is."

Phyllis continued blushing. She was grateful for the the wonderful women who were supporting her, especially since she was so nervous.

As the day continued on, she became more nervous about the next day. She would be Phyllis Molesley in less than 24 hours. She was excited, but her excitement could not rid her of the anxiety she felt.

"Baxter, are you alright?" she heard Lady Grantham ask, shaking her from her thoughts.

Phyllis smiled and nodded. "Except that I'm getting more and more nervous about tomorrow."

Cora smiled in return and touched Phyllis' arm. "Don't worry, he loves you. Can I tell you a story that might make you feel better?"

Phyllis nodded and Cora began. "When I was 19 years old, I met Robert Crawley and fell madly in love with him. I knew he didn't love me, only wanted me because I could save his family's estate. When he proposed, I knew that he still didn't love me, but we were friends and I hoped that in time, he may fall in love with me. Then, almost a year after we were married, I was beginning to lose hope, until he took me to London for Valentine's Day. At dinner, he told me that he loved me. He had fallen in love with me slowly, and he didn't know what had happened until he talked to his father. If you're friends, marriage works better than if you're not friends. Best friends are even better when they're married. You and Molesley will be fine."

Phyllis nodded. "So, in the beginning his Lordship didn't love you?"

"He may have loved me, but even if he didn't, at least we were best friends. And we still are to this day. We have our ups and downs, as all friends and couples do, but we make it through."

"So, it would be normal for us to have rare disagreements, but don't let those discourage us from being happy?"

"Exactly, and be sure to keep the lines of communication open at all times. Losing communication can prove nearly fatal to many friendships and relationships."

"I understand. Joseph and I always talk to each other, about everything. He knows that my past is less than desirable, and I know that for a long time, he didn't think he'd be getting married. I feel the same as he used to."

"Talk every night about anything. Gossip, how your day went, anything at all."

"I appreciate the advice. Thank you. I was thinking about asking you, but I didn't."

"You're welcome Baxter, feel free to ask me almost anything. And, it's getting late. Take the rest of the night off. Get some sleep."

"Thank you," Phyllis said. "Is there anything else you need this evening m'lady?"

"Just for you to sleep well, and make sure you're here early tomorrow to get your dress on," she replied with a smile. "Have fun with Anna and Daisy tonight."

"Of course, m'lady," Phyllis said with a grin and a small curtsy before leaving the Mercia bedroom and going downstairs to the servant's hall.

Halfway down the stairs, Daisy stopped her. Phyllis furrowed her brow until Daisy spoke. "The gentlemen haven't left yet. Give them a moment. Madge will come and get us when they're gone."

Phyllis nodded lightly, saddened by the fact that she wouldn't see Joseph until the next day. They had not spent any time together that day, except for breakfast, which meant that they had not kissed since they said goodnight the previous day. She smiled, trying to not let her unhappiness show. She would be spending a reasonable amount of time with Joseph, uninhibited, once they were married.

Moments later, Madge came along and reported that the coast was clear for Phyllis and Daisy. Walking down the rest of the stairs, Phyllis wondered who would be in the Servant's Hall at this time. Thomas and Mr Bates were with Joseph, she knew, but she didn't know if any of the other young men had gone with them. Upon her arrival in the servant's hall, she noted that none of the male servants were there.

"They've all gone to the Grantham Arms. They're be back later except for Mr Bates, Mr Barrow and Mr Molesley," Anna explained. "Mr Carson said the rest could all have one drink and dinner there. They'll be back in a few hours."

"So that way, it's just us ladies for now," Mrs Patmore said. "And we're going to have our own celebration."

"What do you mean by that?" Phyllis asked.

"Some of us have gotten you small gifts and the rest of us have made things for you," Mrs Hughes explained. "To celebrate your marriage."

"You didn't have to," Phyllis said. "Really, you didn't."

"You're family to us, and you still need something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue," Daisy added. "Mrs Hughes already told us that you had something borrowed; your dress from Lady Grantham."

Phyllis blushed lightly. 'You're all far too kind to me. How could I ever repay you?"

"Who said you had to?" Mrs Patmore asked.

"But you've all done so much for me already. You've given me a home and a family," she said.

"Because Downton is a family," Daisy reminded her. "Whether you're upstairs or down, you are part of the Downton family."

"And I couldn't think of a better family to be part of. Thank you," Phyllis said with tears in her eyes as she hugged her friends in turn, making a mental note to thank Thomas for helping her get this job and for helping her to join this family.

Meanwhile at the Grantham Arms, the male servants were enjoying a small meal for their dinner, before they toasted Mr Molesley and his absent fiancée. Halfway through the meal, Thomas stood up and banged on the table lightly to get everyone's attention.

"I'd like to make a small speech," he began.

"Sometimes you do little else Mr Barrow," Mr Bates replied with a laugh and a small smile on his face.

Thomas smiled. "And you don't ever talk to anyone," he stated before clearing his throat. "Mr Molesley, as a childhood friend of Miss Baxter, and the man who should be credited as the reason you two met- you're welcome for that, by the way- I just want to say that you are a good and kind man, and no other man that I know could be more worthy of becoming her husband She has been through some rough times in the past, and because of that she has been in situations that have been less than ideal. In light of that, and the bond I share with her, I want to ensure that you never do anything to hurt her. If you do, I will have to take matters into my own hands. I have not always been the best friend to Phyllis Baxter, but she could never deserve the treatment she has endured in the past. Joseph Molesley, I entrust you with making sure that Phyllis Baxter's future is much better than her past has been. Thank you," Thomas sat down, and Mr Bates, along with the other male servants, clapped, until Mr Bates stood as Thomas had done.

"Now, I haven't known Miss Baxter as long as Thomas has, and I can't say I've known you that long either, Mr Molesely," Mr Bates began after gaining everyone's attention once again. "However, I do consider you both to be very good friends of Anna and I, and we want you to know that if you ever need us, we will be right next door, ready to give you a hand with whatever you may need. And, we hope that if we ever need you, we can count on your friendship and your help. It is an honour that you have chosen me to be your best man. Thank you, and I hope my speech tomorrow night will both embarrass you, and make you happy at the same time."

Joseph's eyes widened in horror as John mentioned the best man speech. With Anna as Phyllis' maid of honour, who knew what might be included in that speech? Wold John reveal that he had a crush on Anna when they first met? If so, would it upset Phyllis? He knew she wouldn't become angry, they didn't know each other when he met Anna. Would she understand why he had loved her, after pining for Anna for almost 6 years? Phyllis and Anna were both talented, intelligent, and kind, so it should only make sense to Phyllis that he would have fancied another beautiful woman with the same qualities she had before he met her.

Shaking his thoughts aside, he finished his meal, taking the small drink that Thomas offered him, vowing that it would be his one and only. No doubt tales from 1919 and the trip to Duneagle would be mentioned during Mr Bates' speech tomorrow to ensure Phyllis and the others had a few laughs.

Once the other servants that were not returning to the Molesley residence had their drinks and chatted for a bit, Mr Carson rounded them up to return to Downton. With Thomas, Mr Bates, and Joseph left behind, they engaged in idle chitchat about the next day and such.

"Are you nervous?" Thomas asked eventually.

"Of course I am. It's been a long time since I'd given up on the dream of marrying and now, that long forgotten dream will soon be a reality. Phyllis is a wonderful woman and I love her, but I am nervous about the actual wedding."

"It's completely normal for both men and women to be nervous about their wedding day. Anna and I were both nervous and even though neither of us showed that we were feeling that level of anxiety, subconsciously we both knew how the other was feeling. Phyllis is just as nervous as you are," Mr Bates explained.

Joseph smiled and nodded. "So everyone gets nervous?" he asked, getting a nod from John.

"I don't know why we do, but that's what happens."

By the time the sun was setting, he gentlemen were on their way to the home of Joseph's father. Upon arrival, the men went almost immediately to bed after tidying up and ensuring they were ready for the next day.

At Downton, the 'party' that the female servants had given Phyllis had been a tremendous success. Mrs Hughes had given her a pair of earrings that had been passed down in her family (since Mrs Hughes didn't think she would be having a daughter any time soon), Daisy had knitted a pair of baby booties (hoping it would give Joseph and Phyllis luck for conceiving a child), Madge and the other housemaids had purchased her a decorative hairpin to wear at the wedding, Mrs Patmore had baked a cake for the ladies to enjoy, and Anna had made her a new blue dress to wear for the honeymoon in London (because 'blue really brings out the colour of your eyes,' Anna had said.) After the male servants returned, Phyllis and Daisy went to retrieve their overnight bags so they could go the the Bateses cottage for the evening.

Less than an hour later, the three ladies were sitting in the living room of the cottage, enjoying a cup of tea. "What do you think Mr Molesley is doing right now?" Daisy asked.

"Well, I hope he's thinking of me," Phyllis replied.

"I don't doubt it," Anna said. "He loves you very much."

"I know he does," Phyllis said quietly, a blush forming on her cheeks. "Do you think he's nervous Anna?"

"Of curse he's nervous. A person's wedding day is the most special day of their lives, until they have a baby," she said, a small smile on her face as her left hand ghosted across her abdomen. Daisy was the one to notice, and she let out a loud gasp.

"Are you pregnant Anna?" she asked excitedly.

Anna nodded. "Mr Bates doesn't know, but I'm going to tell him once you and Joseph have gone on your honeymoon, because I do't want him to be distracted on your big day."

Phyllis moved to hug Anna. "Oh Anna, that's wonderful for the both of you. Congratulations."

"Don't let my baby distract you from your wedding. One day, you might have your own little one with Mr Molesley," Anna reminded her.

"I hope we have at least one baby, to carry on the Molesley name. Especially since he is an only child."

"William had siblings, but they all died. Then Mr Mason lost William and their mother only a few years apart. Now, I think it's a shame that I never had William's baby, he would have been so cute," Daisy said quietly. "But it wouldn't have been possible. We got married while he was on his death bed."

Pulling away from Anna and sitting beside Daisy, Phyllis put her arms around the younger woman, hoping to console her. "I'm so sorry Daisy. I'm sorry that you lost William, and I'm sorry that I never met him; from what I've heard from you and the others, he was a very kind, and a very brave young man."

Daisy nodded and smiled. "That was my William." Phyllis and Anna smiled and began to talk about whether or not they would ever willingly give up their jobs at Dowton. They knew that will all that was changing, their jobs wouldn't be secure forever, but none of them could really picture leaving Downton forever, leaving their family with it, and even in Anna's case, she couldn't even see herself leaving just because of the children.

When they went to bed, Phyllis fell asleep thinking about her Downton family and dreamed of having a family of her own with the man she loved. And she couldn't be happier about the fact that the next time she fell asleep, she would be Mrs Joseph Molelsey.