With Lady Mary and Lady Edith away for dinner, Anna was climbing down the stairs towards the servants' hall much earlier than usual. She got caught in the smells of cooking and was almost run over by Daisy, yelling something in response to whatever Mrs Patmore was calling from the kitchens.
"Sorry, Anna," she said, without pausing to look back, and Anna bit her lower lip, containing a smile. There was something endearing in the seriousness with which Daisy seemed to take even the smallest of jobs.
The hall was empty. She could use that bit of spare time she had on finishing mending Lady Edith's camisole, but she decided some idle chat in the kitchens wouldn't be half bad either.
"Watch it!" Thomas' voice, filled with contempt, carried from the kitchen into the hall. "You're so clumsy! Now you have to change that saucer, haven't you?" It made her wish both to stay put and not have to look at him, and go to the rescue of whomever was at the other end of his ranting.
Earlier that week, she had overheard him talking to Mr Carson about Mr Bates' inability to carry out tasks and she had all but wanted to interrupt them and tell the footman just to mind his own business. She wanted to convince Mr Carson it was all lies, but then what did she knew about Mr Bates' work that proved she was right and Thomas wrong? And why would Mr Carson believe her? Apparently, what had been left for her to do was wait, hope for the best and, in the meantime, try to do something with the boiling indignation she was carrying around.
She stood at the threshold to the kitchens when Thomas rushed upstairs, a plate of some meat on his hands and a smirk on his face. He did enjoy bullying people and the reason behind was something Anna could not even begin to imagine.
"- so sorry, Mrs Patmore," William was stammering, while frantically rearranging several items on a tray."
The cook, busy with half her body over a gigantic casserole, was not paying him any attention.
"Could I-?" Anna had not noticed Mr Bates entering through the other door. "Here, William, let me help you."
"It's the sauce-"
"Just go and get me a clean saucer."
William sprinted towards the cabinet and Anna watched as Mr Bates rearranged the contents of the tray. For a split second she considered offering her help, but it felt intrusive somewhat. There was a method in Mr Bates' ministrations, and a carefulness that suggested this was hardly the first time he had done something like this.
The second footman was back, holding the clean saucer as if it were the most precious item in the house.
It took him a second to realise Mr Bates' arrangement of the tray.
"Keep the heavier objects closer to your chest," the valet said, so quietly Anna had to make an effort to hear it over the sounds in the kitchen. He took the saucer from William's hands and put it on the tray, with the jug on top. "And then, the tray should be always heavier on your left side."
"Why?"
"Because you hold and hand things with your right hand. This way it's much easier to balance it while you're serving or even if you trip. Your whole body will help."
William looked at him, and then at the rearranged tray.
"Why is that still here?!" Mrs Patmore's yell made him jump, and a second later he was heaving the tray and disappearing through the door.
Mr Bates' eyes followed him and met Anna's. Slowly, he smiled at her.
"I used to be a footman myself. Ages ago," he said, and it sounded as if he were excusing himself.
Anna beamed at him. "I'd never have guessed."
