This has been sitting on my desktop for months now. I had planned to finish this story long before the CS aired, but nothing ever works the way you want it to. Still, the wonderful kouw has spent hours betaing this and I don't like having unfinished stories on my profile.
So this is the penultimate chapter. The last one should be up on Tuesday. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this story in the past.
Anna and her husband returned to the Abbey three days later – and it soon became painfully obvious that the normalcy Mr. Carson had wished for was a long way away.
The young woman certainly looked more rested than she had on that day in court but there was a jumpiness about her that was new. Her smiles – few that there were – were forced, almost pained. As if it took superhuman strength to lift the corners of her mouth even the tiniest bit. The worst thing, though, were her eyes. Once a clear blue colour – twinkling with the joy of life – they now were a dull, lifeless grey. A cagey look was permanently in place in them – as if she feared potential harm to come from any direction.
When the new kitchen maid had dropped a plate during breakfast on the first day of her return, Anna had jumped so violently that all activity and talking in the Servant's Hall had ceased immediately. All eyes had focused on the Lady's Maid. Anna had blushed a deep red and hurried from the room, her husband immediately following her.
Mrs. Hughes had simply picked up her cup of tea and with a single stern glance at the others had nipped any commenting on Anna's behaviour in the bud.
The Housekeeper herself had not sought out Anna since her return. Partly because she wished to give the young the woman the space she needed – and partly because the angry hurt over Anna's behaviour had effectively hardened her heart. Elsie Hughes tried to get rid of the bitterness inside her – told herself again and again that the Bateses had simply done what had been necessary to get Anna released from prison; that for them there had been no reason to spare the feelings of the Housekeeper.
But the hurt lingered, reminded her of her inability to differentiate between working and personal relationships; of her folly of becoming too attached to those placed under her care (and even those not under her care).
Still, when she stumbled upon Anna in Lady Mary's bedroom on her morning rounds, she wasn't able to stop herself from stepping further into the room.
Something about the way Anna was muttering angrily under her breath, about her jerky movements as she tried to sow tiny pearls back unto a dress, melted some of the ice around the Housekeeper's heart.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.
Anna's head whipped up and she narrowed her eyes at the Housekeeper.
"I'm fine," the Lady's maid pressed out tightly.
"I dare say the dress would disagree with that statement. Why don't you give it to me before you tear it?"
"I'm perfectly capable of performing my duties, Mrs. Hughes!" Anna groused.
The Housekeeper took a step back, surprised by the aggression in the other woman's voice. However, before she was able to defuse the situation, Anna continued.
"I wish people would stop treating me as if I was made of spun glass."
"They are only trying to be kind," Mrs. Hughes interjected softly.
"Well I wish they weren't. Or maybe they're just waiting to see me snap." She looked challengingly at the older woman opposite of her.
Elsie Hughes couldn't help but think that if people really were waiting for that to happen, then they probably wouldn't have to wait much longer.
"Don't sin against your fellow man, my dear," she warned quietly. "Just accept that people in this house would like to help you. If they don't quite know how to do it, it is hardly their fault."
"I'm tired of people seeing me as some kind of," Anna closed her eyes in frustration as she searched for the right word, the word that would hurt least, "some kind of victim. I'm not helpless! I don't need constant supervision or extra slices of roast. I don't need people to check up on me every waking moment!"
Mrs. Hughes shook her head softly. "I don't think you realize how lucky you are to have so many people caring for you – going out of their way to help you. Not everyone is that lucky," she finished wistfully.
"Yes, I feel very lucky. So why are you here then? And don't tell me it isn't because you thought 'poor, broken Anna – better save her from botching up her work on top of her life'?"
"That is quite enough!" The Housekeeper exclaimed; her voice and eyes steely.
"I agree, it is!" Anna replied, her voice dangerously close to becoming hysterical. "I've had enough of this!"
"You're behaving like an ungrateful child!" The Housekeeper shot back, hurt and frustration overruling her mind's warning to watch her words.
"What on Earth is going on here?" A third voice suddenly thundered from the doorway, causing both women to jump in surprise. Mrs. Hughes whirled around to see Mr. Carson standing in the doorway, his face grim.
"I hope you realize that you can be heard downstairs. I never expected such undignified behaviour from either of you. You will stop this disgraceful racket this instant!"
"I apologize, Mr. Carson," Mrs. Hughes mumbled sheepishly.
When she turned back towards Anna, she found the young woman hunched over near the window, her arms drawn tightly around her body, her eyes tightly shut. The Housekeeper turned towards the Butler, whose right hand hovered over his waistcoat – Anna's obvious distress having put an effective stop to his indignant tirade.
Mrs. Hughes gave a subtle nod towards the door, indicating for him to leave. He nodded silently and drew the door closed behind him.
The Housekeeper sighed softly in exhaustion before carefully walking over to Anna. She put a gentle hand on Anna's arm, which was instantly covered by the younger woman's tiny hand.
"You shouldn't...," Anna pressed out brokenly. Mrs. Hughes wasn't sure what the young woman was referring to, but when she made to pull back, the young Lady's Maid tightened her grip. "Why are you still here?"
"Because whether you like it or not, you are not well. And I don't like to watch people suffer, especially not you," Mrs. Hughes admitted quietly.
Anna gave a short sob and before the Housekeeper knew what was happening, she had her arms full of the young woman.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Hughes, so very sorry. You deserved none of this… none of it," Anna mumbled and Mrs. Hughes felt the young woman's tears seeping through her day dress. She put her hand to Anna's head and stroked it soothingly.
"Neither did you," Mrs. Hughes replied gently. She allowed Anna to shed a few more tears on her shoulder before she pulled back. "And now I want you to go home for a few hours. Lady Mary won't need you until it's time for dinner and you could do with a bit of rest. Maybe Mr. Bates will be free to go with you."
Anna didn't even protest, simply nodded numbly. Elsie pressed a handkerchief into the young woman's hands and nodded approvingly when Anna had finished wiping the tear tracks off her face.
She watched quietly as Anna left the room before taking a deep breath and continuing with her day.
That night Elsie Hughes sat inside her parlour and savoured the silence surrounding her. She quietly reflected on the emotional roller-coast of a day and enjoyed a few drops of sherry to sooth her frayed nerves. She didn't usually drink before dinner service was completed but she thought that she could be excused just this once.
"Mrs. Hughes?" A hesitant voice called out and the Housekeeper sat up straighter in her chair. Lost in thought she had not heard the knock on her door.
"Anna, what can I do for you?" Her eyes were drawn to the tea tray Anna was carrying.
"I thought if you had a moment, we could have a cup of tea before I need to tend to Lady Mary," Anna mumbled almost shyly.
"Of course, come in," Mrs. Hughes put her sherry glass away and watched how the young woman settled herself in the chair opposite of her and poured the tea. When both women had taken a sip from their cups, Anna spoke up again.
"How are you?" the young woman inquired.
Elsie Hughes was startled enough by the question to almost answer with her standard reassurance that she was fine. But, something in Anna's eyes stopped her. "I'm tired," she replied honestly instead.
Anna nearly smiled in relief. It seemed as if the Housekeeper understood what she was trying to do with her gesture.
"Anything I can do to help?" Anna asked and lowered her eyes to her teacup – thereby missing the gentle smile that bloomed on the Housekeeper's face.
"No, but I thank you for the offer. I think I might actually manage to catch up on some sleep tonight," Mrs. Hughes replied softly.
Anna nodded and both women fell silent, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere that had settled over the Housekeeper's parlour.
I'm not sure I get to ask for reviews after all this time, but I'd be very grateful if you left one.