A/N: I know it's been forever since I updated this, but I hope to finish all the way to 1924 (though that might be included in A Patch of Clover.
1919
Mairead sat in the same row of pews as the other servants, her attention fixated on the vicar as he delivered his sermon about the meaning of Christmas and the same things she'd heard every other year of her life this time of year. What was different from this year was that this wasn't a Catholic service, and more different still (at least from what she'd become accustomed to in the past three years), Tom wasn't the one sitting beside her.
Instead, she was sandwiched between Anna and another one of the housemaids, a mousy-haired wisp of a girl who she knew wouldn't stay long- she'd already found the maid crying for home several times. Anna was particularly subdued, and Mairead knew it was because Mr. Bates was in prison, and she risked squeezing the older woman's gloved hand gently in an attempt to comfort her.
"Have faith," Mairead said, ducking her head so the vicar nor Mrs. Hughes wouldn't notice her rudeness.
Anna gave the girl a polite smile and returned the squeeze.
"Christmas is a time for miracles, my brother always told me." And Tom. Tom told you that too. "All you need is faith."
A/N: So a little longer than the other ones, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. Please review if you have a moment, let me know what you think, and thank you for reading~