This story gets a bit more suggestive towards the end of this chapter but nothing too racy I hope. Let me know if I should change the rating. Thanks to my friend for her input on this chapter.

Bates POV

I sit silently in the servants hall. Midnight is fast approaching yet sleep is the furthest thing from my mind. Anna is my wife. Have sweeter words ever been spoken? Stirring my tea, I can barely believe my luck. We have arranged to meet here. If we can't share our wedding night together, I have made it my intention to say goodnight to her in a way which befits a man and his wife.

'Another cup of tea? You drink your own weight in the stuff every day.'

Looking up, I see Anna has entered the servants hall and is observing me, hands on hips. Looking back down at my drink, I ponder over my reply.

'Well my darling, tea has replaced whisky in my life. It may be more English than Irish, but I believe it is the safest route for me.'

She chuckles as she sits beside me at the table. Helping herself to a cup, I notice she is not wearing her gold band. Of course, she can't if we are to be discreet. She notices my lingering look towards her finger and reaches just inside the top of her dress. She pulls out a gold chain, on which she has placed her wedding band.

'I'd rather have it with me at all times than in a drawer. Until I can wear it properly. You know.' I find it amusing she feels she has to explain the most faultless of acts.

'I know.' I reply. We both turn our chairs so we are facing each other and it feels the most natural thing in the world to take her hand into mine. 'How was your evening?'

'Fine. Normal. How it always is.' she answered indifferently.

'Oh,' I smile weakly before admitting, ' I spent most of my evening thinking about you.'

'Exactly, that's a normal evening for me. Thinking of you.' We stop and gaze at one another then. I take in the look on her face and store it in my memory. I swear she gets more beautiful with each passing hour. 'Mr Bates...'

'Anna..' I interrupt. We are alone, it may be habit but she needn't call me Mr Bates here. 'Use my name.'

'Sorry,' she closes her eyes and grins. 'John. I have something to tell you.'

'Intriguing,' I say, taking a sip from my tea. 'Please go on.'

'I was speaking to Lady Mary earlier. She knows about me and you.' Despite feeling surprise at her admission, I allow her to continue. 'Well, you see, the thing is. She has...'

Wondering why she is reluctant to finish her sentence, I try to reassure her. 'Anna, I'm your husband. You can tell me anything.' This seems to trigger something inside her as her demeanour becomes much more assured.

'Well, we have a room. Just for tonight. On the south wing of the house.' She explains. 'Jane prepared it for us. She'll give us a wake up call before she leaves in the morning.'

I sit in silence as I process what Anna has just told me. The thought of sharing the night with Anna overwhelms me. Yes, I want to more than anything but panic is the overbearing emotion. She'll be expectant yet what she doesn't know is I haven't engaged in that kind of activity for a very long time. I wouldn't like her to get her hopes up. Also, I couldn't bear it if she was thinking she had to this to please me. Nothing could be further from the truth.

'Anna, I don't want you to think I expect anything from you tonight.' She finishes her tea in a hurry before putting her empty tea cup back on the tray.

'I'll meet you up there in twenty minutes?' I nod and she stands up. 'It's the third room along. See you soon.' Before leaving she kisses the top of my head and strokes my face. I weaken to this softest of touches and watch as she walks away and disappears up the staircase towards the servants quarters.

Wearily reaching the south wing, I wonder if I will ever get used to the endless stairs in this house. I have left my jacket and tie in my room and on my arm I have my pyjamas. I suppose, hoping subconsciously, this will prove to Anna I expect nothing from her. I am relieved to see a soft light emanating from under one of the doors. Anna is waiting for me. I softly knock on the door. Upon opening it I am greeted by a sight I shall never forget for as long as I live. My darling Anna, sitting by the dresser, gently running a brush through her hair, sat in her nightdress. Looking at me in the reflection in the mirror, she must realise I am staring as she stops what she is doing to turn and face me.

'You found me then.' She smiles. I nod and proceed to take my waistcoat off. I am fully aware Anna is watching my every move. Placing my waistcoat on the back of the chair she breezes past me and sits on the bed. Gently patting beside her, I know she means for me to join her. Hanging my cane alongside my waistcoat, I slowly make my way to join her.

'John, what's the matter?' She asks. 'You've hardly said two words since you came in here.'

Looking at her, I swallow hard. 'Anna, can I be honest?'

'I'd hope you were always honest with me, John.' She replies. She always has a clever reply for everything. It's something I admire in her.

'Yes of course. It's just I don't want you to think I expect anything tonight. I couldn't bear it if you thought I expected this of you this evening.'

'Expect what, Mr Bates?' I notice her mood has changed to almost mischievous. She's revelling in my awkwardness. Taking me by surprise, she undoes a couple of buttons at the top of my shirt and begins to kiss my neck. This causes a sensation in me I haven't felt for a long time. Years even. It is like she is the experienced person in this situation.

'Anna,' I breathe. 'Stop. For just a moment.' I touch her cheek and she pulls away.

'Did I do something wrong?' she asks weakly.

'God no. Nothing. It's just me.' Taking a deep breath, I allow myself to ask her for clarification. 'Anna, are you sure this is what you want?'

'I have wanted this for the best part of seven years. As I said to you earlier, I've had my fill of waiting. The amount of times I have thought about this moment, I think I am prepared for it.' Despite her explanation, something is still holding me back. She senses this and my dear sweet girl is trying to reassure me. 'Are you sure it's what you want?'

Looking at her, noticing the need in her eyes, a need that has grown after seven years of putting up with my baggage and the trail of distress my life has left behind, I realise something I had never done before.

'It is what I want.' I admit. 'But I am realising I have never made love to someone who I am in love with before. And I am so in love with you.' I watch as a single lonely tear falls down Anna's cheek. She presses her forehead against mine.

'I've worked in service long enough to have heard different stories of women and their experiences with men. Most of them awful.' She whispers. 'How can something like this be awful when it is happening between two people as in love with each other as we are.

'I can promise you, it may not be what you are expecting.' I begin to softly kiss her neck. She responds to my touch by moving towards me, her back forming a perfect arch that my hand automatically runs along. 'But it won't be awful. Another side effect of the tea drinking replacing the whisky.'

Her laugh in response to my little joke is delicious as she starts to undo the buttons on my shirt.

And it wasn't awful. Or indeed what we were expecting either.