Anna Smith entered her office at Downton Abbey, the historical country home of the earls of Grantham. No longer a residence, Anna's job as head of operations was to oversee tours and other events with the public. For the first time since the pandemic, the house would host a special tour; visitors will be treated to an immersive Downton Christmas, complete with traditional foods and decor, all carried out by a cast of servants in period costume. It was a sudden brainstorm by one of the Crawley family and while Anna loved the idea and the challenge of putting such an extravaganza together, she only wished the whole thing had been proposed a couple months earlier so she didn't have to scramble to make it all happen in three weeks.

In an attempt to get a jump on everything she needed to do to make it all happen, Anna came to work early, before the other staff were expected to arrive. She set a cup of tea on the corner of her desk and started up her computer. After looking over her email and saw a message from her friend, Mary Crawley.

Hi Anna, I was able to procure the journals of my great-great-grandfather, the seventh Earl of Grantham. I put them in your bottom drawer for safe keeping. Guard them with your life, I had to do a lot of convincing to the family archivist to let them out of the vault and hand to promise they would be back in two weeks. I hope they're helpful to you. We want this event to be as authentic as possible Mary

"Ahh, brilliant," Anna sighed as she opened the drawer and saw the bundle Mary left for her. She carefully lifted it to her desk and began to peel away the layers of paper the journals were wrapped in.

She drained the last drop of tea and stood to stretch and fetch another when she heard the sound of a door closing. She looked at her watch and noted that it was still a couple of hours before anyone was due to start working. She listened in silence for a couple of minutes until she heard the sound of footsteps combined with an odd click. She reached for her phone and cautiously made her way out into the hall.

Anna jumped when she reached the back door and found a man she didn't know looking unsure he was where he was supposed to be. He wore the most peculiar suit and an old style bowler hat with a cane in one hand and a worn leather case in the other. She stopped and stared. Surely this man was lost.

"Hello, I've been waiting at the back door," he finally spoke. His voice was unexpectedly but pleasantly soft for such a looming figure. Anna could feel herself relax. He seemed rather non-threatening. "I knocked, but no one came"

"So you pushed in?," she asked, a bit shocked. "I'm surprised the door was even unlocked."

"I'm John Bates," he continued. "The new valet."

"I'm Anna, the head of operations," she returned, reaching out for a handshake. He slowly shifted things in his hands to return the gesture. "I'm afraid you're too early."

"I came on the milk train–"

"Do they still even have milk trains?" Anna laughed, but stopped when she realized he wasn't making a joke. "Sorry, I mean, we aren't auditioning for the cast until Friday. Your agent gave you the wrong information I'm afraid." She waved her hand for him to follow which he did. "I hope you didn't travel very far, such a shame but I have to say, you certainly look the part. Those clothes are a nice touch." She led him into her office and pointed to a seat. The man didn't sit down, simply stood in the middle of the room and looked around in stunned concern.

"Um, excuse me," he said quietly. "What exactly is the head of operations? Is that like the Head Housekeeper?" Anna shrugged.

"My job is to keep the house running smoothly so I suppose you could say that."

John Bates continued to look around before settling his eyes back on Anna. "That is a peculiar uniform for the Head Housekeeper but I suppose they do things differently in the north."

Anna self-consciously smoothed her hands over her pantsuit and shifted uncomfortably. While she found this man friendly and respectful, there was something off about the entire interchange as if they weren't speaking the same language. "I'm sure this is typical business attire in most parts of the country Mr. Bates." She cleared her throat and once again invited him to have a seat by pointing to a chair across from her desk. "Right. As I said, we aren't casting the servants until Friday–"

"Casting them… where exactly?"

"What?"

"Nevermind, go on."

"But if you'll leave me your mobile number, we'll be in touch about the job."

"My mobile number?"

"You know, your cell number." Bates swallowed nervously.

"W-why do you need my cell number? How did you even know about my cell number?" Anna gave him a puzzled stare.

"I don't know your cell number," she said slowly, reaching for a pen. "That's why I'm asking for it." John rubbed a shaky hand across his chin and then answered.

"Uh, my cell was 117" he answered humbly, almost embarrassed.

"117?" Her hand hovered over the paper as she waited. When he didn't say anymore she looked up. "Surely there are more numbers. Phone numbers are longer than that."

"Phone number?"

"Yes, the number of your mobile phone," she said with a little impatience.

"I-I don't have a mobile phone." At that Anna gasped and choked back a laugh.

"You're joking," she said incredulously. "It's 2022! Everyone has a phone." She watched Bates fall back in his chair and start to breathe heavily. "What? What's the matter? Are you ill?"

"You say it's 2022? As in the year of our Lord, two thousand and twenty two?"

"Yes, of course," Anna laughed again. "Maybe not the best year of our lives but it sure beats 2020 and 2021, am I right?" She smiled at her own joke, but frowned when the man sitting before her started to tremble.

"Something didn't seem right when I stepped off the train," he started to ramble. Anna wasn't even sure he was talking to her. "Everything looked different but I've never been to Downton so I just assumed… but then you… and this office is… it was like I stepped off the train onto another planet."

"What are you saying?" Anna was growing concerned. He might be soft spoken and unassuming but he could still be some kind of crazy person.

"I'm saying that when I got on the milk train, the year was 1912," he answered. Anna stared at him for a few seconds before nervously laughing.

"Really, Mr. Bates, you're having me on," she chided. "If this is some kind of audition stunt–"

"I'm being very serious," he interrupted, his voice quite agitated. "I took the milk train to Downton. I wanted to get here early, learn my way around and get started as soon as possible."

"Doing what exactly?"

"I'm the new valet," he answered. "Hold on…" John began fumbling around his coat for something. "I have the telegram he sent telling me I had the position as soon as I could get here." He checked his pockets again, reaching inside to see if it was in his waistcoat to no avail. "I must have put it in my bag–"

"It's not necessary," Anna said, exhaling impatiently. "I'm sorry but I'm a very busy person and I don't really have time for these kinds of games. Now, you seem like a very good actor, very dedicated to say the least, and if you come back on Friday I'm sure we will want to hire you. But until then I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"But I'm telling the truth, crazy as it sounds, I was on the milk train–"

"Again with the milk train," she muttered under her breath. "Please, Mr. Bates, don't make me ask again."

"- April 15, 1912. I bought a newspaper right before I boarded because of the tragedy."

"Tragedy," Anna repeated, sure she shouldn't encourage him.

"The Titanic, didn't you hear?"

"Of course I know what happened to the Titanic," she retorted. "But that was over a hundred years ago!"

"No, it was just yesterday!"

"Of course it was," she sighed once again. She stood up and pointed to the door. "I trust you can remember your way to the door?" The man looked up at her in defeat. There was panic and fear in his eyes, as well, and Anna almost felt sorry for him. She shook it away and rounded her desk and made her way to the door, holding it until he finally left.

"Goodbye, Miss Smith," he said quietly as he passed by.

"Goodbye."

She listened for the sound of the back door closing before releasing her breath. She made a mental note to let security know that the night watch forgot to check all the doors and that they needed to be more diligent. This Mr. Bates was harmless enough, more of a time waster than anything, but he never should have been able to get in.

She abandoned the desire for more tea and got back to her desk and the journals. One particular book was opened flat. She couldn't remember looking at any of the pages but supposed she must have right before hearing the intruder.

She gingerly held the book in her hands and began to read, surprised at the date of the entry on the top of the page.

April 15, 1912

What a horrid wretched thing that has happened. My dear cousin James and his son Patrick perished at sea along with 1500 other souls traveling on the Titanic. The implications for the future of Downton are immense but right now we must mourn. I have tasked Murray with finding the new heir and will deal with that in time. My poor cousin and dear nephew! And what a dreaded day for my new valet to arrive. John Bates served as my batman during the war and is a fine, trustworthy and conscientious fellow… it is just like him to take the milk train so he could arrive early and start right away…

"Milk train…," Anna gasped under her breath. There it was in old and faded ink, the name of the valet, John Bates. She was sure that if she asked Mary or even her father who was named for the seventh Earl, neither could tell her the name of the man's valet or that he came to Downton on the milk train. Who would even know such a thing? She looked back at the diary.

... and he tells me it is an old war wound but it won't be any kind of hindrance to his ability to do the job. There are so many stairs in this house and the servants climb them all day. I worry but it is so good to have my old friend here.

"Oh, my god," she exclaimed. Quickly but carefully she set the diaries back into her desk drawer and locked it. She grabbed her coat and ran for the back door. She began to run through the small courtyard down the path that led to the front of the Abbey and on to the village. She figured he couldn't have made it very far, not with a cane and yet she didn't see him right away. Finally after nearly running all the way to the estate entrance she saw him.

"Mr. Bates! Wait!" The tall figure stopped and turned at the sound of his name. She stopped when she reached him, putting a hand over her stomach as she tried to catch her breath. "How… How did you know about the milk train? Did you study the Crawley family? Maybe read it in a book?"

"Miss Smith, I know you think I'm daft and maybe I am," John replied somewhat dejectedly. "But I can't say it any other way. One moment it was 1912 and now… well, I'm here. Whenever it is." Anna looked into his eyes and searched his face and found no deception..

"I think I believe you," she finally uttered. "I might regret it, but I believe you." Instantly the man's body slumped in relief.

"Thank god," he said with a wry laugh. "What now?"

"Come with me, we'll figure it out together."