Chapter Text
"No, I can do it", smiled Anna, before getting up for the chair in the servant's hall where she was quietly sewing. But, after just a couple of steps, she grimaced, bringing a hand to her belly.
"What is it, Anna?" asked Mrs, Hughes, alarmed.
"No, nothing, it's..." Then, Anna's glance went to the floor, where she saw some drops of blood. She instantly paled. "Oh. no! I..."
Mrs. Hughes stood instantly, followed by Ms. Baxter. "Sit, Anna," ordered gently the housekeeper, slowly pushing Anna back on the chair.
The blonde maid started crying. "I lost it! I lost it again!" she sobbed. Mrs. Hughes hugged her, trying to calm her down. Then, she told Ms. Baxter to telephone Dr. Clarkson. Thomas, pale and surprised, was still on his feet, unable to think what he could do. Again, Mrs. Hughes took the matter in her hands. "Mr. Barrow, please, go search for Mr. Bates". The butler nodded, and quickly left.
Thomas knew that Bates was probably in Lord Grantham's dressing room, because he had to check if some of the summer suits needed to be fixed in advance. He was right: when he knocked on the door, Bates opened it, raising his eyebrows at the sight of the butler. "Mr. Barrow? Do you need something?"
Thomas swallowed. "No... I came to fetch you, Mr. Bates. Anna is in the servant's hall, she doesn't feel well. We called for Dr. Clarkson".
Bates quickly got out of the room, walking towards the stairs.
"Wait!" Thomas reached him and put himself in front of him, so that he couldn't leave. "I... think you need to know it before you see it".
"What, Mr. Barrow?" asked Bates, clearly impatient to reach his wife.
Thomas swallowed again. "I didn't know Anna was expecting... but it looks like she lost it".
Bates tightened his lips, watching Thomas with something that was close to anger. For a moment, the butler was scared that Bates wanted to punch him; but the valet just left, as quickly as he could.
Thomas followed him in the servant's hall, where Anna was still crying. Mrs. Hughes made space for Bates, who sat in front of his wife, hugging her.
"Shhh... don't worry, honey... everything will be fine..."
"I lost it, John..." said Anna between sobs. "I lost it again! The stitch didn't work! I don't want to do this anymore..."
"No, love, no. We won't. We will be more careful. We have little Johnnie, we are happy already".
In that moment, Baxter entered, introducing Dr. Clarkson, that crouched next to Anna. Bates made some space, but kept her hand in his one.
"I need to visit her," said the doctor to Thomas. "Mr. Barrow, can I have a room with a bed or a sofa?"
"Yes, yes, definitely... The closest one will be the library, just upstairs".
"Good. We need to bring her there".
Thomas nodded and got closer, putting an arm around Anna's shoulders and the other one under her legs. "Sorry, I have to touch you".
Anna just nodded, wiping her tears. Thomas was surprised at how light she was. He started walking, with Bates and Dr. Clarkson at his sides, ready to help him if he had any problems carrying Anna up the stairs. Thomas knew that the library would be empty; the family was out for the afternoon. And they wouldn't have minded it anyway. Thomas gently put Anna on the sofa, and then nodded to Dr. Clarkson and Bates, before leaving and closing the door. He didn't feel like going anywhere, so he decided to wait in the hallway. He didn't know that Anna was pregnant, but her tears and her desperation had touched him. She was a kind, nice person, and didn't deserve it. After all of her suffering, she only wanted another baby. Why she couldn't have it? Also, form what she was saying, it wasn't the first pregnancy that went wrong for her. It was very unjust.
After half an hour, Bates came out of the room, and raised his eyebrows at seeing Thomas. "Are you still here, Mr. Barrow?"
"Yes, Mr. Bates. I was waiting to know if Anna was fine".
"Oh. That's very kind of you. And I have good news".
"Really?" asked Thomas, surprised from feeling hopeful and relieved.
"Yes. Anna didn't lose the baby. It was a threatened miscarriage, but she is still pregnant. However, Dr. Clarkson said that she needs to spend in bed the rest of the pregnancy, and she can't do any work".
"I'm sure it can be managed".
"Thank you".
"I will personally speak to Lord Grantham and Lady Mary, I can't see them objecting to it".
"Me either. Thank you. And also... Dr. Clarkson said she needs to stay here for at least a couple of days. It could be dangerous to be moved around too much after what happened".
"Yes, definitely. I'm sure we can find a room".
"Thank you again". Bates went back in the library, while Thomas started walking towards the stairs, to give the good news to Mrs. Hughes and Baxter. Then, he would have asked the maids to prepare one of the guest rooms.