Fearful || Downton Abbey

Part Four: Mr Bates

"Get off! No! Please! No! Stop!" I hear my wife scream besides me. I jolt awake in a second and stare at her. Something has happened to her and I wish I knew what it was. I call to her gently "Anna? Anna? Love, it's me. You're alright love". I would reach out and shake her awake but last time I did that, she rocketed out of bed like it was on fire and refused to stop screaming until Mrs Hughes came around. "Anna. Anna? Anna? Come on love wake up" I call frantically. Slowly she comes around, opening her eyes and blinking away the brimming tears. "it's not real. It's not real. " she whispers to herself. "I wish you would tell me what the matter is" I say softly and Anna rolls her eyes. "nothing is the matter Mr Bates" she mutters "but something clearly is and I will find out what it is Anna" I warn her. Anna jumps out of bed "just leave it alone" she snaps and I blink "No" I state firmly, getting out bed to face her "I won't give up Anna, something has happened to you to make you no longer love me and I won't stop until i find out what it is", I reach out to touch her tear stained cheek but she slaps my hand away "Leave me alone" she growls backing away. I step towards her "no. You're my wife Anna" I whisper. She scoffs "I wish I bloody well wasn't. Leave me alone Mr Bates. It's the least you can do for me now" and with that my wife vanishes downstairs, leaving me to ponder over what she has just said. 

It takes me a while to think of a plan to get answers but when it comes to me, it's so blindingly obvious who knows what happens. Mrs Hughes knows  "I found Anna. She was in my study. Looks like she took a tumble after she came down here. She's bruised herself, badly I'm afraid and has some pretty nasty cuts but she says she's fine, so there's no need to get the Doctor."  That's what she said to me the night something happened. I will get answers as to what has caused my wife to stop loving me so soon into our marriage. I knock on the Scottish woman's door but don't even wait for an answer before entering. Mrs Hughes looks surprised at seeing me so early in the day "Mr Bates. What can I do for you?" She asks pleasantly and I sit down "I need to know what happened to my wife" and she blinks "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. " She states and I lean forwards "Yes you do Mrs Hughes and if you don't tell me I will leave because something has happened to cause my wife no longer love me" I explain. I wait but Mrs Hughes says nothing "So be it" I utter. I make my way to the door but to my immense relief Mrs Hughes suddenly speaks up "No! Wait!" She exclaims and I sit down again. "What happened to Anna Mrs Hughes?" I ask. "She was... Look, she didn't want to tell you, she loves you Mr Bates and it will break her if you leave. I'll tell you what happened but you must promise not to be angry at her for not telling you" She says and I nod "I promise" I reply. "Anna was attacked" Mrs Hughes murmurs softly. "She was what? By who?" I growl "Some random stranger. He was waiting for her downstairs during the concert". "So... she didn't faint" "No. Mr Bates, Anna loves you very much. She didn't want you to know for fear of you thinking she was... spoiled" Mrs Hughes mutters looking at the floor. "Poor Anna... Thank you Mrs Hughes..." I smile sadly at the Scotswoman and almost exit before a thought pops into my head "Mrs Hughes?" I inquire and she glances at me "Mr Bates?" She replies "Do you think that night is what's causing her night terrors?" I ask and she nods sadly "Yes Mr Bates, I do". "Thank you Mrs Hughes" I say and exit her study...