The Gift

"What do you think Anna?"

Anna thought the same thing as she did about most of Mary's clothes. Beautiful. Delicate. Infinitely expensive.

"It's lovely, milady."

"I think Papa's going to need a lie down in a darkened room when the bill comes home from this trip to London, but I simply need everything for the season this year."

Anna pondered the definition of need, as Mary signed for the account at Hartnell's. Anna needed her job, a bed to sleep in, food to eat, the certainty of continued existence. Mary's needs seemed far wider, more worldy and expensive beyond Anna's wildest dreams.

Mary picked the nightdress up for a final inspection as the assistant folded things into their dress box. In an uncharacteristic fit of sensitivity, she caught the expression of longing on Anna's face.

"Did you see anything you would like for yourself? For Christmas this year?"

Anna's face burned. She had long since given up her jealousy of Mary's wardrobe, a fantasy that belonged in the fancy story magazines that Daisy loved to read, not worth even daydreaming about.

"I'm not sure I'd ever have call to wear something so fancy Milady."

The nightdress was beautiful. Fragile, feminine, dripping with lace and trimmed with ribbons. As far removed from Anna's old flannel gown as possible.

"Well… if you change your mind before Christmas, do let me know."

"If there's…"

"Yes?"

Anna bit her lip and plunged in before her good sense could silence her.

"Well… it would be nice to have a new nightgown. Not one so fine and thin as yours perhaps, but something…"

Mary's eyebrow rose as she smiled. "Something a little pretty?"

"Well… yes Milady. I know that no one would ever see it except me, and Gwen since she shares my room. But it would be nice. Just to have something pretty that was mine. Private, like."

"I know exactly what you mean."

Mary swept up her gloves and handbag, signing the final bill with a flourish.

"We shall see what Father Christmas can provide," she gave Anna a conspiratorial wink.

For the first time in years, Anna began to look forward to Christmas

…

A few weeks later, there was a parcel delivered to the back door for Anna. Unwrapping it in the privacy of her room, Anna discovered a nightdress. Made of lawn material, not transparent thin, but flowing and graceful, of better quality than anything Anna had ever seen. The sleeves were simple, dropping a few inches below the shoulders, the sweetheart neckline just the right side of modest. There was a card inside the box. Anna opened it with shaking fingers.

"Christmas was a long time to wait. And I thought you might like to add your own decorations. You have the best eye for 'pretty'. Lady M." There was a small note included, informing Anna that five pounds in credit awaited her at the small haberdashery shop in Downton.

Five pounds! Five pounds would buy ribbons and lace to content the most ruffle starved heart. Holding up the gown to see the length of it, Anna began to plan where she would add bows and knots of ribbon and strips of lace to create the most gorgeous confection of a nightdress she had ever known.

There was a knock at the door.

"Anna?"

Anna whirled to see Mrs Hughes coming in.

"I just wondered where you had... heavens! What's that you've got there?"

"It's ... a gift, Mrs Hughes. I was just putting it away safely."

"Well, I must say, that looks very fine. Mind you do put it safely now. Now, come give me a hand along the next corridor. His lordship has settled on a new valet, and we're to get his room ready, he'll be here tomorrow..."

Hastily, Anna folded it back safely into the box and ached for her next visit to the village. She wasn't due for a half day for another week or so yet. There was plenty of time to think and plan what she would buy.