Great story. Love getting to see so much more detail in their interactions with one another, far more than we were given in the series!

This is lovely. I do hope you continue.

I really, really hope you haven't abandonned that story because it's one of the very best Bates/Anna fanfics. Their characters are spot on, and I like the fact that you don't rush their romance.
I can't wait to see Anna - and maybe Mama Hughes? - take care of Bates's injured knee and wounded pride.

Please update soon, I love this story so much! I hope we can see the aftermath of chapter 8, with Anna (and Dr Clarkson?) taking care of Mr Bates.

"Do I know this someone?" SO Anna! Thanks for this. A lot of fun!

Thanks for your work on these! A pleasure to read. I love the way you are filling in the gaping holes we must endure without more Bates and Anna.

"She had a light petticoat on her shoulders." Sweets, a petticoat is an undergarment - like a frilly underskirt. One does not wear them on one's shoulders, not if one wishes to maintain dignity or honor. Google is a beautiful tool whenever in writerly doubt. I bet there is a huge writer database for clothes from this era. :) Also, really watch for modern phrases like "turned on" - they are a dead giveaway. Keep up the good work - you're almost there.

What a lovely kiss sequence! I love Anna's backstory too. We don't ever know anything about her, so creating the images of her previous loves is great. :)

Oh Mr. Bates... I love to see him confess his weaknesses to Anna and she is ever the patient and caring girl. Very nice chapter.

Oh, this was such a sweet chapter. Such a nice scenario to go and chaperone the girls, and it's an incredibly ingenious idea for them to go along together. There are so many lovely moments and touches in here - John loving that Anna said yes to every favour asked of her, the joking about Anna's attraction to men in uniform (love!), him admiring the blue dress on her.

I can't believe what he said to her about finding a sweetheart in one of the soldiers. Or actually, I can only too well, because that is John completely - willing to sacrifice himself for Anna's happiness (even though she would only ever be happy with him). I feel so sad for him, but as always, Anna is there to reassure him - I love the line about her knowing he needed to be reassured, and that's why she did it so often, aww. And him saying he'll be okay with the soldiers flirting with her, because he will be the one walking her home *eeeep*

The actual walk home was wonderful. The oncoming storm, him saying she didn't have to wait for him and her absolute perfect reply. Love her putting the emphasis on all the right words, and John melting in response. They're so incredibly sweet. The way you described the walk, and John's walking in particular, was brilliant - the bits about if he looked at Anna he'd only slow down. And the rain - that was so sexy. Such an impromptu, passionate kiss is definitely worth getting soaked to the bone for! Gorgeous description.

Loved Anna noticing his struggles and leading him down the easiest path - and their little game of catch is just adorably sexy. He's such a gentleman for making to catch her, but poor John ending up taking the fall - literally. It's so sweet how Anna helps him along, and of course she'd blame herself. I do love her and Mrs Hughes's fussing. I think my favourite bit of the whole chapter was Anna tending to John's knee, and her subtle touch of the back of his knee, away from other eyes. Gorgeous. And John blushing is so cute.

Looking forward to see how Anna will look after John further, and very excited to hear of a new story!

Oh, Gwen getting married! That's lovely. I like to think about what Gwen would be up to, and Anna's excitement is so sweet. Trust O'Brien to be snarky, she'll never change completely. Anna's so lovely with her reply, and then I absolutely love Bates's comeback - yes! I could totally see that happening on screen. I do love them pairing up and fighting fire with fire against Thomas and O'Brien.

Nice to show them with everyone else at breakfast and then on their own again as is their routine of an evening. Love the bit about women acting coy and Anna not following the rules - I love that she took the initiative with their relationship, because if she hadn't, who knows how long it would have taken :P Bates clamming up about the wedding chat is very in character, as is the guilt Anna suspects he would feel if she dared mention marriage, and I liked how you explored Anna's thoughts around that, which feel spot on too. Her picturing him waiting for her at the altar is such a lovely image, and it's so bittersweet for her to think about the life they wouldn't have.

The chat about his mother wanting to know more about Anna's life than his own was so nice, and the fact that he would like Anna to write to her was lovely too. Oh bless them, they're both so heartbroken about him having to go away for longer than expected. It's so typical of Anna to set to lightening the mood. And then going outside, for a memory to sustain them, despite the cold. Lovely. I just adore how you've used the 'one kiss' line, and there was more than one, which were so gorgeous. I loved the intimacy that came after the first one, but the second one *swoon* Lovely banter about him having to leave more often, and then the sincerity of them missing each other that the end was so heartwarming, especially the bit about her favourite smile.

I really loved this chapter. It was probably my favourite one so far. :)

Loved Anna being trusted enough to act as a chaperone for the younger maids, and John volunteering to go along and help too. It's great to see him taking some initiative so that the two can spend some time together. They don't have enough time together as it is! Also, their playful banter about men in uniform was adorable and funny at the same time. Loved those comments.

But trust John to spoil things with his comments. I wanted to smack him for that! At least Anna was able to make him see sense a little, and at least he let things drop so that they could have a nice time together. It was nice to see him more relaxed at the luncheon. Him pretending to be jealous whenever a soldier flirted with Anna was cute. And the walk home was much better! Anna and John kissing in the rain is a weakness of mine, so I adored the inclusion of that here, and John playfully trying to catch Anna was adorable. And that was certainly an effective way of getting him to speed up! ;)

I wasn't expecting him to get injured, though! Although it was very noble of him to save Anna from getting hurt, and Anna supporting him home was a lovely image, even if he was hurt. Loved Mrs. Hughes being all motherly, and Anna cleaning John's leg was perfect too. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how she cares for him in future chapters!

Aww, this chapter was sweet. I enjoyed the fact that you mentioned Gwen again - I really miss her, so it was nice to see that here. And although I would love for Anna and Gwen to have kept in contact with each other, it's also rather doubtful, so it was great to see that acknowledged here. The discussion of why Gwen would get married so soon was interesting, especially since it was kept so ambiguous, but I loved how Anna continued to defend Gwen, even if she wasn't sure of her reasonings herself. And Mr. Bates coming to Anna's defence was just lovely too.

Loved Anna's hindsight into John's mind, even if she can't work him out most of the time. He most definitely would feel inadequate at the thought of them not being able to marry, and it was very sweet of Anna to change the subject so that he didn't have to dwell on it.

Their goodbyes to each other out in the courtyard were lovely. The kissing was sweet and intimate and exactly how I imagine it to be, and it was also saddening at the same time, to think that they would have to go a whole month without seeing each other. It's also saddening to think that secret goodbyes are all that they can be allowed for the moment.

Lovely chapter.

I like sneaky Bates weaseling his way to the luncheon also. He's taking initiative and I like to see that. Means he is becoming serious about his way of thinking about their relationship.

John and Anna in rain just makes me sigh. Nurse Anna is also sweet.

I am really enjoying this story! :)

Lovely, lovely chapter. Can't wait for more, don't leave us hanging too long!