The rays filtered through the clear glasses and window knitted curtains forming patterns on the matted floor. The big wooden table in the middle of the room was filled with flour dustings and, aroma of last nights baking escapades still lingered in the air. The chocolate, the chilli and the mild notes of cinnamon ruled the mood. The notes of love and touch, of kisses and warm hugs, travelled through the kitchen to other rooms of the mansion.

He was still asleep, holding on to the pillow and cuddling it with a soft smile on his face. Never had he looked so angelic and peaceful in the past few years. He must be dreaming something nice, she thought, tiptoeing in his room she picked up his laundry and tied it up with minimum noise possible and was about to leave when he woke up.

“Good morning”! he said with a smile.

she smiled back, “Good Morning darling! how was last night ? ” she asked

“It was splendid, it was nice and warm and the best part was Anna was here” he was still lying on the bed, wasn’t hugging the pillow anymore, watching the slow-moving victorian fan and still in dreamy thoughts he looked at her. She looked at him puzzled

“who is Anna? she asked.

” she was here,” he said again” Ah! never mind you won’t understand”

She shrugged and left the room, a bit worried what was she gonna find in the kitchen. Surprisingly the old Victorian kitchen was relatively clean, the clay oven was still hot and a spark or two still crackled deep in it. The table had flour dustings all over and cinnamon aroma filled the place to make it feel warm and fuzzy.

She wondered who Anna was and what they were up to… without sparing another thought she started cleaning the kitchen, just about then she heard him walk down the staircase in the room.

“Oh don’t clean it up, she may come tonight as well,” he said.

“Who are we talking about ?” she asked

“Anna, of course, Mrs Dundley… see those cookies, we made them together,” he said

Mrs Dundley was a bit taken aback, there was a tray of still-warm cookies lying on the side and a few bakeware trays and mixing bowls kept for washing.

“Was she here for dinner?” asked Mrs Dundley

“Oh no, she came much later, she was wearing the most beautiful white dress with big flowers on it, the softest and warm and beautiful one you can ever imagine and she smelled like those cookies.. you know,” he said

Mrs Dundley now looked a bit concerned, she wondered if she should have left him alone at night, but she was off only for a few hours and for some reason she couldn’t imagine how someone had passed the big gates and walk through the woods to the house at that hour.

“Who open the gates for her and the house door” she enquired

“Oh! I don’t know, and I don’t really care I am glad Anna will be coming tonight as well. We plan to cook something really nice tonight.” he announced.

“Mrs Dundley, you know what ? you should take a day off to today, she is nice don’t worry about me” he suggested to Mrs Dundley

This wasn’t sounding right but Mrs Dundley decided not to react. She gave him his cup and carried on cleaning and tidying the gigantic kitchen.

“what time did she leave?” asked Mrs Dundley

“To be honest Mrs Dundley I really don’t know, I think she came up with me but I don’t know really know when she left,” he said

He was still dreamy and happy… it was the first time in years Mrs Dundley had seen him smile and be happy. Generally a very poised young lad today was walking around barefoot in a happy mood.

It was noon when Lord Downton walked into the mansion, as the protocol dictated Mrs Dundley quickly reported the events to Lord Downton and disappeared in the kitchen. Lord Downton took a deep breath and walked up to his room. By now he was all dressed up, all ready and prepared to request and plead if require for Annas inclusion in the household. Lord Downton greeted him with a small formal yet loving smile and spoke to him a little, he excitedly told him about the cookies and cinnamon, the way they slightly roasted it and then grounded the sticks in a powder that was finer than the air, how they sprinkled cinnamon on the cookie dough and how the room smelled of it when they were doing it, how Anna showed him to make a small muslin pouch to be filled with cinnamon powder and be kept near the pillow so it would ward off the evil spirits.

Lord Downton shivered a bit, smiled a bit and held his hand. He walked him to the hall of the house. This toom was out of bounds otherwise. It was the room where memories came alive, where ancestor got together and chatted in dark hours. They say voices could be heard from beyond the lock doors.

” there! there she is … Anna, How do we have her portrait in the house” he asked all bewildered

Lord Downton just smiled, took his hand as they walked out. The hall was locked back again by the butler who was following them. He knew this was not a one-off instance… She was here to see her angel and make him smile again… and she would come back if a need arises…

Lord Downton left him to his room, “Get ready, we are going to see Anna” he said. He told the butler to prepare the horses and came down to the kitchen.

“Mrs Dundley, we are going out and will ride the countryside the whole day today. Can you prepare and pack a basket of food and follow us in the buggy.  And I think you should pack those cookies in a jar and take them too.” Lord Downton gave the instructions and was just about to leave when Mrs Dundley interrupted. ” Pardon my curiosity my lord, but where are we headed?”

“Cemetary Mrs Dundley…. we are going to meet his Mom… Lady Anathesia Robert Downton”…