Cora's Fortune, part 7
Rating: M (but a soft one)
Pairing: Cora/Robert
Summary: “24 years ago you married Cora, against my wishes, for her money.”
Disclaimer: Downton Abbey and its characters don’t belong to me. I make no money from this work of fiction. I only own the plot line.
Part 6
Cora’s Fortune
Chapter 7
She received the next blow during lunch. The morning had gone swiftly, Lady Grantham completely unaware of her son’s deception. But between the asparagus and the lamb, Lord Grantham announced his need to go to London to deal with succession issues. That didn’t bother her until the French beans were presented to her, when he said that Robert were to come with him and that she was to be left in Downton with Lady Grantham to take care of the house. A while later, as he was helping himself to the meringue, Lord Grantham informed his wife that they would leave the next day with the nine o’clock train. Lady Rosamund was to go with them to visit her uncle in the nursing home. As soon as the luncheon was over, the men locked themselves into the library and Lady Rosamund went to watch over her packing, leaving Cora alone with the Countess. That would prepare her for the next fortnight even if she already knew that those weeks would be a nightmare. She sat uneasily across her mother-in-law, her education and habits were the only things preventing her from fidgeting with her hands. She didn’t like being idle unless she was trying to nap and even then she usually had some book or needle work handy. Of course, now that her wedding was over there was no need for her to work on her trousseau. On the other hand she could start working on her possible daughter’s… Of course, the idea was preposterous: she had no guarantee she would have a daughter (for all she knew, she could have only boys) and even if she did, she wouldn’t know what to embroider before the engagement. Lady Grantham was staring at her which was making her highly uncomfortable. Cora hadn’t any book with her… or in her room come to think of it and the library was busy. There had to be something to do, other than being stared at, that is. She watched the tapestry on the wall. She could do some weaving, she mused. She had the necessaries in her dressing room but she couldn’t just get up and fetch it, could she? The bell pull was hanging against the wall, teasing her. Should she ask for Lady Grantham permission? She was after all living here on her own right, but the Countess was still the mistress of the house.
“Are you going to be idling about all day long?”
The acidity cut through her skin but it was best not to answer the provocation. And it looked like permission to her. She got up and rang asking for her things to be brought down. Hiding in her room was only going to infuriate her mother-in-law and wouldn’t do her any good in the long run. She had to find a way to deal with her: she would have to for a long time since Lord Grantham seemed healthy as an ox. The countess was still staring at her which was most unnerving. Cora could manage with men’s gazes - she even enjoyed them to some extent - but the cold and judgemental look she was getting now resembled in no way to the other and she had no idea how to react. She did want to fight back, but her spirit was no match for the old lady and that would create quite an atmosphere which would be eventually worse. She just had to bite back her retort and suffer silently. She had nothing to look forward to, she had no relation to visit or to talk to, her mother couldn’t be troubled right now - not that she could be contacted on the boat anyway - her father was gone, she wasn’t close enough to any of her American relatives… and her new British relatives, well they weren’t worth mentioning. The needle, thread and canvas were brought to her. She considered asking for Lady Grantham’s help but it was too ludicrous to be more than a passing thought. She quickly prepared the thread, the familiar work relaxing her and somehow distracting her from the stare she was still receiving. While she worked, she was able to let her mind wander on more joyful paths, recalling fond memories of her father. It still hurt to think about him, but the memories of former times were softening the blow. Lady Grantham eventually got tired of doing nothing but making her daughter-in-law uncomfortable and left the room to deal with something or other about the house. For the first time since leaving London she felt at ease somewhere else than in her room. She weaved silently until tea which was served in the library. It was taken quietly, Lord Grantham and his son were still engrossed in their discussion and Lady Grantham was making last minute recommendations to her daughter. Cora sure felt like an intruder and was quite lonely but at least no one was insulting her or commenting her origins. The retreat to her room was at long last opened to her and she did just so until supper which happened in the same fashion of the afternoon tea. Later, when Elsie was done attending to her, she was lying in bed, contemplating the upcoming leaving of her husband and actually dreading it. Of course the fact that she would be left alone with his formidable mother had everything to do with it and she wouldn’t feel the same if it had been Lord Grantham instead of his wife… Wouldn’t she really? She felt she was lying to herself. She would miss her husband dearly and she hoped he would come to her that night. Oh dear! She was in love with her husband. How peculiar. She frowned: how was she to react to this new feeling? She couldn’t just tell him. Furthermore, he wasn’t in love with her, he had told her so before she even accepted the engagement. She couldn’t tell him, she just couldn’t. He would feel too guilty of not loving her back and eventually feel miserable. She couldn’t do that to him, she loved him after all. It was very brave and unselfish of her… very stupid and untrue as well however romantic the feeling was. She couldn’t tell him because she had no idea how to say it and she was a coward. Nothing she could say or do would change their relationship for a better one; there was no use in trying anything. She hoped he would come tonight. Their marital relationship was enough for her… and should be: what more could she expect? He was nice enough to her and did try to stand up for her against his mother. The door opened and a smile blossomed on her lips: he was coming this night. She turned on her side to welcome him.
“I am feeling up to my duties tonight, if that’s what you came for.”
“I was hoping that maybe you would be. I already told Elsie to wake us in the morning.”
She only nodded as he slipped inside the bed. She rolled on her back and welcomed him into her arms.
Part 8
Pairing: Cora/Robert
Summary: “24 years ago you married Cora, against my wishes, for her money.”
Disclaimer: Downton Abbey and its characters don’t belong to me. I make no money from this work of fiction. I only own the plot line.
Part 6
Cora’s Fortune
Chapter 7
She received the next blow during lunch. The morning had gone swiftly, Lady Grantham completely unaware of her son’s deception. But between the asparagus and the lamb, Lord Grantham announced his need to go to London to deal with succession issues. That didn’t bother her until the French beans were presented to her, when he said that Robert were to come with him and that she was to be left in Downton with Lady Grantham to take care of the house. A while later, as he was helping himself to the meringue, Lord Grantham informed his wife that they would leave the next day with the nine o’clock train. Lady Rosamund was to go with them to visit her uncle in the nursing home. As soon as the luncheon was over, the men locked themselves into the library and Lady Rosamund went to watch over her packing, leaving Cora alone with the Countess. That would prepare her for the next fortnight even if she already knew that those weeks would be a nightmare. She sat uneasily across her mother-in-law, her education and habits were the only things preventing her from fidgeting with her hands. She didn’t like being idle unless she was trying to nap and even then she usually had some book or needle work handy. Of course, now that her wedding was over there was no need for her to work on her trousseau. On the other hand she could start working on her possible daughter’s… Of course, the idea was preposterous: she had no guarantee she would have a daughter (for all she knew, she could have only boys) and even if she did, she wouldn’t know what to embroider before the engagement. Lady Grantham was staring at her which was making her highly uncomfortable. Cora hadn’t any book with her… or in her room come to think of it and the library was busy. There had to be something to do, other than being stared at, that is. She watched the tapestry on the wall. She could do some weaving, she mused. She had the necessaries in her dressing room but she couldn’t just get up and fetch it, could she? The bell pull was hanging against the wall, teasing her. Should she ask for Lady Grantham permission? She was after all living here on her own right, but the Countess was still the mistress of the house.
“Are you going to be idling about all day long?”
The acidity cut through her skin but it was best not to answer the provocation. And it looked like permission to her. She got up and rang asking for her things to be brought down. Hiding in her room was only going to infuriate her mother-in-law and wouldn’t do her any good in the long run. She had to find a way to deal with her: she would have to for a long time since Lord Grantham seemed healthy as an ox. The countess was still staring at her which was most unnerving. Cora could manage with men’s gazes - she even enjoyed them to some extent - but the cold and judgemental look she was getting now resembled in no way to the other and she had no idea how to react. She did want to fight back, but her spirit was no match for the old lady and that would create quite an atmosphere which would be eventually worse. She just had to bite back her retort and suffer silently. She had nothing to look forward to, she had no relation to visit or to talk to, her mother couldn’t be troubled right now - not that she could be contacted on the boat anyway - her father was gone, she wasn’t close enough to any of her American relatives… and her new British relatives, well they weren’t worth mentioning. The needle, thread and canvas were brought to her. She considered asking for Lady Grantham’s help but it was too ludicrous to be more than a passing thought. She quickly prepared the thread, the familiar work relaxing her and somehow distracting her from the stare she was still receiving. While she worked, she was able to let her mind wander on more joyful paths, recalling fond memories of her father. It still hurt to think about him, but the memories of former times were softening the blow. Lady Grantham eventually got tired of doing nothing but making her daughter-in-law uncomfortable and left the room to deal with something or other about the house. For the first time since leaving London she felt at ease somewhere else than in her room. She weaved silently until tea which was served in the library. It was taken quietly, Lord Grantham and his son were still engrossed in their discussion and Lady Grantham was making last minute recommendations to her daughter. Cora sure felt like an intruder and was quite lonely but at least no one was insulting her or commenting her origins. The retreat to her room was at long last opened to her and she did just so until supper which happened in the same fashion of the afternoon tea. Later, when Elsie was done attending to her, she was lying in bed, contemplating the upcoming leaving of her husband and actually dreading it. Of course the fact that she would be left alone with his formidable mother had everything to do with it and she wouldn’t feel the same if it had been Lord Grantham instead of his wife… Wouldn’t she really? She felt she was lying to herself. She would miss her husband dearly and she hoped he would come to her that night. Oh dear! She was in love with her husband. How peculiar. She frowned: how was she to react to this new feeling? She couldn’t just tell him. Furthermore, he wasn’t in love with her, he had told her so before she even accepted the engagement. She couldn’t tell him, she just couldn’t. He would feel too guilty of not loving her back and eventually feel miserable. She couldn’t do that to him, she loved him after all. It was very brave and unselfish of her… very stupid and untrue as well however romantic the feeling was. She couldn’t tell him because she had no idea how to say it and she was a coward. Nothing she could say or do would change their relationship for a better one; there was no use in trying anything. She hoped he would come tonight. Their marital relationship was enough for her… and should be: what more could she expect? He was nice enough to her and did try to stand up for her against his mother. The door opened and a smile blossomed on her lips: he was coming this night. She turned on her side to welcome him.
“I am feeling up to my duties tonight, if that’s what you came for.”
“I was hoping that maybe you would be. I already told Elsie to wake us in the morning.”
She only nodded as he slipped inside the bed. She rolled on her back and welcomed him into her arms.
Part 8