Cora's Fortune, part 8
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 7
Cora’s Fortune
Chapter 8
A day and a half. That was the length of Lady Grantham’s reign. It was enough to reduce her twice to tears and make her utterly miserable. As soon as everyone had left, she had start bullying her daughter-in-law and that had lasted until a violent fit of cough interrupted her scolding. Cora waited patiently for the scolding to resume as Lady Grantham was trying to catch her breath.
“I think I am going to lie down for a while. Try not to do anything stupid, however difficult it may be.”
Cora couldn’t believe her luck. The harsh words she had just heard stung no longer for she was free of her personal dragon presence. It was cloudy outside but the snow wasn’t falling yet. She made a decision and hurried to her room to ring for her Lady’s maid. She asked for the groom to arrange a horse for her and her riding gears to be brought up. She hadn’t ridden for months and she actually missed it. The estate was beautiful; she had seen some of it during the engagement of course, but the snow coat was giving a surreal appearance to it and the horse was allowing her to go further than she had been with Robert. She had always been an indoor girl, but the outside revitalised her when she had taken the time to go for walks. Her husband’s love for the English Landscape was starting to draw her outside. He had seduced her there she realised. She slowed the horse to catch her breath and listened to the creaking of the snow under the horse shoes. The apparent silence was just an illusion, her mount’s footsteps far from being the only sound around. She enjoyed the outing as long as she could, coming back only when the night made it dangerous for her to remain outside. As soon as she had stepped a foot inside the house, the Countess’ lady’s maid informed her that her ladyship had been asking for her for hours. Cora sighed and gave her ridding hat and gloves to the messenger. Lady Grantham was lying in bed, her neck and cheeks red, the rest of her skin unhealthily ashen. When her daughter-in-law came into the room, she opened her eyes and no matter how unfocused they were, they still shot enough fire to give Core goose bumps.
“I don’t care where you were and what you were doing. It is over now. I cannot do anything in my condition so it is up to you to manage the house. Lord knows what catastrophes you may be capable of but we don’t have the choice. The housekeeper will help you. Just go now, I need to rest.”
Cora got out of the room without uttering a word, sure that the task that she had to undertake would be too much for her. She had enjoyed her afternoon a lot, but the feeling was gone now. She went to her bedroom and rang. As Elsie brushed her hair to tame it after the ride, Cora was once again surprise at how relaxing the task could be. Her mother’s maid had been harsh and somewhat hurtful when she was caring for her. Now it was relaxing and soothing. The head housemaid didn’t seem eager to be done and even though all the knots appeared to be gone, the movement didn’t stop, soft as if the woman was stroking her hair in a very motherly fashion.
“How old are you Elsie?”
“I am twenty-eight, Lady Cora.”
“Do you wish for a husband and some children?”
“No, Lady Cora, I hope to be a housekeeper one day.”
“You do?”
“Yes, Lady Cora.”
“Oh thank God!”
“My lady?”
“I need to step in for Lady Grantham for a few days and I have no intention of confessing to the current housekeeper that I have no idea as to what this job entails. Your wish to be housekeeper makes you able to help me with my current predicament and prove to my mother-in-law that I am not the incapable fool she takes me to be… if you are willing that is?”
“I would be very happy to help, Lady Cora. And I am sure you will show her Ladyship that you are more than able to take her place.”
Cora had to smile at that: the maid didn’t seem to hold the Countess in her heart and knew that the young American didn’t either. She shouldn’t feel this way; Lady Grantham was her husband’s mother and he seemed to genuinely like her. But Cora would be alright with Elsie at her side; the maid appeared more than efficient.
“What should I do now?”
“I couldn’t tell you what to do, Lady Cora.”
“Alright then. If you were the housekeeper now, what would you advise me to do?”
“Her ladyship has to eat and so have you. Shall I tell the cook to have two trays ready to be brought up or will you have supper in the dining room?”
“Trays would be better. I shall take mine with her ladyship to keep her company. Could you tell the housekeeper?”
“Of course, Lady Cora. Shall I tell you when the trays are ready?”
She nodded as Elsie put the last pin to her hair before leaving. Cora had no taste for self-sacrificing and yet she was going to her mother-in-law like a little lamb. England was doing weird things to her; they would have to go far away for their honeymoon… if they ever had one. She took her weaving in hand and looked at it, she couldn’t work on it right now because of her gloves but she was positive it would be done by the end of the week. Then if she could send for some furniture, she could do something nice for her husband, a handkerchief maybe. It wouldn’t be a token of love, but a way of thanking him for his understanding. It would be a way to help her miss him less; she had gotten accustomed to seeing him every day.
She didn’t know exactly why they were in London but she felt it had something to do with her father passing. The thing she had signed linked everything she owned before the wedding to the estate… and since the death had occurred before the ceremony, it now included her whole inheritance. Her security net was gone. Everything she would ever owned was linked to her husband’s name and family, she had no right over it, none whatsoever. And even worse while her father in law was alive, if something was to happen to her husband before she had the time to bear him a son, she would be left with nothing. A sudden fright filled her heart. She didn’t want to consider the death of the man she loved, of course, but her main concern was her future. There was no way her mother-in-law would keep her under her roof and she didn’t want to go back to her mother. If she was to marry again… Well, she was not even sure that she could. Without her money, she was less worthy than a scullery maid, for the maid had at least her maidenhood. She hoped her husband would hurry back to ease her fear - not that she could mention them. But if he was to come back to her and be civil and healthy she would feel a lot better. Before she could go any further in her musing, Elsie came to inform her that the dinner was served. Cora sighed and got up to join her mother-in-law in the old bat’s room. Even when she was bedridden, she looked just as fearsome and ready to breathe fire - which made a powerful contrast with the colour of her face.
“I thought you might enjoy a light supper in your room. I shall keep you company.”
“Never assume you know what I might enjoy. You don’t.”
There it was the same sharp tone as always. When would the old bat ever be pleased with her? Cora swallowed her resentment: there was no need to infuriate the sick woman even more and though she couldn’t do anything to her right now, she bet it would be remembered for further uses. She accepted the tray gratefully and blew on the broth to cool it down. It was not her favourite meal by far but she ate it nonetheless. She wasn’t hungry though and she had to force herself to swallow each nip and sip she took. Her ladyship had resumed her unnerving staring at her and she was feeling very self-conscious. Then again, she had felt it every single time she had shared a meal with her in-laws. Gone was the comfortable time she had spent with her own kin. England was old-fashioned, she missed America, and she missed her father. And she even missed her mother. She bit back a sob; it wouldn’t do in front of her personal dragon. She grinded her teeth; the lump in her throat was getting bigger by the minute. Their trays were nearly empty fortunately and she would soon be able to bury her head in her pillow to cry to her hearts content. In the morrow she would mourn her father, she decided… And she would fast so she didn’t have to spend the meal alone with her Ladyship. She still would have to manage the house, but with Elsie’s help it shouldn’t be too much trouble. If the maid still wanted the post when it was her turn to manage the staff, she would do her best to appoint her as housekeeper. Cora selfishly hoped she would still be interested. Lady Grantham finally reached for the bell to call the footman or whoever was to take their supper away. Cora rose.
“I will let you rest now. I guess I shall not see you tomorrow. Goodbye Mama.”
The young woman blessed the illness that slowed the countess’ mind, thus allowing her to leave the room before being stopped or reprimand. She didn’t like the use of this term of endearment for a person she hold so far from her heart but she had been told to in no uncertain terms. She finally went to meet with her longed for pillow.
Part 9
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 7
Cora’s Fortune
Chapter 8
A day and a half. That was the length of Lady Grantham’s reign. It was enough to reduce her twice to tears and make her utterly miserable. As soon as everyone had left, she had start bullying her daughter-in-law and that had lasted until a violent fit of cough interrupted her scolding. Cora waited patiently for the scolding to resume as Lady Grantham was trying to catch her breath.
“I think I am going to lie down for a while. Try not to do anything stupid, however difficult it may be.”
Cora couldn’t believe her luck. The harsh words she had just heard stung no longer for she was free of her personal dragon presence. It was cloudy outside but the snow wasn’t falling yet. She made a decision and hurried to her room to ring for her Lady’s maid. She asked for the groom to arrange a horse for her and her riding gears to be brought up. She hadn’t ridden for months and she actually missed it. The estate was beautiful; she had seen some of it during the engagement of course, but the snow coat was giving a surreal appearance to it and the horse was allowing her to go further than she had been with Robert. She had always been an indoor girl, but the outside revitalised her when she had taken the time to go for walks. Her husband’s love for the English Landscape was starting to draw her outside. He had seduced her there she realised. She slowed the horse to catch her breath and listened to the creaking of the snow under the horse shoes. The apparent silence was just an illusion, her mount’s footsteps far from being the only sound around. She enjoyed the outing as long as she could, coming back only when the night made it dangerous for her to remain outside. As soon as she had stepped a foot inside the house, the Countess’ lady’s maid informed her that her ladyship had been asking for her for hours. Cora sighed and gave her ridding hat and gloves to the messenger. Lady Grantham was lying in bed, her neck and cheeks red, the rest of her skin unhealthily ashen. When her daughter-in-law came into the room, she opened her eyes and no matter how unfocused they were, they still shot enough fire to give Core goose bumps.
“I don’t care where you were and what you were doing. It is over now. I cannot do anything in my condition so it is up to you to manage the house. Lord knows what catastrophes you may be capable of but we don’t have the choice. The housekeeper will help you. Just go now, I need to rest.”
Cora got out of the room without uttering a word, sure that the task that she had to undertake would be too much for her. She had enjoyed her afternoon a lot, but the feeling was gone now. She went to her bedroom and rang. As Elsie brushed her hair to tame it after the ride, Cora was once again surprise at how relaxing the task could be. Her mother’s maid had been harsh and somewhat hurtful when she was caring for her. Now it was relaxing and soothing. The head housemaid didn’t seem eager to be done and even though all the knots appeared to be gone, the movement didn’t stop, soft as if the woman was stroking her hair in a very motherly fashion.
“How old are you Elsie?”
“I am twenty-eight, Lady Cora.”
“Do you wish for a husband and some children?”
“No, Lady Cora, I hope to be a housekeeper one day.”
“You do?”
“Yes, Lady Cora.”
“Oh thank God!”
“My lady?”
“I need to step in for Lady Grantham for a few days and I have no intention of confessing to the current housekeeper that I have no idea as to what this job entails. Your wish to be housekeeper makes you able to help me with my current predicament and prove to my mother-in-law that I am not the incapable fool she takes me to be… if you are willing that is?”
“I would be very happy to help, Lady Cora. And I am sure you will show her Ladyship that you are more than able to take her place.”
Cora had to smile at that: the maid didn’t seem to hold the Countess in her heart and knew that the young American didn’t either. She shouldn’t feel this way; Lady Grantham was her husband’s mother and he seemed to genuinely like her. But Cora would be alright with Elsie at her side; the maid appeared more than efficient.
“What should I do now?”
“I couldn’t tell you what to do, Lady Cora.”
“Alright then. If you were the housekeeper now, what would you advise me to do?”
“Her ladyship has to eat and so have you. Shall I tell the cook to have two trays ready to be brought up or will you have supper in the dining room?”
“Trays would be better. I shall take mine with her ladyship to keep her company. Could you tell the housekeeper?”
“Of course, Lady Cora. Shall I tell you when the trays are ready?”
She nodded as Elsie put the last pin to her hair before leaving. Cora had no taste for self-sacrificing and yet she was going to her mother-in-law like a little lamb. England was doing weird things to her; they would have to go far away for their honeymoon… if they ever had one. She took her weaving in hand and looked at it, she couldn’t work on it right now because of her gloves but she was positive it would be done by the end of the week. Then if she could send for some furniture, she could do something nice for her husband, a handkerchief maybe. It wouldn’t be a token of love, but a way of thanking him for his understanding. It would be a way to help her miss him less; she had gotten accustomed to seeing him every day.
She didn’t know exactly why they were in London but she felt it had something to do with her father passing. The thing she had signed linked everything she owned before the wedding to the estate… and since the death had occurred before the ceremony, it now included her whole inheritance. Her security net was gone. Everything she would ever owned was linked to her husband’s name and family, she had no right over it, none whatsoever. And even worse while her father in law was alive, if something was to happen to her husband before she had the time to bear him a son, she would be left with nothing. A sudden fright filled her heart. She didn’t want to consider the death of the man she loved, of course, but her main concern was her future. There was no way her mother-in-law would keep her under her roof and she didn’t want to go back to her mother. If she was to marry again… Well, she was not even sure that she could. Without her money, she was less worthy than a scullery maid, for the maid had at least her maidenhood. She hoped her husband would hurry back to ease her fear - not that she could mention them. But if he was to come back to her and be civil and healthy she would feel a lot better. Before she could go any further in her musing, Elsie came to inform her that the dinner was served. Cora sighed and got up to join her mother-in-law in the old bat’s room. Even when she was bedridden, she looked just as fearsome and ready to breathe fire - which made a powerful contrast with the colour of her face.
“I thought you might enjoy a light supper in your room. I shall keep you company.”
“Never assume you know what I might enjoy. You don’t.”
There it was the same sharp tone as always. When would the old bat ever be pleased with her? Cora swallowed her resentment: there was no need to infuriate the sick woman even more and though she couldn’t do anything to her right now, she bet it would be remembered for further uses. She accepted the tray gratefully and blew on the broth to cool it down. It was not her favourite meal by far but she ate it nonetheless. She wasn’t hungry though and she had to force herself to swallow each nip and sip she took. Her ladyship had resumed her unnerving staring at her and she was feeling very self-conscious. Then again, she had felt it every single time she had shared a meal with her in-laws. Gone was the comfortable time she had spent with her own kin. England was old-fashioned, she missed America, and she missed her father. And she even missed her mother. She bit back a sob; it wouldn’t do in front of her personal dragon. She grinded her teeth; the lump in her throat was getting bigger by the minute. Their trays were nearly empty fortunately and she would soon be able to bury her head in her pillow to cry to her hearts content. In the morrow she would mourn her father, she decided… And she would fast so she didn’t have to spend the meal alone with her Ladyship. She still would have to manage the house, but with Elsie’s help it shouldn’t be too much trouble. If the maid still wanted the post when it was her turn to manage the staff, she would do her best to appoint her as housekeeper. Cora selfishly hoped she would still be interested. Lady Grantham finally reached for the bell to call the footman or whoever was to take their supper away. Cora rose.
“I will let you rest now. I guess I shall not see you tomorrow. Goodbye Mama.”
The young woman blessed the illness that slowed the countess’ mind, thus allowing her to leave the room before being stopped or reprimand. She didn’t like the use of this term of endearment for a person she hold so far from her heart but she had been told to in no uncertain terms. She finally went to meet with her longed for pillow.
Part 9