AN: So I heard today that Siobhan is leaving Downton and then when I was looking up prompts I happened to see a prompt that said India and I immediately thought of O'Brien. I haven't ever written O'Brien before though and I wasn't sure I could do it so it's Cobert because that's what I do. When you finish reading review would be much appreciated!
Cora stormed angrily into the library and slammed the door behind her. Robert turned around startled. "India, Robert! She's leaving me for India!" Angry tears were making their way down her face and Robert could tell she was heartbroken. He quickly got up and wrapped his arms around her.
"Who's leaving for India darling?" She hiccupped into his shoulder.
"O'Brien! She told me today that she's going to India with Susan because Susan's maid didn't want to go. She said she couldn't pass up the opportunity. But Robert she's been my maid for years!"
Robert allowed his wife to cry on his shoulder and gently soothed her. He did not care for O'Brien. In his opinion she had caused more harm than she was worth. However, his wife obviously loved the woman and he had never spoken against her for that reason only. "Did she say when she was leaving darling?"
Cora moved her face away from him. "Three weeks. She said she wanted me to have time to find someone new."
"Do you know how long she's been planning this?"
Cora sniffled. "Susan sent her a letter not long after we came back from Scotland, but she didn't want to disturb us while we were grieving Matthew."
"Well that was nice of her." He spoke in soft, soothing tones as he walked her over to the settee and sat down on it with her. "Has O'Brien always wanted to travel?"
"She's mentioned it a few times over the years." Robert rubbed big circles on her back and she leaned further into him.
"Then can you blame her? If this is something she wants to do she'd be mad to miss the opportunity. I for one am angry with Susan though. It's bad manners to steal someones servant without saying something about it."
"I don't care about Susan! I care about O'Brien! How am I ever going to find someone to replace her?"
"I'm sure it can't be too difficult to find a new ladies maid. You can put an advertisement in the papers."
Cora turned to him with a rather angry expression. "Robert, do you remember how angry you were when Bates left you during the war? O'Brien was with me for ten times as long. I can't replace her!"
"Then don't think of it as a replacement. Think of it as someone filling in. I can't see O'Brien enjoying the Indian heat very much. She'll be begging you to come back before too long. Wait and see. And, in the meantime, think of what is going to happen to those bangs in the humidity."
Cora laughed at the mental image and then leaned back into Robert much happier.