"Cora."
She fixed her eyes on the black crape of her dress, registering but not responding to the familiar shrill voice and the unfamiliar pat on her shoulder.
"My dear." The visitor eased into the chair next to her, paying no attention to her stated desire for privacy. "I can only imagine how you must be feeling. For a mother to lose a child is against the natural order."
Only a sharp intake of breath prevented more tears. She exhaled slowly, trying to block out the other woman's shallow comfort.
"...but you must know that we are all here to help."
"There's nothing to be done. Not now."
"No - Sybil is beyond our help. But we must look after each another - and her baby. Robert-"
"No," she interjected. "I can't...I cannot forgive him. If he had listened to Clarkson, Sybil might still be alive."
"And she might not. Robert had to make a choice-"
"He made the wrong choice! His stubbornness, his arrogance, his refusal to listen to anyone but his own damned doctor led to...led to..." she steeled herself to say the words "...Sybil's death."
"Then that's a burden Robert must bear," the older woman replied quietly. "And one he will carry for the rest of his days - I have no doubt of that."
She remembered the day they buried Sybil. He had stood beside her in the church, his stoicism fooling no one - least of all his wife. She had seen the haunted look in his eyes as he mechanically followed formalities which didn't matter anymore.
She wanted him to feel wretched, wanted him to suffer for his part in Sybil's death-
"You know that Robert wanted only the best for Sybil. He loved her - as we all did."
She shook her head, still clinging on to the anger she had directed at her husband, knowing that when the anger subsided she would be left with her own grief and guilt-
"Sybil would not want to drive a wedge between you. That should not be her legacy."
Sybil...
She saw her in her mind - not as a lifeless corpse but as a young girl who would rush to hug her while chattering about harebrained schemes...Even her father was won over by the sweet smiles - if not the unwavering beliefs... She recalled Sybil's many victories - a delighted "Thank you, Papa!", a peck on the cheek...and the fond resignation in Robert's eyes...
No one could be angry with Sybil...
Sybil would...
The thought jumped into her mind, intruding on her reminiscences and refusing to leave.
Sybil would forgive him...
"I...Will you excuse me - I need some air." She rose shakily to her feet, looking at down her adversary of thirty years. "Thank you."
It did not take him long to find her.
Leaning into him now, she was aware of his arms circling his waist and his quiet sobbing against her neck. She recalled the Dowager's last words:
My dear-
The sorrow of Sybil's passing will never leave you.
But it will get easier
Every day, and-
Together.
A/N: I'm sorry I've haven't written for a while. I blame life and a small crisis of confidence - but I suppose the only way to improve my writing is to write! Please excuse my attempt at poetry at the end - I'm not very good at it but you get the idea. I will try to update my other fics shortly (probably next week...)