Inspired by a comment on Tumblr by modernamericangirl on a Cora the Cat post saying "I wonder if Cora ever gets over enthusiastic and accidentally scratches Robert?"
Scratch The Surface
Robert woke later than he intended that morning. He had planned to be up at 7 and working on some paperwork for the estate by 8:30 but as he squinted at the clock it was already 7:20. Bates was supposed to have been in to dress him in five minutes ago but then again he was supposed to have been in his dressing room. Rolling off his side and on to his back he winced. The activities of the previous night had taken a toll on his body. He was not as young as he liked to be any more and he was feeling it. He turned his head to the side and smiled at the sight of his wife curled up sleeping next to him. All feelings of being old didn't seem to matter as long as he was growing old with her.
...
In the reflection of the mirror he caught Bates raise an eyebrow at the state of his back and smirk. Robert knew he wouldn't say anything, it wasn't his place to. He hadn't said anything about Robert's late arrival into the dressing room and he wouldn't say anything about this. It wasn't the first time he'd dressed his lordship and cast a blind eye to numerous scratch marks but it had been a while. Everyone in the house was aware that things had been rocky for sometime between Cora and Robert. O'Brien and Bates particularly were aware they no longer shared a bed. From the scratches on his back and the sheepish look on his face as Robert had crept late into the dressing room it was obvious something had changed last night.
As the shirt was pulled up round his shoulders Robert flinched. His back stung, bringing back memories of the previous night. Cora's nails clawing up and down as they clung desperately to each other, revelling in their feeling of togetherness. At the time the pain mixed with the dizzy heights of their pleasure. Now it left a reminder of Cora etched on his skin.
Bates had noticed the wince. "Sorry my Lord."
Robert shook his head. "No worries." He smiled to himself and added with a cheeky wink, "Maybe I should get her claws clipped."
As the two men shared a laugh Robert realised exactly how long it had been since he'd felt this relaxed and able to laugh. The previous night he and Cora had talked and loved and as a result he felt more rested and content than he had in weeks. He was aware it wasn't a quick fix and their marriage would not have returned to its pre-war state over night but it was a start. Eventually in time they'd work through their troubles now they'd scratched the surface.