A/N: Hello! Thank you so much for your kind feedback, it means a lot to me! So here is a new chapter, I hope you enjoy! Quick note that anything you may recognize from Downton I do NOT own. Thanks for reading!

Cora stepped outside into the humid air; the estate looking like a haze around her as she strolled away from the abbey. She'd recently found herself quite occupied, so much so that she would sometimes feel as if she's drowning in all of the work. She had help of course, but Cora insisted that she takes the majority of the load. Taking on Robert's responsibilities and her own was quite challenging. Robert. Oh Robert, my darling. I just wish to see your face, listen to my name roll off the top of your tongue. Robert was the reason she had all of this work. It was the only way she could tune herself out from the horrors around her. Robert's letters came often enough, and she was always eager to read them. Eager to see his handwriting, reassuring that he wasn't gone from her.

Cora's eyelids felt extra heavy as she was making her way back to the abbey. She hadn't been sleeping well recently. Cora would wake up early to get to work and she's also find herself up quite late for the very same reason. The fact that her dreams weren't at all pleasant didn't help her. Her pace started to slow as she felt the exhaustion wash over her. Thankfully the abbey was now in plain sight, it's weathered walls tinted gold by the sunlight. As she entered the threshold, a familiar, booming voice called her name.

"Cora! There you are I've been waiting on you." Violet came racing out of the drawing room holding a couple papers in her hand.

"I apologize Mama, you should have told me that you wanted to see me."

"I don't see how this is suddenly my fault."

"I never said it was." Cora's voice was slightly raised this time. Although it wasn't the first time her mother in law had made her awfully frustrated. "Now I'm quite curious on why you've been waiting for me." Cora eyed the papers in Violet's hand and let out an exasperated sigh.

"I've had another letter from Susan today. She mentions that the story between Mary and Mr. Pamuk was circling around a recent event she had. I'm afraid this means gossip. And gossip is quite dangerous."

"Surely it was just gossip between a few women. I don't think it's that harmful"

"On the contrary. This could spread and ruin Mary. We should send her abroad."

"There is absolutely no need for that Mama. It's small gossip and I'm..." Cora suddenly felt her fatigue take full effect. It came over her like a wave. She felt almost sick in exhaustion.

"Cora are you quite alright? You don't seem to be looking well." Cora couldn't seem to answer the question. Instead she rubbed her eyes. Her head was pounding and her eyelids felt heavy. She was falling, fast. "Cora?" Violet questioned again. This time, Cora managed to stumble out a feeble answer. One quite unlike her normal tone.

"I'm alright, I'm alright."

"Cora my dear, you don't look at all alright, why not take a re-" Violet couldn't manage to finish her sentence before Cora's aggressive tone ripped through the silence of the abbey.

"No. Absolutely not Mama. How am I supposed to rest when you are planning to send my eldest daughter away in times like this? When Robert is gone fighting in a war? I don't see how I'm supposed to simply rest. "Violet just stared at her daughter and law, studying her face. In this moment her sadness and pain were clearly written on her face, no longer masked by anger and courage. Her eyes were weary and seemed to have a faint but permanent red rim from crying. Hurt was etched in her face, a hurt Violet had seen in another wartime. Cora felt quite uncomfortable under piercing eyes of her mother and law and quickly retreated into the library, snapping the door closed behind her. She had felt her mother in law's eyes following her, and the minute she felt the connection break she took a deep breath. Cora lay back against the ornate door and peered around the room, making sure she was alone. She then let herself fall apart, sliding down the door and sinking her head into her knees.

Violet watched the door to the library abruptly close. The sudden noise snapping her focus off of Cora. She hadn't always really cared for her daughter in law, and they don't always get along well, but she couldn't help but worry. She was her son's wife after all.

"Granny!" Sybil's chipper voice ringed through the house as she came down the stairs. Her smile lighting up the empty space. "How are you today?"

"Fine dear. Just fine."

"Well I'm afraid I must be going. I shall see you at dinner Granny!" Violet kept a fixed gaze on her youngest granddaughter. Sybil was always the sweetest, most caring one. Though she was the most like Cora, which could be wonderful and problematic all at once. Her free spirit was hard to control, but it was what made her so unique.

"Sybil dear, I have a favour to ask of you." Sybil turned on her heels glancing back at her Granny, wondering what type of favour she conjured up this time. "I need you to keep an eye on your mother. Look after her, help her out." Violet only asked Sybil to do this because she took pride in taking care of people, and Cora wouldn't listen to Violet as well as she would Sybil.

"That's an odd favour. May I ask why?"

"To be perfectly honest my dear, I feel as if your mother is going beyond her own limits."

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