(Sorry. this one is a little smutty. please review. x)
"And you are sure she is perfect-yes-ok-tomorrow then-morning- thank you"
Cora put down the telephone. She hardly used it these days. But this, well, It had to be a surprise.
"Cora daring, the gongs about to go. We must get going!"
"Coming darling"
After a quick peck on the cheek, the couple ascended the stairs arm in arm.
Mary walked out of the library just in time.
"Like an old married couple" she mused. Edith appeared behind her
"That is what they are after all"
"Humph"
"Darling, you look amazing In that new dress that you got"
Cora had chosen a slightly cooler dress this evening, with only one sleeve. Baxter carefully pinned a gold piece in her hair.
"Thank you Baxter, you may go"
As Phyllis left, she knew that tonight could be a long one.
"Mm, Robert. You don't look to bad yourself."
She arranged her necklace, and gave him a kiss. "C'mon, let's go down"
"But Cora… Baxter still has to dress Mary yet…"
She knew what he wanted, and he knew he had to wait.
"And she has just dressed me Darling"
Kisses must suffice for now.
Dinner ensued with many fights, as Mary and Edith bantered their way through the main course, and the pudding. "Mary! It's unfair to bring George and Marigold into this!
"No Edith. It is fair, because it's true!"
With that, Edith got up and stormed out, with Cora in hot pursuit. Edith knew she must bide her time, but sometimes Mary takes it too far!
Robert stared angrily at Mary. Not just for hurting Edith though. But because he knew that Cora would be asleep by the time he was ready.
"Papa? I'm sorry for ruining dinner"
He knew she didn't mean it, but he accepted it all the same.
When he got rid of Bates, he realised something. That Edith had to live through Marys harsh words. And he wept.
It seems that everyone was in tears in the Abbey that night. Mary cried as she knew that there was a secret they were hiding. Edith wept for poor little Marigold, who was so innocent, she fell asleep at the soft song from nanny. Cora wept privately, in hope that one day, Mary will find out, and all this fighting would stop.
Downstairs there were also tears. From Jon, as he missed Anna so deeply, and Baxter, from the knowledge that she caused the bates' hardship. And Elsie. Well, Elsie didn't know why she wept. Perhaps fear, or indecisiveness or just shear confusion at her emotions
"Why" she cried "Why did I choose this!"