Chapter Three
A/N: Thanks to my reviewers, Robert Cora Fan, XxTassBxX, Agnes Robinson, , namelesspanda, sapphirespells, Lady Eleanor Boleyn and my bezzie, headinclouds123. Also, I'm working on the 7th chapter of Like Mother, Like Daughter, but I've still got writer's block, so I'm trying to write a couple of sentences a day to get inspiration.
Cora was beginning to get frustrated and was pacing up and down the library, with Robert walking after her, trying to get her to stop pacing, but failing miserably and, due to his actions, pacing himself.
"Oh, where are they?" exclaimed Cora, looking from the door to her wristwatch and back again, then repeating the action several times.
"They will be here soon, darling, they are probably just finishing off their make-up. You know what the girls can be like, and if Mary's at the helm, everything will have to be perfect. You know what she can be like in a position of power, she grasps it with both hands and runs with it(!)"
"Yes, I know, but if she does not hurry up, she will have grasped the power to be late for her own wedding!"
"Cora, she has been waiting for this day for at least six years, trust me. She will not miss this, it is too important."
"You're right. Of course you are." reasoned Cora, stopping her pacing, turning on the spot and wrapping her arms around her husband's neck, pecking him lightly on the cheek. They soon broke apart abruptly when they heard the sound of scurrying footsteps, indicating the arrival of Robert's elder sister, Rosamund Painswick from the upstairs landing.
"Robert!" she cried, her desperate attempts to still her flustered composure being utterly destroyed by her panted breathing.
"Rosamund." greeted Robert, his face in turn barely suppressing a smirk at his elder sister's face, which was rapidly increasing it's resemblance to an overly sun-dried tomato.
"What's the matter? Where are the girls?"
"They're coming now, Robert, they're coming!" Rosamund near squealed, barely containing herself from bouncing back up the stairwell in glee. And sure enough, they did.
At this unmeaning signal, two very different women enrobed in twin lilac silks stood together, issuing a collective gasp from the three Crawleys at the foot of the staircase.
"Oh, Edith! Sybil! You both look so beautiful!" cried Cora, tears of joy and disbelief cascading down her pale face.
"You think we look beautiful. I'd suggest looking up the stairwell, Mama." laughed Sybil, following her own instruction, closely followed by the rest of the family. There, draped in white at the top of the staircase, was Mary.
"Oh, Mary. You look absolutely beautiful." Rosamund cried, clapping her hands together with glee. Sybil and Edith nodded their heads in agreement, while Cora's face was buried so far into her hankerchief that she couldn't respond. She turned away to the window in an attempt to calm herself. Well, it had worked and her mouth dropped wide open. She turned back to her daughters, Mary now having descended the staircase, her face masked by shock.
"Right, girls. I want you to answer me truthfully. Which of you invited my mother?"
A/N: Cliffhanger! Please review!