Hey everybody! I'm so glad to say here is another chapter to add to this story! Thank you so much for all your feed back and support concerning this story.
Two weeks had gone by since Cora left Edith with Rosamund and Edith had completely ignored her. Edith didn't feel ready to mend things with her Aunt and she wouldn't discuss it till she was. Of course, she was polite and ate dinner with her but beyond that was hardly anything.
Rosamund was at her wit's end with her niece. She has tried to confront her time after time but came back empty-handed and down hearted as Edith simply wouldn't talk to her about it. It was this or that but never the truth. She wanted to fix her mistake with all her heart but how could she when Edith wouldn't give her the chance. She didn't know what she was going to do.
Edith sat there in the gardens with her hand covering her mouth to silence her sobs as she read the letter from her mother over and over. She just wanted her here. To her, it felt like she had been ripped away right after getting her back. She just wanted to go back and make sure none of this ever happened. She wanted to live her normal depressing life again.
Rosamund had decided to take tea out in the gardens today as she didn't feel like being alone inside since Edith took tea in her room. She was sitting, sipping her tea when she saw Edith take a seat on the bench further out. She watched as her appearance slowly crumbled and she began to sob with her hand covering her cries. Rosamund watched her read the letter multiple times before she finally clutched it to her chest and she just shook from the racking sobs. She didn't know if she could just sit there and watch Edith breakdown. She had come to think of Edith as her daughter, it was the same reason that also had landed them in this position. How could such a kind and bright girl be broke down like this? Why was this world so cruel?
Rosamund took a deep breath before standing up and walking out to Edith. She knew the girl would probably just reject her but it was worth a shot. "Edith...?" Rosamund called softly as she knelt down in front of the girl and placed a gentle hand on her knee.
Edith sucked in her breath and looked at Rosamund with broken eyes. She began shaking her head and placed her hand back over mouth to keep herself from crying.
Rosamund's heart broke at the girl's reaction and Rosamund just wanted to take all the pain away. "My dear girl," she whispered as she moved and sat beside her. "Please let me help you..." she pleaded.
"I don't want to do this anymore..." Edith cried while she shook her head.
"Do what my dear?" Rosamund questioned as she was just happy Edith wasn't pushing her away.
"Everything!" Edith cried. "I wish I would never have meant Michael so I wouldn't have bloody slept with him! I wish I wouldn't have gotten pregnant and most of all I wish I would never have opened up to Ma'ma!"
"Edith that's not true..." Rosamund refuted, trying to calm the girl.
"Yes, it is true! Because now she is gone and I am all alone and I am stuck raising a child alone..." Edith's voice cracked as she finally looked at Rosamund.
"Oh Edith," Rosamund whispered as she didn't hesitate and wrapped her arms around Edith tightly. "I am here and you are not alone.
Edith didn't pull away and just sobbed into Rosamund's chest letting herself be comforted by the older woman. "But you hurt me," she expanded.
"I know and I am so so sorry. I know I was supposed to be there for you and I wasn't and you have no idea how sorry I am for that," Rosamund rocked Edith. "Please just give me a second chance my dear..."
Edith loved her Aunt more than anything and she knew that she didn't want to do this without her. She even had taken comfort in the fact that she had come all the way to America just for her. She also knew Rosamund deserved a second chance. "I will try..." she whispered.
"That's all I ask darling," Rosamund sighed in relief. "Everything will be alright."
"Have you heard how she is doing ?" Robert questioned as Cora laid down for the night.
"I have been writing Rosamund daily but from what she tells me it doesn't sound good.
"What does that mean?" Robert asked as pulled Cora closer.
"Apparently, she will hardly even speak to Rosamund and just stays in her room reading most of the time. Rosamund can hardly get to eat and take care of herself properly...and I-I just wish I was there," Cora's voice cracked as she thought about her little girl going through all of this and she wasn't there to help her.
"Cora... you can't worry like this," Robert began. "It's Edith. She is so self-reliant would you honestly expect her to accept Rosamund's help when she is angry with her, do you?"
"I know but I finally just got her back and she is an ocean away and I can't get to her..." Cora said as tears began to fall.
"My dearest," Robert whispered. He knew how much it meant to Cora to finally mend things with Edith. He saw the way their broken relationship had torn her apart since the time Edith was a small child. "She loves you even if she is an ocean away. It doesn't matter how long you two are physically apart she knows you are with her at heart and that is what matters." He knew Cora was concerned about Edith's pregnancy and not be able to physically see or touch her but he also knew that this was a more than that. This was about her fear of Edith putting her walls back up. "This time separated is not going to change anything between you two my love," he consoled a crying Cora.
Cora squeezed Robert tighter taking comfort in his strong arms and warm embrace. "She is my baby and I need her," she breathed heavily.
"I know you do..." he whispered. "She loves you, Cora."
"Lady Grantham, Lady Rosamund Painswick is on the telephone for you," Carter announced walking into the living room.
Cora glanced at Robert curiously but her mind started turning and her mind racing at what Rosamund could be calling for. She shouldn't be doing this but she was just anxious about Edith being so far away.
"Tell her I send my love to her and Edith both," Robert requested as he went back to his paper and Cora got up and tried to walk calmly to the phone.
"Rosamund?" Cora spoke into the phone anxiously. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes everything is, in fact, a great deal better," Rosamund replied with happiness in her voice.
"Has she improved?" Cora inquired with hope.
"Yes," the redhead began. "I found her in the garden just shacking and sobbing and I couldn't stop my self from just trying to be there for her and I pressed her and she just opened up and let me be there for her. She forgave me and gave me a second chance..." Rosamund's voice broke.
Cora felt mixed emotions as Rosamund had hurt her baby but in the long run, she knew Edith loved Rosamund deeply and needed to mend things. It was the best thing. "I am so glad to hear that Rosamund..." Cora sighed in relief knowing it would help Edith.
"She finally started eating again and even going out with me," Rosamund gave Cora the second good news.
"That's just wonderful!" Cora exclaimed as she had been so worried about Edith's physical health. "How does she seem about the baby?" Cora questioned.
"She is still scared and worried but I don't think that will ever leave her. She is going to be too good of a mother for it to leave her..." Rosamund stated.
"I think you make a very valid point there," Cora confirmed as she knew that if you were a good mother worrying about your child would never end.
"She misses you though..." Rosamund breathed.
"Really?" Cora asked.
"Yes, she talks about you all the time and how she couldn't have gotten through this without you," Rosamund relaid. "I believe she is counting the days till you come back."
"I believe I am counting the days as well," Cora chuckled.
"Aunt Rosamund?" Cora heard Edith call in the back round and she placed a hand over her heart and felt a sob rising in her chest as she just wanted to hold her Edith.
"Cora I must go," Rosamund began laughing at something Edith was doing. "We are going out tonight and I am afraid we are late. I will call again." She said before hanging up leaving Cora alone. She stood there holding the phone piece replaying Edith's voice in her head. She took a deep breath and convinced herself that Edith would be fine till she saw her. She prayed she would be.
Two months had gone by since Cora had watched her daughter disappear as she left New Port on the train and left Edith in America. It had seemed like the longest month of her entire life. She laid awake at night thinking about her daughter wondering if she was okay and spent the day doing the same. But life went on. She got up and she did the duties she was required to do as the lady of the house and kept busy. And now she was finally arriving back in New Port to see Edith. She was only going to be able to stay for a week and she wouldn't be able to come back for another two months most likely but a week was better than nothing at all.
Rosamund was sitting in the library when the butler came in announcing Cora. She stood up immediately and watched Cora walk through the door. "Cora dear," Rosamund greeted brightly.
Cora's eyes scanned the room for her daughter but she didn't see her which slightly worried her. "Rosamund," Cora smiled as she kissed the older woman's cheek. "How are you?" She asked.
"I'm wonderful," she replied. "I hope the voyage wasn't too much..."
"Not at all," Cora smiled. "I couldn't wait to get here. Where is Edith?" She finally asked.
"Poor darling was up all night because of the baby and so she is sleeping. I don't think she finally fell asleep till six-thirty in the morning," Rosamund informed Cora.
"My poor girl," Cora sighed remembering how painful those nights could be.
"She has been sleeping for quite a few hours now I'm sure you could wake her up. She has been dying to see you dear," Rosamund motioned to the stairs.
Cora wanted nothing more than to go wake Edith and hold her but she knew it was best for Edith to rest. "I think I will let her sleep a little longer before I wake her. I will just go settle in the meantime," she answered.
"Alright, if she comes down I will come get you," Rosamund smiled.
Cora walked upstairs and passed Edith's room and stopped before peaking in and watching her sleep peacefully. She couldn't believe they had come so far in such a short amount of time.
Cora waited a few hours but finally decided to wake Edith so she could still hopefully get some sleep tonight. She walked up the stairs with a tray of tea and quietly opened the door to Edith's room and found her still sleeping. She set the tray down on the nightstand and gently sat down on the bed. "Edith darling," Cora called gently as she rubbed Edith's arm. Edith moved slightly and made an annoyed expression. "It's time to get up," Cora chuckled lightly.
Edith's eyes opened slowly and looked at Cora curiously. But then they became wide with happiness and she smiled. "Ma'ma!" she said groggily.
"It's so good to see you my darling," Cora smiled as she pushed the hair out of Edith's face.
"What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to be here for another week," Edith stated as she slowly sat up and hugged Cora tightly not wanting to let go. In a way she had to make she was actually here.
"I couldn't wait another week to see you and it was easier for me to slip away this week than next," Cora responded as she pulled Edith closer and held the back of her head.
"Well I'm glad you did," Edith sighed and rested her head on Cora's shoulder. "I missed you."
"I missed you too my love," Cora smiled. "I missed you too."
Well there is another chapter! Please review and let me know what you think! I run on your guys feedback.
RL:)
