Chapter 7:

Carson's view:

At Downton Abbey everybody, downstairs as well as upstairs, tried to live as normal as possible even if 3 members of family and one staff member were still missing after 2 days.

Carson thought his Lordship was a very good actor telling every visitor his daughters were on holiday in London, staying at his sister's house. However his Lordship insisted on taking every phone call on his own and every time the phone rang he nearly ran tot he apparatus, his face showing a mixture of hope and fear.

Her Ladyship was not that good in pretending everything was allright. Everytime a visitor came, even i fit was her own mother in law, who did not know anything about her granddaughter whereabouts., she excused herself saying something about not feeling well. The Dowager Countess

probably would have made her daughter in law responsible for giving them too much of adventerous armerican genes. So his Lordship told her the story about the girls visitng Rosamunda s well.. Carson also saw the count and countess of Grantham growing closer again. At least he kept saying to himself the running away oft he girls had one good thing.

As soon as the visitors had left his Lordship would hurry up the main bedroom.

Robert and Cora:

When Robert entered the main bedroom when his mother had left he saw Cora standing at the window, her arms folded, here glare at a point in the distance as if she was searching the park for a car, which carried her three girls.

She looked at him and smiled but it was a concerned, agonized smile and Robert saw the tracks of tears on her face. Then she continued starring out the window. He approached her and wrappend his arms around her from behind closing his hands under her brests. She leaned against his chest not looking at him and sighed: „No word or them and they are gone for two nights now…I really start to worry now."

Robert pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head, before resting his chin in the dark hair: „I know darling but you must remember that they are not small girls anymore. We have three fine grown up women, who inherited your rationality and I hope at least some of my reistence against unused situations. However I am more worried about another thing they got from you…"

Cora said tilting her haid slightly so she could see his face: „And what your Lordship would that be…"

„You know they got your good looks and this does not really improve their safety when wandering around in the streets oft he city.", Robert smiled but one could read his concern in his features.

Now Cora turned fully around and kissed him, then she said: „You forgot about Anna but I don't think her good looks help either…"

„Darling in fact I did not forget her, but I did not want to mention the good looks of a maid in front of you", he smirked.

Cora simply said: „I know, therefore I mentioned her. A woman can always say something about looks of another woman." Then she leant against his ches again and mumbled: „Robert was it really my idea not to follow them to London?"

„I am afraid so it was, honey but I think this idea was not bad at all. Did you regret it?"

„To be honest, yes I do. We could wait at the platform and searching every train that arrives…"

„You know I love you and I would never offend you but you've had better ideas recently.", Robert tiltet her chin up as he said that.

Then they stood silent hugging each other before Robert abruptly lead her to their bed and sat her there. Then he went and rang the bell.