V short chapter Xx

After much deliberation he rang his sister.

"Robert, what a surprise." Generally it was she who rang him, and never this early in the morning.

He could hear her frown, "Is everything okay?"

"I need to tell you something." His tone was serious, he didn't really know who else to turn to and she already knew that Cora was staying with him. "Only I can't do it over the phone."

Rosamund cleared her throat sensing the seriousness, "Shall I come to you or you to me?"

He considered the questions that would be raised and the topic of conversation, "I'll come to you."

"Robert, if the press ever find out about this." They were sitting in her living room with tea and an array of pastries between them. She shook her head and leant forward from the couch to pick up her tea cup, "How on earth did you let that happen?"

A question he had been asking himself all morning. He had just finished telling Rosamund about his morning with Cora. How he had slept with her in Switzerland and how she had used that as the reason for leaving Bricker. She looked slightly overwhelmed by all the information, but he knew she was referring to Switzerland, Rosamund knew his temper too well and would not question that. How on earth had he let that happen?

"We were drunk and I now know that Cora was lonely."

He had been drinking alone at the bar of his hotel after a long day with a rather difficult client. He had just ordered another scotch when he felt someone standing very closely behind him. She wasn't touching him at all, but he could smell her, sweet and familiar. She had leant in then and whispered, before placing a kiss behind his ear and walking off. He had swallowed down his drink quickly and followed her into the elevator where she had kissed him furiously as they went up the floors. She had tasted of wine and her movements were sloppy, not that he was any better. When the elevator chimed at his floor they stumbled into his suite and fell into bed.

Rosamund was staring at him, still quite in shock he supposed. She knew how turbulent his and Cora's relationship was in the end. He didn't dare tell her the finer details of the night that really would shock her.

He had tried very hard until now to pretend it never happened. It was silly to think that there would be no consequences, though he never thought they would be this strange. At the time of the indiscretion he was lonely, and Cora had been willing, very willing. But why had she been so willing? She had someone who loved her, she shouldn't need him. He should have refused her when she approached him at the bar. He should have tied his luck with someone else, someone who didn't know him so well.

He sighed, "I'm sorry I ever did it."

"I bet."

"And now…"

"And now she has left Simon Bricker because of you."

He rolled his eyes at her, "As you so eloquently put it, yes she has."

"You don't think she wants..?" Rosamund raised her eyebrows at her own implication.

"I have no idea what she wants. But I do know that right now she isn't talking to me."

Rosamund sank back into the lounge and shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe you need some time apart."

"We've have four bloody years apart."

She just managed to refrain from laughing at him. "Not quite brother."

"Oh do shut up."

She smiled at him, though he didn't deserve it, "You came here asking for advice and I'm giving it." He waited knowing that there was more coming. She had hardly even started yet and he could tell she was thinking, processing the information, something which she generally neglected to do. He then knew that it was important.

"And you haven't slept with her since?" she questioned.

Robert shut his eyes and tapped his fingers on his leg, he almost wished he had slept with her and then he might not be in this situation.

"She tried last night, but I said no." His eyes opened to see Rosamund looking aghast.

"Robert."

Her voice trailed off and her eyes widened, "You love her don't you."

It was not a question, because they both already knew the answer. Somehow that made it even worse.

He had left his sister's house feeling only slightly better. Less like he was going to yell at someone anyway. Calmer.

Rosamund had offered no suggestions on how to fix what had happened with Cora. She had told him off for yelling at Cora and advised that if she did indeed came back to his house that night that he walk on eggshells. She also suggested that he do not try and call her, but to send her a text message wishing her luck later in the afternoon.

Rosamund had also told him that using Robert as an excuse to leave Bricker was obvious and easy, and though she possibly should have consulted him first, it was done now and he needed to get over it. Also (almost as an afterthought, as she kissed him goodbye) that they should probably tell the girls and indeed their Mama before some newspaper did it for them.

He had nodded his head as she had gone like this for a good quarter of an hour. Eventually she had stopped and hugged him, telling him that she loved him no matter what and that he had better get to work.

His phone rang as soon as he got out of his sisters front door.

It was Mary. "Papa, I was wondering if you were coming into work today, or if you had simply decided it was all too much?"

Though he didn't think it possible, his day had only gone downhill from there.