Chapter Eleven
Robert stared out the window of the coach as it meandered through the streets of London. He stifled a yawn as it halted to allow a pedestrian to pass.
"Cora seemed out of sorts last night," Lord Grantham observed. "Is that still…?"
"Yes," Robert said in a gruff voice.
"Now, I don't want to annoy you, but you know I'm anxious to settle the succession. And all this estrangement and being so elusive around one another really won't do. How long has it been since you—?"
"Really, Papa, I will not talk about this with you," the son grumbled. How dare his father ask such personal questions, especially of a nature such as that?
"Robert, you don't seem to understand that you must have a son, an heir, to inherit the estate and your title. And no matter what you feel your son must be Cora's son—whether you take a mistress or not is up to you."
Robert gaped at Lord Grantham, astonished he had suggested such a thing.
"Would you have taken a mistress, Father, if your relationship with Mama was like mine?" he threw back.
"Men have certain needs, Robert," Lord Grantham began carefully. "I don't pretend to be a saint."
The son held up his hand. "Please, go no further. I do not want to hear anymore," Robert instructed. "My present situation with Cora is none of your concern."
Lord Grantham rolled his eyes. "It is every bit my concern," he said sternly. "Cora's fortune is not enough. You must have a son. You must. Or we will lose everything we've worked for. Don't you even like her?"
Robert glared as he looked out the window. "What does that have to do with anything? Of course I do, she is a very agreeable and pretty woman. But, do not forget, she does not much like me at present. In fact, I'm sure she cannot stand me."
"I believe you are wrong," Lord Grantham told him. "I see the way she looks at you. She loves you still, despite all your blundering about and acting like a fool."
He raised his eyebrows in annoyance. "I'm the fool?"
"Of course you are, because you are unwilling to accept Cora's love."
"It's because I do not feel the same way," Robert insisted.
"Why do you keep insisting that you don't love Cora?"
"Because it is true."
Lord Grantham looked knowingly at Robert. "So you say, so you've been saying for nearly seven months. But why does the thought of having a mistress so repulse you? And do not tell me that it is your morality, because I do not believe that is the truth. Perhaps you do not know yourself as well as you think."
Robert rolled his own eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Your mother and I are leaving the day after tomorrow. Take Cora out that night. You need a son, Robert. And soon."
He didn't respond, turning his head to look out the window once more. Robert didn't understand why his father was so adamant about forcing him and Cora together.
"Have you any idea when Robert will return? Cora, did you hear me?"
Cora looked away from the window facing the streets of London. It was mid-January and the city was gray and chilly, much less inviting than when Cora had last been there before the wedding due to the tepid atmosphere.
"Cora?" Violet repeated, her voice showing her contempt for her daughter-in-law's inattention.
"He did not tell me," she said, failing to maintain a sweet tone. She wished she had not been forced to come with the others, although Lord Grantham would not hear of her staying at Downton alone. The family had traveled to London for a family party, although the stay extended far beyond the gathering. The men had business dealings to manage during the day before the first of the year, leaving the women to haunt the house with even less to do than while at Downton. Violet frequently made calls, often forcing Cora to accompany her, but she often got out of them by pretending to be too tired. She knew Violet believed her to be pregnant, but Cora knew it could not be so. Robert hadn't come to her for nearly two months. A relief and a burden.
"How unlike him," the Countess muttered. "Shall I ring for tea?"
"None for me please. I think I'll go for a walk," Cora announced, getting to her feet. Violet looked quite surprised.
"Are you sure, my dear? You can't go alone, surely."
"I'll be perfectly all right. I'd just like some fresh air. I'll be back in time to change," said Cora.
Upon reaching the hall, Cora informed the butler of her plans.
"Are you sure that's wise m'lady? I've been told it's a bit cold outside for a walk," Carson said tentatively. He was still unsure about his position in regards to the Viscount's American wife.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Carson," said the young lady kindly. "But I'm not afraid of a little cold."
The man couldn't help but smile as he went to fetch her coat and gloves. The woman had spirit, he was sure of that, although she had not seemed like herself in the recent months. Ever since the Viscount's announcement at dinner that she had discovered his lack of affection for her, Carson had seen the change in her for himself.
"Thank you, Mr. Carson."
"Do be careful, m'lady," Carson advised. She nodded, a small smile on her face, before turning and leaving the house.
Cora was glad of the chill in the air. The stuffiness of the London house had begun to dull her senses, in more ways than one. She hated the house, the way people seemed to always be coming into it and, at the same time, the emptiness of it. Perhaps her estrangement from Robert had something to do with her disdain for the dwelling, although she did not care much for the city either. Every where she went, Cora was reminded of the lies Robert had told her in the beginning, how he had made her believe that he loved her.
After all this time, she wondered why she did not hate him. Yes, she felt pain at the sight of him and often the thought of him brought tears to her eyes, but still she loved him. Every day, she waited for that love to turn to something more bitter, but it did not change. In fact, with each day, she found she loved him more than the one before, despite his imperfections and shortcomings, despite his apparent dedication to feeling nothing for her. She loved him without reason and without cause.
She walked without realizing where her feet were taking her, without remembering Carson's encouragement for caution. But she did not get too far before she was recognized. Actually, she nearly crashed into another passerby.
"Oh, please forgive me. Lady Downton?"
Cora looked up at the man, who she recognized instantly.
"Edwin, how nice to see you!" she said cheerfully, grasping his hand. "How have you been?"
"Quite well, Lady Downton," Edwin said, smiling as he looked the woman over. "Though not as well as you, my dear. I see you are as lovely as always, if not more so."
"How kind you are, and what a liar," Cora teased. Edwin laughed.
"And how is the Viscount? I have not had the pleasure of meeting him yet, although the party we're all in town for is just a few days away," he said congenially.
"Very well, thank you," she said, her voice rather stiff at the mention of Robert.
"Oh, dear, have I struck a sore spot?" Edwin asked, raising his eyebrows in genuine concern. "Should I speak with him?"
"There's no need for that," said Cora, attempting to appear good-natured once again. "Nothing to trouble you with."
"I may speak with him anyway. He must realize he needs to treat a goddess such as yourself with absolute devotion."
Cora blushed from embarrassment at his words. "Please forgive me, Edwin," she muttered, taking her hand from his. "I must get on."
"Of course, m'lady," Edwin said, slightly suspicious of her behavior. "Do give my regards to the Viscount and inform him I shall call on him soon."
With a nod, Cora bid him good-bye before she hurried away, unsure of where she was going.
Robert turned the corner his mind full of facts and figures as he walked back to the house. He had foregone the carriage, glad of a walk in the crisp winter air. Lord Grantham had gone back in the carriage, eager to discuss a few things with his wife.
As he walked, Robert glanced to the other side of the street, his eyes stopping on a woman hastening in the opposite direction. He recognized his own wife instantly, his brow pulling together at the surprise of seeing her. He debated leaving her alone, but she looked so perturbed and positively unlike herself that he worried she might walk in front of a carriage or barouche and injure herself.
"Cora!" Robert called out as he caught up to his wife.
Cora stopped dead, her eyes wide as she looked up at Robert. "R-Robert," she stammered, surprised and upset by his sudden presence. "W-what are you doing?"
"I decided to walk home from Murray's. Father took the carriage, but I was glad of the walk. But what on earth are you doing out here? It's colder than the North Pole," he joked.
"I just felt like a walk," Cora informed him, her hands beginning to shake from the cold.
"But it's freezing. Come, walk back with me to the house," he said, offering her his arm.
Cora blinked back tears at his sudden concern for her welfare. "Why?" she asked, looking from Robert's arm back to his eyes.
"Because it's cold and if you don't turn back now, you won't have time to change before dinner," Robert said sensibly. "Which would naturally make Mama furious."
"She already hates me enough as it is," Cora said, carefully taking his arm. Robert pressed his lips together as they began to walk back the way Cora had come.
"No she doesn't," he said after a minute of thought.
"Doesn't she?" Cora asked, surprised she was able to make conversation with her husband.
"Mama is not very at ease wish showing emotion," Robert stated, uncomfortable with his own words.
"I still don't believe she doesn't hate me," she replied with a sigh. Who doesn't? I'm sure they all hate me or at least dislike me greatly. Even Lord Grantham is simply putting on an act. It was his reckless investing that got his family into such trouble in the first place.
"Perhaps I should speak with her," Robert suggested.
She looked over at Robert who gave her a tight-lipped smile before looking away from his wife's astonished face. She wondered why he was being so kind. Surely he did not love her now—they barely spoke and he intentionally made himself scarce around the house. Especially while they had been in London, Robert had "worked late" or been away on business almost every evening until dinner.
"Cora, I was wondering if you'd enjoy a trip to the theatre two evenings from now. After the family party?"
Her brows drew together in confusion. "Go to the theatre? With Lord and Lady Grantham, or Rosamund?" she asked.
"Just us," Robert said casually. "Papa and Mama are returning to Downton that day, but I thought you might like to stay an extra day or two and take in a show. I remember you enjoy the theatre immensely."
"Yes, I do," Cora replied, more confused by Robert's remembrance of her love for the theater. She was sure he was just being nice, although she had no idea why.
"So, would you like to go?" he repeated.
"I would," Cora told him, her voice even, yet Robert could hear the questioning tone in her words.
Robert nodded in affirmation, but did not speak the rest of the walk back to the house. Cora was extremely confused, but rather curious at his sudden interest in her. She decided to let him be and not press for any more information, despite the fact that she desperately wanted to know if anything had changed.
(More to come soon-please review if you wish! )