And now for Part Three! This is from Cora's perspective, and takes place after Sybil's birth. The prompt was "on the edge of consciousness". As always, thank you for the reviews. The site isn't allowing me to reply to them, but please know that I appreciate each and every one!
Cora blinked awake, her mind hazy and her eyes struggling to focus on what was going on around her. She allowed her head to roll to one side, the worried face of her husband the first thing to become clear.
"Robert?" Her voice was barely a whisper, her throat dry. She watched as relief washed over his face as he took her hand in his.
"Oh, thank God," he breathed. Bringing her hand to his lips, he placed several kisses to her knuckles before holding it tightly against his chest. "You gave us quite a fright, love."
She swallowed thickly and licked her cracked lips in an attempt to recover her voice. "The baby. Is the baby alright?" She was vaguely aware of the dull ache between her legs and the emptiness in her belly that told her that she had indeed given birth, though she had no clear remembrance of it. She could recall the doctor saying he would do his best to save them; that the baby was in a difficult and dangerous position. But she couldn't recall much of anything else. She had no recollection of hearing her child cry, no memory of a sweet weight being placed in her arms.
Robert smiled then, reaching to brush an errant lock of hair away from her face. "She's perfect, Cora. The most beautiful baby I've ever seen."
Cora's brow furrowed, tears gathering on her lashes. "A girl? I had another girl?" Her emotions warred within her, torn between the desperate need to see and hold her baby, and the desire to slip back into unconsciousness; away from yet another barbed comment from her mother-in-law about her apparent inability to provide Robert with an heir, away from her own insecurities in regards to what many would perceive as her failure. She closed her eyes, unable to face what she feared most: her husband's disappointment.
She felt Robert's hand on the side of her face, his thumb running along her cheekbone in an effort to dry the tears that had begun to fall.
"Cora? Cora, look at me."
She turned her face toward his voice, her eyes opening to take in his soft expression.
"You have made me very happy today, Cora; just as you always do," he continued, his voice soft but firm. "I have three beautiful daughters, and the strongest and loveliest of wives. I could never ask for more than that. And I'll not have you thinking otherwise."
Cora allowed a small smile to grace her lips before turning imploring eyes toward him. "May I see her?"
"Of course." Robert placed one last kiss to the back of her hand before helping her to sit up. Her face contorted into a momentary grimace as he settled her into a seated position, causing him to still his movements.
"Am I hurting you?"
"No, no," Cora exhaled, her muscles slowly beginning to relax. "I'm just sore is all."
Robert nodded. "The doctor said that it would take you awhile to heal. He wants you to stay in bed for two weeks at least."
Cora offered no protest as she watched her husband make his way to the cradle that had been placed in the corner of the room. She didn't fancy the idea of so much idle time, but knew better than to argue. She watched as Robert picked up the tiny bundle, placing kisses to the baby's cheeks as he held her in his hands.
Walking toward her side of the bed, Robert smiled up at her before bringing his attention back to the baby. "Lady Sybil Cora Crawley, it's time you met your Mama properly."
Cora's eyes grew wide with wonder as tears stung their corners, a smile tugging at her lips. "Sybil Cora? I don't remember settling on a middle name."
"We didn't. But, when I saw her, I knew no other name would do." He was beside her now, and Cora held her breath as he leaned over to place their child in her arms.
"Oh," Cora breathed, completely enraptured as she looked at her baby. A fresh round of tears slid down her face as her youngest daughter's eyes opened, revealing brilliant blue orbs that were a mirror image of her own. Cora lifted her smiling face to her husband, who now sat on the edge of the bed. "Oh, Robert. She's perfect."
"Just like you," Robert answered, reaching to stoke her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
Cora blushed under his loving attention before returning her gaze to her child. She realized, as she observed this new life she and her husband had created, that this was the reality she had always wanted, whether or not she had been aware of it. And nothing could compare to the joy she now felt, her daughter in her arms, and her husband by her side.