It just keeps getting longer... They just have so many issues! Thank you again for your kind reviews, very encouraging:)
It was freezing when they got off the train, but they managed to find their driver quickly and squeeze into the car. Cora found herself wedged in the middle of Robert and Rosamund, her mother sat comfortably in the front with the driver.
"You three right back there."
"Just dandy thanks." That was Robert and he received two glares for his comment and remained silent from there on.
He was pleased that he and Cora had decided to resume their relationship, but he so wished they could spend the weekend alone. His mother would be unbearable and with Martha joining them no doubt she would be worse than usual. In fact he wasn't sure that the pair had seen each other since his divorce, this would no doubt make matter worse.
Right now it was torturing him to sit so close to Cora and not be able to touch her. She seemed to feel the same and pat his knee with a reassuring smile when Rosamund was looking out the window. He knew it was expected of him to be polite to her this weekend, they were Mary's parents and not two weeks ago she had given him a lecture on the importance of him being civil. Not that she would have to worry about that now, he planned on being more than civil.
Martha turned obviously speaking to her daughter who also had a far away look in her eye,
"When was the last time you were at Downton?"
She fiddled with her coat, before answering, "Robert and I came here just before our divorce."
"Happy memories then?"
"Shut up Rosamund."
Martha shifted around more in her seat, eyeing off her daughter, "I've never heard about this."
He knew she wouldn't answer, so he did it for her. "Probably because it was a disaster."
That was an understatement. They had planned a weekend away where they could talk in private and try to rekindle their relationship. It was his idea and she agreed, though looking back it was probably the worst thing they could have done. They had both left early on separate trains, Cora asking for a divorce less than a week later.
Before Switzerland that weekend was the last time they had slept together, if you could call it that, that too was a disaster. And then they had had a terrific row, she was so angry at him and he, well his behaviour was inexcusable really. In the end he had smashed a lamp and she threw his favourite scotch glass in the fireplace as a result.
After their divorce he had done his best to avoid her at family functions and it wasn't until the birth of George that they had agreed to be civil in each other's company. But even that had been a challenge, especially when she started dating Bricker.
Cora was studying her hands intently which rest in her lap, and he realised he had upset her or maybe just those horrible memories upset her.
He sighed heavily, "We never told anyone we came up here."
"And it was a disaster." Cora finally looked at him, and rolled her eyes, "Robert smashed a lamp and I threw his scotch in the fire." She shook her head, and he was glad she had only spoken of that incident.
"I guess we can laugh about it now."
There was silence after that until they turned into the drive, everyone caught in their thoughts. Martha turned back to smile at them, "well I for one am excited to see how the old girl has held up."
Rosamund smirked, hating to sit in silence for so long, "My mother or the actual house?"
They dissolved into a fit of giggles until the car stopped at the top of the drive.
They were greeted by Matthew who quickly helped Robert and the driver to get all the bags into the warm house.
He began to lead them toward the library where Cora assumed the majority of their family would be.
"We've just had tea, but I think the ladies were going up to begin getting ready. We're meeting for drinks at 7.30 in the library and then dinner to follow."
They nodded in understanding, but Cora already knew this, she had helped Mary plan the whole weekend. It had been her idea to have pre-dinner drinks to calm everyone's nerves and hopefully make the evening run a little smoother. It had been a long time since they had all gotten together and she hoped for Mary's sake it went well. Then of course they had tomorrow and the actual party to deal with, but with more people there would be less room for argument.
"Is Mama here?"
"Yes actually, Mother and Violet arrived about an hour ago." He gave them a grin, "she asked when you were getting here."
Rosamund rolled her eyes, "Oh god, now we're in for it."
There was a knock on her bedroom door and put her brush back on the dresser before going to answer it.
They had quickly made their hellos to the family before they all trudged upstairs to change for dinner. She was in the room that she and Robert used to share and she felt her heart ache as soon as she had opened the door. She was fairly sure that they had conceived Edith in this bed and laughed to herself as she began to pull out her belongings.
She was surprised the knock hadn't come earlier, he had seemed quite keen on the train. But then in the car he seemed irritated and she hadn't spoken to him since. His mother spoke to him for a long time in the library before he had left for his room without a word.
He pushed into the room and clicked the door shut eyeing her wearily. She took pity on him and gripped his arm pulling his face to hers and kissing him soundly. He looked lost and extremely tired, there were shadows under his eyes which she had missed earlier, but were visible up close.
"Are you alright?"
He looked beyond her around the room, "It just seems surreal."
"Mm I agree." She kissed him again and felt his hands move to her bottom as their kiss grew more passionate. She allowed him a moment before pulling away, "as lovely as this is, I need to get dressed."
"You look lovely enough" he kissed her cheek, "by the way, your legs look amazing in that."
As if to illustrate his point he ran his right hand from her bottom to caress her thigh, "really stunning."She felt her legs begin to wobble and pulled at his jacket attempting to steady herself, "you don't look too bad yourself, but." She dropped her hands and stepped back from him, knowing if didn't leave soon, he never would,"we need to get dressed."
His gazed burned at her skin and she wished they had more time, but they were expected downstairs in less than 20 minutes.
He cleared his throat smoothing his suit, "I suppose your right, as Mary's parents we should probably be setting the example."
"Exactly, now off with you. Oh and Robert." He looked back, "you don't have to ignore me you know."
He opened his mouth, but she beat him to it, knowing this evening would be hard enough without him ignoring her.
"Please."
"As you wish." And then he was gone.