Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me and I certainly do not make any profit out of them.
Two Lovers on Two Other Lovers
"I simply can't believe it," Robert said, stepping into the bedroom from his dressing room. Leaning against the armchair he looked at Cora who was studying her face in the mirror, turning from side to side.
"What can't you believe?" Cora asked, absent-mindedly, tapping the sides of her cheeks with the tips of her fingers and tracing the outlines of her cheekbones.
"Carson and Mrs Hughes of course, what else?" Robert sighed and plonked unceremoniously on the armchair, crossing his hands in front of him. An expression of bewilderment and frustration on his face.
"Can't you? Because everyone else saw it coming, well, almost everyone," Cora finally turned towards Robert.
"I knew they worked well together and I guessed they might have been good friends… but to marry? How can anyone see that coming?" Robert inquired, without trying to hide his surprise. Apparently he was the only one in the family and downstairs who was clueless. Even Bates didn't sound surprised at all when he mentioned it to him. Seemed like, his Butler and his Housekeeper getting married didn't come as a surprise to anyone else, at least not much of a surprise.
"Anyone who keeps their eyes open," Cora countered raising an eyebrow.
"But can you even imagine them being married of all things?"
"I can," Cora dead panned. At Robert's questioning glare, Cora continued, "Haven't you ever seen how close they are?"
"You are making me imagine all sorts of things Cora!" Robert added, his voice rising slightly in pitch causing Cora to roll her eyes.
"They are very good friends, certainly more than mere colleagues. So why couldn't they have feelings for each other? Besides, this isn't the 19th century anymore!"
"Can't this be some sort of a… a convenience… for them both… one day retire as companions I suppose?" Robert stuttered, finding it hard to picture the heads of his household as a loving couple.
"Have you seen the way they look at each other?"
"No," came Robert's puzzled answer. Cora grunted and walked towards the bed. Pulling the covers down, she settled in and eyed Robert with an exasperated look.
"What? Well… they look… I'm not sure… as if there's something about it but I presumed that was because they've worked alongside for many decades," Robert tried to reason earning an annoyed sigh from Cora.
"That's the problem with you Robert. You make too many presumptions which are in fact extremely inaccurate," Cora countered, taking her book from the bedside and turning the pages loudly. The yellowed pages screeched against each other as Cora turned them forcefully.
"It's that…" Robert began, annoyed at his wife's tone and when she looked at him and raised an eyebrow, he sighed. "Mrs Hughes, well, she seems like the sort of woman who could marry, have children and settle down… have a home and a husband, the motherly sort beneath all of it, all those frightening looks and everything. And it's a surprise she didn't."
"Perhaps she values her independence, being her own woman. Perhaps she couldn't find the person to have a home and children with. Perhaps the circumstances were not in her favour. There could be several reasons. But she has now and why do you find that fact so hard to follow?" Cora fired back, using the argument about Mrs Hughes' independence for her own advantage. A sarcastic remark directed towards Robert who at times, such as during the war, seemed envious of her independence and 'getting involved.'
"But," Robert continued patiently, ignoring his wife's piercing glares, in an attempt to prove his point, "after all these years? Wouldn't it be rather awkward to be married for the first time ever? But leave Mrs Hughes to a side. Carson?" he raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to emphasize.
"Yes?"
"It's so hard to think he'd want to get married. I thought he'd die here and I'd have a fellow ghost to keep my own nightly hauntings company," Robert grinned and Cora couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably at that.
"What?" Robert raised his eyebrows.
"Nothing… just," Cora tried to swallow the giggles but failed and ended up laughing all over again. Robert shook his head.
"It's a bit funny, that's why," Cora finally managed to get a few words out in one breath and fell into a fit of giggles again.
Her laughter was infectious and Robert giggled too, amused at the idea of Carson and himself as ghosts, discussing the changes in Downton and roaming the corridors.
"Well… I'm sorry to break this to you but I'm afraid neither me nor Mrs Hughes are likely to join you there," Cora replied, biting back a giggle, an amusing.
"How disappointing of Carson," Robert deadpanned.
Cora burst into a fit of giggles again, her entire body shaking as she tried to suppress her laughter.
"That doesn't come as a surprise, not on your part or Mrs Hughes'," Robert let out a short laugh. "But honestly, isn't Carson a bit too old to be… I don't know… to change into a husband at his age?"
"Nothing is impossible when one is in love," Cora flashed a lop-sided smile.
"Not in Carson's case I suppose," Robert chuckled.
"You might be surprised!"
"I very much hope I won't be! I still can't get my head around it all!"
"Seriously Robert!" Cora said and brought the book down on the bed with a loud thump.
Robert removed his dressing gown and draped it on top of the armchair. "Well… I don't even want to think about the rest of what it entails," he stated with a look of horror on his face.
"What?" Cora questioned, a look of genuine confusion on her face.
"Well…" Robert stuttered. "You know…"
Suddenly realisation hit Cora and she couldn't help but laugh out loud. Her eyes crinkled and her head thrown back. The laughter wracking her whole body as Robert's awkward expression, stuttering and the ridiculous way he was standing in the middle of the room pictured over and over in her mind.
"What?" Robert frowned.
"Good Lord! Robert!" Cora exclaimed, trying to catch her breath. When finally her breath returned she erupted into another fit of giggles when she saw Robert still standing maintaining the expression and posture from before.
"You mean…" Cora paused as she tried hard to catch her breath. "You mean if they would share a bed?"
When Robert's look indicated at she had nailed it, Cora continued, "I can tell you they'll be doing more than just sharing the bed. Yes, I believe they would make love, judging by the looks they've been giving each other," Cora looked at her husband with a triumphant look on her face as he stood still, completely flabbergasted.
"Good God Cora!" Robert shook his head in horror. "That's an image I could have done without."
"Don't blame me! You raised the subject and don't pretend as if you are innocent. If you can recall what we were up to last night," Cora smirked, mischief in her eyes.
"That's different!" Robert huffed, walked to the bed and sat heavily upon the edge of it.
"How so?"
Robert found himself at a loss of words, "Well… it's…"
Cora cut him short, "If they love each other, then it's natural."
Robert stared at her with wide eyes and muttered, "Unbelievable."
"Well I think it's romantic," Cora retaliated, a smile on her face.
"Absolutely unbelievable," Robert exclaimed. "As Mama would say, you've read too many novels."
"I'm sure if Mary, forget George when he's grown up, learns what we get up to, at our age mind you…" Cora paused to place her hand on Robert's arm with a mischievous smirk. "…she'll have that same look that you have on your face now."
"Well… I can't find myself to care about that because you've put images in my head that I'd rather have not thought about! Thank you very much," Robert glared at Cora finished with a sarcastic tone.
"You're welcome," Cora replied cheerfully.
"Oh really? Good Heavens! I don't even want to think about facing Carson at breakfast, I won't even be able to look the man in the face, thanks to you," Robert said in a repulsed tone. "Forget that! I won't bloody well be able to look Mrs Hughes in the eye!"
"You'll get over," Cora smiled as Robert fluffed his pillow vigorously and plonked unceremoniously on it, tossing and turning in annoyance.
Cora slid her hand from Robert shoulder to his forearm. Leaning down close to his ear, she whispered, "You don't want to… you know? Perhaps try last night's activities tonight as well?"
"Seriously Cora? After tonight's mortifying discussion?" Robert mumbled into his pillow.
"Pity. I thought you'd want to make –"
Robert cut her short, "Don't even dare say the words Cora! I'd be forever traumatised whenever I even hear the very words." He tossed and turned a bit and settled down back again.
"Well," Cora chuckled. "Good night then. Sweet dreams, my love."
"As if," Robert muttered.
"Sleep tight darling. You've quite a day ahead tomorrow," Cora chuckled as she heard her husband huff annoyed. Cora couldn't stop the amused smile on her face as she tried to imagine Robert all flustered next morning when he'd meet Carson at breakfast.
"Good morning My Lord," Carson greeted Lord Grantham with a bow as he entered.
Robert mumbled a barely audible "Good Morning" without meeting his Butler's eye. Carson stared after His Lordship, rather confused. The Earl always greeted him warmly in the morning and this sudden change surprised him. Carson assumed that His Lordship must already be having a hard day, but he remembered other times when the Crawleys waged rocky waters and even then, despite all the troubles in his mind, Lord Grantham had the time for a heartfelt greeting. And he couldn't even meet Carson's eye!
Lord Grantham pulled out the chair and sat down with his plate, unfolding the serviette at the same time. The usual ease with which he pulled his chair out was gone and instead in its place was a rather slow and, Carson dared to think it in his mind, rather lethargic move. He eyed the Earl suspiciously. What on earth was wrong with him?
To add to his surprise, Lady Grantham walked into the dining room. This however surprised not only Carson but also Lord Grantham himself. Lady Grantham almost always had breakfast in bed.
"Good morning Carson," Lady Grantham greeted Carson and if he was not terribly mistaken, Her Ladyship's greeting held a much cheerful and vibrant note than usual and in her eyes were a distinctive glint.
"Cora?" Robert exclaimed, his mouth wide open and his fork in mid-air.
"Good morning Robert," Cora greeted as she took a plate from the buffet table. She bit her lip to stop herself from giggling.
"Why are you downstairs?" he asked her over his shoulder.
"I just… felt like it. That's all," she replied, trying valiantly to suppress her mirth.
When she approached the table, Carson pulled out the chair for her. When she was seated she called out to Carson, "Carson?"
"Yes Your Ladyship?" Carson stood to the right of Lady Grantham. Lord Grantham on the other hand stared intently at his plate, finding his eggs incredibly interesting.
"I was wondering… how are things coming along for the wedding?" Cora asked and stole a quick glance at Robert. It took all of Cora's will to not giggle at her husband's expression as she focused intently on his plate.
"We haven't made any decisions a yet My Lady. It's just early days," he smiled.
"Oh. You must ask Mrs Hughes to look in the attics for any furniture that you might need. Beds and such," Cora said earning a suspicious glance from Carson. Robert spluttered on his tea at Cora's mention of beds and she noticed Carson glance at Robert with an even more suspicious look.
"Thank you, Your Ladyship. I will inform Mrs Hughes and that is very kind of you. Thank you," he replied, his gaze alternating between Lord and Lady Grantham.
When Andrew entered the dining hall with another pot of tea, Carson said something to Andrew and left the dining room. Cora's eyes followed Carson and when he was out of sight she looked at Robert and giggled, "Oh Robert!"
"How on earth am I ever going to face the man? This is entirely your fault Cora!" Robert frowned at Cora. A quick glance over his shoulder reassured him that Andrew was not paying any attention to their conversation.
"Carson noticed something was amiss," Cora said, taking a sip of her tea. "You were quite obvious."
"You are incorrigible when you are determined," Robert muttered and took a bite of his toast. He chewed it hard while scowling at Cora.
"Oh I'm going to get you so wound up over this," Cora giggled.
"Oh dear God!" Robert sighed, knowing this was going be a long day for him.
Mr Carson poured Mrs Hughes a cup of tea and placed it on her desk. He sighed when he sank into one of the chairs at the table.
"Odd day, today has been," he remarked taking a sip of his tea.
"Hmm?" Mrs Hughes hummed in question, her eyes still fixed on her accounts.
"His Lordship was acting very awkwardly," he replied with an extremely puzzled expression.
This caught Mrs Hughes' attention and she turned around to face him, "I was wondering about the same thing as well. This morning when I greeted him, he didn't even look me in the eye. Just mumbled a greeting and got away as quick as possible. And ever since he's barely crossed my path."
"Exactly!" he nodded. "I noticed the same thing. We barely had any communication at breakfast or luncheon.
"Her Ladyship was awfully cheerful," Mrs Hughes reached for her cup of tea. "Too cheerful compared to her usual disposition."
"She kept on giving me these… odd… looks. All throughout breakfast and luncheon," he said sipping on tea. He decided to avoid that rather weird comment on furniture, well, specific articles of furniture that he figured would be quite embarrassing to mention to fiancée at this early stage in their courtship.
"I agree there was something fishy… for want of a better word… about this whole business," Mrs Hughes remarked. "Though I can't help thinking what it is about."
"Something most certainly to do with us and our impending marriage!" he said knitting his eyebrows. "Though I wonder who the instigator of that chaos is."
"My money is on Her Ladyship," Mrs Hughes replied looking pointedly at Mr Carson.
"Well that was quite a day!" Robert exclaimed as he joined Cora on the bed.
"It was quite a day for you," Cora emphasized.
"I hope I'd be able not act so bloody awkward tomorrow. And your 'looks' and 'comments' didn't help either."
"I'll make sure you won't darling. I hope to increase my efforts," Cora looked up from her book at Robert with a wide grin.
"God help me," Robert sighed and Cora chuckled.
THE END.
I hope you all are doing well and are safe. And I hope you enjoyed this little story. I'd be very grateful if you could leave your thoughts on this story in the reviews! Thanks again and see you soon! And in the meanwhile stay safe everyone!