This story was written for the Hot Cobert Summer Writing Challenge facilitated by user avoverud on Tumblr.
My prompt was "I love you as a reassurance"
The Warwicks and Jeannie Naylor-Leyland were real people, the Chittleboroughs are my own creation, all others belong to Julian Fellowes.
Rated M for the second chapter.
Chapter 1 - Brush away the Cobwebs
Cora sat in her yellow sitting room hoping that its warmth would cheer her. The afternoon sun glinting off of the nib of her pen was in stark contrast to the tone of the letter she composed.
My Dear Mother,
I can hardly believe that it has been a year since our darling Sybil was born. Is it wrong of me to feel so blue? When I hold her, and see her smiling little face it clears away my sadness. However, I cannot help but feel like I have failed Robert, and, to a certain extent, Dad. I know that Robert loves me, and we have three beautiful girls, but the entail weighs on me. How would Dad feel about his hard earned money going to someone he's never met and not to his own grandson?
"I'd hoped I'd find you in here."
Cora turned from her desk to see her husband enter the room. She smiled at his tall figure framed in the doorway. He looked quite handsome in his walking tweeds.
"I've taken the liberty of having tea sent up here," Robert added, as he smiled back at her with his kind blue eyes. "Since Mama and Papa are away, it will be just the two of us."
"That will be nice. Perhaps we can have Nanny bring the girls in here afterwards as well," Cora replied as she stood.
They met in the middle of the room near one of the settees. Robert took one of her hands in his and gave it a squeeze as he gently pulled Cora towards him. They shared a simple kiss. Robert was warm from the exertions of his afternoon walk and Cora was grateful for it. He radiated a joyful energy that Cora hoped she could drink in.
As they sat down, Robert took advantage of the fact that they were alone and continued to hold her hand. "You look quite lovely today," he commented, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. The burgundy day dress she wore had been selected not for its appearance but for its comfort. She was glad for the compliment nonetheless.
"Thank you," Cora replied, tilting her head down demurely and smiling up at him from under her eyelashes.
Robert's smile broadened. He wriggled a bit in his seat, sitting up straighter and taller. His legs spread open so that Cora's knee was touching his leg. He was always glad when he could make her smile. "I've always loved how you decorated this room. Especially this settee," he said, giving her a significant glance.
Cora knew what he wanted. She vividly remembered the few times they had made love on this settee when they could be sure that they wouldn't be disturbed.
"Not today, Robert." she looked down at their joined hands and extricated her hand from his. "I'm not pregnant."
While Robert liked to keep the mystery of motherhood mysterious, he did understand that she had her monthlies and what that implied.
"Oh." Robert looked crestfallen, but then he noticed the tear in Cora's eye.
"Where shall I set the tea, my Lord?" A footman had entered with tea, disturbing what was becoming an intimate moment. Albeit different from the one Robert had originally envisioned.
"On the table there, Charles." Robert indicated the side table by the window with a wave of his hand. He looked up at the footman, "You can leave it there. We'll ring for it to be taken away when we're done."
"Very good, my Lord." The dark haired footman nodded his understanding. Having set the tray down, he made his way towards the door.
"Oh, and Charles," Robert interrupted the footman's exit. "Inform Nanny that we'd like to have the girls brought here after we've rung to have the tea things removed."
"Yes, my Lord." The servant closed the door and it latched with a click.
Robert focused on Cora as soon as the door was shut. "Oh my darling, you needn't be so hard on yourself," he appealed as he took her into his arms. She had her tears under control, but was still happy to nuzzle her face into his neck as he continued. "We both know these things take time. And besides," with his hands on her elbows he pulled her away from him so that he could look into her eyes, "you and our beautiful daughters have made me happier than I ever thought possible."
Cora rewarded him with a lopsided smile. "Oh Robert," she said and covered his warm lips with her own. "Now let's tuck into our tea before it gets cold."
"Oh all right," Robert replied, accepting the cup of tea she had poured for him. "We could get away for a few days. Have you given any thought to the invitation we received from the Countess of Warwick?"
"Babbling Brook, you mean," they shared a knowing look as she referred to the nickname that Daisy Warwick had earned in a scandal nearly a decade earlier. "Yes, it doesn't seem to conflict with any of our other obligations, and I'd be curious to see the menagerie that I've heard she keeps at Easton Lodge."
"If she's hosting then you know that the Prince of Wales will be there and we've always enjoyed his company," Robert added.
Cora gently set her tea cup and saucer down on the table. Perhaps she was being too down on herself. She would miss the girls, but a few days away with people their own age might help clear away her blues.
"That settles it then," she affirmed. "I'll reply to Daisy Warwick after tea and I've finished my letter to my mother."
Robert reached over and took her hand. "We could even extend our trip. We'll be so far south that we may as well go up to the London house and have a couple of days of just you and I."
Cora blushed at his smirk. Yes, a few days away from Downton would certainly clear their cobwebs.
ā-
After entering through the ivy clad entrance to the Lodge, Cora and Robert had retired to their rooms to change into something more formal for dinner after their long journey. Now they entered the Reception Room arm in arm.
The Reception room at Easton Lodge somehow managed to feel both vast and cluttered. The room was longer than the Great Hall at Downton and the ceiling was higher than in any of the rooms at home. Cora took note of the golden sweeps of decorative molding that filled the space between the enormous landscape paintings and the ceiling. Her gaze brushed over the geometric molding of the ceiling to the base of one of the many chandeliers and followed it down into the center of the room. Ostentatious floral arrangements adorned nearly every horizontal space. The plump furniture had been arranged into convenient conversation groupings and were quickly filling with aristocrats, wealthy hangers on, and members of the oft spoken of Marlborough House Set.
"The Viscount and Viscountess of Downton." The Butler's voice rang out in the large space.
"Glad you could make it, Downton," Lord Warwick said as he gave Robert a firm handshake. "We're always looking for fresh blood to liven up our little get-togethers," he added, looking at Cora out of the corner of his eye.
"We were pleasantly surprised when we received the invitation," Cora said while exchanging cheek kisses with Daisy Warwick.
Daisy looked at Robert and then back at Cora as she explained, "It was the Duchess of Chittleborough who recommended you to us. And she has such excellent taste in the company she keeps."
"Oh, Downie!"
Cora couldn't help but roll her eyes at the sound of her husband's childhood nickname. 'Downie' seemed more fitting for a sheep than for the heir of an earldom, but looking for logic amongst the British aristocracy could drive one mad.
"As you can see, she's quite excited to see you," the countess added by way of a goodbye and the couple moved on from the receiving line to greet Robert's old friend.
The Duchess of Chittleborough, or Fanny as she was known to her intimate friends, was shorter than Cora and her straw colored hair was piled atop her head in an elegant coiffure. Her bright green eyes were open wide with the excitement of seeing her childhood playmate once again.
When she was a young bride, Cora had been jealous of Fanny. Not for her looks, or for her status as a 'real' English lady, but because she had known Robert for so long and had shared so many things with him. Her color rose more than she would have liked to admit when he confessed that Fanny had been his first kiss.
Robert gave her hand a gentle pat where she held onto his arm as a fortification against the onslaught that was Fanny Chittleborough.
"I'm ever so glad you could come," Fanny beamed at Robert. She fluttered her eyelashes in a manner a bit too flirtatious for a married woman, Cora thought.
"We're both glad we could get some time away," Cora answered in an effort to remind Fanny that Robert was in fact married.
Fanny barely acknowledged Cora's comment with a sideways glance and an "Of course" before continuing her ensnarement of Robert. "You simply must come to Wentworth House at some point. Our boys are getting to be so big! When I see them running about I can't help but think of us at that age."
Ah. Another reason to be jealous of Fanny. Sons.
Fanny had married Frederick, Duke of Chittleborough roughly a year after Cora and Robert had wed. In the time that they had produced their three girls the Chittleboroughs had had two sons. An heir and a spare.
"It can be difficult to pull ourselves away from our girls," Robert replied with a polite smile, hoping to appease his old friend.
Fanny looked at Cora with faux pity in her eyes and false optimism in her voice. "I had heard the most recent one was a girl. Well, you've plenty of time to try again."
Cora felt her throat constrict, the need to flee overwhelmed her even as Robert scowled at Fanny's implication. Neither of them wanted to think of their daughters as failed attempts at an heir.
Robert had just opened his mouth to defend her when Cora made her own reply, "I see Lady Naylor-Leyland and I haven't spoken to her in ages. I'll leave you two to catch up."
Cora took deep breaths to rid herself of the irritation that Fanny Chittleborough had riled up within her as she walked through the growing crowd in the room. She didn't know why she still let that woman get under her skin. In the early days, when she had loved Robert and he was warm but indifferent to her, she suspected that Fanny already had his love. Now that time had made them friends, her patience had won her his love, and the birth of their daughters had made them a team Cora trusted Robert implicitly.
She was always glad to see her old friend Jeannie Naylor-Leyland (formerly Jeannie Chamberlain of Cleveland, Ohio). They had both come out to London society in the same season and both made their matches; Cora had secured the future Earl of Grantham, and Jeannie had married Herbert Naylor-Leyland, a military man who had more recently been made a Baronet.
"Oh my gosh, Cora! I'm so happy to see you here," Jeannie gushed when she saw her old friend approaching.
Cora was relieved to discover that someone at the gathering was genuinely happy to see her. "And I'm so happy to hear another American accent," Cora joked.
The two women embraced and Cora pulled away to make an observation. "It certainly looks like being a Baronetess suits you."
It was true. Jeannie had been the beauty of their season. Her natural poise, and piles of auburn hair had won her the attention of the Prince of Wales and garnered her the accolade 'order of the Marie Antoinette galaxy of beauties' by several newspapers. She had almost been a Duchess, but circumstances conspired against it and she had married Herbert.
Jeannie had to chuckle at that. "Just as being a Countess will suit you, my friend."
Cora lowered her eyes as she smiled in reply. "And where is Sir Herbert this evening?" she enquired.
The baronetess rolled her eyes and swatted her hand dismissively, "Oh Herbert's an old dear. He's at some political meeting, and I can't say that I miss him." Jeannie glanced significantly towards the Prince.
Cora's eyes widened in realization, "Oh, I didn't know that things had cooled between you and Herbert."
"It's not so much that they've cooled," Jeannie explained. "It's that they barely warmed up."
On seeing the confused look on Cora's face, she felt the need to explain further. "Don't get me wrong, Herbert and I get on famously. But I am glad that we went into the Baronetcy with two sons under our collective belt."
There it was again. Sons. Cora couldn't help the pained look that must have crossed her face if only for a moment. Her old friend couldn't help but see it.
"Oh Cora, I am sorry," Jeannie apologized. "You're not yet 30, so you've plenty of time, I'm sure." The look of genuine pity that covered her friend's face was not soothing to Cora, but instead burned. She wanted no one's pity. She'd wanted to get away from thoughts of heirs and titles. So it burned doubly so when her friend added, "Still, it is a shame you've had no son."
"It is a shame you've had no son."
The Duke of Chittleborough's lithe figure inserted itself into the ladies' conversation. Cora had always thought that his tall, thin build and pencil thin mustache gave Fanny's husband, Frederick, the appearance of a weasel.
"I'll not pretend I don't understand your meaning, your grace," Cora knew exactly what he'd meant, but she wouldn't let the duke get under her skin the way his wife had. It would be a challenging task for he was one of the highest ranking peers at the party and he would expect to get his way. Cora had a fine line to walk.
"Please, call me Freddy. All my friends do." The tall duke stepped past her, cutting her off from her friend and bringing her attention to where Robert and Fanny were laughing heartily. "Besides, your husband and my wife are old friends, perhaps you and I could be new friends."
Cora looked over her shoulder to see Jeannie giving her a concerned look as she turned to walk away.
ā-
Robert was catching his breath from a bout of uproarious laughter, leaning with one hand on the arm of a sofa. "You're quite right, Fanny. I have no idea what possessed my parents to hire that German governess, but we certainly had our fun with her."
He had let himself relax. That was, after all, what they were there for. He knew that Fanny could be a bit spiky around Cora, but he thought that she understood that whatever childhood infatuation he may have had for her had faded long ago. He was suddenly aware of her moving into a proximity that was too close for comfort and he stood upright quickly to buy himself some space.
"We could still have a bit of fun, you know," Fanny suggested in a tone that let him know exactly what she wanted.
"Fanny, Iā¦" Robert was confused by the implications of her statement, but perhaps he had misheard her. He wanted to explain that there was only one woman that he wanted to have a "bit of fun" with but was interrupted when the Butler came in to announce dinner.
ā-
Cora sat at the vanity in her room for their visit as her maid brushed out her hair. Dinner had made for a delightful turn of events after the anxiety inducing interlude in the reception room. She had been seated between a polite Viscount and a charmingly unfunny Baron at dinner which was pleasant enough. Afterwards she had played bridge with Jeannie Naylor-Leyland and two other "Dollar Princesses" (she and Jeannie had won) until the men came through. She and Robert had made it an early night as they were both tired from how far they'd traveled.
"Is there any interesting gossip downstairs, Smithson?" Cora asked her maid when she caught her eye in the mirror. The young woman had been positively vibrating with uncomfortable energy since she'd entered the room. Cora wondered what was bothering her.
Smithson looked for a moment like she was conflicted about talking, but decided that she needed to get this off of her chest. "Well, my lady. They say that they ring the stable bell at 6am."
Cora chuckled lightly at the notion. "How odd. I wonder why. I certainly don't intend to get up that early."
Smithson shifted uncomfortably. "They say it's so that folks can get back to the proper bedroom before their servants arrive."
"Heavens!" Cora couldn't help her surprise. It was no secret that several women staying at Easton Lodge were in thrall to the prince, but Cora supposed they could be trusted to find the way back to their rooms in time without the help of the stable bell.
It was then that Robert stepped into the room in his pajamas and dressing gown and Cora dismissed her maid.
"Robert, I have a feeling that this little get-away is more than we bargained for," she alleged as she rose from the vanity and moved towards the bed. "Have you heard about this business with the stable bell?"
Robert took off his dressing gown as he stepped towards the bed. "Yes, Hubble's told me," he replied, mentioning his valet. "It seems extraordinary."
Cora rubbed at the tension in her neck as they slipped into the bed simultaneously. "It certainly is," she agreed, "but I can't think about it right now. I could barely make it through a single game of cards after dinner without yawning to an embarrassing degree."
They settled into bed and Robert yawned himself at the suggestion. "Yes, after all the traveling we've done today, I couldn't keep my eyes open over my port."
She turned towards him in the bed and ran her fingers under the lapel of his pajamas. "Let's get to sleep before the bell tolls," she suggested with a lopsided smile.
"Certainly, my dear," he replied, pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead. Robert rolled away from her, punching the down pillows into a comfortable pile. He settled his head down and was softly snoring before too long.
Sleep eluded Cora despite how tired she had been. She stared at the back of her husband's neck as images of him laughing with Fanny Chittleborough ran through her mind. Eventually, she succumbed to sleep.
Just as they had been warned, the stable bell had rung at six o'clock in the morning. The faintest light of the rising sun peeked around the curtains to reveal that they had tossed and turned a bit in the night. Cora smiled to herself to learn that Robert had draped his arm around her in his sleep.
"Will someone stop that blasted noise," Robert murmured, half awake. He absentmindedly pulled her closer to his body. Cora was content to snuggle into his warmth and get as much rest as the day would allow.
To Be Continued...
