Sorry this took so long. You don't want to know all the trouble I had with this chapter.
Fortunately, the next chapter will be ready next weekend.
After reading and discussing Julius Caesar with the rest of the Shakespeare students the next Tuesday, Cora headed for the library that afternoon. The play had been interesting enough but reading Henry VI with just Robert was far more exciting. She adored his historical insights, not to mention his adorable curly brown hair, and his sincere way of speaking. And his accent was a wonderful bonus.
In fact, Cora found herself looking forward to reading Henry VI more than she had her date last weekend. She liked to think he might be rather interested in her, too. She'd even worn the blue blouse with the low neck today, in addition to another causal skirt. She smiled as she approached the library, quickening her steps.
Her smile widened all the way to her ears as she saw Robert, with his adorable curly brown hair, waiting for her near the door. "Hi, Robert," she said. Her heart jumped a bit as she saw him glance at her legs.
"Hi, Cora," he said, meeting her face, as if he didn't want to be caught looking at her legs. They both entered the library and took the same corner table. "We left off with Act four," he said as he opened his e – reader.
Cora nodded as she opened her own e – reader. "Henry VI is naturally upset that the Duke of Burgundy joined the French side," she commented as began the scene.
"Quite," Robert said, his eyes still on his e – reader. "Ah, here is more subtle references to the emerging War of the Roses in this conversation between Henry VI, Vernon, and Basset. Henry says, 'What is wrong whereof you both complain? First, let me know, and then I'll answer you.' And Basset says,1
'Crossing the sea from England into France,
This fellow here, with envious carping tongue,
Unbraided me about the rose I wear;
Saving the sanguine color of the leaves,
Did represent my master's blushing cheeks,
When stubbornly he did repugn the truth
About a certain question in the law
Argued betwixt the Duke of York and him;
With other vile and ignominious terms:
In confutation of which rude reproach,
And in defiance of my lord's worthiness,
I crave the benefit of law of arms.'"
Robert's voice sounded strong and confident, and quickened with growing eagerness as he read the text. Cora listened, loving the sound, while simultaneously reminding herself that "roses" didn't refer to flowers in this case, but rather which family they supported in the growing feud during the war in France.
"Then Vernon says,
'That is my petition, noble lord:
For though he seems forged with quaint conceit
To set a gloss upon his bold intent,
Yet, know my lord, I was provoked by him;
And at first he took exceptions at this badge,
Pronouncing that the paleness of this flower
Bewray'd the fairness of my master's heart.'" *
Cora read the same text to herself again. "So, Basset supports the family the red rose, Vernon supports the family of the white rose."
Robert nodded, his blue eyes glancing her way in a way that caused Cora's heart to increase. "Yes. And the red rose is the House of Lancaster, while the white rose means the House of York."
"It's interesting that they automatically support the same houses that their masters do," Cora said, reading over the lines again. "The servants in Romeo and Juliet did the same thing." Her voice took on a mischievous tone, knowing how he felt about the other play.
Robert shrugged, although Cora thought she saw a hint of a smile in response to her teasing. "Yes. It was expected at the time that servants, under lords, and the like all support their masters."
They continued reading as the characters discussed the war in France and the developing feud between the Lancasters and the Yorks. Eventually, the English decided to hand the French territory back to their Dauphin, also known as King Charles. To cement the treaty, Henry VI even agreed to marry a French bride, although he was still rather young.
"Ah, this is so sweet," Cora said smiling as she read a rather romantic part. The Earl of Suffolk sees Margaret, who he is to bring to England as Henry's bride. He says,
'Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.
O, fair beauty, do not fear nor fly,
For I will touch thee with reverent hands;
I kiss thee fingers for eternal peace,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.
Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.'
And she flirts back with him, saying,
'Say Earl of Suffolk – if thy name be so –
What ransom must I pay before I pass?
For I perceive I am thy prisoner.' **
She automatically spoke in a British accent, just as she always did when reading Shakespeare out loud. And could it be that Robert leaned closer to hear her when she did so? Her heartbeat faster at the thought, even as she read the next part of the play. "But then the Earl of Suffolk admits to Margaret and her father that he is to ask her to marry Henry VI. I think Suffolk should have admitted his feelings for her," Cora said, shaking her head.
Robert shook his head in return. "That would have been dishonorable, as he was on a mission from his king. And a woman like Margaret would never settle for a mere earl when she could have a king."
Cora sighed. "I know, but sometimes it's worth trying, anyway. See, their conversation continues after her father leaves. He says, 'Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret; no princely commendations to my king? And she says, 'Such commendations as becomes a maid. A virgin, and his servant, say to him.'"
To Cora's delighted surprise, Robert immediately began reading the part of the Earl of Suffolk. 'Words sweetly placed and mostly directed. But madam, I must trouble you again; No loving token for his majesty?'"
Cora leaned in close to him, catching a whiff of his after – shave, and read Margaret's lines. "Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart, Never yet taint with love, I send the king." Her own eyes gazed directly into Robert's blue ones as she spoke, while her heart still ached for Margaret and her earl.
"And this withal, ***" Robert said as Suffolk, looking right into Cora's eyes.
Cora moved her head closer still, fully expecting him to kiss her, just as the characters in the play were said to do. But her heart sank when he moved his head away. "The scene is historically inaccurate anyway," Robert said firmly. "The earl and duke of Suffolks supported the Yorks, and Margaret would be a Lancaster when she married Henry."
Cora shook her head. "That really isn't the point. In this play, Suffolk and Margaret obviously had feelings for each other. At least he kissed her. Margaret may very well have chosen him if he had been willing to do more." She leaned in closer to Robert again, smelling even more of that delicious after – shave.
Surely Robert knew Cora wanted him to kiss her?
He stared into her eyes for a moment, and Cora could almost taste his kiss when he withdrew again. Robert shook his head. "You're making too much out of a couple that has only seen each other once at this point in the play. I would say it was just a passing infatuation. Besides, earlier in the scene Suffolk said he was already married." He scrolled through the text. "He says, "Fond man, remember thou hast a wife; Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?'" ****
Cora sighed, desperately wishing he would realize she was no longer speaking of just the play. "Your right," she said finally. "Suffolk couldn't have Margaret if he were already married."
He chuckled, lightening the mood. "I suppose you wished to turn Margaret and Suffolk into a version of Romeo and Juliet , the best of 'forbidden lovers.'
Cora tried to giggle, her heart warming that he was teasing about their different opinions of that play. But something in her laughter felt flat. It bothered her that he made light of something that wasn't just about the play to her. "Why don't we finish reading?"
They did so, in which King Charles of France discussed the peace treaty with some of the other characters, and Henry VI discussed his engagement to Margaret. Some insisted she wasn't fit to marry a king, as her father was only a lord in France, while Suffolk insisted her father was still king of Naples and Jerusalem.
"That's it," Robert said with a sigh, as they finished. They both closed their e – readers.
Cora nodded, feeling a combination of relief and disappointment. "But there is still Henry VI, part two, correct?' she said, eager to read another play and spend more time with Robert, as frustrating as he could be.
Robert smiled softly at her, in a way that caused Cora to almost melt. "Yes. We can start that one on Friday afternoon."
Cora smiled widely as she stood. "Wonderful." After pausing a moment, she thought of another way she could spend more time with him. "Do you know I'm singing at the Moon River Pub this Thursday? It would be nice to see you there." She still wished Robert had kissed her, but Cora was determined to persue things with him, anyway. She liked him better than any of other men she'd dated in the past year.
Robert's blue eyes grew wide, and his voice became all flustered, just as it always seemed to whenever she suggested they spend more time together. Cora still thought it was adorable. "Ah…,well…" she waited patiently for him to finally answer.
"I… don't… know," he finally said. "Pubs aren't really my thing."
Disappointment washed over Cora, but she pushed it away. Perhaps this time there was more to his flustering than usual. And she was not one to force anyone. "That's fine, Robert. You don't have to come if it makes you too uncomfortable; either way, I will see you for our next Shakespeare session, both with the rest of the students and here on Friday."
Cora stepped closer to him, once again inhaling his after – shave. "But please think about it a little," she said, stroking his firm arm. "You are important to me, and I'd like to see you more often."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
OOOOOOOOO
"So should I go?" Robert said that night, laying on his bed as he spoke to his roommate, John. It was rather early, by university standards, but it had been a long day and so Robert was already in his nightclothes. But his brain was too full to even consider sleeping until he'd decided what to do.
"I mean, I cannot believe I'm even thinking about it. I don't enjoy pubs." Much like his father, Robert always preferred to relax in a library and looked forward to conferences rather than people singing or playing music while fans screamed. The most noisy and common activity he could handle was watching a cricket match.
But he couldn't stop thinking of Cora's expression when she asked if he would come. Her beautiful blue eyes had stared into his, sparkling with hope. And there was the way she'd said, "You are important to me," that made him feel as if he could do anything.
"Is this the girl you from your Shakespeare course?" John said, sitting on the next bed. He wasn't yet in nightclothes, indicating John probably planned on studying longer in the future, but was willing to hear Robert first.
John's voice was without judgement; it was one of the things Robert really appreciated about his friend. He was a great listener and was content to let Robert discuss the problem without interrupting with all kinds of solutions that probably wouldn't help. "The one you asked me to help with her chemistry course?" Now there was a bit of a grin on John's face. Although he didn't say anything, the message was clear; there was only one reason Robert would be considering going to a pub.
And Robert didn't like it one bit. "She's just a friend, John," he said firmly. Originally, Robert had been certain he and Cora were only "reading partners," but after she'd invited him to the tearoom last Friday, and the pub today, he understood she considered him a friend. And he was fine with that.
John nodded, his dark hair flapping over his face. "Of course," he said, although Robert wasn't certain John believed him or not. "But you'd like to hear her sing?"
Robert sighed, staring at the ceiling of their dorm room. "I think I might," he said. "I didn't expect to like her voice so much." In the classroom, Robert had dismissed her as "the American" but after meeting with her privately, he was amazed at her ability to speak Shakespeare properly. Not to mention how quickly she could switch from American to British and back to American. And he'd even grown fond of her natural voice.
Her singing voice might be… great. But in order to hear her, Robert would still have to enter a place so noisy that one could barely hear himself think. "At least she didn't tell me I had to come, though," he said thoughtfully thinking back to their exchange. His life was full of women who thought they could order him around, Mama and Rosamund being two prime examples. Robert certainly didn't need another.
"In fact, she specifically said, 'You don't have to come if it makes you too uncomfortable," Robert's mind drifted back to that moment, remembering how those word had made him feel, especially with Cora's gentle voice.
"I see," John said neutrally, almost thoughtfully. He'd better not be wearing another smirk, as if he were seeing things that were impossible between Robert and Cora.
"John, she's a drama major," Robert said with a sigh. "She has a date with a different bloke each week; sometimes even two. Girls like that don't date scholars like me." Especially not as he couldn't stop appearing like an idiot every time, she asked him a personal question. "And I wouldn't want to date an aspiring actress, anyway. We from two different worlds."
Robert turned back to look at his roommate, to make certain he understood his point. A memory almost kissing Cora as they discussed Henry VI today floated through his brain, but Robert forced it away. That was a moment of insanity. "We are friends."
John nodded, his dark hair flopping again. "So, are you going to hear your friend sing?"
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Entering the Moon River pub, Robert couldn't have felt more out of place. It was noisy and had the stench of alcohol and fried food. His eyes wandered around, searching for Cora, but all he could spot were strangers.
"No way!" someone yelled from around the corner.
"Please!" shouted someone to his left.
Sitting down, he ordered a glass of scotch from a waitress who screamed in his ear, feeling more and more out of place. Even when the scotch arrived and he ordered a bowl of soup, he didn't feel comfortable.
Suddenly, an excited voice with a distinctly American accent said his name, and Robert's heartbeat faster, despite trying to be causal. He turned to see Cora dressed in a striking red mini dress with sequins on the neckline. "I'm so glad you decided to come!" she said, her smile widening and her eyes sparkling that made her appear gorgeous.
If being here caused her to look that beautiful, he was glad, too. As he continued to gaze at her face, she leaned and kissed his cheek.
"Come," Cora said as he finished his food, for some reason, stroking his arm again. "I want you to sit closer to the front." He picked up his scotch, and she led him to a chair right next to the stage.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
The spotlight on her made Cora's pale skin glow even more than usual, especially against her red dress. And her singing voice was just as wonderful as he'd expected it to be. Deep, and rather sexy, but also warm and gentle, just like she was. First, she sang a couple of popular songs. Robert was fairly certain he'd heard Rosamund mention them.
Then Cora sang another which she said she had written herself, called "Everybody's Got a Song." He had the distinct impression she was singing it directly to him, with the way her eyes focused on his and emphasis on certain words.
Robert was so glad he'd come. He barely noticed the soup that was handed to him.
OOOOOOOOOOO
But then it all ended as Cora stopped singing. Before she even climbed off the stage, a tall, skinny beanpole of a man appeared. "That was wonderful, Cora! Your voice grows more beautiful every time you sing."
Robert bristled as Cora giggled and said, "Why thank you Simon." What was even worse was he took her hand to help her off the stage. Who was this jerk?
"Hi, Robert," Cora said, suddenly standing directly in front of him again, her beautiful blue eyes focused only on him. "This is Simon Bricker. Simon, this is Robert Crawley."
They both stared at each other, as if sizing the other up and finding the other wanting. Then the Simon jerk had the nerve to gawk at Cora's body, saying "That dress looks great on you."
What was even worse was her reaction. Once again, she giggled and said, "Oh, Simon, the things you say."
Robert wished he could wipe that smug grin right off the jerk's face, especially as this…Simon's eyes looked at Robert as if he'd won a battle.
Narrowing his eyes at the jerk, Robert supposed this was the type of bloke Cora dated. He was probably into sports, given how skinny he was. Briefly, Robert wondered why he hadn't tried harder to make the university cricket team.
But then, Robert had never been one to try to be someone other than he was, and he wouldn't start now. If Cora wished to date this jerky beanpole, that was her business.
"Why don't we have a round of drinks together?" Cora said, her eyes looking from one man to the other, as if she could eliminate the tension between them.
"No," Robert said, standing up, even though he hadn't finished his soup. "I cannot believe I stayed this long," he said, snapping at Cora and her new boyfriend. "But it's time for me to go."
The last thing he needed was to get involved in a pub brawl, and if Robert stayed there much longer, he was certain it would happen. His fingers still itched to wipe off the jerk's face, and that was without much alcohol in his system.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
The next afternoon, Robert found himself in same secluded table in the library, reading Henry VI, Part II with Cora. When he looked at her, he still scowled too often, remembering how happy she was the last night with her latest boyfriend. He still didn't understand why she was interested in that jerk.
Still, a promise was a promise, and Robert had told Cora they would read the rest of the play together.
"I see Margaret does wed Henry VI, just as she said she would at the end of part I," said Cora, staring at the text of act one, scene one of her e – reader. "I still think it's too bad she couldn't wed the Earl of Suffolk instead."
Robert's scowl reappeared yet again at the absurdly of that statement. "I've already explained to you why that doesn't make sense. And in this scene, Suffolk becomes a duke because he brought Henry his bride." He leaned over to Cora's e – reader and pointed to the scene where Henry VI makes Suffolk a duke.
Cora shook her head, her face sad as she looked at Robert. "I'm not undervaluing the honor of becoming a duke for Suffolk. I just think love has a higher value."
Robert wanted to ask her how she could value love so much if she dated so many different blokes, particularly that…Simon. Instead, he just scowled again and returned to the text. "And here, the Duke of Gloucester, Winchester, the Earl of Salisbury, and Warrick discuss the ongoing war in France. All of them are worried they are going to lose the territory that Henry's father, Henry V, worked so hard to win."
"Wait a moment," Cora said, her nose wrinkling in a manner he couldn't help but think was adorable, despite his frustration with her. "Didn't they already have a treaty with the King of France at the end of Part I, where France would be ruled by the French?"
Robert immediately clicked on the last play and shook his head. "No. At this point, Charles VI only agrees to be viceroy of France, meaning he's still technically ruling under Henry VI."
Cora's eyes sparkled in that beautiful way. "Oh. It's a good thing I have you to make sense of all this history."
"But there were a lot of people in England who thought the war in France wasn't worth it anymore at this point," Robert said, remembering the information he'd learned from his course on the War of the Roses. "That's exactly what the Duke of Gloucester, Winchester, and Salisbury, and Warrick are discussing at this point in the play." He reached over and pointed to the text on her screen again, accidently catching a whiff of her shampoo. "As far as they are concerned, it's an insult to Henry's father to lose the French territory, but a lot of others don't agree."
Cora's blue eyes met his again, staring at him in fascination.
"The Duke of Gloucester was particularly important figure at this point, because was actually ruling in Henry VI's name," Robert said, once again not bothering with the text of the play but rather what he already knew.
Wrinkling her nose in that adorable way once again, Cora said, "But if Henry VI is already married, isn't he old enough to rule himself?"
Robert chuckled softly. "You would think, but it wasn't that easy. Henry VI became king at six months old, which was obviously far too young to rule himself, so Henry V chose a couple of men he trusted, including his brother, the Duke of Gloucester, to rule for him. And even though Henry VI is now in his early twenties, it wasn't that easy for his uncle to relinquish that kind of power. And Henry trusted his uncle."
Cora's blue eyes looked from Robert to the text of her e – reader and back to Robert. "Thanks for explaining that subtext."
Returning to the play, Robert grinned. "And the final scene is with Richard Plantagenet complaining that the French have already won, and that he, from the House of York, would be a much better king than any of the Lancasters, but he'll have to pretend to be loyal to them to get his wish."
"That sounds rather horrible," Cora said shaking her head. "I mean, I know this Richard had his reasons to believe he, and the House of York, would be a better king, but to pretend to be loyal. How can people do such a thing?"
Robert stared at her wondering how it was possible she had the same thoughts about that as he did. Looking straight into her eyes, he said, "I don't know, Cora. I could never be that dishonorable."
He gazed at her soft face for several moments, suddenly realizing that he was no longer cross at her. He hadn't scowled in a while. When was the last time his anger faded that quickly? Robert hated it, but he was well – aware he had a nasty temper and a terrible habit of keeping his irritation too long and lashing out at everyone while cross.
Was it just the history they were discussing? Or perhaps it was their secluded table in the library, that seemed to increase their privacy? Or was there something about Cora's gentle voice and soft manners that caused that? Was her face truly as soft as it appeared?
Suddenly Robert backed away, immediately returning to the text. That moment of insanity was almost even worse than the time he'd almost kissed her, wishing to stroke her cheek. They weren't dating.
"In scene two, we have the Duke of Gloucester speaking to his wife, Eleanor, about Henry VI.," Robert said, staring at his e – reader. "She thinks the duke should stop bowing to Henry VI and take the crown for himself. But he tells her he could never take the crown from his nephew."
Cora was silent for several moments, before she finally said, "Well, in scene three, Queen Margaret is with Suffolk again when a messenger says the Duke of York is the rightful heir to the crown. Now I supposethe feud between the Lancasters and Yorks is truly heating in this play."
Robert nodded, excitement growing that the War of the Roses was becoming more obvious, even to Cora.
"It's interesting to me that Queen Margaret is still confiding her worries to Suffolk, though," Cora said. She wonders what the point of marrying Henry if the English are changing their kings so quickly. Not to mention the fact that the Duke of Gloucester still has the true power. And she believes Henry is too pious to be appealing."
Sighing Robert said, "I suppose you are going to try to tell me that Margaret should have married Suffolk again, even though he was already married, and it makes no sense historically."
Cora sighed. "I just wish she could have married a man she obviously is more drawn and certainly trusts a lot. She also speaks to him about Eleanor, telling him,
'Not all these lords do vex me half so much
As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife
She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies,
More like an empress than Duke Humphrey's wife:
Strangers in court do take her for the queen:
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart, she scorns our poverty:
Shall I not live to be avenged on her?
Contemptuous base-born callet that she is,
She valued 'mongst her minions t'other day
The very train of her worst wearing gown
Was better worth than all my father's lands,
Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.' *****
Robert watched her closely, fascinated once again at how well she could perform Shakespeare, even when she was just reading the lines. She automatically substituted her natural voice for a British accent and used perfect meter. Her cheeks and lips also wrinkled, showing the frustration Margaret would have felt at this point of the play.
She may be an American, but Cora was a wonderful Shakespeare actress. And Robert was growing particularly fond of watching her perform. In fact, somehow, he'd moved closer to her, eager to see every ounce of her acting.
"And Suffolk even promises to 'take care of Eleanor' for Margaret," Cora said, switching back to her soft natural voice, but sounding equally frustrated. "They are growing too close. If they don't watch it, they are likely to begin an affair." She sighed. "I suppose you would tell me that affairs were common among royalty in this period, so it wouldn't matter."
"They were," Robert said sincerely. "But that doesn't mean that I think it was all right. Widespread affairs and cheating nobles is something about our history that I dislike the most. Promises should be taken seriously, rather than discarded because you have found 'someone better.'
Cora's beautiful blue eyes stared at his in fascination, and her head moved close enough so he could feel her breath on his face.
His lips longed to touch hers for a moment, but then Robert came to his senses. They weren't dating. Besides why would he want to kiss a woman who was probably looking forward to snogging with that Simon bloke soon? Didn't he just say something about not being discarded for "someone better'?
"I think we've done enough for today," Robert said as he purposely put distance between himself and Cora.
"Yes, that's fine," Cora said wrinkling her nose, as if she were confused for some reason. "But I wonder if you would like to have lunch together sometime?"
It was as if she'd slapped him, offering to spend more time with him when he'd clearly said he didn't want to be discarded. Robert didn't understand Cora at all. "I cannot believe you would ask such a thing," he said, snapping as he shook his head. "I don't think so." He may have said that a bit too loudly, as a few people looked toward their corner table.
With that, he exited the library, before someone could tell him to keep quiet.
*Henry VI Part I, Act four, Scene one.
**ibid. Act five, Scene three.
***ibid.
****ibid.
*****Henry VI, Part II. Act one, scene three.