prompt: being distracted by thoughts about them

(post s6)

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She shuffled slightly in the wooden chair she had been offered when she had been a bit late for the meeting. They had waited for her and immediately accepted her hurried apologies. But she felt very bad nevertheless. She didn't want to appear as if she treated the weekly meetings in Dr Clarkson's office with little respect. And she didn't want to blame Robert for keeping her from departing timely either. But he didn't seem to realise that her responsibilities as chairwoman of the hospital weren't mere fun activities. She had to take them as seriously as he did his duties to the estate. When she had a meeting at the hospital it just didn't do for him to hold her back with talk about next week's dinner with Isobel and Dickie.

She huffed inwardly and blinked her eyes to focus on the meeting she was finally present at.

"We only have so many options to realise a higher bed count," Dr Clarkson emphasised with a stern look at Isobel. "We–"

"Yes, very well. But isn't it more important to ensure the proper workspace for the staff?" Isobel interrupted in her usual confident and slightly displeased tone. "Pushing the beds closer together will have our nurses in inopportune situations where they are trying to operate in the crammed spaces and don't even have all the staffrooms and examination rooms they need." The head nurse standing slightly behind Isobel silently agreed with a nod. "We had to do this in time of war but these exceptional circumstances don't apply anymore."

"Well, but what do you want me to do?" Dr Clarkson pressed his palms on the tabletop and his words were drenched in badly hidden exasperation and his Scottish tint. "Shall I expand and just build the hospital a few more wings?" he suggested sarcastically.

"Why not?" Cora asked. Until now, she had watched the discussion as a bystander. But someone had to get in between the intense bickering of Isobel and Dr Clarkson, and Cora didn't think it a bad idea to grow the hospital.

Dr Clarkson looked at her perplexed. He was speechless, so Cora took the opportunity of the arising silence and elaborated.

"If we don't look for a long-time solution, whatever we do will only postpone the problem for so long. I know putting up new buildings for the hospital isn't something you can do overnight and it definitely will cost quite some money, but I am sure we will be able to raise enough extra money to settle the financial situation," she said generously, and in the back of her head, she already pictured Robert's exasperation.

"Are you quite sure, milady?" Dr Clarkson inquired.

"Well, I don't say it's a simple matter. But it's the only real solution I see. And we all will have to work to make it happen." She looked at Isobel and was glad when Isobel's bright smile indicated they were allies in this issue. Having Isobel's support was a deciding aspect. Without it, Cora would inevitably become a Sisyphus of her own idea. Now, in Isobel's ambitious strength she had found the motor of her project.

"What an excellent idea you two have come up with!" Isobel praised and gave out approving looks between Cora and Dr Clarkson. "I absolutely agree with Cousin Cora on this. We need a stable solution for the future and if this means opening up a building site behind the village hospital then we should get to work. And if Cora says we'll find a way financially then there is nothing to argue about, right?"

Dr Clarkson set to speak but Isobel was already rolling out her next ideas.

"We could put the maternity ward into the new wing. That way we have more room for our surgical patients."

Cora cleared her throat and quietly chipped in, "Well, we don't have an inexhaustible spring of money. Let's keep that in mind."

Isobel raised her eyebrows as she was interrupted in her speech and listened to Cora for a moment. "Of course!" Seconds later, she was head of her new building committee again. She scribbled floor plans on a piece of paper and explained to the Scottish doctor exactly how the project had to be structured.

Cora found herself zoning out again. She hoped Robert would not show too much of his disapproval. She knew that how he felt about it wouldn't decide about the realisation of the project entirely, how it would have undoubtedly been in his father's times. But his opposition would still make it harder for her. Maybe though, he wouldn't be such a grouch about it. Cora had to think about the time he told her how proud he was of her. It still made her heart swell. How he brushed his knuckles over her cheek and sought her eyes under the brim of her head to tell her how greatly pleased he was with her work. She wouldn't have been able to tell by the countless remarks he made about her absorbing job. He whined about her absence. He chided her priorities. And he indirectly questioned her choice. So yes, the revelation of his pride came as a surprise. He still managed to have words for her long days of work and to delay her in the mornings with his neediness, but overall, Cora could sense more acceptance and harmony with her job on his part.

His animated face appeared before her eyes as she thought about this morning. His vivid expressions had grated her a bit. He had tried to pull her full attention to keep her from leaving. He had talked about the right main course for next week's dinner and had tried to lure her into sitting with him on one of the library's settees for a while. This morning, Cora had felt not understood. He knew she had to go but he didn't respect it. Now, however, when she recalled his vivid facial expressions, she felt a twinge in her chest. Actually, she thought, he was quite endearing. She realised it was his expression of love to keep her for a few more minutes. He didn't actually care for the dinner menu. He just wanted her attention and right now, Cora found it adorable.

She had to think of something Sybbie once said. They had been with their grandchildren, Robert and she, and Robert had carelessly given one of Marigold's stuffed animals to Teo. When Marigold had cried out it was already too late. Teo had torn the stuffed rabbit irrevocably, and Robert stood embarrassed; the tips of his ears blushing bright red. He apologised sweetly and immediately promised a new rabbit if Baxter couldn't fix it. He even brought the ruined toy downstairs himself right away. That was when Sybbie told Marigold not to be upset and explained to her, "Oh, but we do love our Donk!" And how right she was!

Cora did love her Donk, and a picture of him from last night arose, she had actually already forgotten because she had been so tired. But now, in her sweet thoughts, it came back. He was bowing above her as she already lay deep in the sheets. She was blinking jadedly and he looked down softly at her. With two fingers, he touched the hair framing her face and brushed it aside carefully. His smiling face was so adorable she couldn't–

"I assume you agree, Lady Grantham?" Dr Clarkson's voice ripped her from her thoughts.

Cora felt her cheeks grow hot. "I'm sorry. What was that again?"

And Isobel fell into an animated monologue again.