While she understood it would've been hard for Edith to tell her, she would be lying if she said she was not hurt by the news Mrs. Drewe had brought. Deeply hurt. To discover, she had a third grandchild from the lips of a stranger and not from her daughter, was a painstaking blow.

Cora felt her world falling away as Mrs. Drewe gave her the recount of Edith coming to take the child. How could this be happening? The moment the tenant's wife had left she let her tears fall freely. Rattled to her core. Unhinged one could say. How much did she miss? How much had she overlooked? What if Edith would've died? Three whole years? There was a little girl, not just any little girl, Edith's little girl, alive and being raised by their very own tenants. Spending her core years with people who were not truthfully her family. Thought after thought ricocheted through her brain and her breath shuddered as she tried to regain control over herself. Edith was gone and the only woman who knew why she was gone, was sitting downstairs, in her drawing-room. Rosamund.

"Would you please ask Lady Painswick to join me Baxter and The Dowager as well? Cora asked doing her best to smile at the woman as she placed her gloves on.

Baxter took note of the go she seemed to be having putting the satin fabric on. As if her limbs were heavy. "Right away my lady," she smiled in return trying to cheer her up.

"Thank you, Baxter," Cora stated as her ladies maid exited the room. And just like that, tears were threatening to fall and she closed her eyes trying to slow her heart rate down and her rage if she admitted. While her heart was hurt by Edith's actions she was not angry at her daughter. She quite truthfully grieved for her. She understood the loss of a child and it was something she would not wish on her worst of enemies. Especially not her daughter.

These terms did not apply to Rosamund on the other hand. There was only one other time in her life she experienced anger, cold as this. She was sickeningly angry with Robert for not listening to Clarkson concerning Sybil's well-being. In a way though she was even angrier now. Two of the people she was supposed to trust, to call family had gone behind her back and left her sitting blindly in dark. With no knowledge of the truth.

She was not sure of violet's knowledge of the situation, but she was assuming by her behavior when she had heard of Mrs. Drewe's arrival, she was in possession of some facts Cora was not. But then again, who she truly wanted to talk to was Rosamund. She was the one who helped Edith pull this off. She was the one who had taken her to Switzerland. Rosamund had gone as far as going to see the child according to Mrs. Drewe. Her fists tightened as another tear fell marking her cheek.

"Lady Painswick and The Dowager my lady," Baxter opened the door announcing the women.

"Thank you, Baxter," Cora nodded at her maid not giving the other two women her eye contact as they walked in. "That will be all."

The door began shutting and Cora wasted no time beating around the bush. "Did you both know?" she asked, her voice dropping lower than normal as she finally looked at that them. "Mrs. Drew told me, Rosamund, that you went to see the child with Edith."

"Well yes-" Rosamund stuttered

"And you never thought to tell me?" Cora stopped her. "That I have a third grandchild? You took her to Switzerland knowing she was pregnant, knowing the risks of pregnancy, knowing childbirth had already taken my youngest and could've taken her as well," she stood as her voice cracked and she lost complete control of her tears. "Knowing full well she was my daughter, mine, not yours and never thought to tell me?"

"Edith didn't want me to," Rosamund deflected looking at her mother not sure of how to handle this situation. In a way, she supposed she knew this day was going to come but knowing and dealing with it were two different things.

"I suppose this makes so many of those bewildering months make sense," she scoffed sitting back down never breaking eye contact with them.

"What else was I to do?" Rosamund spoke up being just as loud with her hand movements. "She wouldn't get rid of it."

"Get rid of it?!" Cora's breath hitched as she felt her stomach turn and threaten to empty its contents on the very floor.

"It was her idea," Rosamund acknowledged quickly shaking her head as she could see the toll the enlightenment was having on the raven-haired woman. "But she wouldn't go through with it in the end."

Cora felt as though the smallest of drafts would knock her over with little effort. "And what did you know?" She inquired turning her gaze towards her Mother in law never feeling as betrayed in her life as she did at the moment.

"Well not quite as much," Violet began trying to sound as calm as always. "I knew why they were in Switzerland, I thought she had left the baby there." Her voice rose some. "That was the idea, Edith didn't stick to it!"

"And you never thought to involve me?" Cora looked at her with such hurt. With resentment that made Violet tremble. "Her own mother! You Rosamund, you looked at that little girl," she turned her attention shaking her head as she spoke. "And never thought that was my business too?" Confusion and hurt dripped from every word she spoke and neither of the women seemed to know how to handle Cora's reaction.

"Well we wanted to contain it," Violet refuted trying to defend themselves. "To make as little noise abroad as possible," she waved her hand.

Cora looked away closing her eyes not quite believing what she was hearing. "You mean to tell my daughter could've died in a foreigner place, a strange bed-" her voice broke. "Away from me! And I would've been none the wiser because you wanted to to "contain" it," she replied glaring at them both as her tears refused to stop. "You watched that child grow in her belly, watched her change, watched her give birth-" her voice faltered and she stopped talking. She covered her mouth with a shaky hand as her strength began disappearing and words became harder to find.

"I gave her my word Cora," Rosamund spoke up fiddling with her hands unsure of the ground she stood on.

"How can you stand it?" Cora looked up at them both. "You come to my house, you sit at my table, and look me in the eyes, fully aware of what you are keeping from me...Were you ever going to tell me the truth?

"We were trying to tell you today in fact," Violet answered leaning on her cane for support. She didn't like the way this was turning out one bit. Well, she didn't blame Cora one bit for being angry but she didn't like being the recipient of her daughter-in-law's anger.

Cora sighed heavily not sure the older woman was being honest. "So what changed? What's tipped her over the edge and into running away?"

"Well, I suppose we all knew Mr. Gregson was dead but the confirmation must've been very upsetting," Violet offered.

"And Mrs. Drew was being difficult." Rosamund joined in. "Clearly, the child couldn't stay there indefinitely," she paused. "So we thought-"

"What did you think?" Cora asked doubtfully, unsure of whether the other women could see what was best for Edith.

"That it would be better, and safer if the girl were sent abroad."

Cora's moved back in astonishment. "Well, now we have it! Edith was told her child would be taken away!" She spoke louder becoming impossibly angrier with Rosamund and Violet.

"Are you going to say anything to Robert?" Violet questioned unsure of what this meant.

"No," Cora said flatly. "I agree with one thing. This secret is not ours to tell. Somehow, we must find Edith, and we must hear from her what she wants." Her voice quivered but still sounded fervent in her confidence.

"I'm sorry if I seem distracted, I'm truly so happy for the both of you," she smiled in compassion at Lord Merton. She looked down trying to blink away the build-up at her rims. Distracted was only the beginning. Her heart, felt so heavy she felt the need to lean on something and there was nothing to lean on, not even Robert. She could barely look him in eye. She auto steered her way through the conversations and questions till they were finally at the goodbyes and sighed in relief.

She had made her way over to Rosamund and Violet when Rose gently touched her arms "Atticus says the magazine will know how to get in touch with her," she smiled hopefully."

"I thought we weren't going to tell anyone," Violet exasperated.

"Well he's not anyone, is he?" Rose frowned looking at her aunt.

Cora calmed the situation reaching out to touch Rose. "Of course not," she did her best to smile at the young girl. "Of course we could ring them, but maybe I should just go up there."

She didn't understand why she was still standing there, to begin with. Everything in her wanted to pack now and leave. To go find her daughter and not waste a moment. However, logic rang true. She understood there was nothing she could do tonight. She had no clue where Edith was choosing to stay and the magazine would not open till the morning as Atticus and Rose pointed out. She'd have to wait in hopes to catch her there. "Mr. Aldridge is leaving," she pointed softly signaling to Rose to bid him farewell.

"Oh," The blonde smiled quickly taking her leave and leaving the three of them together once more.

"I'll train up in the morning," Cora spoke solemnly letting her smile fall as she looked Rosamund and Violet disappointed.

"I'm going with you," Rosamund added not caring what Cora thought but wanting to find Edith.

"Oh, I'm not going," Violet interjected. "I'll have a horrible day worrying. Trust me." She regretted her choice of words almost instantly seeing the way Cora's eyes shone in disbelief and she shook her head slightly.

"How can you imagine I'll ever trust you again?" And with that she turned, making her way over to Robert to bid Isobel and Dicky goodbye for the evening.

"What's the matter my darling?" Robert questioned as Cora seemed lost in another world. Somewhere he could not reach her. She did not move to acknowledge him as she stared at the fireplace wistfully. "Cora?"

"Hmm?" She hummed quietly in response as she reluctantly moved her gaze to focus on her husband.

"You had gone somewhere else I'm afraid," he smiled kindly reaching out for her hand. "Are you quite alright?"

She nodded softly as she looked into his eyes longing to share the truth of the matter with him. "I'm alright, I'm just worried about Edith...I believe we've overlooked her Robert."

He sighed looking down at their hands that were intertwined. Life had certainly not been fair to his middle child. "Whether that's the case or not my love, I believe even our attention could not have stopped this from happening. Poor darling is so unhappy, I only wish there was something that we could do," he looked around sipping his drink.

If only you knew she thought at his remark. There was only one thing they could make Edith happy and that thing was a child. Her child. "If only," she mumbled looking down letting her hand slip from his. "Goodnight darling, I'm going to retire early tonight." She forced a smile that did not reach her eyes and quickly surrendered her place in the room.

All pretense was gone once she left the room. She could not hide the emotions that overwhelmed her features. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs trying to catch her breath but why it was gone in the first place she couldn't tell.

"Cora dear?" She heard her name being called behind her. She turned and found Rosamund staring at her with concern in her eyes. "Are you quite alright?" She stepped closer.

"You, of all people, seriously want to ask me that right now?" She retorted, her voice hoarse and broke.

Rosamund looked down, sighing as she did. "Cora I did what I thought was best," the ginger said genuinely. "I'm not saying what I did was the best I'm only saying-" she stopped seeing how dark Cora's flare was. "I only hope you can forgive me Cora...one day."

"I doubt that highly," she replied without emotion. "For Edith's sake we shall remain allies in this...but beyond that, I'm afraid I cannot promise anything."

Rosamund nodded seeing she was going to get no further with her sister-in-law. "I'll see you in the morning then," she smiled briefly.

Cora said nothing else and simply turned to ascend the stairs, leaving the rest of them downstairs and leaving herself alone yet again.

Alone with her wounded heart. Her mother's heart. She could not be angry with Edith but she desperately wanted to know why. Why she hadn't come to her. Why hadn't she trusted her? Did she not love her as much as she loved Rosamund? Some might say Lady Grantham was being peevish and maybe she was but her daughter had chosen to go to someone else and not her.

As much as she wanted to no words seemed to enter her brain, even when Baxter had come in, she could not find the gumption to say anything. She longed to be left alone and was relieved when Baxter had left as quickly as she had come. She crawled into bed, her body sinking with a thud, and she told herself sleep was what was needed. And yet it was not given to her. No matter how hard she tried it evaded her.

"Are you awake my love?" Her husband's voice called to her.

She exhaled turning to put him in her sights. "Yes...though I do not wish to be," she acknowledged pushing the hair from her face.

"Still worrying?" He inquired knowing his wife rarely rested where their daughters were concerned.

She nodded her head not able to find the strength to speak. She looked away feeling the tears slip from the corners of her eyes.

Robert sighed feeling Cora's anguish. "I hate seeing you like this," he whispered kneeling in front of her. Though the room was dim he could see the droplets glistening off her porcelain cheeks. Turning her face further away, she sniffled in response. She didn't want to be seen. "Is there anything I can do?"

"N-no," she shook her head. "I must look like such a fool to you..."

He looked her over slowly, taking his time to gain perspective. "No not at all," Robert replied softly reaching out to catch the falling tear. "I see a grieving mother."

Her chin quivered as she met his gaze and she was unable to stop the sob that soon followed. Her world felt turned upside down. "I don't know what to do Robert," she choked out.

"Oh my darling," he spoke softly as he moved to sit next to her.

"I feel I have let her down--and now she's gone," Cora waved vaguely.

"She is not gone my love, I'm positive she just needed to get away for a little while," he tried to encourage her.

"I'm quite afraid it's much more than that-" she stopped as they both heard two resounding knocks at the door. She sniffled as she reached up, wiping her tears hoping to hide the evidence of how she felt. "Will you deal with that Robert?" His only answer was getting up and doing as she had asked.

"Mrs. Hughes," she heard him greet. I wonder what she wants this late. She couldn't quite make out what their housekeeper was saying, something about the telephone. "Yes I'll speak with her now," he said hurriedly.

"What is it? Is everything all right?" She furrowed her brow as he turned her way quickly.

"It's Edith," he answered concerned. "She's called asking to speak with you."


Hello and if you made it this far, thank you for reading! If you would enjoy seeing this story furthered or you have input please review and let me know more! 

-lovelyladylavender