Post Movie, Robert was never able to forgive Cora for her friendship with Simon Bricker and she found out about the almost affair with the maid, Jane. Then, Simon Bricker went to the media and lied about the friendship, calling it an illicit affair. All this led to a legal separation for Robert and Cora. Edith and Bertie play matchmaker, and Mary treats her mother badly.
Aftermath
Chapter 1
Things had been going well enough. Cora thought her marriage had been fixed after all the misunderstandings, but then Simon Bricker surfaced again. He wanted press for his new book, so he went to the media and told them that he and Cora had had a long-term affair. That caused Jane Moorsum, their former maid came forward telling that she had had an affair with Robert, and he forced her to quit.
It had all been too much, and Robert and Cora legally separated. Cora went to live in London, at Grantham House, while Robert occupied Downton Abbey. Edith was settled with Bertie and Marigold at Brancaster Castle and had just had her second baby, a son that had been named Patrick Robert; after his great-grandfather and grandfather. She kept Cora looped into what was going on within the family and if it wasn't for Edith's visits, Cora would fall apart. Mary had believed all the rumors concerning Simon Bricker and none of the ones concerning Jane Moorsum. She wouldn't allow Cora to visit Downton to see her other grandchildren. Tom had written that she could visit Sybbie any time, but Cora didn't want to cause problems. She didn't know how Robert felt, she just knew she really missed her oldest daughter and grandchildren.
When Edith had little Patrick, Cora went to the Brancaster to take care of her and the children, because Edith only had a part-time nanny. Marigold and Patrick didn't understand, or judge Cora and Bertie and Edith were wonderful.
The problem was; Patrick was to be christened at Brancaster and Edith had invited the rest of her family. Robert had responded that he would be there for it. Cora didn't know if Edith had told him that Cora was there. They had done all their communicating through Murray or Edith.
Cora was nervous. Robert had asked her to leave Downton and had Miss Baxter pack her bags. That had been six months before, and Cora wasn't sure how to even talk to Robert. There had been so much mutual hurt that Cora wasn't certain that they even had a common ground.
Cora was rocking Patrick when Edith found her in the nursery the day before Robert was due to arrive. She smiled down at her and then knelt down in front of Cora and grasped Patrick's hand.
"I just spoke with Papa. He is aware you are here and is coming anyways. I think he was even glad." Edith said.
"Don't put words in his mouth. I doubt it. Is Mary and the others coming?" Cora asked.
"I don't know. Papa said the children have been ill. Just a childhood illness, but he doesn't want Marigold or Patrick exposed." Edith said.
"I am shocked they aren't just leaving them with the nannies." Cora remarked. She wasn't entirely thrilled with Mary's parenting skills. She wasn't the most involved mother.
"That's a consideration. Maybe you and Papa can work something out." Edith said hopefully.
"I doubt it, not that I don't want to. I just wish your papa would have believed me." Cora said.
"It's a two way street, Mama. You didn't believe him about that maid either." Edith pointed out.
"That's true, but I don't know how to rebuild things. It seems that those two surfacing caused all the frustrations and anxieties to resurface from an almost forty-year marriage." Cora said.
"Well, maybe a happy event will make all the good times resurface." Edith said with a smile. Despite how rough her life had been, Edith had an innate ability to point out the good things. Maybe she could do that with Robert too.