Aftermath
Chapter 6
Robert not so patiently waited on Baxter's response. Cora had always loved her, and Robert had made a point to keep her employed, much against Mary's opinion. He wasn't even sure why, because Baxter was not thrilled to just be a maid. Maybe in the back of his mind, he wondered about Cora coming back.
Robert sat down in the library to think and to be away from everyone. The truth was, he had been extremely unhappy without Cora and had drug out filing for divorce. He had allowed her to stay in Grantham House and had paid all the bills, not that Cora had ever accumulated much. Mary was not happy about it and had been angry when Robert had paid a doctor bill and expressed concern for Cora. It was for a severe cold, but Cora would not have called for a doctor unless she was very ill.
Robert was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't hear Shrimpie come into the room. It wasn't until he handed Robert a glass of brandy that Robert realized he was there.
"How are you really doing?" Shrimpie asked.
"With what? I'm here for my grandson's christening. A happy event." Robert said.
"With his grandmother in attendance. Someone you separated from six months ago. And someone that you are still madly in love with." Shrimpie said.
"I don't know what to do." Robert said.
"Beg for her forgiveness. Have some honest conversations. Get away from the naysayers. I'm a divorced man and it is lonely. My marriage to Susan was far from yours. I was never happy with Susan. Like you, my marriage was one of convenience, but you made something of yours. Why throw that away because divorce seems the convenient and easy answer?" Shrimpie asked.
"I am afraid that I will not be able to fix this." Robert said.
"Have you tried?" Shrimpie asked.
"No. Cora is very hurt by somethings Mary said. If I am to fix this, I have to fix that too." Robert answered.
"This needs to be about you and Cora. I understand she hurts. James was the same way with me after Susan and I divorced. Angry. I wish I could say things are better, but they aren't. Mary will have to deal with your decisions. What will happen with Downton if you convince Cora to come back?" Shrimpie asked.
"I don't know. Tom, Mary and Henry pretty well run things now. I help with major decisions and dealing with tenants. Mary hasn't learned the people skills necessary for that. I suppose if I do convince Cora to come back; we could travel a bit. Maybe stay at Grantham House. Its not like we don't have options. We haven't had much time since before the war." Robert admitted.
"And since, you've lost a daughter, suffered a major health crisis, financial issues, family problems and the list goes on. No wonder you and Cora fell apart at the whiff of trouble." Shrimpie said.
"I thought we were doing well until we weren't." Robert said.
"Was there a basis for this maid or this Bricker fellow?" Shrimpie asked.
"The maid was after the war. Cora had been so busy running the convalescent home at Downton and then she began getting busy helping refuges. Jane was there and available. I took things a little too far, but not as far as she claimed. I would have but Bates interrupted things. Cora was in the next room, dying from the Spanish Flu and I had an attack of conscious. I did have some fault with the Bricker incident. Wasn't paying attention to Cora. Insulting at times. But it also was not what he claimed." Robert said.
"I really think what you need is some time away with Cora. Just the two of you. Away. I don't know where or how, but I think you need it." Shrimpie said as he stood up. Before Robert could respond, Shrimpie walked out of the room.
Robert was not sure that Cora would take him back, or what his family's response would be. Cora was sad and depressed and without her, he was depressed. He just didn't know how to fix it.