Aftermath
Chapter 10
Cora intentionally avoided Mary, spending her day with Marigold and Patrick. She just didn't have the energy to deal with vicious barbs from her own daughter. She wasn't sure what Robert's angle was now that Mary was there. He had spent the day with Bertie, looking at tenant farms. Edith and Miranda had entertained Mary.
But it was dinnertime, and Edith had begged Cora to come downstairs. She even had an evening dress brought for Cora, in a dark red satin and lent her some of her own jewelry since Cora no longer even possessed her wedding band or engagement ring. Miranda had lent Cora a tiara and her lady's maid had done Cora's hair. For the first time in months, Cora felt slightly normal. She was just scared to walk downstairs on her own, for fear of facing Mary alone. She finally stepped out of her own room, and met Robert coming out of his room.
"You look quite lovely." Robert said, offering her his arm. It was obviously an invitation to walk together and Cora was happy to accept.
"Thank you. Edith had the dress made for me and the jewelry is lent." Cora explained as they walked.
"Baxter told me that you no longer had any jewelry and barely any clothes." Robert said.
"I don't need much. I'm not invited to much anymore and I didn't want to ask you for more money." Cora said.
"I was going to ask you; I paid a doctor bill for a severe cold, but are you alright? It worried me." Robert asked.
"I had severe pneumonia. I was overtired I suppose. I'm alright now. I will try and find a way to pay you back." Cora said. Robert stopped and wrapped an arm around her.
"I am not worried about the doctor bill. I was only worried that you were still ill. They should have sent for me." Robert said.
"I asked them not to. I didn't want you to…not come. That is, I was afraid if they did, you wouldn't and that would more than you not being sent for. They let Edith know, and if it had been any worse, she would have called for you." Cora said. She was downplaying it, of course; but she didn't want him to know that she had been very ill. They continued walking and Cora become increasingly nervous.
"I do have a suggestion, something Bertie has done. I will explain it after dinner, but I promise; you'll enjoy it and I spoke with Miranda, she has you seated next to me and Bertie is on the other side. Mary is on the other end of the table." Robert reassured Cora.
"Good…I shouldn't say that, I suppose." Cora said.
"You are entitled to. Do not allow Mary to degrade you. I certainly won't." Robert said. They had gotten to the first floor and were walking towards the drawing room.
"I don't want to make things uncomfortable. There is a lot of guests." Cora said.
"There are, and you are a lady. You won't make things uncomfortable. Mary will." Robert said as they stopped in front of the drawing room door. Cora could see Mary on the other side of the room, glaring at her. It made her want to cry and then Robert did something she didn't expect at all. He pulled her close and gave her a long and passionate kiss. It was the first time he had done that since they separated and Cora had missed it, even if it wasn't proper.
"Robert, you'll embarrass Edith!" Cora scolded him. They didn't normally partake in public displays of affection aside from a hand on her back or one of them stroking the other's face. A kiss on the lips was for the bedroom.
"She won't mind." Robert said. He took her hand and they walked into the drawing room together and for the first time in months, Cora had some courage to face Mary.