Aftermath
Chapter 15
A few days later, Robert and Cora were at Grantham House in London. The parting with Mary had been easier than Robert thought possible. She'd given them both hugs and promised to send all of Cora's clothes, shoes and jewelry with Bates, Tom and Sybbie.
All Cora cared about was seeing Sybbie. She missed George and Caroline, but the relationship with Sybbie was different, because of Sybil dying. Robert had suggested taking Cora to restaurants and plays to reintroduce her into society and tell people that they were back together, but Cora was resistant. She was embarrassed. The only social engagement that they attended was a dinner at Rosamund's house on Belgrave Square. Thankfully, it went well and Rosamund was thrilled to have Cora there.
Tom, Sybbie and Bates finally arrived, and Cora immediately busied herself with the little girl, while visiting with Tom. Robert found Bates in his dressing room and smiled at the care he was taking with his belongings.
"Thank you for packing everything. I know this was all spur of the moment." Robert said.
"I was glad to. Lady Mary said you might be gone longer than a month though?" Bates asked.
"Possibly. We've a month in Switzerland, but we might travel on to France. I'm sure Little Johnny will keep you busy." Robert said.
"I'm sure; m'lord. He always does." Bates said.
"Bates, just say what's on your mind!" Robert finally said. He could tell something was bothering Bates.
"I am happy that you and Lady Grantham are working things out and I agree time away is the best way of getting to know one another is to get away. I just hope you've thought things through. Things like this tend to stay between a husband and wife, no matter how much they've forgiven each other. I wonder if the way Lady Grantham was treated will come back into light? She was tossed out of her home, with little care. I've always felt it was a bit cruel. I just didn't care to intrude." Bates said.
"Thank you for your candor. I agree, it was particularly cruel. I think Cora has forgiven it, because she is not a cruel person. At least I hope." Robert stated.
"Sir, is she forgiving you simply because she is afraid of being alone? Forgive me for speaking so frankly, but Lady Grantham has never really been on her own, has she? You and she married young." Bates asked.
"She was nineteen, barely. That was the norm back then." Robert said. He had been young too, only twenty-two, but he was not as inexperienced or naïve as his young wife. His cousin, James had seen to that.
"It was a marriage of convenience at first, wasn't it?" Bates asked.
"That was also the norm. It was arranged between my father and her father. Of course, they set it up that I pursued her, made her fall in love with me, but marriage was always the end goal, even against both of our wills." Robert reminisced.
"You didn't fall in love with her?" Bates asked.
"I did eventually. It took almost a year. Those several months were miserable for both of us. She was homesick and all too aware of what her sole purpose was." Robert said.
"Which was what?" Bates continued.
"Save Downton with her dowry, not embarrass us, give me an heir." Robert said.
"I hate to point this out, but Lady Grantham is all too aware that her money is gone. The estate is being ran on Matthew's money and has become self-sustaining, correct?" Bates asked.
"Yes." Robert answered. He was getting a sick feeling in his stomach.
"And by associating with that Bricker fellow, she embarrassed you?" Bates continued.
"Yes, but…" Robert started but Bates shook his head.
"And while she gave you three daughters, you didn't get an heir until your grandson was born." Bates stated.
"I think she was always terribly disappointed in that. Her pregnancies were horrific. After Sybil, we were warned to not have anymore; and then she miscarried that baby before the war. That pregnancy, or what there was of it, was easiest; but it was not to be." Robert said as he sat down on the bed. Bates was straightening things in the closet to stay busy.
"My point is, her money is no longer saving Downton, she embarrassed you and she didn't give you a son. She may love you, but I am afraid that this is more about simply maintaining a bit of a lifestyle. I think Lady Grantham could survive without the fancy dinners, clothes and houses. She simply desires to be loved and with the way she was treated, she may always doubt anyone's love." Bates said.
"So, you think she is willing to work things out because she is scared of not having a place or people to love her?" Robert asked.
"Exactly. I only have met her mother and brother once or twice, but they seem dismissive of Lady Grantham. You treated her terribly by throwing her out before she had a chance to explain, and you never made an apology for your own indiscretion to my knowledge. Now, I know; men in your position frequently take mistresses and have affairs. It is accepted that you would have one, and Lady Grantham would know that. She has probably been taught her entire life that if her husband would take a mistress and that she had to look the other way. I don't believe she questions that. I think the cruelty to her is what she will find so hard to forgive." Bates answered.
"It never went that far with Jane. She seems to have forgiven everything." Robert stated.
"Has she? Or has she simply acted like it because more than anything, she wants her family and home back. She's been here nearly forty years. I cannot imagine she would want to go back to America and be considered…whatever. Here, she can seclude herself, even away from her family if need be." Bates said before leaving the room and leaving Robert to his own thoughts. Maybe he was right? Maybe Cora was simply acting like she forgave him and Mary because she feared losing her family.