Nearly a year later
.
"Stop scowling, Violet," his father says to his mother.
"Why would I? A year ago today Robert caused our family more embarrassment than anyone else ever has."
He cringes at those words. The gossips, both local and in London, had of course talked about his marriage to Cora but once it had become clear that Cora was not some trollop but a very well educated woman who knew how to conduct herself in society, the gossip had died down. People are still curious about her of course and there will always be muffled talk in the background but to him it doesn't seem much more as it would have been had he married her as a rich American heiress years ago.
His mother however has not relented. She alternates between ignoring Cora completely and treating her like an insolent daft child.
"I would not say that is true considering how much and more than that how many women my grandfather loved. His affair with the Duchess of Suffolk caused much more of a scandal than Robert's marriage to a nice American girl. Even if his choice was slightly exotic."
"Slightly exotic? She is a nanny, Patrick!" his mother yells.
He wonders if his father is going to answer but he can hear footsteps and a minute later his father opens the door and is standing right in front of him.
"You said she would get used to Cora eventually," he says more accusingly than he intended.
"Yes. It appears I was wrong. Your mother is unpredictable to me." His father storms away then and he wishes there was something he could do. Something to make his mother see Cora, really see her and not only her family's ruin and her brief period as a nanny and as a teacher.
.
"To Cora and Robert. May their marriage be a long and happy one," his father says and toasts them. Rosamund and Marmaduke get up and drink to them as well, his mother however remains in her seat.
"Mama," Rosmamund hisses but gets no reply. Cora only rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
Dinner is not as bad as he thought it would be. Rosamund and Marmaduke carry most of the conversation and his mother seems to have opted for silence, so there are no remarks directed towards Cora. But he knows that this is only a temporary respite. He needs to do something and he knows what it is he needs to do. He needs to convince Cora to move to Eryholme with him and Mary. Their own house where they will be able to live in peace.