'What can we do to stop this from happening?' Robert demanded with irritation as he paced around the solicitor's office.
'Well we can forward it on to the police and have them investigate it; but for now that's all we can do.' Murray replied calmly.
'But that could take months and we haven't got that kind of time. We have to do something now! What if I paid the demand?' Robert said.
'You don't have that kind of money instantly at your disposal Lord Grantham. All of your money is tied up into the estate which means you cannot withdraw large sums whenever you feel like it. Besides if you pay them once there is no guarantee they wouldn't ask you for more.' Murray reasoned, but this only made Robert angrier, even though he knew the other man was right.
'But this is my daughter's life we are talking about here. She has no idea about any of this, none of it!' Robert shouted with distress.
'Lord Grantham I know this is hard for you to hear, but you may have to accept that there is nothing you can do but tell her the truth. Surely it is better that she hear it from you first, rather than discover it over her morning toast? But in the meantime I will contact Scotland Yard.' Murray replied in a tone that let Robert know that the discussion was over.
Robert returned to his sister's house feeling defeated and heartbroken. He thought Murray would have been able to do something. Instead he had arranged for two detectives from Scotland Yard to speak with him and start an investigation, but he could no longer deny it to himself that Aurelia was going to have to be told the truth, because, although he might be able to prevent the news from getting into the press, he was certain that he wouldn't be able to hide the investigation from his daughter and there was no guarantee that an officer wouldn't leak it to the press.
Further north and Cora, Aurelia and Sybil were returning home from York; tired after their day's shopping, but glad at the productivity of it all. Cora felt so relaxed that she had almost forgotten the reason she had taken Aurelia out in the first place. That was until she returned home to a letter addressed to both her and Robert.
She opened it to find a letter from Lord Merton and at his words her blood ran cold. He explained that he had received a rather odd anonymous letter about one of their daughters and about Mrs Hughes. He said that the letter went on to advise that Robert had had an affair and so on and so forth. The letter didn't have the tone of a man who was gloating, but one of concern, but it meant that their blackmailer had carried through with their threat and another letter would be sent to someone else tomorrow.
'Is everything alright Milady?' Lily asked as she walked through the entrance hall with her mop and bucket.
'Yes thank you. Everything is fine.' Cora said as she pushed the tears from her eyes. She had to remain strong for Aurelia, but that strength almost failed her that night when Robert phoned her.
'What do you mean there's nothing he can do?!' She said in exasperated whispers as she clutched the phone tightly to her ear.
'Well he said we can't pay the money asked and until we find out who the person is then we can't do anything to stop them.' Robert said quietly, trying not to let Rosamund hear him.
'Robert they wrote to the Greys. Richard got in touch to let me know but it would seem that our blackmailer only has part of the story right. They're claiming that you had an affair.' She whispered, but Robert could no longer talk freely.
'Listen my love I've got to go, but I'll be on the first train home again tomorrow morning. We need to tell Aurelia ourselves before this goes any further.' He said before he hung up.
Cora felt devastated by his words and numb. She couldn't bear the thought of looking at Aurelia knowing that she was about to destroy her world.
'Carson, I'm not really feeling myself so I won't be joining my daughters for dinner. Can you arrange for a tray to be sent up for me?' She asked.
'Certainly Milady; do you need me to send for Doctor Clarkson?' He asked caringly.
'No, there's no need for that; but thank you Carson.' She said as she walked up the stairs.
The four Crawley girls sat alone at the dining table and talked about what was going on with their parents. They all agreed that they were acting strangely and for them both to be absent at dinner without any word of explanation was very unusual and concerning.
'How did Mama seem whilst she was with you this afternoon?' Mary asked.
'She seemed fine.' Aurelia replied as she thought back to the day's events. She couldn't think of anything out of the ordinary.
'Actually she seemed quite preoccupied at one point. I asked her what was wrong but she just brushed it off.' Sybil explained.
'When was this?' Aurelia asked, feeling guilty she hadn't noticed it.
'When you were trying on that dress with the dressmaker; she perked up again as soon as you came out and I just thought she was perhaps tired.' Sybil replied.
The four girls looked at each other with concern and Aurelia stood from her place.
'I think I might go and check on her before I head to bed.' She said and disappeared in a flash.
She knocked lightly on the door to her mother's bedroom and found her mother sat up in bed looking as white as a sheet and staring intently into space. She was so distracted that she didn't even see Aurelia come in.
'Mama is everything alright?' She asked tentatively as she sat on the bed beside her mother.
'Yes my dear everything is fine. I just felt a little…unwell, that's all. I'm sure I'll be fine once I've had a good night's sleep.' Cora replied and she did sound absolutely exhausted.
'Well I'll say goodnight then Mama.' Aurelia replied as she moved to kiss her mother's cheek.
'I do love you, I hope you know that.' Cora said quite out of the blue, which puzzled Aurelia and concerned her more than ever.
'I am quite sure I do Mama.' Aurelia replied with a smile.
'Why are you smiling like that?' Cora replied warmly and smiled herself.
'Oh it's nothing really; it's just nice having an American mother sometimes, as you're not as afraid to show your feelings as the English are.' Aurelia replied with a giggle before getting up to leave the room. 'Are you quite sure there's nothing wrong Mama?' She said as she stood by the door.
'Everything will be fine in the morning.' Cora said, but her deliberate avoidance of the question went unmissed by her daughter, but Aurelia chose not to question her mother further.
As soon as she got into her own room and closed the door, it was reopened and Sybil rushed in.
'How was she?' She asked before either of them had even sat down.
'I don't know Sybbie, she seemed really…strange. She told me that she loved me and that everything would be alright in the morning.' Aurelia explained with great concern.
'What do you think that means?' Sybil replied with a tone of voice that matched her sister's. 'You don't think she's ill do you?'
'No I don't think so, but then again she looked as white as a sheet when I went in.' Aurelia said. 'Perhaps she's just tired and as she said, maybe everything will be alright in the morning.'
'Oh I do hope so.' Sybil replied.
The two girls bid each other goodnight and Sybil disappeared next door to her own room. Aurelia laid on her bed and tossed and turned throughout the night. She could sense that something was wrong and seeing her mother so despondent upset her and she wished there was something she could do to help her. Eventually she did fall asleep but she had a restless night, much like Cora.
Cora spent most of the night awake; not only was she worried about Aurelia, but she missed Robert and worried about him too. She knew that when he returned the next day they would have to speak to Mrs Hughes and explain to her about the letters and then between the three of them they'd have to break the news to Aurelia, but the thought of that made Cora weep.
As the house began to stir and the servants began to brighten the house with life, Cora decided to get up early. She had to see Mrs Hughes before anyone else had time to get up and it wouldn't be too much longer before Robert returned home. She crept down into the servants' hall where the servants began to meet to start their day.
Those present rose very quickly from their seats on seeing Cora enter, but they looked confused and startled by her presence, especially so early in the day.
'I am looking for Mrs Hughes.' She said politely and received blank stares for a split second. It was only until Mr Carson appeared that she got an answer.
'Oh I do beg your pardon Milady, is there anything I can help you with?' He said trying not to sound as flabbergasted as he felt.
'Ah good morning Carson; I was just looking for Mrs Hughes.' She asked again and the butler was shocked to see how exhausted she looked.
'She's through here Milady.' Mr Carson said as he led her ladyship toward Mrs Hughes' sitting room.
Mrs Hughes was shocked to see Cora downstairs and even more shocked that she wanted to see her and the fact that it seemed so urgent.
'Is everything alright Milady?' She asked with a slight quiver to her voice.
'Well, I'm not exactly sure how to begin Mrs Hughes, but I need to speak to you about Aurelia.' Cora explained and felt tears spring to her eyes, which was most out of character for her. She was determined that, no matter how tired she was or how distressing this was, she was not going to shed a tear.
'Is she alright Milady?! Has something happened?!' Mrs Hughes asked with great urgency, fearing that Aurelia might have taken ill in the night or that something else may have happened to her, but she hadn't prepared herself for what Cora was about to tell her.
'She's absolutely fine, it's nothing like that; but we need to tell her the truth.' Cora said simply and she watched as the older woman's face turned white. She explained to Mrs Hughes about the letters and about what Murray had told Robert and they were in agreement that they could no longer keep it secret, but now needed to manage the damage.
'Well we knew that this day was a possibility.' Mrs Hughes said but that didn't make the twisted knot in her throat any easier to swallow.