Whilst Ella went up to speak with Elsie and Charlie about the latest developments, Robert, Cora and Mary were left in the library. Robert paced round the room, which was something he hadn't done in a long time, and Cora was very worried about how much strain he was under.
'Well the only blessing about all this is how well Ella seems to have taken it and, as awful it was at the time, I'm very glad she found out when she did.' Cora said, but to no one in particular; it was more the case that she was thinking out loud, but Robert did agree.
'Perhaps she's been able to come to terms with it over the last six months, but I know that she'll be keeping most of her feelings bottled up.' He said. 'The main problem now is how are we going to get rid of him and keep Mama from finding out?'
'That's our main problem is it? Well I can see a far bigger one; now that he has returned he will be heir to your title and to the estate, which means that Matthew will get passed over and we will be left with nothing!' Mary said angrily, but not as angry as her comment made Robert.
'Mary, your sister is going through hell at the moment and the only damn thing you are worried about is yours and Matthew's inheritance?' He spat with his voice raised, although he wasn't actually shouting.
'That's not exactly what I meant Papa…' She began to defend, but was interrupted when Thomas entered the room.
'The Dowager Countess and Mr Casey.' He announced as he allowed Violet and her son to enter past him, which turned the atmosphere of the room from icy to downright arctic.
'Mama we weren't expecting you,' Robert said as he kissed his mother on the cheek and then turned to his brother. 'It's a surprise to see you too Richard…or would you prefer I called you David now?' He added as he held his hand out to his brother reluctantly.
'I would prefer you called me David; sadly I have very few recollections of ever being Richard I'm afraid.' He said with a New Zealand accent.
'I don't believe you have met my eldest daughter Mary.' Robert replied as he awkwardly introduced them and Mary wasn't quite sure how to react.
'It's nice to meet you,' she lied as she held out her hand to him.
'Well it's lovely to finally get to spend time with you all.' David said.
'Well I'm afraid Mary was just leaving; I believe you and Ella had made plans to go out this afternoon?' Robert said which was greeted by a slightly confused look from Mary at first.
'Yes that's right; she was planning to come with me to collect some things for the new house.' She replied quickly and was pleased that this seemed to be accepted by everyone.
'That's quite alright my dear; you'll have plenty of time to spend together this evening. I've sent for Rosamund and demanded that she come at once. We'll have a dinner here tonight and cousin Isobel may join us.' Violet said and it no longer seemed possible to come up with an excuse, not without telling Violet the truth about exactly what had happened and what her son had done twenty five years earlier.