Cora rips the pins vigorously from her hair and launches her purse onto the bed before ringing for Baxter. Just looking at the bed, the bed that will from now on only be hers makes her want to scream. She still can't fathom why he chose that maid over her, ungrateful scoundrel. After all these years, three children and her heart he's decided to ruin the family name with a maid. An actress or singer would have been one thing; she may have even understood the attraction, but a maid?
Her heart aches with longing for the love she knows she's now lost, but since this morning and that maid's reappearance she is not convinced she ever had that love in the first place. She still can't understand how she was taken in by his sweet kisses and murmurs of love, what a fool she's been. He's just a liar, with very soft lips her subconscious probes.
The day at the Dower house had not been a total success. Mama had not questioned her state of mind, which had been a blessing, but her thoughts had turned far to often to images of that maid and Robert in various positions to make the trip a distraction from her ruined marriage. She rips more pins from her hair and a growl erupts from her throat as she attempts to clear her head of yet more uncomfortable images.
The real problem is that she still loves him. She is unable to give him up, he has taken her heart and it will be his forever.
Baxter appears behind her a few moments later and wordlessly brushes and braids her hair before dressing her for bed. She exits and Cora is beyond thankful that she didn't ask any questions. Although she supposes that's because the news of her failed marriage and the true reason for Jane's return are already common knowledge to the servants after her outburst at breakfast. She starts creaming her hands with twice as much precision and lotion as usual, anything to delay going to bed. She knows from experience that the nightmares will be far more vivid and painful than any image her alert mind can conjure.
She almost jumps when the door to Robert's dressing room opens and closes. She doesn't look up, she doesn't want to see his face.
"Cora, I-" She slides her wedding ring off her finger as she stands and throws it onto her dressing table. The clink it makes when it lands is almost deafening in the eerie silence that engulfs them.
"I don't want to hear it Robert. It's done. You'd better go, she'll be waiting for you otherwise, and you wouldn't want to disappoint her on her first night." She turns her back on him, her anger flaring. How does he have the nerve, she wonders, to walk into her room in his dressing gown and all, looking as though he's about to join her in bed, when he's just installed his mistress under the roof?
A searing pain shoots through her wrists and then her back as Robert grabs her, turns her to face him and pushes her roughly against the bedpost. In any other situation she would quite enjoy being pressed so close against his body, no doubt something he's trying to use to his advantage, but not today.
"Let me go! I don't want you touching me, get off!" But her shouts are to no avail, he just holds her tighter, pressing his body against hers until she finally lifts her face and their eyes meet. Those eyes, the most intoxicating blue she's ever seen. She bites her tongue to clear such thoughts from her mind; he's taken a mistress she reminds herself, that maid.
"I will let you go, but I need you to hear me out first."
"What is there to hear? She's your mistress, that's the long and the short version of the story. I don't need your 'I'm so sorry' and 'I do love you Cora' because it's-" Electricity shoots through her body as his mouth crushes against her own. She pushes against him in a desperate attempt to free herself from the power his lips have over her mind, but he holds his grip firmly on her wrists, his body still keeping hers tight against the bedpost. As his tongue slides along her lower lip, seeking an entrance into her mouth she tries to push away the feeling of pleasure that's consuming her and focus on the facts of his betrayal and that he doesn't love her any more. But all too quickly her mouth opens and his tongue finds hers, a fresh bout of pleasure washing over her. His lips abruptly leave hers, the feelings of loneliness and isolation roll over her and she's far too stunned to speak.
"She's not my mistress." It doesn't surprise her that he's trying to deny it, she only wishes he hadn't kissed her, now she can't form a coherent thought, no doubt his intention. What does surprise her is how calmly he speaks, he's not even close to shouting in fact he talks in more of a whisper. "She's only here for a short time. Anna's pregnant and is going to have to start reducing her duties. I just thought having Jane back would save time, she knows how things run here and she's a local woman which you know better than I pleases Mrs Hughes. I love you Cora, and only you."
The shattered fragments of Cora's heart come back together and her body becomes wracked with sobs. Of course, how could she have been so stupid, Jane is here to help, not to steal away her darling Robert. Besides Robert is such a hopeless liar she would have sniffed him out if his affections had been false, how could she have been so naive? She is half aware of Robert talking to her but she doesn't hear what he's saying, she just sobs and whimpers 'I'm sorry' into his chest. She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling his lips down to meet hers, determined to prove she loves him.
The only thought that does lodge itself in Cora's mind as Roberts lips move in perfect synchronisation with her own is what Jane feels. Robert might not love her, but what does she feel for him? Surely she wouldn't have returned to all the discomfort of being here with all these rumours sure to fly around if she didn't think there was a chance she could somehow manipulate Robert again. She'd have to keep an eye on Jane, a very close eye.
AN: The next chapter contains Jane's first appearance and she shakes things up yet again. Thanks for all the continued support, reviews and views, everyone on the site will say it's what keeps us writing!