Chapter 4:

Cora kept standing on the plattform long after the train had gone out of sight.

„That's it", she just thought „Now only hope and prayers are left"

„Your Ladyship are you allright?", a voice asked suddenly beside her. She jumped and turned around. It was Branson: „I am sorry I did not intend to scar you but I was concerned. It has been half an hour since the train has left…"

„Sorry Branson I was thinking and then I must have lost track of time." She tried to walk to the car but again she could feel her knees shaking.

Branson saw this, then he looked around if anyone was still at the station but they were the only two left. So he offered her his arm and she gratefully took it.

When they were at the car she said: „Thank you Mr. Branson. Now take me home."

„I am sorry your ladyship I cannot do that."

„But why? You decided no start your rebellation now because my husband is gone?"

„No Milady his Lordhip told me I shall take you tot he Dowager Countess no matter what your wishes are…", Branson said as he had already started driving in the direction of the village.

„Oh, did he say so? Well now he is not here anymore, so I won't tell him that you did not obey his orders.", Cora tried again.

„I am sorry Milady but I got an order and I will do as he told me no matter if he is here or not.", Branson said smiling in the back mirror.

Cora gave in with a sigh. The last thing she wanted now was tea with her mother in law. She felt bad enough withoug Violet telling her off.

When they arrived she told Branson to wait in the car because it would not take long. Then she pulled herself together promising herself that she would not show her sadness to Violet. Then she entered the living room and Violet stood and came to her, not looking well herself. Her eyes were glassy and her face was red as if she had cried recently. Now it was even harder for Cora not to break down and as Violet embraced her , Cora lost it all. She started sobbing and her knees gave in again. Violet could hardly get her to the sofa before Cora could not walk anymore. „I am sorry", Cora said between sobs. „I am so sorry…"

„My dear there is nothng to be sorry about. We all are worried and frightened that we might not see him again."

When Cora had calmed down a bit Violet ordered tea. „Cora we have to be optimistic. I know that the war is dangerous but we also must live our lives. Of course we will worry about Robert but it must not keep us from living. You have tob e there for your girls. I know they are all grown up women but they will still need you."

„I know… I will try. Thank you." They spent the rest of the tea quiet but Cora had to admit that it was good to have someone who understood her feelings. She perfectly know she has to be brave in front of her girls. So there was only Violet she could come to. 2 Months ago she would never have thought that she would find comfort in talking to her mother in law and that her mother in law would embrace her.

When it was time to go, Violet squeezed her hand and said: „We might have not been best friends in the past 20 years but I hope you know that you can come to me for tea if you need a pause of playing the brave mother."

„Thank you Violet. This means a lot to me."

Then Cora went home. In the car she said to Branson: „Thank you Mr. Branson for beying loyal to my husband in this matter. However I hope this was the first and last time you disobeyed me."

„Indeed it was.", Branson smiled while driving.

When they arrived in front oft he house, she got out and breathed deeply and went in. Carson told her that Mary, Edith and Sybill were in the library. When she entered all three of them seemed to be deeply into their books but knowing them so well she could see at once that all three of them were just staring on the pages.

They looked up, when she closed the door. „Mother where have you been that long."

„I had a talk with your grandmother.", she said when she sat down.

„And I will repeat to you what she just has told me. It is allright to worry about your father but you must keep your lives going. Your fatherwants us to enjoy our lives as much as possible. Do you understand this?", Cora looked into 3 surprised looking pairs of eyes.

„Yes mother", they exclaimed in union. Then they came to her and hugged her.

From that day on Cora could see that they were trying really hard to pretend everything was allright. However sometimes she caught one of them sitting on the bench with the thouhghts miles away.