Lessons to Learn
Chapter 4
A/N: This story is M-rated for a reason. I'm just saying because if you're not comfortable with explicitly described smut, skip the last third of this chapter :)
However, I hope you enjoy xx
Cora and Rosamund had finally managed to find time to meet. Rosamund had said she needed this relaxed evening before the whole ruckus with the setup of the new system at the bank started. So, it was Friday afternoon when Cora made her way to Rosamund's house. It wouldn't be the big fun like last time; a relaxing evening at home seemed more reasonable at the moment.
Cora hadn't realised what a large thing the whole system renewal at the bank was. After all, Robert hadn't told her much about it. Yes, he had talked a lot about the different systems but it was directed at Mary and when Cora asked, he waved it away. The few snippets she had caught yesterday evening when running to and fro the kitchen weren't enough for her to get a fair understanding of it. He didn't make work a topic between them, and most of the time Cora was grateful for that. They could talk about a really good or really bad day at work, but usually they were occupied with just each other, well, and maybe family topics.
When Rosamund, though, mentioned the stressful weeks ahead, Cora was slightly baffled. Robert had said nothing of that. He didn't have to tell her every content detail, but he could at least mention aspects that concerned their family life. From what Cora had gathered from Rosamund's words, Robert would have to work decisively more the coming weeks. He would stay longer at work, but he hadn't said a thing to her.
Cora had asked what the news was from work that he had talked about with Mary earlier, as they were alone in their bedroom last night. She already wore her night clothes and was taking out the pins of her hair to arrange her night braid. Robert was sitting on the edge of the bed, only in his pants and his unbuttoned shirt, and was pushing down his socks. He was shrugging his shoulders without looking at her. She watched him through the mirror on her vanity she sat at.
"Oh, just a new computer tool, but it would bore you. I'd rather talk about things that are more pleasant for you," he mumbled. He missed her raised eyebrows when he rose to retrieve his night things from his pile of clothes on his armchair.
"Robert, you shouldn't scold Sybil for being messy when you can't keep order in your own things," Cora teased him while turning on her chair to face him and his chaos properly.
"I'll clean it up tomorrow and then I'll have a look at Sybil's room," he muttered. Cora chuckled, not really convinced by his assurance.
"But you should have the phone ready to call the ambulance if her mess is giving me a heart attack," Robert added and turned around with a triumphant expression and his pyjama in his outstretched hands. Cora laughed and shook her head. She turned back to the mirror and braided her dark curls. She observed the nightdress she wore. The flowing fabric held a hue of peach and had a simply embroidered collar. It wasn't particularly revealing, but she liked the way the ribbon lacing underneath her bosom emphasised her round breasts. If Robert hadn't noticed her earlier flirty outfit, perhaps he would jump at this subtle invitation.
Cora was in front of Rosamund's house now. She pressed the doorbell and waited for the door to open which could take a while by the grand size of her sister-in-law's domicile. Her thoughts wandered back to last night for a final moment. It hadn't worked out the way she'd hoped. After her successful day at school, she had hoped for a delightful night with Robert. He, however, had read his book with determination until she had pressed light kisses to his shoulder. He had hummed and had finally discarded his book to scoop her up in his arms. The following kisses had been passionate but had ended soon. She'd snuggled up to his side attempting to fall asleep as easily as he.
"Cora!" Rosamund exclaimed elated at opening the door. Her grinning face made Cora smile in response unintentionally.
"Come in, come in! We really have ghastly weather here in London," Rosamund babbled with an impatient wave of her hand to motion Cora inside. Her eyes went up to the grey sky deprecatingly.
"Oh, I like the latest weather. You can smell the spring already," Cora remarked and stepped up the ascent to the entrance.
"Well, if you say so," Rosamund dismissed. She closed the door behind her sister-in-law and lead the way to the living room.
"Marmaduke is making tea for us," she added, "Or do you want something else?" They took seats on the patterned sofas. Cora shook her head.
"No, tea is just fine. We already had something else last time," she chuckled. "I don't think I need that right now."
"Yeah, I see." Rosamund pushed off her slippers and pulled up her legs on the sofa.
The Painswicks had a generous living room with pompous furniture. Cora didn't know if this was all Rosamund's doing or if it had been like this even before she had moved in with Marmaduke. Marmaduke Painswick had been very successful and therefore wealthy at a very young age. He was a clever businessman and had founded a great start-up after he'd finished school. Detractors had said Rosamund had mainly found great interest in Marmaduke's fortune but just barely in Marmaduke himself. Cora knew it wasn't true. She had seen Rosamund all rapt and smitten twenty years ago. Rosamund had fallen head over heels, and she herself was the one who had least expected it. Marmaduke's wealth was only the cherry on top, a very welcome cherry on top. So much was obvious. Marmaduke had acquired the grand property shortly before he met Rosamund, so Cora assumed the furnishing had been there before Rosamund. But it all looked so much like her; the colourful fabrics, the eccentric patterns, the shining décor. Cora had needed a while to adjust to her sister-in-law's home when she had been here the first times. By now, though, she even had a feeling of cosiness in the rooms with the high ceilings and large sofas.
Marmaduke showed up with a large pot of tea and a subtle grin. He placed the pot on the coffee table and wiped his hands on his trousers afterwards.
"Hey Cora," he greeted.
"Hello, Marmaduke," she responded warmly. Cora always admired how his shirts and suit pants stayed smooth and free of wrinkles all day. Everything concerning Marmaduke was in neat order, from his appearance to his business and his flawless handwriting. Even his short cropped dark curls looked smooth and harmonious; they never seemed mussed.
"I won't disturb you any further. I'll leave you to it," Marmaduke spoke in his calm voice.
"Oh, we're not this strict today, are we Cora?" Rosamund interjected. Cora shook her head in agreement.
"But it's your girls' night," he remarked. He knew his wife's precisely defined rules.
"It's a light version today," Rosamund explained generously.
"Well, maybe I'll join you later then," Marmaduke uttered. He made his way to the hallway when Rosamund waved her hand to catch his attention once again.
"Oh, would you bring me something stronger then? I don't think only tea will do it for me today," she said and Marmaduke left the room noddingly. Rosamund set her feet down on the ground to lean forward properly and pour Cora and herself some tea. They took their mugs and blew the steaming beverage while warming their fingers at the pottery.
"So, this new project at the bank…" Cora started but was interrupted by her friend.
"Oh, not this, please!" Rosamund whined, "I don't want to think about it until it starts next week."
Cora nodded with a thoughtful expression.
"But will it really be this stressful? How long will it take?" she asked rather timidly.
Rosamund narrowed her eyes. She tried to read Cora's thinking face.
"Why do you ask? You're not worried about me; I know that," Rosamund remarked. "It's about Robert, isn't it?" she asked.
Cora sighed. She did not need to affirm her friend's suspicion.
"Oh! He didn't tell you?" Rosamund inquired.
"Well, I heard him talking to Mary about it, but he didn't want to elaborate when I asked him. I didn't know it was such a big project," Cora explained. She took a sip of her tea and they were quiet for a moment.
"Well," Rosamund huffed, "If you have questions, I'll tell you what you need to know. But I'd think it better if you two can sort this out. I don't like to play the messenger, you know that."
"Thank you, Ros. I know. But you also know how reticent Robert gets when he's very busy with work. Especially if it goes on for a long period of time," Cora responded, her demeanour was slightly down-hearted.
"But you've worked it out before," Rosamund tried to cheer her up a bit.
"With me being the clingy and annoying wife, always asking questions he didn't want to answer. I had to put in so much effort to get a tiny piece of information out of him." Cora rubbed her eyes as she remembered the somewhat harder times of her and Robert's marriage.
"Well, if you ask me, I'd say you have much better chances now," Rosamund retorted grinningly.
"And why is that?"
"He seems quite attentive lately," Rosamund merely stated. Cora had to smile lightly at this. "Don't worry, Cora. It will be alright." Rosamund reached out to pat Cora's hand. Cora gave her friend a thankful smile and shook off the gloomy mood.
"Then tell me something that's not work-related," she asked and looked expectantly at the red-haired woman in front of her.
"You know, I've had an interesting call from Mama," Rosamund remarked. Her eyes held an intensive glance as they often did.
"Oh, what was it about?" Cora asked curiously.
"It was about Susan and Shrimpie and their youngest…," Rosamund started and faked a thinking expression as if she couldn't remember the name. But Cora knew that Rosamund knew exactly that the name of Susan's and Shrimpie's youngest daughter was Rose. However, she waited patiently for her sister-in-law to perform her little act.
"I think Rose is her name," Rosamund finally uttered while inspecting her nails.
"Yes, I remember Rose," Cora said and leaned back against the cushions. "What is it Mama told you about her?"
"Apparently, Susan and Shrimpie have kind of a…, a drought in their marriage…," Rosamund narrated with a blank expression, but Cora knew how much Rosamund enjoyed gossip about others.
"Again…" Cora interjected knowingly. Susan, Robert's and Rosamund's cousin, and her husband Shrimpie had a very bumpy relationship. However, they were still married and everyone was surprised about that.
"Yes, again. But it seems very hard this time. I don't know exactly what happened, but we all know Susan. I bet my hat it wasn't Shrimpie's fault but some of her nasty intrigues," Rosamund spoke and looked up at Marmaduke who entered the room. He passed her a glass of wine.
"Is it about your cousin?" he asked and took a seat next to her before taking a small sip of his own glass.
"Of course. Who else spins nasty intrigues?" Rosamund stated nonchalantly. Marmaduke shot Cora a look but didn't answer his wife's question.
"Well, getting back to what Mama told me," she locked her eyes with Cora's, "Susan and Shrimpie need some time to sort things out and Rose is caught between the fronts. Poor little thing!"
"How old is she now? She is even younger than Sybil," Cora inquired. She hadn't seen Rose and her family for a while now. Gosh, it was even ages ago that she had been to Downton with Robert and the girls.
"I think she is fourteen years old or so," Rosamund replied. Cora nodded in thought. Marmaduke took a chance at the short pause in conversation to fulfil his duties as host.
"Would you like some wine too, Cora? Rosamund could have offered you some," he looked at Rosamund with a slight grin.
"In fact, I did," his wife interjected. "Cora doesn't want any today."
"Well, I wouldn't repeat the binge from last time but I wouldn't object a small glass," Cora corrected with a shy smile. Marmaduke rose with relaxed and smooth movements and retreated to the kitchen to serve his guest.
"However, I'm curious if Susan and Shrimpie blow it up this time," Rosamund shrugged her shoulders.
"I'd just hope they wouldn't be so hostile with each other," Cora remarked sadly. Her brow was furrowed in pity.
"But don't you think Shrimpie would have deserved better than that? I mean who wouldn't be hostile when trapped with Susan?" Rosamund uttered while sprawling more fully on the couch.
Cora mouth opened to answer something relativising when they were interrupted. Both their heads turned to the opening door.
"Robert!" Cora exclaimed and rose slightly on the sofa. Robert and Marmaduke entered the living room, the first one carrying two glasses and the latter a bottle of wine. Robert took a seat next to Cora and kissed her cheek. He placed their glasses in front of them.
"I thought you would like it," Rosamund said with a smirk.
"You knew he'd come?" Cora turned to her sister-in-law, a surprised expression on her face. Her hand had grabbed Robert's and her thumb stroked across his knuckles.
"Yes, I asked him to come. I told you it was a light version today." Rosamund put her feet on Marmaduke's lap. He started massaging them. Cora rested her head on Robert's shoulder after he'd poured them both a glass of wine.
"Did you know that Susan and Shrimpie have new struggles?" she spoke softly. Robert shook his head.
"Mama told Rosamund," Cora explained.
"Is it serious this time?" Robert asked.
"I don't know. As serious as always, I'd say," she replied lazily. Somehow, she became tired with Robert's side pressed against hers. Rosamund and Marmaduke were engaged in a hushed conversation too.
"I think I don't want to stay very long today," Cora murmured towards Robert.
"It's alright. We can go as soon as you want." She nodded her head on his shoulder.
Cora had to think of how different their last girls' night out had been.
The mood was jolly and the two women enjoyed the loose evening together. Rosamund had picked up Cora at home. Nobody had been able to talk Cora out of preparing a meal for her family, so Rosamund had stood in the already opened front door and had rang the doorbell continuously.
"Yes, I know, I know," Cora had called from the kitchen, "I only need one second."
Rolling her eyes Rosamund had leaned in the doorframe and hadn't been able to resist ringing the doorbell one time again when Cora had turned back to the living room, her coat already in her hand, to look for Robert.
"Robert?"
"Oh, come on, Cora!" Rosamund had thrown her hands up in the air and had wandered from one end of the threshold to the other.
Cora had pressed one final kiss to Robert's cheek and had patted his chest.
"You would really pick us up later?" she'd spoke softly. Her light eyes had pierced into his.
"If you keep asking me, I might change my mind," Robert had mocked her.
"Alright, alright," Cora had relented. After grabbing her keys and phone she had eventually left the house with Rosamund.
"Phew, you need to work on that," had been her sister-in-law's only statement.
Now, they were sitting opposite each other in a bar they had reached on foot. On the table between them was a bowl of tortilla chips and they were both clutching colourful drink. It was a game of Rosamund's to test all the drinks with flashy colours.
"So, tell me again! What did you say to that shop assistant?" Cora asked grinningly. Her voice tilted a bit. The pink drink was stronger than she'd thought.
"I told her that I wouldn't take fashion advice from a dilettante like her. You should have seen her ghastly choice in shoes. And her blazer was so ill-fitting her figure," Rosamund babbled in a slightly too loud voice. Cora chuckled at her sister-in-law's bluntness.
"But was that really necessary? That poor woman! It's her job; she's learned to do just that," Cora remarked. Rosamund only rolled her eyes.
The vibration of Cora's phone on the tabletop interrupted them. Cora checked the message.
"Who is it?" Rosamund inquired.
"Elsie…" Cora skimmed the message briskly.
"Oh really, Cora! No work, right now!" Rosamund exclaimed. She set down her glass with the blue liquid on the table and held out her hands in disbelieve.
"Yes, I know," Cora discarded the phone. She grinned sheepishly at her friend and raised her glass to her lips.
"You should try this one. It's rather good," Cora nodded at her pink beverage.
"Which one was it?" Rosamund asked while she grabbed the menu to find Cora's recommended drink.
"I don't know, the pink one," Cora merely shrugged her shoulders.
"The pink one? Really?" Rosamund looked up slightly dumbfounded, "Don't you insist on precision from your students?"
"We said no work," Cora reminded and clinked her glass against Rosamund's that sat precariously near the edge of the table, before gulping the rest of her drink.
"Well, there are at least three pink cocktails on the menu here," Rosamund reported. "But I suggest we just try one of them, because this one here is nauseating." She pushed her cocktail away from her to the centre of the table.
Cora raised the blue drink suspiciously that her friend had discarded, "But isn't that what's intended?" She took a cautious sip. Rosamund whinnied.
"It's more pleasurable if you can get tipsy with an acceptable taste on your tongue before nausea sets in," she explained expertly. "Do you want Bermuda Rose or Gin Daisy?" Rosamund added pointing at the mentioned drinks on the card with imprecise gestures.
"That one looks fun," Cora pointed at Night and Day, a cocktail at the bottom of the menu card.
"It's not particularly strong," Rosamund dismissed with a sniff.
The rattling noise the straw in the glass caused made Rosamund look up. The blue drink had vanished and Cora was sucking the last drops through the straw.
"Maybe that's not so wrong after all," Rosamund murmured to herself. Cora's phone vibrated again but the women ignored it and ordered their next round of drinks.
"So, tell me, Cora!" Rosamund slurred when they clinked glasses soon after. "Can you really have a pleasurable marriage with three children at home? I would guess one wouldn't find the time for each other."
Cora giggled. She casted down her eyes and swirled her drink. Some of it spilled on the table, but none of the women seemed to notice.
"I suggest you two do… well, find the time for each other," Rosamund continued when her friend didn't appear to be able to answer. Cora's cheeks were red but part of it was the alcohol's fault.
"You really wanna know about your brother's sex life?" Cora questioned between giggles.
"God, no!" Rosamund closed her eyes embarrassed. "Why did you have to choose my brother out of all?" she grunted. Cora chuckled.
"Your question implies that it's easier without children. So, you'n'Marmaduke find the time for pleasure?" Cora inquired with a wide grin. She dipped the ice in her glass with her index repeatedly.
Rosamund exposed her teeth with the big smile on her face. "Yes, we're not lacking of that."
When Cora's phone signalled the income of a new message again Rosamund had a brilliant idea, "Just turn'it off!"
Cora nodded and grabbed the phone. As she caught a glimpse of the name on the screen a foolish grin appeared on her face.
"Oh…" Rosamund groaned, "It's my lucky brother, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it's Robert," Cora replied, her eyes locked on the screen with a dreamy expression. "He asks how we are and how long we plan to stay."
"How long do we stay?" Rosamund asked as she propped her chin on her hands. Cora shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh, I know!" Rosamund exclaimed, "Tell him, we're ready soon. He'll make something of it. Probably he knows better than we at the moment," she chuckled. Cora giggled and typed her response.
Yeah, all fine. I'm ready soon x
The phone landed on the tabletop with a thump as she set it down with an uncontrolled sweeping gesture.
Robert seemed to know indeed what to make of that message and arrived at the bar not even half an hour later to pick up the giggling ladies.
Robert and Cora hadn't stayed at Rosamund's for very long. They went home early in the evening and had witnessed their girls sprawled on the sofas with burgers Edith must have picked up at drive-through. Robert had suppressed a reprimanding statement. He had skimmed through the mail one of the girls had brought in from the mailbox and spilled on the kitchen table. He'd sorted out the bills and when he was done, he was suddenly alone downstairs. Robert remembered that Cora had mentioned earlier that she wanted to take a shower. He switched off all the lights downstairs and ascended the stairs.
When he entered the bedroom, he could hear the running of the shower and his wife's melodious voice. She began singing under the shower every once in a while, and he was happy he was hearing it today. It couldn't be a bad sign.
He opened the door to the bathroom and was greeted by a cloud of steam. He should have known it. How his dear wife loved to take a shower with boiling water! He shook his head and closed the door behind him. A grin crept up on his face. It was so sweet how she tried to hide that she still held on to that habit.
"Cora?" he asked hoping she wouldn't get frightened by his sudden presence.
Her singing ceased instantly. She turned around in the walk-in shower. Robert admired how the soaked strands of her dark hair spun around at the swift motion.
"Robert!" she grinned at him foolishly and turned the heat of the water down behind her back. Robert just grinned knowingly in response.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you," he said while he approached the sink and sought his shaving tools. "Please continue singing! I enjoy it," he spoke and rubbed the fogged-up mirror. He watched her through the freed part. She lolled under the stream of water like a nymph. She smirked at him and started humming. Robert took up shaving and he had to clean the mirror repeatedly. Every now and then he chanced a look at Cora under the shower. He paused his shaving for a moment to watch her glistening skin and the round cheeks of her bum. She shampooed her hair that was even longer in this wet state. The white foam ran down her back and arms. Robert was mesmerised by the vision the streak of soap on her shining bottom was. Her humming turned back to be a soft singing. Her head was thrown back and her eyes were closed as she rubbed the shampoo into the mass of hair.
"'Cause your love is my love, and my love is your love," Cora sang one of the Whitney Houston songs that always accompanied her for weeks as catchy tune. Robert had learned to not only get by with her catchy songs but to love it when she stood singing and hip swaying in the kitchen, under the shower or sat at her desk humming some soppy love song.
"May I come in and join you?" Robert had uttered the question before he became of aware of it.
"Mmh?" she stopped in her tracks with her hands buried in the foamy curls. Shaving cream dropped from his chin and he repeated his question.
She smirked at him and eyed him from head to toe as if to assess his aptitude.
"Yes, I think so," she decided. Both resumed their tasks at hand before Robert discarded all his clothes to jump under the shower next to her. Cora stepped to the side and leaned against the tiles to watch him under the shower spray. He saw how she bit her lower lip and he grinned at her.
"Come here," Robert said with outstretched arms. A big smile appeared on Cora's face and the way her cheeks were pushed up made him want to pinch them lightly. She approached him and he gathered her in his arms pulling her close to press his lips on hers. Her small hands rested on his chest while one of his spanned her back and the other cupped her left butt cheek. Her soft lips reciprocated his passionate effort eagerly. Her fingertips wandered up his neck and grazed the curls at the back of his neck. She pulled his head more down to hers to deepen the kiss. Their tongues tasted each other and both enjoyed the intimate and familiar sensation. Robert started kneading her behind and she moaned into his mouth. Cora pressed her body firmly against him. His body responded and the arousal that had been present since he watched her godly body under the shower grew erect between his legs now. He groaned between the kisses and tried to pull back. Her darkened eyes looked up at him in question.
"Can we really do it now?" he breathed as his hands reached up to cup her face.
"Yes, why not?" she asked in a low voice. Robert stayed silent, his cheeks colouring a light red shade. He didn't like to admit that he felt more comfortable when he was able to control the protection.
"I'm on the pill; you know that," she retorted, her wide eyes searching his. "Or what is it?"
"No, I only wanted to be sure," he responded and pressed another kiss to her lips.
"Do you think I'd forget to take it?" Cora asked after breaking the kiss for a moment.
"Not really. But it's not as if it hadn't happened before," Robert whispered in response. A slight blush now appeared on her cheeks and she bit her lip.
"Well, we are safe now," Cora spoke softly and pulled his head down again. She crushed her lips on his. He pushed her against the wall of the shower and she looped her left leg around his hip while his hands wandered up and down her sides. She circled her arms tightly around his neck and she couldn't suppress a series of moans as he caressed her body with differing pressure. He was turned on by her sounds severely, so he lifted her onto his hips and sought her eyes for approval. She stole another deep kiss from him before nodding her assent.
He lowered himself into her tight warmth slowly and sighed at the blissful sensation. The spray of water hit his back and he observed her reaction. Her chest heaved notably and her eyes closed at his entrance. She wriggled slightly on his hips before she opened her eyes again and looked at him through heavy lids. Her wet hair stuck to her curvy figure. She sealed his lips with her own and moved purposefully on his hips to encourage him. Robert pulled back slightly to bury himself into her again and set a comfortable rhythm. His large palms hold her hips and her legs clutched him tightly. Cora had to break the kiss for need of air and Robert nibbled at her neck, his puffs of air hitting her sensible skin. Her palms rested on his shoulder blades and she moaned more and more loudly. Robert's thrusts became faster and more frenzied. He groaned into her neck. His strong thrusts reached deep into her and stretched her most delightfully.
"Oh, fuck yes, Robert!" she screamed at the top of her voice, her back hitting the tiles continuously. Her abdomen was on fire and all her mind could settle on besides the delicious flutter in her belly was his hardness inside her. She pulled his curls and threw her head back, not minding the thump against the shower wall. She was so glad the shower was turned on fully because she wasn't able to hold back any noises at the moment.
Robert groaned while holding her hips firmly and grinding into her with force.
"Oh, Cora…," his voice was muffled as he buried his head into her wet breasts. He started sucking on her skin lightly.
"Ah, Robert… harder, please, harder!" her heels dug into his backside which required some force because their skin was so slippery.
Robert hammered into her with every thrust, his cock grew at her naughty words.
"Goodness, Cora," he breathed.
"Yes, darling! Take me hard!" she rambled, her vision beginning to blur and her core tightening. The slapping of their skin accompanied her saucy talk and their mutual moans. Her breasts slapped against his chest every time their hips collided. Her centre gripped him hard and she wanted to never let go.
"Robert…" his name tumbled from her lips as she lost every sense of the present completely, reaching her climax hard. Her closed eyes and dripping lashes and lips was a vision Robert would not forget. She was a real goddess to him and it was so clear in that particular moment.
The firm grip on his penis made him lose the last ounce of control he had left and he rode into her reaching his own release, with her name on his lips. He clung to her, leaning against the wall of the shower and recovering from their exuberant exertions. Her warm breath hit the skin at his neck. His large hands still hold her hips and she felt safe wrapped in his strong body.
"That was…that was…," Cora whispered into the crook of his neck, not quite finding the right words.
"…terrific?" Robert proposed chuckling.
"Yes, terrific," Cora giggled about their paraphrase for their beloved encounters.
"Terrific and thrilling," she added. Slowly they detangled their bodies and stepped under the running shower to wash away the sweat from minutes before. They left the shower giggling and Robert handed Cora the towel with a gentlemanly gesture which elicited more giggles from her.
Soon after, they retreated to their bedroom, wrapped in their dressing gowns. Cora snuggled up into sheets, smiling totally pleased. When Robert joined her after checking his phone, which he had discarded on her vanity, for new messages, they heard Mary's furious voice from down the hallway.
"Edith! Why are you so selfish?"
They shared a slightly perturbed look.
"What is it now?" Robert asked murmuring.
"Others want to shower too! It's not fair to let all the hot water drain away," Mary continued her screaming.
Cora blushed at this. And poor Edith, wasn't at all at fault this time.
"I haven't even had a shower this evening!" Edith retorted annoyed.
"Sybil?" Mary inquired.
"Stop shouting! I can't understand my TV show!" Sybil answered from her room.
"Then use headphones! And answer my question!" Mary rebuked irked.
"That wasn't an actual question. But, no! I wasn't showering either."
Robert shot Cora a knowing look and seconds later, they heard Mary groaning.
"Oh god, Mama! I don't even want an explanation for what you were up to…"
A door slammed shut and Cora started giggling hard, covering her dearly blushing face in her hands. She sank against Robert's side and he put his arms around her shoulders. His deep chuckles shook both their bodies.
"That isn't funny, Robert," Cora admonished between her giggles.
"But we can say one thing for sure," Robert stated with a serious expression as soon as he had recovered enough from his laughter. "Showering together doesn't save water."
"Stop it, Robert. The quality of your jokes has also been better once," she uttered and lifted her head from his shoulder attempting to snuggle further under the blankets. Robert followed suit and reached out to extinguish the light of the bedside lamp. He rolled over to take Cora into his arms. She rested her head on his right upper arm and rubbed her soft feet against his shins and calves. Her left hand found its way underneath his dressing gown and scratched his chest lightly, while her right arm sneaked around his waist. He caressed her back and relished in the feeling of her warm breath at his neck. He started drawing circles on her back and she purred at the gentle sensation.
"Robert?" her voice was already sleepy. She buried her head deep into the crook of his neck. Her slightly wet hair was warm from the close contact.
"Yes, darling?" he hummed lowly. Her sleepy voice and light scratches lulled him into sleep faster than he'd expected.
"Will you make pancakes for me for breakfast tomorrow?" Cora spoke softly. Robert smiled into her hair at hearing her wish. She didn't ask for much and he was happy when she felt safe enough to pronounce her wishes freely.
"Of course. For you, my darling, anything," he responded. She purred into his neck at his continuing strokes across her back.
…
Robert rose early the next morning. The first sunlight only creeped in through the curtains as he cautiously took Cora's limp arm from his waist to put it aside and stand up. Even if it was Saturday it was a working day for him. He turned his head towards her sleeping form while he sat on the edge of the bed. Her face was so relaxed and her lips were slightly parted. He knew how she would scold herself for falling asleep with wet open hair, but he enjoyed the picture it gave him. Her wild curls splayed out around her and across her pillows. Robert was glad that she hadn't woken up when his alarm had rung. She should savour her deserved sleep.
He put on his underwear and took a set of new clothes from the armoire. He sneaked out of the bedroom to dress himself in the bathroom and brush his teeth. When he crossed the bedroom afterwards Cora still slept soundly.
Robert made himself some coffee when he was downstairs in the kitchen. He yawned widely and was happy that no one else was up yet. He loved all his girls dearly but he couldn't always manage their rambling and babbling early in the morning. He sipped his black coffee leaning against the kitchen counter and went over his plans for the day in his head. He had arranged to meet with Mr Carson today. They wanted to go through the list of necessary instructions for the employers for the new computer tool together. Afterwards he would deal with the paperwork that he'd left on his desk at his office yesterday. Maybe he could get home by lunch hour.
A glance at the kitchen clock told him he should head to the office now. Charles Carson was a punctual man, so Robert shouldn't keep him waiting. He grabbed his briefcase and coat after tying his shoes. When he started the motor and rolled out of the driveway, he felt very at ease with himself. He liked the calm setting of working on Saturdays and he had the feeling that he just had everything well in hand at the moment.
A/N: Phew, what a chapter! I'm a bit nervous about what you might think. Please tell me your honest thoughts about it, especially the M-rated part, haha. If you wonder; I chose to show both, Robert's and Cora's, perspectives in the intimate scenes, even if this one was placed in the part of Robert's POV. I hope it's not too confusing. I just feel more comfortable with showing how both experience it.
But I also would love to know what you think about Rosamund/Marmaduke and drunk Cora :)
Thanks to everyone who is joining me on this journey. I'm enjoying it a lot and I hope I'm able to share this joy at least a bit with you :)