"Here you go, Milady, Mrs Patmore made you a ginger tea."
Cora was just getting in bed. Undressing had cost her all the energy she had left. She wanted to let out a deep sigh but felt she would start coughing when she did that. She leaned against the headrest, taking the cup from O'Brien's hands.
"Is there anything else I can do for you, Milady?"
'Sending Robert to my room,'Cora thought. She had not reacted to him sleeping in the guest bedroom. But she felt rough and would love to have him close for comfort. Robert was rejecting her lately, and she could not figure out what was wrong. "No, thank you." Was her answer instead.
"Just ring when you need anything."
"You can go to sleep, I will not bother you during the night." Cora said.
O'brien noticed her Ladyship was having trouble breathing. She would tell this to his lordship, just in case. "I don't mind if you wake me up. When you need me, I will come directly."
Cora nodded. She didn't have the energy to answer. Cora tried to place the cup on her nightstand, O'brien took the cup from her and put it down. Thankful, Cora slit down under the covers and rested her head on the pillow.
"One day, I will learn to play cards like you, grandmamma." Sybil said, kissing her grandmother on her cheek. "Goodnight."
"Just keep up what you are doing, and you will indeed be a good card player." Violet took her jacket from Carson and walked outside.
Sybil wanted to walk upstairs when O'Brien stepped closer. She looked around before speaking to Sybil.
"Milady, I don't want to worry you, but her Ladyship is worse than she is telling you. I tried to tell his lordship, but I could not find him. I am sorry to bother you with this."
"No, no." Sybil put her hand on O'Brien's arm. "I was already planning on looking into her. Since when is she like this?"
"This morning, when I was fixing her hair, I felt how warm her skin was. Before I didn't notice anything, but you know how her Ladyship is, she never wants to bother anybody."
"Did you give her something?"
"Only a cup of ginger tea and a paracetamol for her headache." O'Brien answered.
"Thank you, O'Brien. I will go directly to her room." Sybil rushed upstairs.
Without knocking, she opened the door. The light on her mother's bedside was still on. "Mama?" Sybil said softly, not sure if she was awake. There was no reaction.
Her mother lay on her side, Sybil saw sweat on her forehead. It was obvious that her breathing wasn't good. Cora was wheezing. Sybil put her hand on Cora's forehead to feel her temperature. Cora stirred.
"Ssssst." Sybil said. "It is alright, just sleep, you need it."
Cora took Sybil's hand. "Where is your father?" She said very weakly.
"I will ask him to come in soon. Don't worry, try to sleep. I will put another pillow under you, so it will be easier to breathe."
Cora closed her eyes again. Sybil was a sweetheart, but she needed Robert. She needed his reassurance. There was something wrong. She felt it. Should she ask Sybil to call Dr. Clarkson? She felt Sybil lifting her upper body, and she tried to help but was too weak. Sybil knew what to do. The second pillow helped. It was a little bit easier to breathe.
"Now rest and get some sleep." Sybil kissed her forehead.
Cora would have loved to raise her hand and brush Sybil's cheek, but even for that motion, she lacked the energy. She looked up in her beautiful eyes. Sybil had her eyes, she thought. Cora tried to take a deep breath but started coughing right away.
"I am going to call Dr. Clarkson. Don't you worry, Mama, everything will be alright." Sybil padded her mother's back.
"I prepared a different room for you tonight." Jane said when Robert pulled her in the guest bedroom.
Robert raised his eyebrows. "Why?"
"There is so much risk being here together. Mrs. Hughes know you sleep here. If somebody sees me coming out, we are in trouble." Jane said, softly brushing Robert's arm.
Robert felt his body tingling. He looked down. Jane was a lot shorter than he was. She looked up at him with pleading eyes. He moved his hand to her chin and softly moved his thumb over her jawline. He lowered his face and kissed the tip of her nose. Then, he rested his forehead against hers. "Where is the other room?" He said.
"Around the corner, the second door. That room is hardly used. I will go first, and then wait for you."
Jane started to walk away, but Robert pulled her back. He planted his lips on hers. "Let's stay here, I can not wait any longer." His hand moved over her back, pushing her against his body.
"Milord, we better go to the other room."
Robert bit in Jane's lower lip. "I don't care, I want you, and I want you now." He felt her body relax. He reached under her skirt and pulled her stocking down. His hand went to her wet spot, and she was more than ready for him. "Good." He said, stepping back and looking at her. "Now let's see what you are hiding underneath your clothes."
Jane's cheeks coloured bright red. "We first go to the other room, and then you show what you are hiding." She left his room.
Robert waited a couple of minutes before following her.
Once, he was in the same room as Jane, her hands reached to Robert's dress shirt, and she started unbuttoning. Very slowly, she moved her hands over his chest.
Robert felt his manhood grow. He put his hands over Jane's and ripped the shirt open. "You are taking too long." He lifted her up and laid her on the bed. Turning her on her stomach so he could zip down the dress. Once she was out of it, he turned her back around and he stared at her body. It was the body of a young woman. Her small breasts were still firm, and he moved his hands upwards to feel them.
"Papa." A loud voice sounded in the hallway.
Robert stiffened. That was Sybil! Why was she looking for him?
Robert shook his head and looked down, his hands still resting on Jane's body. He jumped up as if he just realised what he was doing. "Put on your clothes." He said short while pulling up his own pants and trying to fix his dress shirt.
Jane got up and put her hands on Robert's stomach. "Maybe we can finish this later?"
Robert brushed off her hands. "Stop this. Go."
"Papa!" Sybil's voice sounded again, and he could hear some urgency in it.
"I will stay in this room and wait until you are gone." Jane said, kissing Robert's cheek.
Robert stepped outside. "Sybil?"