Cora brushed the tears away, but they kept coming. They did not stop. She was in a cab on her way back to London. She did not want to go on the train in this state. Luckily, the driver wanted to drive her all the way up to London. She looked at the envelope next to her. The papers inside were signed with two signatures. But against her expectations, it had not gone smoothly. Her visit to Downton ended in Robert shouting and her holding back, tears and frustration.

It started with the part that Cora did not want his financial support. She was not married to him for his money, and she did not want to lean on him financially after their divorce. But as Robert pointed out, it was simply her right because of their marriage. There had been some other minor things, but they agreed in the end and signed the papers.

To Cora's relief, everything had gone in a civil way, and Robert did not try to get her back. Of course, she saw the look in her eyes when he thought she was not watching, but she was convinced she had that same look herself. Robert was incredibly attractive, and her body still longed for him.

Robert asked if she would stay for dinner, and Cora agreed. Mary, Edith, and Sybil would be home too, and it was a good opportunity to see them all together.

Mary had been mocking at the dinner table, Cora tried to get her to talk just before dessert was served. She felt a tension between Mary and Robert. It was their when she arrived earlier at Downton, and Mary greeted her. Something was off.

"Mary? Can I help you?" She asked as soft as she could.

"Mary does not need us!" Robert said.

Cora looked at Robert, surprised he sounded angry. "Mary? Robert? What is going on?"

"That is not what I said, Papa, and you know that."

Cora saw frustration on both their faces. Sybil and Edith stayed quiet at the other end of the table. "Can one of you explain what is going on?"

"As if you care? You do not live here. You did not want to be part of this family anymore." Robert threw in front of her.

Cora felt an iron fist around her heart. What did Robert just say? "You know that that is not the reason I left. This is not fair." She had to fight not to cry.

"Papa?" Sybil's voice sounded. "Can we please not fight, not tonight?"

Robert's eyes shot towards Sybil, and the way he looked at her scared Cora. "Did you tell your mother what happened with you and that chauffeur boy."

"His name is Tom. And yes, Mama knows."

"Let me guess, you support them two? Do you not?" Robert turned towards Cora again.

"We cannot change what happened. Sybil and Tom got married and will have a baby. Is there something wrong with Matthew, too? You always spoke to highly of him and was looking forward to embracing him in the running of the estate." Cora said.

Robert snorted. "That boy wants to take over the whole thing. He knows no boundaries."

Cora had to take a minute before she could react. Now Matthew was also downgraded as a boy. What had happened, she needed to know to understand the situation. She saw how hurt Robert was, and although she did not like his temper at the moment, she understood where he was coming from. He was scared, she realised he was simply scared. "Girls." Cora scraped her throat. "Can you three leave your dad and me alone for a minute?"

Mary and Sybil left without saying anything, Edith walked past Cora and whispered: "Are you sure?"

Cora padded her hand and smiled. She waited for Edith to leave the dining room before she got up and sat closer to Robert. "Are you scared; Matthew will do better than you?"

Robert did not react.

"Are you scared?" Cora stretched out her hand and touched Robert's hand. This had an effect, but not the one she had hoped for.

Robert jerked back. "Everything is a mess. Everything."

"I am sorry." Cora started.

"Are you? Are you sorry? You leaving us did not help at all. Sybil is now pregnant and married. Matthew is stepping in my place, and they are not even married yet."

"Do you blame this on me?"

"You left. Cora, you left! You took the easy way out and left."

Cora had walked out after these words and waited outside for the cab.

Robert was hurt she knew she was part of that. But he did cheat, and he betrayed her trust. How dared he blaming it all on her.

Robert sat in the big chair in Cora's old bedroom. Why did he do that. He had hurt Cora with his words. He knew he did hurt her immensely. Again. He rested his head in his hands. Oh, why did he do that. Cora did not deserve this. She did not. If there had been a change, she would come back to him. He had now ruined that. He let out a deep sigh. He was messing everything up. Was Tom really that bad for Sybil? And was Matthew overstepping?

He looked at the vanity mirror. There were still some things that belonged to Cora on the table. He should send them to her, but she probably did not miss them since she never asked for them. He picked up the small bottle with hand lotion, opened the lid, and smelled it. Cora always had subtle fragrances, never too much, just enough to make him turn his head when she approached him from the back. Or leaving a hint of smell behind in the room she just was in.

A soft knock on the door made him put the bottle back. Edith stepped inside.

"Papa? Are you all right?"

Robert straightened his back, but he let his shoulders drop the same minute. "I am not sure." He admitted.