"Rosamund?" Robert started when she picked up her phone. "How is Cora doing?"
He heard Rosamund's frustrated sigh. "When will you learn to control your temper?"
Robert stayed quiet. He could hear in Rosamund's voice that he had hurt Cora badly this time. "Rosamund, is there a way I can send Cora my apologies? Maybe flowers? Or chocolate?"
Rosamund's laugh sounded. "You truly think flowers can solve this? Oh Robert, you have a very strange look on the world. No, of course you cannot send flowers. I am not sure if there is a way to mend this. You messed up big, and you have to figure this one out yourself."
Robert put the phone down, and Rosamund was right. He truly messed up. Cora had come to Downton, she even stayed for dinner. And then he lost control. Why did he react in that way? Tom was not bad for Sybil, and if one day Matthew would take over, he needed to let go now. Mary was serious about him, and he was expecting Matthew to ask for Mary's hand any day now. He would agree. There was no doubt in his mind about that. Mary and Matthew belonged together. The same as he and Cora did. A very deep sigh left Robert's body. They did belong together, and they still did. Only if there was a way to fix what he had broken.
Ppppppppppp
"I heard your mother was back at Downton?" Violet said to Mary.
They were in Violet's garden, the day was warm, but the trees gave a nice shade, and it was lovely to sit outside. The bees were buzzing over the lavender.
Mary looked at her grandmother. She was not sure if she was looking for a fight or to trash talk about her mother or just making conversation.
"Papa had the divorce papers ready and they needed to sign them."
"They could have done that in a lawer's office?"
"Papa asked Mama to come to Downton, and she agreed. At first, it was nice to be with all of us together in the dining room. I miss Mama at home." Mary surprised herself by saying that.
"At first?"
Mary could hear in the way Violet asked this question, that she knew more. But as always, her grandmother loved getting her nose further into things. "Papa acted stupid, and Mama left the Abbey in an quite upset state. I am not even sure if she ever will come back. Papa did say some hurtful things."
Violet hummed. "Your father has not learned a lot since your mother left him. But enough about your parents. How are you and Matthew coming along?"
"Papa had a hard time excepting him into the running of things. And I know we are not married yet, so Matthew does not have a say in anything. But I thought Papa would welcome him with more open arms, or at least not this hostile."
Violet thought for a minute. Robert was not thinking clear. She knew, but she had hoped that Matthew would be a good distraction. Violet had to admit that Cora was a good influence on him, and she could get him to soften towards Matthew. But now Robert was on his own, and Robert left alone was not the best option. He needed Cora's soft side and more reasonable eye she had to admit, much to her own annoyance. She never saw why Robert wanted to marry Cora, but in the course of time, Cora had proofed to be a strong woman, but most of all, she was capable of getting throug to Robert. Should she reach out to Cora?
"Your Papa will welcome Matthew eventually. Do not worry about that. Now, is there already a wedding date?"
Mary shook her head. Not yet, Grandmama, but I do not think it will take much longer. I can hardly wait to walk towards the altar and become his wife.
Violet smiled.
]]ppppppppppppppp
Cora was busy peeling apples. She was going to make an apple pie. She had never done that before in her life, but it was something she always wanted to do. How hard could it be, she thought. So she went to a local farmer, who sold his produce. She let him inform her what apple she needed. She went to a bakery to get flour and other ingredients. Everything she bought from small local stores. She loved going into small shops instead of the bigger supermarkets. This way her food was fresh and she learned a lot from the shop owners. The doorbell rang. Cora brushed her hands against her apron and opened the door.
"Edith?" She said, surprised when she saw who was at the door. "Did you forget your key?" Cora stopped when she saw Edith's face. "What is wrong, darling?"
"Michael is missing." She said very timid.
"Oh darling, come in. Come in." Cora brushed her hands against her apron to get the juice of the apple off her hands. There was a paste on her fingers from the apple juice and flour. It didn't come off, so she brushed with the back of her hand over Edith's cheek. "How long is he gone?"
"He went on a holiday three weeks ago to Berlin, but nobody has heard from him since." She looked up to her mother.
Cora was still trying to get the flourpaste of her hands. "You like Michael, do you not?" She asked
Edith only nodded, and Cora saw tears in her eyes. She gave up trying to get her fingers clean and wrapped Edith in her arms. "Do you want Papa to send out somebody to search in Berlin?"
Edith shrugged her shoulders. His frim already did that, without any luck. "What if something terrible had happened."
Cora put her hands on Edith's face. "No reason to despair yet. We need to keep hope. Maybe his phone just died, and he is not able to contact home?" She knew this was, of course, madness, but she saw the dispair in Edith's eyes. When she lowered her hands, she saw a trace of flour on Edith's cheeks. "Go and give your face a quick rinse, I will make you a nice hot cup of tea. She saw Edith walk towards the stairs. Then she noticed two letters on the doormat. She recognised the handwriting.
