Cora woke up with a slight headache. She knew that she had drunk too much alcohol last night, and her headache was proof of that. She sat up rubbing her temples. On her bedside table stood a glass of water with some Paracetamol on the side. She chuckled, Mrs. Hughes had seen her drunk state.
How she wished she could sneak out of the house. She was ashamed to face Robert. Why had she let herself go last night? Did she regret it? She was not sure, it was wonderful to be one again with Robert. He was the love of her life, but although she longed for him she was not sure she could go back. In the last months, she found a job in a small hospital in London. Was she willing to give that up?
After her morning ritual, she walked towards the stairs. She reached the top at the same time as Robert.
"Good morning." His voice was the one she remembered from him in the morning. He had not been awake long, he was still hoarse.
"Good morning," Cora answered and saw Robert leaning in to kiss her. Quickly she turned her cheek towards him, so he could not kiss her lips.
"Oh?" Robert sounded surprised and he pulled his hand back that was on her upper arm. Robert had hoped to sleep in the same room as Cora last night, but he knew that even though they had a wonderful moment together it did not necessarily mean anything.
Cora lowered her gaze. "I am sorry"
"Don't be. We should go down for our breakfast? Carson probably served it already."
Without looking up Cora nodded. A heat rose the moment Robert touched her arm, but she suppressed that feeling. She needed time to think and she could not think with Robert so close to her. "I will go back to London after breakfast."
Defeated Robert said. "I understand." He started walking down.
"Robert?" Cora stopped him, she put her hand on his arm. "I need time. What happened yesterday evening……." she swallowed. "It was wonderful, I cannot deny that. But we both need to think about what will come next."
"You are right. I will ask the chauffeur to be ready when you are."
"I had suspected to see Cora too?" Violet said when Robert entered her sitting room.
He kept a deep sigh in, his mother always knew things happened. How did she find this out already? Did somebody see them? He felt panic creep up in his chest. "What made you think she would be here today?" He answered with a steady voice.
"I saw you guiding Cora in the house yesterday evening."
Robert felt relief. They were not seen, the mere thought of last night warmed him. Whatever would happen now between them, he would cherish that moment. Out in de open pleasing Cora was the best thing. "We are talking again, you have seen that correctly."
"But, she has left already? Or did she stay in the house?"
"Rosamund also needed to go back to London, so they went together." Rosamund had overheard Robert telling the chauffeur to be ready. She informed him, that her chauffeur was waiting, and if Cora wanted she could come along. And that was what Cora did. Would she tell Rosamund what happened? He hoped she would not tell the difference.
"Mary and Matthew arrived safely in the South of France I heard?"
"They indeed just called. The villa they are staying in is very beautiful. They will have a marvellous time."
"Is Edith still at Downton?" Violet continued.
"She will spend the day at Sybil and Tom's house. She said she would go to London tomorrow." Robert said.
"Can you ask her to come over, before she leaves?"
Robert raised his eyebrows. "I will ask her, but whatever for?"
"That is for me to know and for you to guess."
"So, we are far away enough from Downton, you can tell me what happened." Rosamund started
Cora looked at her in shock, she had seen them? "I do not know what you are talking about."
"You truly think I have no eyes, do you? Yesterday evening I saw you walking back from Jackdaw's Castle, you were together and holding his arm."
Cora lowered her eyes, she hoped Rosamund would not see the twinkle in her eyes. "We talked." She was not going to give Rosamund any details on that night.
"You do not have to tell me, if you do not want to. But Cora if you want to go back, or want to try again. You should do it, there is no shame in that. Robert has hurt you, but he also showed that he changed and you have loved him so much."
This made Cora look up again. "I still love him. I never stopped loving him and that is what makes this so difficult."
"He will treat you like a princess when you decide to go back." Rosamund said.
"That is part of the problem. I do not want that. I want back what we had, and that is not possible."
"Maybe you are correct, but you will not know that before you try. There is still an electrical tension between the two of you."
A blissful sigh left Cora. "You can say that."
"I knew it!" Rosamund exclaimed. "With that dress, you appeared in! There was not a chance Robert would keep his hands off you."
Cora felt her cheeks burn.
"Wait a minute, but you slept in separate rooms. Cora!" Rosamund exclaimed in played disdain.
"We kissed at Jackdaw's Castle." Cora was determined not to tell her more. Rosamund guessed too much already.
"That is a start. You two will figure out where you want to go. And you know I never pick a side, but I know that you belong together. That is all I am saying."
"All." Cora repeated in a chuckle.
