Cora gathered the courage to start. "Mama, I do not want a lecture from you about how Robert and I need to resolve our problems."
Violet nodded and drank from her cup. This surprised Cora, she expected a snarky comment.
"Robert has hurt me too much and I cannot stay." she continued.
"I am not here to ask that of you." Violet said to Cora's surprise. "I only want to ask you to do everything sensible. After hearing Robert's side of the story, I would love to hear your side and hopefully I can give you both some advice." She raised her hand when she saw Cora open her mouth. "I know, you both are grown adults, but you are also both very hurt and I do not want you to make mistakes or decisions that you will later regret."
Cora looked down at her hands, she was prepared to get scolded as she always was by Violet. This was not the Violet she knew. "Thank you, Mama." She said softly.
"Now, let stop this foolish behaviour and tell me what happened."
"As you know, Mary and I started a new business. We organised a lot of events together and during that time I did not give Robert enough attention. I did not fully see how hurt he was by the fact that Sybil is dating Tom." She quickly looked at Violet to see her reaction, but there was none. "During that time, Robert tried to get intimate." Cora blushed; she did not like to talk about these things with her mother-in-law. "I did not let him in enough and I did not live up to his needs."
"Men and their needs." Violet huffed.
With raised eyebrows Cora continued. "When I fell ill, Robert kissed one of the maids and if Sybil had not interrupted, he would have slept with her. But you know Mama. You know what the worst part is?" She stopped again to look at Violet. "The worst part is, that he did not fire her after he realised it was foolish. Oh Mama, no, he did not fire her. He kept her on and he even kept seeing her. They did not kiss after that or anything. But he longed for her and then that letter." Cora felt tears stinging, but she did not want to cry. Not now. "That letter, the way she wrote about what he had said to her. He had declared his love for her. He talked with her about what I was lacking. He betrayed me Mama, not only with his actions, but with his heart. He betrayed me and broke his vows."
Violet still did not say anything, so Cora continued. "And he was not man enough to tell me himself. I had to find out via that letter, Jane wrote. He could not even face me with this. What if I had never gotten that letter, he would have lived on like nothing happened. And I was feeling so guilty for not spending enough time with him. I apologized over and over, and he just listened, knowing he had cheated on me. But no, he was not going to confess what had happened. He was going on, as nothing had happened. He only worried about that letter when he lost it, because he was scared, I would find out. Mama, you know, I think I would be able to forgive the cheating."
"You would?" Violet said.
"I think I could. But Mama he made the cheating so much worse, by holding her on in the household and then when I finally started feel better, not telling me. He is a coward." Cora noticed she was getting angry.
"So, you are going to file for a divorce?" Violet inquired.
Cora nodded and said very softly. "I am."
"Do the girls already know?"
"Not yet, although both Edith and Sybil know something is wrong. Sybil thinks she and Tom are the reason we are fighting. Robert and I need to tell them soon, we cannot wait with this any longer."
"I hope, Rosamund will be able to sober Robert up, because I agree. They need to know, and they need to know soon. Preferably tonight." Violet paused. "Cora, I know I have not always supported you, but I want you to know, that I understand."
Cora walked upstairs, the talk with Violet had exhausted her and she needed to lay down, before she was facing her girls at the dinner table. Upstairs Rosamund met her.
"Cora, just to let you know, Robert is sleeping in his changing room.
Cora sighed; this was not what she needed right now. The door between those rooms, could not be locked.
"I am sorry, I tried steering him towards one of the guest bedrooms, but I failed. I was able to keep him out of your bed though."
Cora gave Rosamund a faint smile. "That is something at least. Thank you for warning me. Are you staying for dinner? Or do you need to go back to London?"
Rosamund pulled Cora close in an embrace. "Dear sis, I would not leave you alone in this."
Much to Cora's annoyance, she could not stop her eyes from watering. She let out a soft sob, she pulled herself back. "I am going to lay down too if you do not mind."
"Did the talk with Mama go well?" Rosamund brushed away a tear from Cora's cheek.
"It did, I am surprised, but yes it did. I was preparing to get a scolding, but none of that all. She even said, she understands."
"Now, that is a first. Well done, you have found the soft side of our mother. All right, go on and get that much needed nap. You look awful, to be honest."
Cora chuckled. "Well, thank you."
"I am always honest with you, you know that." Rosamund walked towards the stairs; do you think I can help Mary with her event?"
"Oh, Rosamund, you do not have to." Cora let out.
"Maybe I do not have to, but maybe I want to." She turned around and walked away.