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Chapter 3
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2:19 +++ 14:19
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Robert
Where is she?
He walks through the gallery, taking his time to glance down each corridor he passes, searching for any sign of her. Where could she be? With a sigh, he makes his way to the staircase, descending into the Great Hall below, hoping to finally catch sight of her.
He notices the butler making his way toward the green baize door. "Carson!" he calls out, catching the older butler's attention.
Carson pauses and turns to face Robert. "Yes, Milord?" he responds respectfully. "Do you know where I can find Isis?"
Carson hesitates. "I think she is with Her Ladyship, Milord" Ah, why didn't he think of that? "Yes, you're probably right. Do you know where I can find Her Ladyship?" Robert asks and Carson nods. "She is with Mr. Bricker, they are observing the Della Francesca" Again? Has the ghastly art salesman still hadn't enough of the painting and HIS wife? He slowly nods. "Thank you"
Robert walks down the hallway toward the room where they keep the painting stored. Just as he approaches the door, he spots his beloved dog standing there, happily wagging her tail. She's waiting patiently just outside the room, where he can hear the faint murmur of two voices coming from inside.
Robert steps closer to the door and he hears Bricker's voice. "As for your collection, Mr. Avebury will do what he can, but I'd rather every canvas or carving were tossed in the sea to your being one extra hour in that unhappy country. I'm glad he didn't take her advice"
Robert lays his ear against the door, waiting for Cora's response. "He did not. He brought crates and crates over, then went back after the Reign of Terror to buy more" He smiles slightly. Cora has always had a deep interest in paintings and their history, when she was younger she was often spending her free time learning about the stories behind famous works. Sybil obviously inherited the creative trait from her mother, since he has no interest in- "And you have preserved them safely in this beautiful place" Bricker said and interrupted Robert's thoughts.
He hears her chuckle. "I'm glad you think it's beautiful" It was silent for a moment, after a few seconds Bricker spoke. "I think everything about Downton is beautiful, including its mistress"
Robert's blood begins to simmer with anger as he overhears their conversation. How could he? How could he have the audacity to flirt with HIS wife right behind his back, without even a shred of consideration for the boundaries that should be respected? Like holy matrimony? But then he hears her laugh and his heart stops for a moment. The laugh he loved so much, the same laugh that she only used as response to Robert's wicked words. He hears her voice again. "You mustn't say such things" He closed his eyes. She didn't dismiss him, not really. "I have to, or I'll burst" Bricker said passionately.
Robert tries to calm himself and walks in the room, he has to stop them, especially that man. "What's burst?" Bricker laughs embarrassed, he and Cora are standing in front of the painting. There is a heavy tension in this room, Bricker speaks up, trying to cut the silence. "I was just saying that… being allowed to touch a painting like this will make me burst" "It's wonderful to show it to someone so appreciative" Cora commented and it pains Robert, it pains him to see her helping that man to lie to her own husband.
"Yes. No-one could say you're not appreciative, Mr. Bricker" He said cooly.
He walks over to stand deliberately between them and pretends to look at the picture, accidently brushing his thigh against Cora's hip. Nothing, he feels nothing. No butterflies in his tummy, no spark. Nothing.
Is it over?
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7:03 p.m. +++ 19:03 (A few days later)
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Cora
Robert, dressed in a sharp black tie ensemble and fully prepared for dinner, walks into the room. She sits at her dressing table, focusing on her final touches with Baxter's assistance, adjusting her hair and makeup to perfection.
"Who was that on the telephone?" He asked.
"Simon Bricker" He stares at her and sighs dramatically. "Oh, God. What did he want?"
She looks at herself in the mirror and tugs an escaped curl behind her ear. "I shall answer without commenting on your tone. He wants the picture photographed for his book" "When is this?" she sighs. "He's coming tomorrow and they take the pictures at Friday" He sits on the bench at the end of their bed. "Well, you know I won't be here. I've got the dinner in Sheffield"
Cora rolls her eyes at him. "Since you don't like him, I don't see that as a drawback" He stands up again and walks to the mirror, checking his reflection. "And Mary's in London"
Unbelievable, why doesn't he trust her? Sure she flirts with him, but she flirts with a lot of male guests, it's part of being a good hostess. He is jealous, he doesn't try to hide it, but he doesn't do anything about the flirtations. Sure, he stood between them once, but why doesn't he make a big romantic gesture, to show her that he loved or even desired her. Now she just feels like an object he wants to show off and keep for himself. "What difference does that make?"
He turns to her. "It's not that I dislike him, exactly. It's more that this business has been dragging on"
Baxter leaves the arguing couple alone.
"Robert, it's a compliment. By referencing our painting in his book, he'll increase its value, maybe by a lot. Is that so bad?" "You're not forbidden from inviting him"
Oh, good. As long as he didn't forbade her from inviting somebody. "Good, because I already have" And with that she walks out of the room, leaving him behind.
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3:17 p.m. +++ 15:17
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Bricker
He has arrived at Downton Abbey. Molesley takes his coat in the vestibule while Cora greets him. "Did you have a nice journey?" He meets her smile with his. "Excellent. Thank you very much"
He and Cora walk into the hall, where they meet her husband in his mess kit, who is followed his dog and an other man, presumably his valet. "Hello, Lord Grantham. You look very splendid" Simon greeted. The man nods polite. "I'm afraid we're ships that pass in the night, Mr. Bricker. I have to go to Sheffield, but I'll see you tomorrow, if you're still here when I get back. Goodbye, Cora" He kisses his wife and Simon feels a pang of jealousy.
The Earl exists the castle, leaving him and Cora alone.
He looks around the hall. "So, here we are again. I'm beginning to find Downton quite home-like" She steps closer to him and looked at him with sparkling eyes, with an hint of mischief behind the sapphire, making him mesmerized and very excited. "Good. You're very welcome. As long as you behave" She said playfully. They walk on towards the drawing room, almost touching.
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8:40 p.m. +++ 20:40
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Bricker
After the dinner, the ladies gather in the drawing room, where a cozy fire crackles in the fireplace. A few minutes later, he and Mr. Branson —the only male members of the dinner party— enter the room. Cora and the Dowager are seated by the fireplace, engaged in a quiet conversation, when Simon approaches and joins them.
The pretty brunette with the most beautiful blue eyes looks up and smiles at him. "You didn't linger very long over your Port" She observed.
He smiled back. "Because we'd both rather with the ladies" She blushed prettily and looks down. The old Lady Grantham left them to themselves.
"Thank you for having me over. I hope Lord Grantham didn't mind me being here?" He sees the hesitation in her eyes, before she answered. "No, not really anyway" He nods with a knowing expression, his feelings toward the man clear.
Simon doesn't harbour any fondness for him, sensing that the Earl is far from an attentive or affectionate husband to Cora. It's evident to him that the Great Earl of Grantham often overlooks his wife and, judging by his demeanour, likely engages in numerous affairs.
If she was his wife; he would never let her go.
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10:49 p.m. +++ 22:49
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Bricker
He is standing in his room, dressed in his comfortable navy blue dressing gown, the fabric soft against his skin. As he gazes at his reflection in the mirror, he reaches up to gently touch his grey hair, feeling the familiar texture under his fingertips. After a moment's pause, he picks up a bottle of cologne from the dresser and dabs a little on.
Tonight is the night, and he can hardly contain his excitement about what's likely to happen. The gorgeous Cora Crawley is going to be his mistress; he is sure of it. Oh, how they flirted! Even with her husband in the room, she couldn't help but offer him compliments, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink as she listened to his responses and smiled at his every word. He sits on the edge of his guest bed, closes his eyes and starts to fantasise.
He is walking slowly through the dimly lit corridor, each step bringing him closer to the Mercia bedroom—Cora's bedroom. The soft sound of his footsteps echoes quietly as he approaches her door. He hesitates for a moment, then gently pushes it open. There she is, lying above the duvet on her bed, the warm glow of the firelight dancing across her skin as she smiles at him. She's dressed in a flimsy nightgown that barely reaches above her knees, the nearly see-through fabric offering him a tantalizing view of her curves. "I knew you would come," she whispers, her voice soft and inviting, as she twirls a curl of her chocolate brown hair around her finger. He sits down next to her, his eyes lingering on her rosy lips. "Of course," he murmurs, his voice thick with desire, before leaning in to kiss her deeply. She moans softly into his mouth, her hands guiding him above her as she whispers, "Take me, Simon."
He opens his eyes again and he feels his arousal staining at the frond of his trousers, he looks at the clock hanging on the wall. It's time.
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10:55 p.m. +++ 22:55
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Cora
She is sitting on the edge of her side of the four-poster bed with her back to the door. She listens to the crackling of the fire, while the door bursts open.
"Have you forgotten something?" She asked to who she thinks is Baxter. "It's not your maid. I waited till she'd gone" Cora rises, alarmed. Oh God, what is he doing here? Bricker closed the door and walks to her, eyeing her silk clad body appreciative. They walk to each other and she speaks up. "You must leave. Mr. Bricker, you must leave"
He doesn't respond to her; instead, he quietly places his hand on her hip, but she quickly shrugs it off without hesitation. "Mr. Bricker, I've asked you twice now. Will you please go?" She notices a flicker in his eyes, something she can't quite identify. Is it irritation? No, perhaps it's anger?
"You said yourself – who knows when I'll be back?" He said. "Mr. Bricker –" He doesn't let her finish. "Don't pretend, Cora. You know something happened between us. You know things have changed now. I feel it and I know you do" She shivers. What possessed him to come in her room?
She tries to intervene again, but he isn't done talking. "When did someone last cherish you? When did someone even listen to you? I've seen you with your family, ignored and passed over" "None of this is any reason – " Her husband enters the room.
She was already scared but now Robert is in the room she starts to tremble. "I'm glad you're still awake..." He said before he saw the man next to her. "The dinner was over early. It seemed easier to come back. I'm sorry if it's a disappointment" He said in a remarkably calm voice, which Cora found unnerving.
"It isn't. Mr. Bricker was just leaving" She commended quietly. Bricker steps forward to Robert. "I'm not here at Lady Grantham's invitation" He offered.
Robert looks at the man with a piercing gaze. "Then will you please leave at mine?" He said with badly suppressed anger now.
Bricker walks towards the door, but Robert blocks his way with an aggressive stance. "Robert, let him go" Cora pleaded. The man stops in front of her husband. "You can't be surprised. When you chose to ignore a woman like Cora, you must have known not every man would be as blind as you"
Robert turns away as if to open the door for him, but he's really pulling back for a blow. He hits Bricker on the jaw. Bricker drops onto the bed, and Robert pounces and lands on top of him, grabbing the historian by the throat. "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" She shouted to both of the men.
The two men tussle and drop to the floor. They roll around in a very unbecoming way, making a terrible mess. "Stop!" She shouted again, harder this time.
All of the sudden they hear a knock on the door. The men stopped with fighting, both panting heavily and looking at the door. They hear Edith's small voice from the other side of the wall. "Mama? Mama? Papa? Is everything all right in there?"
Cora hurries to open the door, but only a little, so Edith doesn't see the two men. Edith is in her dressing gown, with her beautiful golden hair down, and looks very worried. "I'm so sorry darling. Your father and I were just playing a stupid game and we knocked over a lamp" Cora said, regretting her terrible and unbelievable excuse.
"Oh. If you're sure?" Oh her sweet darling. Cora reaches for her daughter's rosy cheek and caresses it. "I'm sure, poppet. Good night. Sleep tight"
Edith leaves. Cora closes the door again. Robert and Bricker rise to their feet, both rather tired from rolling around the room. Bricker moves towards the door. "I think that is my exit, too" "Wait!" She checks that the coast is clear outside, then comes back in. Meanwhile, Robert stands bracing himself against an armchair, trying to catch his breath. Bricker gives him a last angry look and leaves.
She looks at Robert and tries to comprehend what just happened. "Golly. What a night" Robert looks at her with nothing but raw anger. "I'll sleep in my dressing room" He walks out. Cora, standing in the mess the men just made, covers her eyes with her hands and starts to cry.
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9:09 a.m. +++ 9:09
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Bricker
His jaw ached, his hand touched the bruised area on his face. He was so close, so close with convincing her. He wasn't very surprised that she asked him to leave, of course she did, it must shocking to realise that she has been trapped in a loveless marriage for decades and that the man who loves her wants to sleep with her in the same bed her husband and she had consummated their union. When he talked about her family and how bad they treat her, he saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes and he knew she was about to give in, until that brute of a man burst into the room and ruined everything. How perfect she looked without the formality of a Countess, in that room they were just two people madly in love.
Simon walks down the stairs into the hall, where he could see that the maids and footmen are preparing the house for the cocktail party. He spots the butler overseeing the preparations. He walks to the man and gives him a tip and a letter addressed to Cora.
"Please make sure this letter gets to Lady Grantham. It explains my sudden departure"
The butler looks hesitant but he nods slowly. "I'll make sure of it. The car is waiting outside for you, Sir"
He nods and walks into the daylight. He looks at Cora's bedroom window, there she was like a perfect angel, standing above him and he knows this wasn't the last time they saw each other.
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