"What if nobody shows up?" Cora was pacing around in her small living room.
"Can you please stop? You are making me nervous." Sorcha moaned. "Your book is selling very well. Especially since you managed to get it into your local supermarket. People will show up, and if they do not. Well, then you will have a free evening."
Cora stopped pacing. "You are right. And the book is selling, so I should be a bit more confident."
"Making sure your book is sold in Supermarkets was a very smart decision."
"Right. Time to go, I cannot be late for my own Meet & Greet, even though nobody will show up."
"Stop being this negative." Sorcha poked her side. "Do you have enough pencils with you?"
Cora held up a big pencil case. "I think this must do." she chuckled.
Cora looked around the corner, the room was filled with people. It scared her, there were more people than she could have hoped for. Where did they all come from. A local bookshop had arranged this evening. There was not much room left in the shop. All those people where here for her and she had to pinch herself. How was this possible? She shivered.
"Nervous." The shop owner asked.
"I was not expecting this many people." Cora said shaky.
"Do not worry, they loved your book, that is why they are here. You will not disappoint them; I am sure of that. We will start with a short introduction and question round, and then they will be able to come up, so you can sign their book." She walked into the shop and the crowd got quiet.
Cora nodded, while wringing her hands. She saw Sorcha sitting close to the place she would sit. That gave her some reassurance.
"And now, let us welcome Miss Levinson."
This was her que, she quickly walked towards the small podium. She tried to look over the people, so she would not have to make eye contact.
"Where did you get your inspiration from?" one of the audience members asked.
Cora smiled at the woman who asked the question. "That is hard to say, to be honest. The idea popped into my head, and I decided one day to start writing."
"Did you ever hit writers block?" Another audience member asked.
Cora chuckled. "Many times, to be honest. There was one thing that helped me out of it. When I open my window, I can hear the most beautiful piano music. The moment I hit a writer's block, and the piano player is blessing the streets with the wonderful music, my writers block melts like snow in the sun."
"I think you all would love to have a signed copy of the book you are holding. Please form a line, so miss Levinson can sign them all." The bookshop owner said, once there were no more questions.
Robert had to rush to get to Rosamund on time.
"I almost thought you would not come." Rosamund said, while opening the door for him. "We have to eat a bit quicker, otherwise we will miss the meet & greet."
"Do we really need to go?" Robert complained.
"Yes, we do. I want to go, and you promised to come with me."
"Why is Marmaduke not coming with you?"
"I have not read the book, Rosamund asked you, and you agreed." Marmaduke said, while Robert walked into the dining room.
Robert sighed, they were teaming up against him, it was useless to argue. He felt kicked around as always. It did not matter, being here in London or at Downton. Recently other people decided how his live was run and he was getting fed up with it.
"What a cute bookshop this is." Rosamund said, while they looked at the building.
Robert could see it was busy inside the shop, and he was regretting coming with Rosamund, more and more. He should be in his own home playing the piano. It had now been weeks since he last played, and he properly missed it. He should find a way to get back here more often, without having to meet up with Rosamund and Marmaduke. He loved his sister and brother-in-law, but he needed his own life.
They were on the late sight and could barely find a place inside the shop. Rosamund managed to get a spot where they could see the small podium. Robert stood behind her, he was taller than his sister. Because they were late, it did not take long before the bookstore owner announced that Miss. Levinson would come on stage. Robert almost gasped audibly when he saw who stepped onto the podium.
He blinked a couple of times. But no, he was seeing it correctly. That was Cora. Cora was C. Levinson. Of course she was, how could he not have noticed that. Especially since she introduced herself to Rosamund recently as Cora Levinson. He had not made the connection, but clearly Rosamund did. That is why she was insisting on them coming here.
"I told you it would be worth it." Rosamund said, when the questions where finished and they lined up.
Robert was shaken by Cora's words. Was she referring to his music? Should he tell her that he played the piano. What if it was not his music, that made her come over her writer's block. What if he made a fool out of himself by assuming that.
Slowly they made their way to the table where Cora was signing the books. He was how she made time for everybody and truly listened. In each book she wrote something personal. What a wonderful woman she was, he thought. He felt nervous the closer they came. How was he going to explain being here.
Finally, it was their time, Rosamund handed Cora her book. When Cora looked up, Robert saw that she recognized her.
"Hello Rosamund." She said. "What a surprise seeing you here."
As she had done with everybody, she fully focused on the person in front of her. She had not seen him yet, should he leave? He could quickly leave without her noticing it. He felt embarrassed being here, it felt like he was stalking her. He had that feeling earlier, when he kept running into her in the supermarket and on the street. But she did know by now that he had a home here, so it was less stalking. Was it? His change of making an escape was gone, the noticed that Rosamund pointed towards him.
Cora looked in his direction and her face lit up when she spotted him. "Robert." She exclaimed.
"Hi." He answered sheepishly.
"I did not know you read my book."
"I did not know it was written by you." He answered.
"Let me sign your copy." Cora said, while extending her hand.
Robert coloured. "I forgot to bring mine." He felt stupid, how could he forget to bring the book.
"We have some more copies for sale." The bookstore owner said, while handing him a new one.
Robert gave the book to Cora with still that sheepish smile on his face. Cora touched his hand, while taking the book from him. He felt his cheeks get more colour. She started writing, but Robert could not see what she wrote. Quickly Cora closed the book and handed it back to him. "You should read that at home." She winked.
"We should walk on, there are more people waiting to get their book signed." Rosamund took his arm and pulled him away. Robert kept his eyes on Cora, who clearly had trouble focussing on the new people in front of her.
"You knew it was Cora who wrote that book?" He said, while they walked to the front of the store.
Rosamund smiled. "I made the connection the first time I met Cora. She introduced herself and I recognized her last name. It surprised me that you had not said anything about it. Later it dawned on me that you had no clue."
"Thank you for dragging me here."
"It was hard to get you here, I was scared this whole evening that you would sneak out the shop."
Robert blushed again; his sister knew him all too well. In the corner of his eye, he saw Sorcha walking towards them.
"Good to see you again Robert."
"Likewise. I do not think you have met my sister. This is Rosamund. Rosamund this is Sorcha and friend of Cora."
"Nice meeting you." Sorcha said polite. "Cora is asking if you want to get something to drink once she is finished." Sorcha looked at Rosamund. "You are invited too."
Robert looked at Rosamund to see if she would like to stay or preferred going home.
"That would be nice, thank you for the invitation. Should we wait here?"
"Cora mentioned the white cross. You two could get there already and secure us a table or booth?"
"Sound as a perfect plan. We will do that." Rosamund answered.
Robert pressed the book against his side, while he followed Rosamund outside. He glanced one more time at Cora, who was still chatting with the people that wanted a signature of her. There were only a couple left. He figured it would not take very long for her to come to the pub. He only hoped that their visit to Kew Gardens tomorrow would still stand.