Disclaimer: mentions of domestic violence and miscarriage.

Chapter 1


Cora Cavendish, the Marchioness of Silverton, sits quietly in front of her ornate mirror, carefully covering the bruises on her face—marks left by her husband, Richard. It wasn't unusual; he had struck her many times before, often when she dared to contradict him. That he is a cruel man is no secret. Everyone who worked for him knew what kind of man he was, yet somehow no one had warned her before their wedding, 24 years ago. As she worked the powder over her alabaster skin, her hands moved with practiced precision, each stroke a familiar routine.

Her maid, Smithers, stepped into Cora's firelit bedroom carrying an extra blanket. Smithers' brown eyes, filled with sympathy and pity, lingered on her mistress. But Cora didn't want pity—it was useless to her, offering no solace or solution. "Milady," Smithers began cautiously, "with all respect, you should leave that and get some rest."

Cora shook her head, her hands steady as she continued covering up the bruises on her face. "No. His Lordship made it very clear he wanted to visit me tonight," she said, her voice flat. "I have to look decent."

Her breath hitched, and she tried to suppress a sob but failed. "For him."

Her maid was about to say something when her husband barged in and dismissed her maid with a single word.

Richard was a strikingly handsome man, with fair hair that had begun to show subtle streaks of grey and green eyes that seemed to pierce straight into Cora's soul. His athletic build spoke of his passion for horseback riding and cricket, pursuits he often indulged. On paper, he was everything one could wish for in a husband: a high ranking title, a grand estate, and a charm that effortlessly won over her parents—and, for a time, her as well.

When he proposed, Cora had said yes, knowing how much it meant to her family. Her parents had always wanted the best for her and her younger brother, and Richard appeared to be the perfect answer to their hopes. Yet now that they were married, the illusion had cracked, revealing a man far different from the one they thought they knew. Her parents would never guess, and she doubted she could ever tell them, what kind of man he had turned out to be. So the few times her family visited her, she played the perfect wife: attending to his whims without complaining.

"Cora, lie down." His voice is calm, almost indifferent, as he gestures toward her canopy bed. She obeys, sinking into the soft duvet, the fabric cool and familiar against her arms. Richard unties the belt of his maroon dressing gown, the rich fabric pooling as he reclines beside her. He leans in, his lips brushing hers with a softness that feels like a habit rather than affection. They've done this countless times before, each attempt Cora was left with only the empty pain of loss and the sting of crushed hope after her miscarriages.

An heir. That was all Richard ever wanted from her, the one duty she was meant to fulfil as his wife. Yet, she had failed. And he always made sure that she is a failure in his eyes.

He pulls the nightdress from her body, his movements precise as his gaze lingers on the skin he exposes. She feels the weight of his gaze, but it isn't love. It never was. She knows that. Still, something keeps him here, keeps him here beside her, despite the whispered rumours and knowing looks from the women she calls her friends. There are mistresses, of course—there always have been—but there was never an embarrassing public scene. That counts for something, doesn't it? She wonders, not for the first time, why he even bothers. Why come to her, his middle-aged wife, when he has a younger, prettier girl on the side?

He finishes just a couple of minutes later, leaving her alone in her room to wrestle with her tormenting thoughts. More than two decades ago, her life had been wonderful. She'd had a loving family, friends she trusted with her deepest secrets and dreams, and everything she could have wished for. Now, all of that was gone. The only thing keeping her going, the only glimmer of light in her otherwise hollow days, were the thoughts and dreams of finding herself in the arms of the Earl of Grantham.


Thank you for reading this short chapter! I'm planning to make all the chapters this short (some will be longer). Because it WILL take me forever to update if I did otherwise. Next chapter will be about Robert's life without his darling Cora… :(

So now I'm writing shorter chapters I'm going to update the story more often, so please follow/favourite to keep up with the story!

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