This one is written on a request.
Cora was standing behind Robert, who was focusing on the sky. The grouse could be driven at any moment. She saw his tense back, the first round he did not shoot any grouse, and she could see he was getting agitated. She loved how he looked in his shooting attire. The green of his suit fit him perfectly, she loved how the hat made him look. She had made sure her attire was complimentary to his. She had worn the opposite brown of his green. With this colour she would blend in with the scenery.
Barrow was his loader today and she saw that he had been rolling his eyes every time Robert missed. She could not blame him; Robert was not doing well today.
"Robert?" Cora asked.
"What is it?" He answered, his focus still in front of him.
"Where did you go in York?"
"Here they come Milord." Barrow made Robert aware.
Cora tried to stay as still as possible, she even held her breath. Robert would blame it on her if he missed again. And she knew he was not going to tell her where he went.
"Sir." Barrow's voice sounded and some grouse flew up, right in front of Robert.
He waited a bit, aimed, and missed. Frustrated he handed Barrow his gun so he could reload. He looked around and noticed that they were out of side of all the other shooters.
Robert turned around and looked at Cora. She had that adorable look in her eyes when she tried to calm him down. It did not work today, he needed to come back with grouse, and he could not fail. Tom was shooting too, and he could not let him win. "You are distracting me." He said grumpy.
"I am sorry dear. I will be silent from now on." Cora still wanted to know why he went to York, but he would not tell her during this shoot, she even doubted if he would tell her at all.
"Another round sir." Thomas pointed at the drivers.
Robert moved into position and aimed. "Another miss." He said frustrated, while turning around to Cora.
"My dear, I know I should not be asking you. Nobody can see us; would you shoot the next round?"
Cora's eyes grew, he had never asked her that before. It had been years since she handled a gun. But she remembered shooting with her dad. "I can try." She said shyly.
Thomas tried to hide his chuckle when he handed Cora the gun. "Milady, be careful."
"She knows how to handle a gun, Barrow. She is an American, have gun will travel." Robert said while stepping backward. He touched her arm. "I count on you."
Cora got nervous; she wanted to do good for him. But if she were shooting more than he did, he would be cranky for the rest of the day. She did love that he remembered the words she said to him, that evening he told her they lost their money.
"Prepare." Thomas's voice sounded.
Cora aimed the shotgun, she waited when the bird flew up, and calmly pulled the trigger. It looked like she missed, but a second later the bird fell.
"Well done, Milady." Thomas his voice was full of admiration.
Robert grumbled and Cora did not look back at him. He needed to process what just happened and she knew he would not be happy at this moment.
Thomas gave Cora the loaded shotgun and they waited for the next driver to drive up the grouse. They did not have to wait long and again, Cora hit the bird.
After three more successful rounds, Cora turned towards Robert. "You should do the last round, my dear."
Robert took over her place, but of course, he missed. What a failure he had been today.
"Barrow!" Cora said with a stern voice. "I am counting on you to keep this to yourself. The birds that were shot were shot by his Lordship. If I ever find out you have talked about this, you will lose your job."
Robert felt some of his anger slip away. He had married the best woman he could find. She did everything she could to protect him. He loved how kind her voice was even though she was putting Thomas in his place. They both knew that he loved to gossip.
Cora took Robert's arm and started to walk back. She briefly placed her hand on his stomach. "You are not feeling well, that must be the reason for today. Nobody needs to know; this is our secret."
Robert looked down at her, into her blue eyes. They were like the hyacinths that always were blooming in the early spring around Downton. "Thank you." He said softly.