Slowly Cora walked down the stairs, she was greeted by her grandson George. “Good morning, Grandmama, I was scared we wouldn’t see you this morning.”
George was growing into a fine young man, he was 27 and ready to take on his job as the next earl of Grantham. Cora was worried how Mary was going to accept this fact. She was taking care of Downton for a longer time now. Robert had handed over a lot of task to her in the last years, but George was the one carrying the title. Since Matthews death and marrying Henry, she didn’t had any right to Downton. It wasn’t in Cora’s nature, but she would love to throw that in Mary’s face, right now.
“Grandmama?” George took her hand and walked with her to the library.
“Yes, darling?” Cora smiled at him. She adored her grandson, he had the same sweet nature as his Donk. In fact she adored all her grandchildren.
“Can you tell me a story about Donk?”
Cora sat down on a chair and started talking.
“When you were just one year old, your Donk took you to see the estate. He put you in a stroller and just walked off. He didn’t think about telling anybody, but he also didn’t think about your feeding time. Soon Nanny discovered you were gone and panicked.”
“Was that the Nanny you fired?” George interrupted.
“That was Nanny West, I still don’t understand how we made that misjudgement about her, but no, this was Nanny Joan, a very sweet lady. She adored all of you. All the staff started looking for you, and at one moment we thought you were kidnapped.”
George belly laughed. “Kidnapped, why would they want to kidnap me?”
Cora put her hand on his knee. “You were the next earl, the only heir to Downton, people could have asked a lot of money.”
George nodded.
“Finally after several hours, your Donk returned with you, crying hysterical in your stroller. The whole house and especially your mother, was in a state. The only thing your dear Donk said: ‘I wanted to show him, what he will inherited.’”
“I miss Donk.” George said very softly.
“I do too, darling, we all do.” Cora saw a tear in George’s eye. “It is alright to cry.” Slowly she got up and sat down next to George, she wrapped her arm around him. He rested his head against her shoulder and cried.
Suddenly they were interrupted by a children voice. Robert Junior came running inside the library, with a his Nanny behind him. “I am so sorry Milord, he didn’t want to stay upstairs.”
George picked him up and put him on his lap, “That’s alright.” He brushed the dark curls of his son, Robert Junior had the same locks as his great grandfather, when it grew longer it started to curl.
Catherine and Mary entered the room too. Catherine was George’s wife, they got married 6 years ago and had their only son Robert Junior. It had made Robert so happy to know, there would be another heir in his bloodline.
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“I will go and change for lunch.” Cora knew she needed more time than the rest, so she made sure she got up before the dressing gong.
She was glad with George’s presence this morning. He was a sweet boy, she corrected herself he was a sweet man. A boy he wasn’t anymore.
Jules helped her step in her dress and closed the zipper. Cora picked up a collier, she smiled when she touched it with her finger tips. Robert gave it to her when she turned 70. He took her out for dinner in London at The Ritz. Just before they left for the restaurant, he stopped her and said:
*
“Close your eyes, darling.”
Cora did as he asked and stood waiting in the middle of the bedroom. Suddenly she felt something very cold on her neck and his fingers in her neck. He grabbed her shoulders and kissed her neck. “Happy birthday, darling. I hope you like this. You can open your eyes now.”
Cora looked at herself in the mirror and was shocked by the beauty of this piece of jewellery. “This is incredibly beautiful, thank you so much.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“The chauffeur is waiting.” Reluctantly Robert stepped back. “I would rather kiss you longer.”
“We will have time after dinner.” Cora chuckled and hooked her arm in his.
*
Her bedroom door opened and Mary appeared. “Jules can you leave us for a minute.”
Jules looked at Cora, she said. “It’s alright, I will ring, when I need you.”
“Mama, you really need to start and pack up your stuff. Dower house is waiting.” Mary said without looking at her mother, the moment Jules closed the door behind her.
Cora let out a deep sigh. Mary had never showed much respect for Cora. She was blaming her to be an American, even though she had that same American blood in her veins
“Mary I need more time. I…….”
“One more day!” Mary said interrupting her mother, she turned around and left.
Cora was shaking and tried not to scream. She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the house. All her memories of Robert were embedded in here. She made loved and fought with Robert here. She gave birth to her girls in this room, she grieved Sybil here and now she was grieving Robert. How could Mary be so cold.
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Verhalen van Traan 