“Are you sure you can take the time off?” Cora was sitting in Robert’s office at ‘Le Grantham’. Something they did almost daily at the end of her work day. Robert had shown her some flight and hotel options. They had a little fight over where to sleep while they would be in New York earlier.
Cora insisted on sleeping at her mother’s place, the mansion was big enough to not disturb each other. But Robert didn’t want to hear it. ‘I have the money to pay for a hotel and I want to spoil you.’ He had said. Cora remembered how hurt she was, that Robert didn’t want to stay in her mother’s house. ‘Are you afraid that she will be too American? Because you will find that in a hotel too’ And.’ She had continued with her hands on her hips. ‘I happen to be an American too.’
Robert had let out a deep sigh. ‘Cora, I didn’t mean anything like that.’
‘Well, you make it seem like that. We stay at my mother’s place, or I am going alone.’ Cora had still been standing there with her hands on her hips, with a fire in her eyes.
Robert had started to chuckle, which made Cora even more mad. ‘Are you laughing at me now?’
‘No, I wouldn’t dare. Why don’t we stay a couple of days at your mother’s place and then we will stay in a hotel? So we can have some time together.‘
Cora softened a little bit. She knew why she got this angry. Anthony had always said, she was worth less because of her American blood.
“Cora?” Robert ran his hand over Cora’s arm. “Everything okay?”
Cora looked up, woken from her memory, she gave Robert a soft smile. “Yes.”
“Cora, you know I didn’t mean anything bad earlier?” Softly he squeezed her hand.
She nodded, shook her head and looked up. “Well, we should finalize the plans, so I can inform my mother we are coming. But only if you are truly sure you can be missed here.”
“We will miss him like a toothache.” John joked while walking into the office.
For a minute, Cora worried about Robert’s reaction, but remembered they went back a long time. She got up. “I will leave you two.” She bent down and kissed Robert. “Do I see you tonight?”
Robert cupped her head with his hand and pulled her in for another kiss. “If you want me to?”
Cora smirked. “You know I do.” She turned around and walked away.
Playful Robert gave a little tap on her thigh. Cora smiled, she was still amazed how different it all felt. When Anthony did something like this, it was always to hurt her and only for his own pleasure. But with Robert everything was different. He didn’t want to hurt her, not physically and not mentally. He was careful with her not to scare her by touching her without her consent. They slept in the same bed, but nothing more than kisses and cuddling happened.
Robert said he wanted to be sure Cora was ready for it. And Cora knew he was right, she wasn’t ready for it. She still flinched when he touched her hip or moved his hand to her throat without her seeing it. Her therapy was working, but it was a slow process. She knew that she couldn’t ask Robert not to touch her during real intimacy, so they waited.
Secretly Cora loved this, it felt old fashioned, but at the same time wonderful. She was learning more about Robert himself. They spend the evenings on the sofa, listening to music, reading a book and talking for hours. She learned Robert came from an old noble family, but he decided to work like a normal man. His sister Rosamund had married a rich man, she didn’t have to work. She instead worked for charities. His mother and father were the example of an English noble marriage, Robert said. They didn’t really love each other, the marriage had been an arranged one. Nonetheless they were happy together.
Robert started to tear up every time he talked about his father. He was very weak and they didn’t know how long he would live. Cora had voiced they should go and visit him soon. Robert took her hand and pressed his lips on it. ‘I am blessed with you in my life. Judith never cared for my parents.’ Cora had smiled. ‘We are both in a better place.’
Cora stepped outside and nodded to the security guard. Robert had arrangements for 24/7 protection. Anthony was nowhere to be found. After the last incident they went to the police, now they were searching for him. Robert didn’t feel at ease knowing he could be walking around in the neighbourhood, so he hired a private bodyguard.
“I would love to walk home tonight.” She said to Carson.
“Of course ma’am, I will walk with you.”
Carson’s stayed a couple of steps behind Cora, she stopped and turned around. “It would feel less awkward if you walked next to me.”
“Whatever you wish ma’am.” Was his answer.
Much to Carson’s surprise Cora hooked her arm in his and started a light conversation.
“How is your wife doing? Elsie is her name right?”
Carson’s thick eyebrows moved. “She is fine ma’am.” He sniffed and lifted his chin as a sign that he wasn’t going to say anything else.
Cora had started to get fond of this big man. He gave her a secure feeling and she knew even if Anthony came close, Carson’s would keep her safe. She smiled, in about two weeks she would see her mother again and Harold. Dear Harold, her foolish brother, who always managed to step in two ditches at the same time.
Verhalen van Traan 