I am sorry for letting you all wait on this chapter. But I could not find the time to write.
Cora looked at Dr. Clarkson, she heard her blood rushing in her ears. She could not read his face, what was he going to tell? Was he bringing good news or bad news. She did not dare to glance at Robert, scared to see his expression.
Robert saw Cora was nervous, of course she was. They would hear what her faith would be. Very gentle he placed his hand on her lower back, in an attempt to calm her down a little bit and to reassure her he was there. She did not look at him. He pulled his hand back, when he realised it was not appropriate. He clutched his hands in front of him and tried to focus on what Dr. Clarkson was saying.
“It will not be enjoyable, but you won’t die.” Dr. Clarkson concluded.
Cora let out a sigh of relief, she did not have cancer. She would need to have treatment, but this pernicious anaemia would not kill her. She finally dared to look up at Robert and she saw the same relieve reflected on his face. He locked eyes with her. Suddenly she felt his arm around her and his lips on her temple.
She wanted to burry herself in his arms, feel his heartbeat, soak up his warmth. But it was not appropriate, even this sign of affection was a bit to much. Despite that, she wrapped her arm around Robert’s back. Softly she squeezed his side.
“Thank you, Dr. Clarkson.” Robert said, feeling Cora’s arm on his back. He himself hold on firmly, he was not going to let her go. His Cora was going to stay with him. His world was going back to normal again. He was his father’s son and his wife would heal. He wondered what her treatment would be. Especially because Dr. Clarkson said it would not be pleasant.
“Yes, thank you.” He heard Cora’s voice, what brought him back to earth. “You must stay and have some dinner.” Cora took Robert’s hand. She was his home, his everything, he thought.
At that moment, they heard the desperate cries of Miss Denker coming from the first floor.
“Milord, Milady, come quickly.”
Robert glanced at Cora, he saw it in her eyes, his mother was dying. He called Dr. Clarkson with him and rushed upstairs.
Cora was left alone in the hallway, she stared upstairs. How life jumped from one happy moment to a sad moment. She took a deep breath, she was still in shock. It wasn’t cancer, although pernicious anaemia was not pleasant, it was treatable by now. She remembered when Lord Merton got that diagnosis. He was going to die, but then they learned it was not pernicious. Violet had made sure Isobel and him got together again and look at them now, she smiled. Violet had a strong opinion, but deep down, she was a caring woman. She was going to be missed greatly.
“Mama?”
Cora shook out of her daydreaming and saw Edith.
“Mama, did Dr. Clarkson bring bad news?” She asked with a worried face.
It was than that Cora noticed she had a tear on her cheek. Quickly she wiped it away. “No, no, but your grandmother….” Cora could not get the words out of her mouth.
Edith stepped closer and kissed her mother on the cheek. “What did Dr. Clarkson tell you?”
Cora noticed Edith did not react to the news about Violet. “It is not cancer.”
“Oh Mama.” Edith exclaimed. “We need to tell Mary and Tom. And then we will go to Grandmamma.”
+++
Robert sat on a chair next to his mother’s bed. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was shallow. Dr. Clarkson said it would not take long now, and the chance she would open her eyes again was slim. He took a deep breath and tried to prepare. He felt Cora’s hand on his back. He looked around the room. Opposite of him were his girls Mary and Edith, then he saw Tom and Lucy, Isobel and Maud were sitting on the sofa.
“Maud?”
It was his mother’s voice and it scared him a little. He looked at her, she was so frail. Once she was done talking to Maud Violet turned towards him. He had his hands resting on the bed, he did not know where to put them. “Is there anything you want.” He asked.
“What ever I have wanted, dearest boy, you have given me long before now and many times over” Violet surprised him when she took his hand in hers. She never had done that. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat.
“Dear Mama, I hope I haven’t been a disappointment, you were always so much cleverer than me.”
“True, but don’t let that come between us now. You are far kinder, than I have ever been.”
Violet looked up at Cora. “Cora, I owe you an apology. I did not think you would last the course.”
Despite the sad feeling that was overwhelming Cora, she smiled. “I know.”
“But I was wrong.”
This shocked Cora. She had never heard Violet admit being wrong. It was like her saying: ‘I never argue, I explain. She saw Violet turning towards her daughters and a proud feeling swelled up in her chest. Her girls, the girls she raised with all the love she had. Violet took Edith’s hand and Mary stepped closer. Sybil was looking, Cora knew. Sybil was always with them.
Violet made a typical comment towards Miss Denker and when she looked at her face again, she was gone. Dr. Clarkson confirmed, that Violet had passed.
Cora put her hands on Robert’s arms, and softly squeezed his upper arm. She felt him taking a shaky breath. His hand was still holding his mother’s. Mary wrapped her arms around Edith.
Maud, Isobel, Tom and Lucy and Dr. Clarkson, left the room, leaving Robert, Cora, Edith and Mary alone with Violet.
Cora saw Edith was looking at her with red eyes. Quickly she walked over and pulled her close. She cupped the back of her head with her hand and brushed through her hair. Mary was looking at them, Cora was not sure if she wanted to be comforted by her, but she reached out her hand and Mary took it. Leaning in on both her mother and Edith.
There was a knock on the door, it was Dr. Clarkson. The girls left the room, Robert said a last goodbye and grabbed Cora’s hand when they walked out.
Verhalen van Traan 