Here is my Christmas drabble for the Cobert Winter Fanfic Exchange 2022
Robert entered Cora’s sitting room. She was bent over the papers in front of her on her desk. He loved looking at her, without her noticing it. Her dark curls up in a Chignon, he loved it when she undid her hair in the evenings, and the curls cascaded over her back.
He closed the door and stepped closer; he saw Cora was working on the table setting for Christmas eve.
Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her and placed his hands on her abdomen. “Our last Christmas as a family of four.” He said, kissing her cheek.
Cora looked up with a smile on her face. She placed one hand on top of Robert’s, and with the other one, she stroked his cheek. “Hi, darling. Are you finished for today?”
Robert sat down on a chair next to her desk. “There is some work left, but that I can do after Christmas. I was wondering if I could help you with something.”
Cora looked at the paper in front of her. “I am struggling a bit with the table setting. I don’t want a normal sit-down Christmas dinner this year.”
Robert raised his eyebrows. Did he hear that correctly? What was Cora going to change.
“I was thinking to do a buffet style this year. My mother and Harold are coming over and I would love to show them: England is not stuck in the 1920’s anymore.” Cora knew Robert was going to freak out. He never liked it when she tried to change something. He was such an English man, that he was stuck in the traditions from the old age. As the 9th earl of Grantham, he loved doing things the proper way.
“Cora! You know my mother is also coming? We cannot do a buffet style dinner with Christmas. We can show your mother that we are modern in different ways.”
“I already discussed the plans with Mrs. Patmore, and she is super enthusiastic to make this dinner.”
Robert sighed. Cora made up her mind, he would not be able to change a thing. “When is your mother arriving?” He changed the subject.
“On the morning of Christmas eve, she will stay for Christmas day, then she and Harold will tour around to be back here for New Year’s Eve.”
“When are we going to tell our mother’s you are expecting? Because you are starting to show already.”
Cora moved her hand to her abdomen, Robert was right. She was only four months pregnant, but she was starting to show. Both Mary and Edith had been ecstatic when they told them there was a brother or sister coming. Cora had been relieved with Mary’s reaction. When Edith came, she had been hostile and still, they didn’t have the best relationship. Cora hoped it would improve with age. She looked up at Robert, we can tell them during Christmas dinner.
“While we are all walking around?”
“Robert!” Cora said annoyed. “A buffet does not mean we don’t sit down to eat. We start sitting down and then everybody will go to the buffet table and pick what they want to eat and sit back down.”
Robert sighed. “That sounds as chaos.”
Cora wanted to reply, when the door opened, and Mary and Edith came running in. Edith was in tears and Mary was blaming Edith for something. In a way it was adorable, Cora though, Mary was starting to form real sentences and Edith, was echoing what Mary said.
“Girls!’ Robert said on a firm tone. “Stop this! It is almost Christmas, stop fighting. Edith!” He gave her a firm look. “Leave your sister alone.”
Cora looked up at Robert. This was something he did a lot, blaming Edith directly, without knowing what happened. She felt Edith’s hands on her legs, and she pulled her up on her lap. Mary wanted to walk to Robert, but she grabbed her arm and pulled her close, cupped her head and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “What happened?”
Nanny had followed the girls and explained Mary wanted to play with a toy Edith had. “I am sorry that they are disturbing you.” Nanny said.
Cora smiled at their Nanny. “Don’t you worry, it is time for lunch anyway.” She got up, rested Edith on her hip and Mary’s hand in hers. “Are you coming?” She said looking at Robert.
Robert was always amazed, by Cora. Casually carrying Edith and also affirming Mary, she loved her.
+++
24th of December
Robert woke up early, today Martha and Harold would arrive. Violet would be here early because she wanted to be in the house before Martha. He turned on his side and watched Cora, who was still sleeping. Her slow breathing and soft snores gave him a feeling of coming home. He was a lucky guy, that she said yes. Even though he married her mainly for the money she brought with her from America. But he had started loving her very soon after their marriage and when she gave him his first daughter, he was over the moon in love and now she was going to give him a third child. He scooted closer and moved his hand over her abdomen.
Cora moaned and turned on her side. “Please, let me sleep some more.”
Robert kissed her cheek. “Good morning darling, we have a busy day, I am afraid there is not much time for sleep.” He knew Cora had stayed up until late to put down all the gifts under the Christmas tree.
“I know, but just five more minutes.” Cora buried her face in Robert’s arms. She folded her hands in front of her and rested them against Robert’s chest. She was blessed with him as her husband. When her mother suggested to go look for a man in England she had laughed, but she had been right. She could not have wished for a better man than Robert. Adjusting to this English estate life had been hard, but she felt more and more at home and now it was time, to bring some of her customs into this household.
Their bedroom door opened, and Mary and Edith climbed on their bed. “Santa has brought presents.” Mary exclaimed.
Cora sat up and pulled Mary close. “Did he?” She smiled, well let’s go down and see where they are.
“Under the Christmas tree Mama. He left them there.” Mary said.
“We will go and look at them, but we are going to wait with opening them. Grandmama from America is coming today and Uncle Harold, and I think there are also presents for them, we will open them tomorrow morning.” Robert patted Edith on her head.
Cora got up, wrapped herself in her bathrobe, took Robert’s hand and together they followed the girl’s downstairs.
Robert chuckled, if his mother would see them, she would scold him, for being downstairs in his bathrobe. But he agreed with Cora, they should adapt to the modern times, and it was incredibly cosy to be downstairs with the children in their bathrobes, looking at all the presents.
Cora handed both Edith and Mary a small present. “This one you can open right now.” she said
Robert pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Cora. There was a Christmas card in it.
On the back there was written:
‘You make me the happiest man on earth. Happy Christmas my darling. Yours only, R‘
“Oh Robert!” Cora exclaimed. “I love you, thank you.”
+++
Evening of Christmas eve
“Mama, when are we doing the Christmas crackers?” Mary leaned against her mother’s legs.
“We can do them now, Rosamund said, looking at Marmaduke.
“I will get them, he said.
“This is such a weird tradition.” Harold said under his breath.
“Oh, come on, as if we do not have strange customs in America, Cora answered.
“Maybe, but we do not sit with a paper crown on our head during Christmas.”
Later that evening when the children were tugged into bed.
“Why aren’t we allowed in the dining room yet.” Violet asked, everybody was in the library. Harold and Marmaduke were chatting, Robert was talking with Rosamund.
Cora was chatting with her mother and looked up. “The staff is not finished yet, so we have to wait a little bit longer.” She did not dare to look at Violet. When she decided to do a buffet style dinner, she had felt very brave, but now she was feeling regret.
Robert saw the look on Cora’s face change, and he stepped closer. He put his hand on her lower back and whispered in her ear. “Maybe we should tell our news now?”
Cora nodded. “Before the evening is ruined you mean.”
Robert pulled her a little bit closer. “No, to make the evening more joyful.” With his hand still on Cora’s back, he started. “Everybody. Cora and I have some news.” He waited a second before he got everybody’s attention. “We are expecting another little one.”
Cora saw Robert was beaming, he was so proud to tell the family the news. Rosamund got up and to Cora’s surprise wrapped her arms around her. “Congratulations, what a wonderful news.”
At that same time Carson entered and Cora announced they should go through. Before everybody left the room, they congratulated both Cora and Robert.
“And now let see what you and Mrs. Patmore made of our Christmas dinner.” Robert took Cora’s hand and together they followed the rest.
There were long tables with food on it. The staff was standing behind them to serve. On every table there were Christmas decorations, and a string quartet was playing Christmas songs.
Martha clapped in her hands. “Cora, you did a wonderful job, look at how festive this is.”
Cora glanced at Violet, but to her surprise she saw her nodding in agreement. “I must admit, this indeed looks amazing. We must compliment Mrs. Patmore for this idea.”
“Well.” Rosamund started. “I think there is somebody else who we should compliment.” She looked at Cora. “Because I think the idea came from my darling sister-in-law, am I right?”
“You are 100% correct.” Robert said with a proud look on his face. “Cora was the one with this idea and although I was against it, I am happy she made it happen. This looks wonderful and I quite like the idea of not sitting down for hours tonight.”
“Well, let us not wait any longer, Bon appetite everyone.”
Verhalen van Traan 