But papa! Why? Chapter 10

Cora had avoided seeing Robert the entire day. Since Friday evening he was in her mind. She was not sure what happened when she touched his jaw, but it had woken something inside her. It did not make any sense; he was rude towards her since she stepped inside the building. Why could she not get him out of her mind and just go on.

“Cora?” Robert’s voice sounded. “I am glad to catch you, finally.” He said stepping into her office.

Cora felt her cheeks blush. “I have been in the office since this morning.” She said as calm as possible, but her heart was racing. Robert’s jaw had a nasty yellow colour. The guy in the bar had hit him harder than she thought. “How is your jaw doing?”

“Well, it doesn’t matter, I found you now.” Robert moved his hand up to his chin. “It is still painful, but it was worth it. How are the pictures coming along?” Robert stepped closer towards Cora.

Robert’s comment made her blush even more. Quickly she said: “I can show you what we have for now.” She clicked a couple of times. Robert walked around the desk so he could see her screen. When he bent down to have a closer look, Cora could smell his scent, he was using Creed she noticed. She smelled bergamot and notes of jasmine and rose. Robert rested his hand on Cora’s shoulder, this sensation made her shiver.

“Are you cold?” Robert now ran his hand over Cora’s back but realised it was inappropriate and pulled his hand back.

“No, no, I am alright. Do you want me to send you the ready pictures?” She straightened her back and ignored what just happened.

Robert stepped away from Cora, why had he done that? Last Friday morning he was disgusted by everything that involved Cora and now he wanted to be close to her and know what perfume she was wearing. He had to admit, that he had been attracted to her from the start. But the idea of her taking over the company made him push her away. “I will wait for your email. Thank you.” Quickly he left before he could do something even more stupid. Like asking her out for a date.

“Sorry? What did you say?”

Robert froze in the doorway, had he said that aloud? “I will wait for your email.” Was what I said.

“No, I mean the part after that.” Cora tilted her head. Robert had mumbled something, but she could not hear it properly.

Robert searched his brain for a proper answer. “I said, do not make it too late. There is no rush.”

Cora smiled, a sight that melted Robert. Why was her smile so mesmerising? “We have until Thursday to send them in. They will be done intime for the next edition of the magazine.”

“Good, thank you.” Robert closed the door and rushed towards his own office. What was happening? Why was he acting like a blubbering fool when he was around Cora. He still did not know why he stepped in last Friday. He would always protect a women, but he felt jealousy when he saw her with another guy.

“You look like you have seen a ghost.” Rosamund’s voice sounded.

Robert shook up, he was still standing at the door to his office. He just looked at Rosamund but did not know how to respond.

“You should ask her out, if you want to.” Rosamund saw Robert’s face and continued. “Do not try to play dumb, you know who I mean. It is obvious that you like her, and I think I can even say she likes you too.”

Robert pulled Rosamund into his office, John was not in today, so his office was empty. Quickly he closed the door. “Do not say those things where everybody can hear you.” He tried to scold Rosamund.

It resulted in Rosamund who started to laugh. “So, I am right, am I not?”

+++

Cora put her plate in the dishwasher, tomorrow was the last day she could work on the advert, there was still some work left, but she felt it was not necessary to work overtime today. She looked outside, the weather was still nice, there was rain predicted for this evening, but looking at the sky it did not look like it would start raining soon. She decided to go for a walk, her head was running in circles. The situation with Robert did not make her, already strange position in the company any easier. When she had told her mother the story about the family’s title, she had the feeling Martha had already known about it. It still did not make any sense to her, why was her mother so interested in their title. What would it bring her?

And why was she working for ‘Crawley Advertisements’ it did not bring anything for ‘Levinson and son’. There were no company secrets she was being told. All she was doing was just working together with Robert on the projects. She should ask her father about this and press him to get an honest answer. Because although she loved being here in London, and she was not sure she ever wanted to go back and work in her father’s office. She would love to be an employee for ‘Crawley advertisements’ rather than being a representative for their own company. She was getting used to this London life. The balance between work and free time was a lot better here. She could not have been walking along the river the night before a deadline. She decided to call her father this weekend to make things clear.

All a sudden it started to rain, Cora looked around and she noticed she was quite far away from her house. She hoped the rain would not be too bad, Cora turned around and started her way back home. At the time she got home, she was fully drenched. It was as if buckets were thrown down, the concierge gave her an apologetic look.

“If I had known it would rain like this, I would have warned you miss.”

Cora shivered. “It is not your fault. I should have brought an umbrella with me. I am still getting used to this British weather. She got up to her apartment and stepped inside the shower as fast as she could. She could feel the cold in her bones.

Drabble: feathers and cigars

Written on request. S4 E9 after Violet commented: ‘And what are the ladies supposed to do? Put feathers in their hair and light the gentleman’s cigars.’

+++

Robert was humming on his way back to the drawing room. He just handed the letter back to Rose. He knew he could count on Bates, to deliver. Carson had informed him her Ladyship was waiting for him in the drawing room. He thought she had gone up already after all the guests had left. He saw her go upstairs did he not?

In a very good mood, he opened the door and for a second the room looked empty.

“Close the door please.” It was Cora’s voice. Robert followed the request and closed the door.

“Cora?” He asked, he saw movement behind the room divider. Some sort of feather bopped above it.

Cora stepped out from behind the divider, she was still wearing the beautiful blue dress she had been wearing that evening, but she had done something to her hair. Her hair was down and there were feathers put into the curls.

His eyes widened, Cora never had her hair down for others to see. What was she up to? Then he noticed she was holding something brown in her hand.

Slowly she brought her hand to her face and put a sigar in between her lips. She tried to light it, but the only result was giggles coming from her mouth.

She looked up at Robert with coy eyes. “It looks so easy when you do it.” With small steps she walked towards Robert. The feathers in her hair moving with every step.

Robert gulped, what was she doing? They were not in the privacy of her room. What if one of the staff members walked inside, or even worse a family member?

Cora reached Robert and she let herself fall against Robert’s chest. He was not prepared for that move and he stumbled backwards. Wrapping his arms around her slender body to prevent her from falling.

Her giggles grew louder. “I know I had one drink too many, but I did not realize you were unstable too.” Her hand was pulling at his dress shirt, trying to get it out of the waistband of his trousers.

One of the feathers in her hair brushed against Robert’s nose. It made his nose tickle and he could not prevent a sneeze.

Quickly Cora stepped back. “Oh my, are you getting a cold?”

The sensation of her hands leaving his body made him hunger for her and with a big step, he pulled her close again. Robert put his nose in her curls and pressed his lips on her neck. “Your feather was tickling me, that is all.”

Cora leaned back and laughed out loud. She reached up and pulled one of the feathers out of her hair. She brushed it against his jaw, and over his nose.

Robert scrunched his nose, trying to hold in another sneeze. “Stop teasing me,” he said after a sneeze escaped.

Cora pressed her lips against his and murmured. “I am sorry.” She intensified her kiss and Robert eagerly answered. He pressed her firmly against his chest, his hand resting between her shoulder blades. The dress she was wearing gave him easy access to her skin. He loved that sensation, normally he could only feel her skin once they were up. He noticed Cora relaxed in his arms. He could taste the alcohol on her tongue and smiled.

“What is funny?” Cora asked. Robert now noticed her speech was slurred, it was something that rarely happened. Cora always knew how far she could go with her drinks. Had she been trying to drink herself courage? It must be and Robert loved her even more for it.

“It is nothing, my dear.” He put his hands on her face and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I love you, my Cora.” The twinkle that appeared in her eyes made heat shoot through his groin, before he realised it he scooped her in his arms. “Let us go upstairs.”

“But I have not lit your cigar yet!” Cora pouted.

It suddenly clicked in Robert’s head, his mother had commented that afternoon. ‘And what are the ladies supposed to do? Put feathers in their hair and light the gentleman’s cigars.’

“I can live without that cigar, I want to taste something else.” He knew what effect his words would have on Cora and it hit exactly where he hoped. A deep moan left her and she squirmed in his arms.

Cora buried her face in his neck, her hand playing with his hair. While Robert carried her upstairs to the privacy of her room.

But Papa! Why? Chapter 9

“Robert, I do not understand why you are this hostile against Cora. Even after she proved to be useful. When was the last time we had such a success?”

Robert took a sip of his whiskey. “How can you call this a success already; we do not even have results yet.”

“My dear brother, they call that instinct. I feel this is going to be big.”

“And why is Cora getting all these credits. As if we did not do anything for this event. I am so sick and tired of playing second fiddle. I also do not understand why Papa is not restoring Downton. We have enough money to make that happen. We do not have to live their anymore, we could rent it out. By rebuilding Downton, we can offer a lot of jobs for the village and take back our place as providers for the village. Like in old times.”

Rosamund sighed, she knew Robert had always dreamt of rebuilding Downton, he also attached immense importance to their title, something she never understood. For her the whole Milady and Milord business was old fashioned, she was surprised to hear it tonight again from miss Baxter. Robert had probably told her, she should address them that way. On Monday, she would ask Miss Baxter to not do that from now on, she was just Rosamund. She did not care about the title and rank they had. It did not add anything, especially not here in London. “Robert.” She started, but she saw his attention was somewhere else. Rosamund followed his gaze and she saw Cora standing at the bar. She had never seen the guy she was with, probably a friend she made.

“I do not like that man.” Robert said, without taking his eyes of Cora.

“Do you know him?” Rosamund asked.

“Never seen him before, but I do not like the vibe he gives. Something is wrong, look at Cora.” Robert continued.

Rosamund now looked better and indeed saw that Cora was tense, and her hand on his arm was not out of kindness, but to hold his hand away from her. The guy leaned in and tried to kiss her. Without a word, Robert got up and walked towards the bar.

+++

Cora was waiting for her drink at the bar, when she noticed a man standing next to her.

“I have not seen you here before.” he said.

“I can say the same thing to you.” Cora replied.

“You are not from here, I hear an American accent, am I right?”

Something was off with this man, Cora thought. She wished he would leave her alone. “I am waiting for a friend.” was her short answer.

“We can wait together.”

He moved his hand to her waist, but Cora put her hand on his arm to keep him from touching her.

“That is alright, but I can wait alone.”

The man leaned in, but just before he could kiss her, Cora heard: “There you are.” A strong arm turned her around and pulled her away from the bar.

“Robert?” Cora said surprised.

“Come sit with us.” Robert said trying to get her further away from the bar, but Robert was pulled back from her.

“I was first.” The unknown man said. “Find your own woman.” He pushed Robert back and grabbed Cora’s arm to pull her closer to him. “She wants to be with me.”

“No, I do not want that.” Cora said, pulling her arm back.

Robert stepped in between them. “You heard the lady; she does not want your company. Bugger off.”

Before he could walk away with Cora, the other guy swung at him and hit his jaw.

“Robert!” Cora exclaimed. There were a lot of people now surrounding them trying to keep the men apart.

“What did you do that for?” Robert pressed his hands against his face.

“We should leave.” Cora heard Rosamund say. “Come on.”

The three of them left the pub, when they were outside, Cora turned towards Robert. “Thank you.” She said very timid. “We should get you some ice for your jaw. My apartment is around the corner.”

“Did you know that man?” Rosamund asked her, while they walked towards her apartment.

“This was the first time I saw him. But I have not been in a pub very much, since I arrived.”

“He is not a regular.” Robert added, “Never seen him before at this pub and after tonight I do not think we will see him again.

+++

Cora showed Robert and Rosamund the living room, she went into the kitchen to get him some ice. This was a weird turn of events she thought. Robert in her house was not something she would ever think would happen. And Robert getting into a fight for her, was even further from what she was expecting. She had not even seen him in the pub. She knew they went out for a drink, and she could have known that they went to this pub. It was the one where she first met Rosamund and it was Robert’s local pub. She walked into the living room and handed Robert a bag of ice.

“Thank you.” He looked up.

“No, no, I have to thank you. I think you saved me for a horrible night.” Cora did not like the idea to say thanks to Robert. But he did save her, she did not want to think about the things that man would have done with her. “I got lucky you two were in the same pub.”

“That is not really a coincidence. It is our pub, so of course we will be there a lot.”

Cora raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean it is your pub? You mean it is the pub you are a regular?”

Robert sighed annoyed, why was this woman so exasperating. “As I say, it is our pub. Did you even pay attention to the name of it?”

It was like bricks fell into place in Cora’s mind. The pub was called. ‘The Grantham arms’ She had not made the connection. She tried to play dumb. “What has Grantham have to do with Crawley?”

Rosamund was the one to answer. “I think we need to tell you about our family a little bit more. We are coming from an old English blood line. There is a title attached to our name and that is Grantham. We own an estate up north and there was a building Downton Abbey. But due to a big fire, that house is not liveable anymore, for many years now. Our father decided to leave it be and start a business here in London. But even without the building, our title still exists. We are lords and ladies, although I believe it is very old fashioned to use those terms.”

“It is not.” Robert said indignant. “We should be proud of our title and use it more than we do know. Miss Baxter is the only one who knows how she should behave, and she still uses Milord and Milady.”

“Oh, Robert. Stop this. It is old fashioned, and you know that. The only reason Miss Baxter uses those terms, is because you told her to do so. I wonder why John is not falling for that trick.”

Cora stayed silent and watched them bicker.

“Well.” Robert now turned towards Cora. “If it is up to me, we are going to rebuild Downton into its full glory.”

“I do hope you are not expecting me to use your title from now on?” Cora replied. “How is your jaw feeling? Can I have a look?” Carefully she pulled the bag of ice out of Robert’s hands and softly placed her fingers on his jaw.

Robert was surprised by the softness of her skin against his. Her touch was gentle. He lowered his eyes and said. “You can call us by our first names, as you were doing until now.” He could not look up into her eyes. Her touching him, did something for which he was not prepared. His skin was prickling, and he had the urge to pull her against him. He looked up at Rosamund and said. “We should leave, it is late.”

Cora quickly pulled her hand back; she was not sure why she was still holding his jaw. “See you on Monday.”

But papa! Why? Chapter 8

The last people headed towards the elevator. Rosamund walked towards Cora and Phyllis.

“I have to congratulate you Miss Baxter.” She started, shaking her hand.

“Thank you Milady.”

Cora was surprised to hear her say Milady. Was her mother not talking about this recently? She remembered that her mother was surprised she did not need to call Robert and his family Lord and Lady. It had bothered her that her mother thought England was so far behind, but now here Baxter was saying the same thing.

“Earth is calling.” Rosamund waved her hand in front of Cora’s face.

“I am so sorry, what did you say?” Cora focused on the conversation again.

“I said what a wonderful evening this has been. When do you think we will see the results?”

Cora looked at Phyllis. “I think that we can have the pictures ready by Wednesday. Do you agree, Phyllis?”

Phyllis nodded. “I think that Tuesday is even possible, but Wednesday for sure.”

“That is wonderful, I see Robert is waiting, let us call it a day.” Rosamund said.

The three women walked towards the elevator, where Robert was standing. His hands in his pockets and an annoyed look on his face.

“Where is John?” Cora asked when they reached him.

“He is getting the car. Rosamund, do you still fancy that drink?”

The car? Cora thought. Since when was John his chauffeur and why did he not just use the underground?

“We can go with the five of us, to celebrate this success?” Rosamund continued.

Robert looked at Cora and said with disdane in his voice. “Let us wait with calling this a success. It is a bit early isn’t it.”

Cora didn’t miss his sarcastic tone, but ignore it. Instead she faced Phyllis. “Do you have time to go with us?”

She shook her head. “I am incredibly sorry, but I cannot. I am already later then I said I would be.” Phyllis lowered her eyes. “But I am sure you will enjoy tonight. I will see you on Monday at the office.”

The elevator doors opened and they all got in. Rosamund started talking with Robert, Cora was staring at the floor. She was anxious to go out with Robert. She knew Rosamund was going to be there too and until now she had a good relation with her. But Robert was obviously not happy she was joining them this evening.

“John.” Robert started when they walked towards him standing next to the car. “Do you have time for a drink or two?”

“Right now?” John asked.

“Of course, right now. Lady Rosamund and I are going for some drinks, and I would like for you to join us.”

“Miss Levinson is also joining us.” Rosamund added.

“Maybe next time, I have to get up very early tomorrow morning.”

“Rosamund, I am also going home,” Cora added. It did not feel right to go with them to a bar. Robert was so hostile towards her, that she should not try to interfere in his private life. Now Phyllis and John were not joining them, it was not a work-related evening anymore.

Rosamund looked at her with raised eyebrows. “What? You are leaving me alone with Robert? Where is the fun in that? I thought we would go out together to celebrate tonight. But I guess we will do that another time.

+++

Cora opened her laptop and typed in the search bar: Crawley family. She got a lot of hits, but most of them related to ‘Crawley Advertisements’ Then she tried: ‘Lord Crawley’. Nothing was coming up that was related to Robert or his family. She contemplated, how was she going to find out about the lord and lady part. She then typed: ‘Lady Violet and Lord Patrick.’ This gave her a hit with a photo. Violet was handing out an award to another man. The title said: “Lady Grantham awarding the winner of this year’s flower show.’ Lady Grantham? That was weird, why was Violet called Lady Grantham? Cora copied the name into the search bar and this time she got more hits. There was an article referring to the Granthams. They were an old family that got their title many years ago. Patrick and Violet were Earl and Countess of Grantham. Their family name was Crawley, but the title they got was ‘Grantham’. The family-owned a big house up north called Downton Abbey, but the building burned down and was never rebuilt. The company ‘Crawley Advertisements’ was started by Patrick and grew into what it is today. Cora could not find out why the Abbey was never rebuilt. According to what Cora could find, the estate was still theirs. The family still held the title high and they had several ceremonies they attended. Robert was the next in line, and when his father died, he would be Earl of Grantham.

Why had her mother known about this? What was her reasoning? Cora still did not understand why she was here in England. And with this information, she was even more lost. What did ‘Levinson and Son’ need from a British company with a title? It did not make any sense to her.

With a deep sigh, she closed the webpage. She took the memory card Phyllis gave her and she transferred the pictures onto the cloud. There was no need to work on them tonight, but what else could she do? She felt a bit stupid for not going for that drink. Why did she let Robert bully her this much? Because that was what he was doing? He was bullying her, and the comments he constantly made did hurt, she had to admit. She had overheard him calling her Miss Pretty. When she first started at the office, she made sure to look good. She was wearing skirts with nice tight-fitting blouses, but after those comments, she started to wear loser-fit clothes. She did not like the idea, that Robert saw her as a pretty woman without any brain cells. It was not hard to see that Robert liked what he was seeing, and in a way, that was extremely flattering, but it made him even more hostile towards her. As if he needed to prove that he did not like her and hide the fact he liked looking at her.

She had to admit, he was good-looking himself. She had noticed that on the first day, and much to her annoyance she was attracted to him. She catches herself staring at him during meetings.

Cora looked at the clock, it was only nine o’clock. She decided to go out for a walk and to grab drink at the pub next door.