Becoming Countess

Untitled Part 12

Cora watched as the rain fell. She was chilled this spring morning and everything seemed more bleak since the Titanic went down. Robert's cousin's son and his mother came for a visit he'd been away in Australia for years and returned to Manchester. Cora never met him or his father but Robert had been even closer with Reginald before he died.

Cora never met either of them. Matthew was sent to stay with them. Around the time she went back to America when her father was sick. Cora was there almost a month. Robert couldn't leave the estate for that long so marmaduke and Rosamund joined them to protect her from rowdy Americans when, in fact they needed protection from her. She broke many a heart that month with her refusal to accompany them. She also broke some noses and fingers Marmaduke admitted to his brother-in-law. Robert never heard that story from Cora thinking she was probably too embarrassed to admit to her loss of control. He knew she was strong physically and mentally He had definitely witnessed both through the years. I was why he thought she'd be good at Cricket and why she was so good at riding but most of the other women looked down on riding so she didn't even though she admitted it relaxes her.

"Mrs. Crawley," Carson said. She turned. "Hello Cousin Isobel, how are you?" Cora asked.

"I have a question. Does Robert normally have difficulty with Dr. Clarkson?"

"Not that I'm aware of, What is this about?"

"He seems to not be interested in using the latest technology to help one of the tenant farmers."

She sighed at her insinuation of Dr. Clarkson. "Well, newer treatments can sometimes be more than the people in the village can afford and perhaps he's not familiar with such a treatment."

"Will that be his excuse when the patient dies?"

"Really, Isobel, there's no need to be so dramatic."

"What do you know about it? You can afford to pay for all the patients currently in the hospital right now!"

Cora took a breath. "Perhaps that's so, But my husband is the Patron and it isn't as though we haven't provided them with money for equipment that's needed. Even things that most village hospitals do not have!"

"Fine but if you would at least let him know about Mr. Drake?"

"That I will do, "Cora said, sinking onto the settee as she left. "Carson?"

"Yes, Milady?"

"Tea, please?" 

Of course," he nodded in understanding. Besides Robert and Andrew should be returning soon.

Cora heard footsteps in the great hall as she poured another cup of tea, then Andrew's voice "But if we supplement it all, it would work better in the future, Papa!"

"I don't know if that's entirely true, Andrew. I need to be certain!"

"Isn't it enough that I am?" He asked.

Robert sighed. "Oh very well, Go ahead. You'll have to lead it and get the farmers to understand."

"Thanks, Papa!"

Cora smiled, watching her son rush from the library. "I'm almost surprised you agreed since you weren't convinced. What was that all about?'

Robert absentmindedly flipped through the letters on his desk the looked up at Cora. "Nothing to bother you with and it's your fault I can't deny him anything."

"My fault?" she asked playfully albeit a little bitter about him not wanting to 'bother her' with it. "How is it my fault?"

"He looks too much like you and he has the same darn expression you give me that I can never deny you anything."

Cora chuckled "Oh, that. I am sorry," she said, not sounding least bit. 

He laughed sitting beside her and hugging her close.  "You look like you have something to tell me."

"I had a visit from Isobel. I don't think your mother would have enjoyed her anymore than I have."

"What did she say now?"

Cora told him about Mr. Drake, the illness, and her assumptions of Clarkson as well as he wondering why we just don't pay for every new fangled piece of medical technology. I told her, It is usually helpful that the doctor knows what he's doing and is comfortable. Am I wrong in this?"

"No, you are not. I will stop by the hospital tomorrow. and speak to them both. He turned, brushing a errant strand of hair from her eyes. "Mama would have been proud of you, my darling, as am I!"