The deep Abyss

Untitled Part 3

1914

Rosamund entered the library. "Mary, Edith."

"Oh, Aunt Rosamund," Mary said. "It was awful!"

"Papa said she was in some sort of trance saying this would be better than him having to get a divorce."

"What did she mean by that?"

"He thinks she was feeling guilty about losing the baby and did it on purpose," Mary explained, clearly not wanting to believe it.

"I was afraid it might happen again one day."

"Afraid what might happen?"

Rosamund was silent as though trying to weigh her options.

"Well?" Edith asks. 

"I'm not sure I should say. I promised myself it would be no good to tell of such a secret that was not mine to tell. Cora was to tell Robert years ago, but I'm guessing she may not have to spare him the pain.

::Flashback ::

1890

The letter dropped from Cora's hand. Robert was missing, presumed dead. There was no way he or his batman could have survived. There was a  service held in his honor but she never knew before receiving this letter. Why wasn't she notified until now? Is this why Mama had gone to London without her? 

Cora laid in bed, curling up with Robert's pillow and drifting into a restless sleep. She woke up, her heart racing. She wasn't quite sure what woke her. Getting up, she made a decision, going into Robert's dressing room she picked up one of his razors then went back to her room. Cora looked at herself in the mirror. She looked pale and older since she arrived in London 15 years ago. She would never return to her home. Robert never showed interest in making the trip for her and she dreaded the idea of taking it alone. With resolve she placed the tip of the razor against her wrist, wincing as it cut her flesh. She jumped at the knock on her door. "Cora?"

It was Rosamund. She dropped the razor blade in the sink and placed a towel on the cut to stop the bleeding. "What are you?" she asked. "Oh, Cora!"

"Leave me be, Rosamund! I can't do this without him! I wasn't able to give him an heir and I just want. I want to die!"

"No," she said, wrapping her arms around Cora. "Didn't Mama tell you?  Robert is on the way home. He and his Batman were able to escape and made it to a field hospital. He has a broken arm but he's alive."

End flashback

"She's tried this once before?" Mary asked stunned. "how American."

"Oh Mary," Edith said. Don't be like that. I'm sure it could happen to anyone!"

"She's right, Mary. Mama wasn't always kind to Cora in the beginning. She had to put up with a lot. She earned her stripes so to speak and the two came to have mutual respect for one another.