Robert POV:
It was almost 1 year after we wed, that Cora became pregnant. Not by accident of course, we had been hoping for an heir. Though I had a slight suspicion that Cora thought our baby was not the heir we wanted but a baby girl as she would speak to the rise in her belly as if it were a girl, simply referring to it as she or her. They baby was due any day now and everything was hectic. A nurse had come to Downton to prepare for the upcoming birth. Elizabeth was highly trained and had nursed in houses like Downton before. I had just left the library ad was continuing up to my room when I heard the soft shriek.
"Robert!" I began a faster pace up the stairs to see my Cora. Her shriek had made me more nervous. When I entered the room, I ran straight for the bed. Cora was lying down, her back arching as she wore a round of contractions off, before another round hit. Elizabeth came in at that moment.
"I believe its time, Lady Grantham." She stated. Cora nodded and turned to me. She placed her hand on my arm.
"Robert, please leave, you can't see me in this state." She said softly. I kissed her firmly and gave her hand a proud squeeze. With that I left. After hours of pacing around outside the door, grimacing at every cry of pain my Cora gave. When finally, I heard it, the cry of a newborn. I could tell it was girl from the cry. The cry was like bells, soft and ringing. Elizabeth welcomed him in and smiled.
"Come meet your daughter, my lord," She whispered. "She's a stubborn one. Didn't want to come out."
Just like her mother, I thought. I sat down on the bed next to Cora, who had the little bundle in her arms. She passed the bundle into his arms. She seemed to fit perfectly. I didn't care that it wasn't an heir. I had a daughter. I stared at her tiny face. I took in everything. Her tiny round head of pale skin, mop of curly dark hair, soft pink lips that took a pouting position and were lined perfectly under her tiny, little patrician nose. When she opened her eyes, I was glued to them. Warm, chocolate brown eyes that swam with curiosity, framed with such long dark lashes. Her eyebrows were very prominent and had a small arch in the middle. I held my finger to hers and she wrapped her little hand around my finger. She was my firstborn, my saviour, and my angel. My Mary. Cora had already decided names. Mary for a girl, Edward for a boy.
"Mary." I stated simply. Cora nodded and kissed Mary's forehead.
"She's beautiful!" I exclaimed. Cora nodded again. Mary's eyelids fluttered shut.
I pulled Cora close to me and kissed her.
"She was definatley worth the wait." I whispered.
"And the pain." Cora added. I smiled.