The flood of activity that accompanied Lord and Lady Grantham's departure for their stay in London was made all the more exciting for Robert by the possibility of Dr. Lennox freeing him from the sling he'd been wearing for the past five weeks. He longed to be able to write a letter, hold a book, and eat without ending the meal resembling a toddler just learning to feed himself. With any luck, he would be able to wave goodbye to his parents with his right arm and spend his days in charge of Downton doing whatever he pleased just as he had before he'd had his run in with that ill-tempered horse in the village. As he looked out the window and watched the doctor's carriage approaching through the grey, cold, November morning, Robert could scarcely wait to have his independence restored.

He heard movement from the bed behind him and turned to see Cora sitting up watching him and looking ever so slightly crestfallen. He went to her and leaned down to kiss her on the head. "I'm about to be a free and able-bodied man, my dear, and it can't come soon enough." He stroked her cheek and smiled at her. "Cheer up, my angel, we'll soon have our lives back to normal." The only thing that kept her from crying was the fear of ruining Robert's good mood. She smiled weakly as he went on about all the things he had planned for himself that day. She tried but simply couldn't share all of his happiness. She was overjoyed that he was well again, but she'd gotten used to having him there with her during the day and they had grown so much closer because of it. She had been hoping they could try to build upon that. Instead, his delight over the return of his independence seemed to her to signal her return to solitude and it would be all the more painful now that she'd had a taste of the companionship and affection she'd been longing for since she'd arrived at Downton Abbey nearly seven and a half months before. He kissed her again and then went into his dressing room to await the doctor. Cora sighed as the door closed. She was missing him already.

Robert beamed as his valet helped him into his waistcoat. "Now I don't recommend any strenuous athletics and I would suggest not riding for a few more weeks, but I think it's safe to let you go without that sling a week ahead of schedule considering your lifestyle," the doctor chuckled at the young lord's excitement.

"Thank you, Doctor." Robert said. "Am I correct in assuming that all activities can be resumed with the exception of athletics and riding?" he asked trying to sound as if he were concerned with more than just his sex life.

Doctor Lennox laughed. "Yes, everything else is acceptable, provided you're mindful of that shoulder. I'll come back to check on you in a couple weeks." Robert walked the doctor to his waiting carriage and they talked about Robert's continued recovery before the doctor made a comment that took him completely by surprise. "I hope your wife takes your shortened convalescence in stride."

"Of course she will," Robert said as he bristled slightly at the doctor commenting on his personal life. "Why wouldn't she?"

Dr. Lennox passed his hand over his greying black mustache as he tried to choose his word carefully. Even though Robert still seemed to him to be that little boy who tailed after his father on morning walks trying to imitate the Lord's every move, he was now a grown man, a future earl, and should be spoken to in a manner befitting his station. "Forgive me, I feel I've spoken out of turn." He walked toward his carriage when Robert rushed after him.

"Please, Doctor, tell me what you meant." Robert asked. He figured the thoughts of a man married for nearly forty years might be helpful to him.

The doctor turned an smiled. "She's been by your side for five weeks almost without interruption. It would make sense that she may feel lonesome now that you will be off on your own again. None of the plans you mentioned on our way down the stairs involved her, as I recall. She could very well be be feeling a little left out." As Robert tried to formulate an answer of some kind, he felt someone watching him. He looked up at the rows of windows expecting to see his mother peering out of one of them, but instead he saw his wife staring out her bedroom window looking melancholy. She saw him watching her. He waved a little and she managed a slight smile. Robert said his goodbyes to the doctor and tried to forget Cora unhappy expression as he set off to enjoy a little freedom before his parents left. It was over almost as soon as it began, though, when his father came to join him, presumably with some last minute instructions and no doubt some silly insinuations about his upcoming week alone with Cora.

"I figured you'd be out here," Lord Richard said, "though it would've been nice to see Cora with you. You aren't going to forget about her now that you've recovered, are you? You'd better not after the way she took care of you. Such a sweet devoted girl."

Robert shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Papa, please," he said, "She's probably glad to be rid of me after five weeks. I doubt she wants to go wandering about with me on this cold morning when she could be curled up in her nice warm bed."

"Actually, I wouldn't mind going with you, if I were sure you wanted my company," a soft voice answered. Robert turned to find Cora looking absolutely stunning and holding a package for him. "Here. I had this sent up for you to celebrate your return to health." She blushed when his hand brushed over hers, caressing her, as he took his gift - a package of his favorite chocolate.

Robert smiled as he remembered how they'd finished the last package of chocolate she'd gotten him. He wondered if this was a far less innocent gift than it seemed. "Thank you, Cora. That was very kind," he said as he took her hand and pulled her closer. He looked into her eyes and his gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. Her cheeks grew rosy. "I'd love to share them with you later," he said in a tone of voice that made a tingle run through Cora's body. Lord Richard gave a cough and to two remembered they were not yet alone. "Would you like to come on a walk with us? You don't have if you don't want to, but… "

Cora smiled. "I'd love to, Robert," she said. As the three walked, Robert managed to take Cora's hand in his. They strolled around the grounds talking for a while before Lord Richard abruptly took his leave of them.

The two looked around. Cora was smiling and Robert rolled his eyes. "Papa is incorrigible, old coot," he huffed.

"I think it's sweet," she said turning to face her husband.

"It's not exactly subtle, is it - " Robert asked, "bringing us to where I proposed and then disappearing as quickly as possible?"

Cora giggled. "Just like he did that afternoon," She said stepping away from Robert and looking around at their surroundings. Her eyes settled on the stone bench. "Ah, my nemesis," she said with a laugh.

Robert smiled. "It was that sharp rock and not the bench that was the problem," he said as took a seat on the old bench and thought about those few awkward moments that had changed their lives so profoundly.

His father had gone walking with the young couple and then, suddenly, disappeared when they'd arrived at one of Robert's favorite spots. He had known that they were never truly alone, but this seemed like the most privacy they were ever going to get and Cora's trip was coming to a close, so he knew that, if he was going to ask her to marry him, he had to do it quickly. He'd taken her hand and led her to the bench where he'd suggested they sit for a minute. Neither of them had noticed the sharp, pointy stone that had somehow found it's way onto the bench. Robert had taken his usual seat and Cora sat down beside him and right on top of the jagged stone. She'd screamed and leapt up. Robert had jumped up as well to see what was wrong and the two of them had crashed into each other. Robert had landed back in his place on the bench and Cora came down on his lap. They'd both been embarrassed by the impropriety of their proximity, but when Cora had tried to get up, Robert had held her tightly. Having her so near had emboldened him and he'd told her that he though that her sitting on his knee could have been a better position for her to be in for the question he had for her. He'd taken a deep breath before he'd asked her to marry him. She'd said yes and then kissed him like he'd never been kissed before. He hadn't been sure - his mind was much more focused on Cora's kiss - but he'd thought he'd heard his father laughing happily somewhere in the distance.

Cora came over and sat on his lap. "Did you put that rock there on purpose?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.

"No,"Robert said, "I don't know how it got their." He smiled teasing and held her close. She shifted carefully and kissed his lips gently, but with a hint of the passion he'd been craving for for five agonizingly long weeks. "I would have, though, if I had known I'd end up with you on my lap kissing me senseless."

Cora smiled coyly. "Well, your asking me to be your wife did have something to do with it." She kissed his neck .

"Oh," Robert said with a soft groan. "What's your excuse now?" he asked as he squirmed.

Cora pulled back and looked at him in feigned shock. "Am I really kissing you senseless, Robert?" she asked sounding quite pleased with herself.

He sighed and tried to change position again. "After five weeks of living like a monk, I have a rather tenuous grasp on my senses when you're around me." She shifted around again and Robert swallowed hard. "Your wiggling isn't helping matters, either." he muttered. She moved her hips more deliberately against him and he yipped. "Cora, please! My self control is a little lacking at the moment," he pleaded.

"These past five weeks have been torture for me too, darling," she cooed in his ear before kissing his lips more insistently. As she kept kissing him, Cora began to feel something poking her in the bottom. "Oh!" she gasped and blushed deeply.

"I tried to warn you," Robert shrugged.

Just then they were discovered by the butler, Gregory. "Oh, good heavens! I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said playfully as he watched Cora leap up from Robert's lap looking very sheepish. The butler directed his attention to Robert. "My Lord, I've come to inform you that Lord and Lady Grantham will be leaving for London shortly." He gave a nod in Cora's direction and smiled. "Shall I tell them the two of you are on you way?"

"Yes, thank you," Robert said, but stayed seated. He wasn't quite able to stand yet. "Oh, Gregory, are you quite well?" The butler's complexion seemed somewhat sallow to Robert and he was noticeably winded even though it was not that far a walk from the house to the spot where they were.

"It's nothing a good sleep won't cure, My Lord." Gregory said as he straightened up.

"Maybe you should rest between my parent's departure and dinner." Robert suggested. "You've certainly earned it."

"Thank you," Gregory said as he turned and began to make his way back to the house. Robert and Cora followed soon after.