Thank you all for your brilliant (and kind) reviews so far. I lol'd frequently and yes, I'd like to punch Robert, too, but I'd also like to defend him a bit. He just doesn't know any better, not yet anyway... This is growing like I don't know what at the moment, so there will be a few more chapters over the next days. I hope I can keep up with my own mind on this. Love you xx


The next morning, everyone pretended that nothing had happened.

Apart from the decorations which were still in place and the mountain of wedding presents in the drawing-room, which had reached Himalayan proportions over the last couple of days, nothing suggested that there were Newlyweds living in the house.

Robert appeared for breakfast as usual, where his father was already reading the Morning papers. "Bad sign," Patrick thought, but he didn't want to pry into what was essentially his son's business. So he kept on reading after the obligatory "Good Morning". He pretended to, at least.
But after he had heard Robert sit down in his usual seat to his right-hand side, he lowered the paper to look at his son.

"Even worse," screamed something within him. Robert looked like he hadn't slept at all and if his expression and suddenly intense interest in the scrambled egg on his plate were anything to go by, it certainly was not because he and Cora had enjoyed a long night of conjugal bliss.

"Are you alright, son? Patrick asked. It was very rare, that Patrick felt uncomfortable with the formality of the aristocracy regarding private matters, even within families. But this was one of those occasions. What he actually wanted to ask was "How did it go?" "What happened?" "Why are you looking like someone has died?" But he couldn't do that. It was impossible. Even if Williams, the Butler, wouldn't have been standing regally by the breakfast Buffett. It was just not done.

"I'm fine. Thank you, papa," Robert answered and tried to smile, at which he failed miserably.

"Well, his son had always been a bad liar," Patrick thought. With a slight frown, Patrick tried a different approach.

"Where is Cora?" When he mentioned the name of Robert's new wife, he saw his son flinch and blush again. He actually flinched. Good God, this was bad and Patrick started to wonder, if the marriage had been consummated at all. He made a mental note to check that later.

"She's having breakfast in bed, I think." Robert answered and knew the moment he had spoken the words that this sounded not good.

"You think?" Patrick asked, his voice sharper than he had intended. Robert didn't answer and had gone back to scrutinising his breakfast.

"Alright," Patrick sighed. "It's time I start my day. There are still a few things to sort out before you both leave in a few hours."

The thought of their impending honeymoon made Robert stop chewing for a moment and he involuntarily closed his eyes for a bit longer than just a blink. Patrick could only sigh at the display of his apparently unhappy son and left the dining room to go in search for Carson, the footman, who acted as Robert's valet at the moment and would certainly know whether the wedding night had been a "success". At least in one regard. News like this usually travelled fast downstairs.

He was lucky and found the man in question just rounding a corner in the hall.

"Carson? Might I have a word?"

"Certainly, M'Lord," answered the young man.

"Carson, this is a bit delicate, and I apologise for asking you," Patrick's voice dropped to a whisper, "but do you know whether the maids have changed the sheets yet?"

Carson felt his face turn red when he realised what it was exactly that the Earl wanted to know.

"They have, M'Lord."

"And? Is everything as it should be?"

Carson looked most uncomfortable, when he answered.

"It is, M'Lord."

"Good," Patrick said, not quite able to hide his relief completely.

"And Carson? Any information on how Lady Cora is feeling?"

If Carson was irritated at this kind of question from his employer, he didn't show it, which Patrick was grateful for. Even the fact that he had to ask a servant to gain any knowledge of his son's wedding night was embarrassing enough.

"Well," the footman said in his deep and even voice, "she is well, I believe, although she looked like she had been crying when her maid brought the breakfast."

"Thank you, Carson, you have been most helpful." Patrick dismissed him.

"M'Lord." The footman excused himself with a slight bow.

Patrick remained standing in the hall, trying to figure out what to do next. Or if to do anything at all. Robert had obviously performed his duty successfully, thank God, however, Cora had been crying. But since women cried frequently about all sorts of things, Patrick wasn't sure, if this was really that bad. He couldn't imagine Robert being violent or rude to her in any way, at least not with any intent, because Patrick knew his son. And he knew that Robert liked Cora, his behaviour throughout the serious part of the courtship had proven that to anyone who had eyes, which made the thought of Robert hurting Cora purposefully absurd.

"Good morning, Darling," Violet interrupted his musings.

"Good morning, my wife," Patrick said and on a whim took Violet's hand and kissed her on the cheek.

"Oh," she chuckled surprised, "with what have I deserved that?" Her husband normally didn't kiss her anywhere in public.

"Oh nothing, I just felt like it," he smiled.

Now she was sure that something was amiss, but decided not to inquire further. He would tell her eventually, he always did.

"Now, are you pleased? Our son is now properly married and Downton is saved. Even if she is American." The way she stressed the word "properly", he knew his wife was on top of everything already, as usual.

"Yes, I'm pleased. And Cora is a lovely and nice young lady, Violet. Don't make her even more uncomfortable with your scrutiny. At least not today," he said sternly.

"Men," she huffed a little indignantly. "Everything that has two legs in the right place, is "lovely" and "nice" to you."

"Violet!" He interrupted her before she went too far. "Not today!"

The edge that had crept into his voice made her stop, he was serious and suddenly his words sunk in.

"What do you mean? 'Even more uncomfortable'?"

"Violet, I wondered, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she answered, back to her more pleasing self.

"Not here, let's go into my study."

When they had entered his study, he turned to her and mustered up all his courage.

"Have you cried in our wedding night?"

"Oh," it dawned on Violet now, what was amiss. "Of course I have."

"What?"

"Every woman cries at least twice around her wedding. Once before and once in her wedding night. It's absolutely normal. Is that the reason, you're worried? Because Cora has cried?" She asked, sharper than she had intended, but she couldn't quite fathom why her husband should be so interested in the welfare of their daughter-in-law.

"It's not just that. Robert looked at breakfast like something has gone seriously wrong and," he couldn't bring himself to say that he actually worried for their happiness, so he took a different path, "well, look at the practical side of things. Will she give us her money, when this," he made a vague hand gesture, "isn't working?"

"Well," the ever practical Violet answered, "it's a bit late for that now, isn't it? The marriage is consummated. She can't just leave now, can she? Being an American, she will have expected too much, if she is really that unhappy. And for Robert, I can't think, he has done anything wrong. Seeing her like this will have made him feel guilty or angry or something. It will pass."

Patrick sighed. He was not really comfortable with the thought, that all the gloominess the young couple displayed this morning should be down to Cora, but he didn't want to make more of it than there possibly was, either.

Violet put a hand on his arm and said more soothingly, "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Cora will get used to it and Robert will get better at it," she paused and added with amusement in her voice, "You did."

"What?" Patrick was clearly surprised now.

"Well, when I remember correctly, and I always do," Violet continued smiling, "you were feeling quite guilty and angry after our wedding night, too. Give them time. A few weeks, perhaps. When nothing has changed then, and they haven't worked it out for themselves, you might speak to your son. But not yet."

Sometimes his wife had the most brilliant insights in human nature, if only she put them to good use more often, Downton would be an even happier place.

"Thank you. I will," he said, feeling more calm inside now, and gave her another kiss.

"And that woman can talk to her daughter, too." Violet called over her shoulder just before she closed the door on her way out.

When Robert and Cora embarked on their honeymoon a few hours later, the atmosphere was still gloomy and their interactions formal and awkward. Robert sported a formidable frown and Cora was visibly tense, and more so the nearer her husband came to her and although his wife had told him not to interfere just yet, seeing them behave like this pained Patrick too much to do nothing at all.

After Cora had entered the carriage and Robert was just about to do the same, Patrick grabbed his son's arm and pulled him a few steps away from the carriage, out of Cora's earshot. It was a risky thing, because he didn't know exactly what had happened between those two last night, but he had to try it nonetheless. The way they behaved, he couldn't do much more damage anyway.

"Robert. Don't be angry with yourself. And certainly not with her. This happens. It happened to me, too," he paused to see if his son got the message. When Robert's frown lifted a bit and he didn't object outright to his words, Patrick continued, "just try again and be gentle."

"Patrick!" He heard Violet call, "let them go! They'll miss the train."

But he wanted a reaction from his son and waited until Robert nodded at least.

"What was that about?" His wife asked when he had returned to her side to see them off.

"I just had to say a few words, from father to son," he told her, his eyes fixed on the back of the carriage.

With a huff, Violet went inside, leaving him standing on the gravel, wondering and lost in his thoughts.