A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long!

Cora is so surprised by the knock on her bedroom door that she jumps, nearly spilling her tea – she has been living at Downton for three months now but nobody has ever called on her in the morning, so, assuming it must be Rosamund, she calls, 'come in,' whilst wondering what it is that cannot wait until luncheon.

Much to her surprise, however, it is Robert who enters, clutching a copy of the newspaper, and as her flustered 'good morning,' is reciprocated she hurriedly tries to comb down her hair with her hands, nervous that she might look untidy so early in the morning.

'You look lovely, don't worry, Cora, and I'm very sorry to disturb you,' he says, walking over to where she is sitting up in bed, her breakfast tray balanced on her lap, 'but I was reading the newspaper, and well, I happened to see an article by a travel writer who was writing about his experiences in America, Newport specifically,' at these words, her face lights up and he can't help smiling as he continues, 'I thought you might want to read it, it might remind you of home.'

'Oh, Robert, what a lovely idea,' she says, still blushing from his earlier compliment, 'thank you, I know I will enjoy reading it and its very kind of you, but I am sorry if I've been noticeably homesick lately, I don't mean to be.'

'Don't apologise, I know I would be the same,' he says, his fingers brushing against hers slightly as he places the newspaper next to her breakfast tray, and sending shivers down her spine as they do so, 'well, I'll see you at luncheon, Cora, I look forward to it.'

'Yes, so do I – I mean, I look forward to seeing you too,' she manages to say, but as he nods and leaves her room, she can't help smiling widely, replaying their conversation in her head, unaware that as he sits at breakfast next to his father, he is doing the exact same thing.