Mid-May, 1922

"The baby should be along any day now, Lady Grantham." Dr. Clarkson drew the sheet up over Cora's belly before standing and walking toward her washroom.

"You said that last week." Cora's plaintive voice had an edge of irritation to it.

Dr. Clarkson shook his head a little as he washed his hands. When he came back out, he said, "I know you're getting increasingly uncomfortable, your ladyship, but the baby will arrive soon."

She smoothed her hands over her baby bump, looking down at it. "I just can't wait to meet her," she said softly.

Smiling, Dr. Clarkson shut his medical bag. "Yes, well, like I said, it'll be any day now. In the meantime try to keep yourself as comfortable as possible and rest."

"Thank you, doctor." She glanced up at him. "Dr. Clarkson, everything is alright, isn't it?" Cora wanted so much to have her baby, but she was willing to admit that she was nervous – for many reasons.

He looked at her with understanding and nodded. "You are healthy, and your baby is healthy, Lady Grantham. I'll be back in a couple of days to check on you – if you haven't telephoned me first." Smiling again, Dr. Clarkson left her room.

A few moments later, there was a knock at her door. "Cora?" Robert called.

"Come in, darling." She was struggling to sit up.

Robert rushed to her side. "Sweetheart, let me help." He grasped her under the arms and aided her into a sitting position, then got a firm cushion from the chaise to put behind her back.

Cora sighed heavily in frustration. "Dr. Clarkson says any day now. But he said that last week, and I don't think I can expand much more."

Robert took her hand tentatively. He'd gotten used to her querulousness lately. She was uncomfortable and easily irritated. Her back hurt her and her feet were swollen. She slept a great deal, but she still felt tired. Despite this, Robert found her beautiful and radiant and did everything he could think of to make her feel better. "Darling, would you like some tea?"

"No." She shook her head and leaned back, closing her eyes.

Keeping his own sigh to himself, Robert attempted to distract her. "Rosamund will be here tomorrow. Perhaps she can divert you, Cora." His voice held a note of sadness that he couldn't seem to help her as much as he wanted.

Cora turned her eyes to his and squeezed his hand. "Robert, I'm sorry. I know I've been nearly impossible these past couple of weeks. And you've been so wonderful. Really, my love. Even when I don't seem grateful, I am." She raised his hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly.

Smiling at her, Robert caressed her cheek with his other hand. "My dear, you can be as impossible as you like. You're carrying our baby and keeping her safe. My only job right now is to keep you safe and as comfortable and happy as I possibly can. And if you need to be impossible, then you go ahead and do so." He leaned up and kissed her forehead. Her sudden tears took him by surprise. He pressed his head to hers in concern. "Oh, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Her chuckle surprised him further. "Nothing, Robert. Nothing at all."

When he pulled back, he saw that she was smiling through her tears, her cheeks pink and shining. He couldn't help but smile back, wiping her face gently with his handkerchief. "I'm happy to hear that. Happier than you can know."

Rosamund swept into the upstairs sitting room where Cora awaited her the next day. "Darling!" she said, bending down to where her sister-in-law reclined on the settee to take her hands and kiss her cheeks. "You look marvelous – positively bursting with life."

Cora laughed as Rosamund held her arms out to look at her burgeoning belly. "Yes, well, it might be nice if I could actually 'burst.' So to speak. I want to hold this little girl in my arms."

Letting go of her hands, Rosamund sat on a chair facing Cora. "Is that wise? Calling the baby a girl when you don't know?"

Resting her arms on her bump, she smiled. "Well, we didn't want to say 'it,' and, honestly, Rosamund, I'm more likely to have a girl than a boy."

"Really?" Rosamund reached over and poured herself a cup of tea from the trolley that had been set up for the two to have a private chat together. "If I were wagering, I'd say the odds were more in favor of a boy. I'd put my money on a son, in fact."

Cora watched her take a few sips of tea and pick up a sandwich. "You would?"

Rosamund nodded, eating daintily. "Yes, I would." She raised her eyes from her tea cup. "What will you name the baby? You've picked names, yes?"

Smiling, Cora answered, "'Amelia' for a girl, and 'Theodore' for a boy."

Chuckling, Rosamund selected a tea cake. "I like those, but I'm not so sure Mama will."

"And why not?" Cora looked worried.

"Oh, they're not family names."

"Neither are any of the other names we chose."

Rosamund continued to chuckle. "I'm sure she'd expect you to name a son after Robert. Or Papa."

"No, I don't think Robert wants his son named after himself. He never said anything about that. He came up with 'Amelia' and I suggested 'Theodore.' But we both agreed to both names." She looked down at her stomach with a little smile.

"Well, I'm amazed she hasn't said anything yet about the names, if you've told her - ?" Cora nodded to indicate that they had. "Yes, I'm astounded then."

Cora chortled. "I think she's finally just happy about the baby, period."

"I'm glad then." Rosamund had another sip of tea and then placed the cup carefully in its saucer. "There is a way I've heard of – to find out whether you're having a boy or girl."

"You have?" Cora fixed her eyes on her sister-in-law's face with curiosity.

Nodding, Rosamund stared back at Cora. "It's just an old wives' tale, but it might be fun." Her face took on a mischievous aspect.

"Yes?" Cora prompted.

"Well, you take a ring and put it on a string and hold it over your stomach and the way the ring moves is supposed to indicate male or female." She put her cup and saucer down on the tea trolley.

"Rosamund, I really don't think we should. Robert wouldn't like it." She shook her head.

"What's the harm? It's just a bit of fun. I'm curious." She shrugged her shoulders. "You don't have to if you're uncomfortable."

"Well… maybe…." Cora blushed a little.

Rosamund knew she had her. She grinned and looked at Cora's hands. "Where are your rings, sister dear?"

Cora laughed. "I haven't been able to wear them for a couple of months. My hands are swollen." She reached under the neckline of her dress and pulled out her wedding rings tied to a pink ribbon. "I simply wear them around my neck."

"Oh, then we're already all set!" Rosamund's face was gleeful.

Shaking her head, Cora lifted the ribbon over her head. "So, how does this work?"

"Just hold it over your stomach and we'll see which way the rings swing."

Cora took a deep breath. "I still don't know." She held the rings tightly in her hand.

"Darling, truly, what's the harm? It's an old wives' tale. It may be wrong. I'm merely interested." Rosamund smiled at her warmly.

"Alright." Cora held the rings over her belly by the ribbon, watching intently to see what might happen.

Rosamund observed the rings closely as well. As they swung around in a circle, she put her hand to her mouth.

Boy.

Suddenly, before Rosamund could say anything, the door opened, and Cora dropped the rings in astonishment.

"And how are you two doing in here?" Robert asked, crossing to his wife first and kissing her forehead before moving to Rosamund and greeting her as well.

"Just fine, darling," Cora answered, feeling around the cushions of the settee for her rings, her heart sinking when she realized that she couldn't seem to locate them.

"Yes, we were just discussing your choices of baby names," Rosamund said smoothly.

Robert grinned at them both. "Good." He turned to his sister. "Rosamund, Sybbie requests your presence before she goes to bed. I think she's named one of her dolls after you." He chuckled heartily. "Will you come see her?"

"Of course I will, brother dear." Rosamund rose and touched Cora's shoulder as she followed Robert out of the room.

"Oh dear, oh dear," Cora said under her breath after the door closed behind them. I can't have lost my wedding rings, she thought. Feeling a surge of energy – and worry – she got up and began searching between the cushions of the settee, lifting every pillow and wondering where they could have got to. She stood and ran her hands over her dress, then took a deep breath. They might have fallen under the settee. She wondered if she could get back up again on her own if she knelt down to look. She'd have to take the chance.

It wasn't long after the dressing gong sounded that Robert went looking for his wife. Not finding her in her bedroom, he wandered back to the sitting room, thinking she might have fallen asleep. He was not prepared to see her on her knees, her head nearly under the settee, her behind up in the air. Robert blinked several times, his hand still upon the door knob. He felt a familiar stirring below his waistband and had to slip a finger between his collar and neck, all of a sudden feeling quite warm.

For several weeks Cora had been either too uncomfortable or tired for their usual activities. Robert thought he'd borne it fairly well, considering how attractive – truly utterly beautiful – he still found her. Of course, some nights he'd awoken to the sound of her lips sighing his name, her hips pushing back against him as she had one of those dreams. He'd had to remove himself to the washroom, praying that she wouldn't wake and catch him again, knowing she'd feel as if she were failing him somehow.

Now he felt as if his eyes might be glazed over, so he tore them away from her and cleared his throat loudly.

Cora froze. "Robert?" she ventured, her head still beneath the settee.

"Yes." He remained where he was, trying to keep his breath even as he thought – things. "Might I ask what you're doing?"

Pulling her head out from under the settee, she looked up at him. "I thought I lost something," she said simply.

"Yes? What?"

"Don't worry about it, darling. It's not important." Her heart hurt a bit to even say this. They would be found eventually. They had to be. She held her hand out to him. "Might you help me up?"

Robert let go of the door knob finally and walked over to her. "Of course." He extended his hands to her and heaved her up once she'd grasped them. Then, certain thoughts still fresh in his head – he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately on the mouth.

Cora looked at him wide-eyed when he finally drew back from her. "My goodness. Where did that come from?"

"Never mind, sweetheart," he said in a low voice, smiling. "Come along, I'm sure Perkins is waiting for you."

Grinning, Cora followed behind her husband, her hand tightly clasped in his.

The next day found Cora uncomfortable again – and slightly desperate. She'd had Rosamund help her downstairs, then she ensconced herself in the foyer, telling Carson to let no one disturb her. She asked the operator for a number in Harley Street.

"Dr. Ryder here."

"Oh, Dr. Ryder, how relieved I am that you're there." Cora sighed deeply.

"Is this Lady Grantham?"

"Yes, doctor, it is. I had a question."

"What might be your question, your ladyship?"

"Well, I am expecting any day now, and I was wondering…" Cora paused, not sure if she should ask the question she needed to ask. "I was wondering if there was any way to bring on labor?"

Dr. Ryder almost chuckled. It was a common question in his line of work. "Well, you could walk, Lady Grantham."

"No, no. I walk every day. Nothing." She sighed again.

"Well, if that doesn't work there is –" Dr. Ryder cleared his throat, for once a bit embarrassed to be saying such things to a countess – "there is, er, nipple stimulation."

Cora turned bright pink, wondering if she'd heard right. "What?"

"Um, nipple stimulation, Lady Grantham." His voice was barely audible, and he blushed himself.

Eyes wide now, Cora took a deep breath, unable to think such things at the moment. "Anything else?"

"There's also intimacy." He coughed again, hoping she'd know what he meant.

"Oh?" she asked. "Ohhhh…." she said as she realized to what he was referring, her cheeks still very pink.

"Yes. Well, achieving, well, er – um – it can bring on labor."

"Ah. Thank you, Dr. Ryder, for telling me. I appreciate your time." Cora stifled a giggle. It wasn't as if she hadn't wanted her husband over the past few weeks – just that she'd been so utterly tired.

"You're welcome, your ladyship. I wish you the greatest of luck on your delivery – whenever that may be. I hope soon." Dr. Ryder's lips twisted with suppressed mirth.

"Thank you again. Goodbye." Cora rung off, her hand over her mouth, her eyes bright.

She joined Rosamund in the drawing room.

"Everything go well?" Rosamund asked.

"Yes, I think so," Cora said. "Shall we go for a walk outside? It's very fine, and I'm feeling energetic today."

"Mary should be down any moment. I think Edith is busy, and I know the men are working on estate business. But the three of us can have a leisurely stroll perhaps? I don't want you to get overly tired, Cora." Rosamund stood and took Cora's arm.

"You sound like Robert, Rosamund." Cora patted her hand. "But, honestly, I'm feeling very well." She looked over at Mary when she entered the room. "Darling, would you like a walk? I haven't been outside in several days." She smiled warmly at her daughter.

Mary kissed her mother and aunt in turn, smoothing her hands over her own small bump that had just begun to show. "Are you sure, Mama? Won't you get too tired?"

Cora rolled her eyes and laughed. "Honestly, you two are worse than having a mother around."

"Well, if you're alright, Cora," Rosamund said, tightening her grip on her sister's arm. "But if it gets to be too much for you, let us know and we'll bring you straight back."

"Alright, alright – I will," Cora continued to laugh lightly, taking Mary's hand. "But I believe a bit of fresh air will do all of us some good."

After a nice walk, a lovely luncheon, and a long nap, Cora found herself once again in their upstairs sitting room with Rosamund across from her. She rubbed her back, sighing. "I'm ready for this baby to come," Cora told her. "I asked Dr. Ryder what could bring on labor…" She lowered her eyes and blushed.

Rosamund began to chuckle. She knew from various friends what some of the methods were. "How long has it been?" she asked without any sort of embarrassment or awkwardness.

"Rosamund!" Cora exclaimed, her eyes flying up to hers, shocked. "How can you ask such things?"

She shrugged. "Such things don't bother me. I have a feeling it's been a while, though – has it?"

Cora continued to stare at her in open-mouthed astonishment.

Rosamund shook her head. "Never mind. I actually am happy you are still pregnant… since I had a gift made for you." Her face filled with mirth.

"A gift?" Cora asked, curious now. "I'd rather find my wedding rings, Rosamund. I can't seem to locate them after yesterday…."

Waving a hand absently, Rosamund rolled her eyes. "They'll show up sometime, Cora. They're here somewhere. Don't worry about that." She stood and retrieved a wrapped box from another chair and passed it to her sister-in-law. "I think this will be a good time to use it." She winked before sitting again.

Cora untied the bow and removed the lid. Parting the tissue paper, she couldn't stifle a sharp intake of breath. "Rosamund, it's exquisite." She lifted the garment from the box. It was a very fine, rose-pink silk night dress in the latest style. Only Rosamund had had it made to go over her baby bump. Cora held it up to herself. It was short, with wide, lace straps and tiny ribbon rosettes on the hem and at the bodice. Cora thought she might cry with gratitude. "Thank you, sister dear. It's been a while since I had something so beautiful to wear –" She almost added "for my husband," but blushed instead, looking down.

"Oh, Cora, it's just a trifling thing. But I'm happy you like it." Rosamund beamed.

Meeting her sister-in-law's eyes, her face still rosy, Cora smiled. "I do. I think someone else will as well." She put the lovely confection back into the box, grinning widely, thinking of how he would love seeing her in such a pretty garment – not even thinking of labor anymore, simply of pleasing her husband. It truly had been too long, and she was feeling so very full of energy the past day or so….

Rosamund watched Cora closely, a Cheshire cat smile upon her own face. She liked being able to make her friend happy. She also had a feeling the baby would be along sooner rather than later.

Both women started when the door burst open. "Gan-mama!" Sybbie squawked, her chubby little legs carrying her to the settee at a run.

Tom appeared around the door. "I apologize, Cora, Aunt Rosamund, if we've interrupted."

Chuckling, Rosamund answered, "It's alright, Tom. We were just chatting." She still found it amusing that he called her "Aunt Rosamund." However, as that was what the girls called her, she'd decided to take it as a compliment.

Cora wrapped an arm around her granddaughter, which was about all she could do because of the way she reclined upon the settee. Sybbie appeared content by this and stood encircled in her grandmother's half embrace, her hands upon Cora's arm, her flushed face gazing all around the room in fascination. Sybbie wasn't often allowed in the upstairs sitting room – nor did the adults use it all that much; they were more likely to be in the drawing room or library downstairs. However, for the past several weeks, the stairs tended to tire Cora, so she generally stayed away from them except when it was time to go down to dinner or if she wanted a walk outside.

Rosamund invited Tom to join them, and he sat on the chair beside Rosamund's. As they conversed – she telling him in a quiet voice about some presents she'd brought for Sybbie from London but wanted to wait until the baby was born to give her, so she'd know she wasn't forgotten – Rosamund kept one eye on Cora.

Although her eyes were closed, Rosamund knew Cora wasn't asleep, because of the grin playing at the corners of her mouth. One hand gently stroked her belly and her other arm still clasped Sybbie, the little girl's head resting peacefully on her grandmother's upper arm.

A few moments later Cora's eyes snapped open as Sybbie gave a hop. "Gan-mama! Shiny!" She pointed to a spot under Rosamund's chair.

Cora looked to where Sybbie pointed. "My rings!" she exclaimed. "Rosamund, my rings are under your chair!" She laughed with relief, squeezing her granddaughter a little.

Rosamund bent down a bit and glanced under the chair. "So they are! What a sharp eye you have there, Sybbie dear." She reached down and picked the rings up by their pink ribbon, then stood and walked over to Cora, dropping the rings into her hand with a conspiratorial smile.

Tom's brows drew together. "How did your rings end up there, Cora?"

Sitting back down beside him, Rosamund patted his hand. "Never you mind, young man. They are safe and sound where they belong again, and that's all that matters."

Chuckling, Tom pointed at Sybbie, "Are you sure about that, Aunt Rosamund?"

Sybbie had somehow convinced Cora to slip the pink ribbon over her own head so she could wear the rings. Cora lifted her eyes to Tom. "Oh, it's just for a little while. She'll keep them safe. Won't you, little darling?" She ran a hand over her granddaughter's hair.

Her head bobbing up and down, Sybbie held the rings tightly. "Sybbie keep them safe, Gan-mama."

Cora smiled at Rosamund and Tom. "See?"

Rosamund watched as Sybbie turned and put her other hand on Cora's stomach. "'Melia awake?" she asked her grandmother.

"I don't think so, Sybbie. She doesn't have a lot of room to move either." Cora sighed. "She'll be coming along soon, I hope," she said, half to Sybbie and half to herself.

Sybbie nodded again. "'Melia nap time."

"Cora, are you tired? Perhaps we should leave you to rest before dinner." Rosamund had heard the weariness in her sister-in-law's voice.

Cora looked over at her and Tom. "No, no. I'm fine. Honestly, I feel quite energetic – albeit a bit weighed down here." She chuckled. "I haven't had this much energy in weeks."

Rosamund raised her eyebrows, then flicked her eyes to the box that contained the pink night dress before fixing them on Cora again. Maybe she wasn't fatigued after all – simply tired of being pregnant. Yes, she thought, suppressing a giggle as she glanced at the box once more. There will be a bit of romance tonight, I believe.

Excusing herself not too long after the men had joined the women that evening, Cora made her way carefully toward the door. She and Rosamund shared a look just before she got up that made Cora grin and turn bright pink.

Robert followed her out of the room and halfway to the staircase, then touched her on the arm. "Cora, is everything alright?"

She smiled at him. "Yes, darling. Everything's just fine."

He watched as her smile widened slowly. He could have sworn that not only was there a glint of mischief in his wife's eyes, but that when she finally turned to go she was endeavoring to sashay to the staircase. Robert's brows lifted.

Once she got to the top of the stairs, Cora looked down to see him still standing there. "Robert, go back to everyone now, my dear. I know you'll be up in a little while." She chuckled and waved a hand at him before walking on to her room.

Robert blinked a few times and shook himself, then went back into the drawing room with the others. He noticed that Rosamund kept glancing at him and smirking. She'd pulled Mary into a corner of the room with her, and their heads were bent together. He smiled when he saw his daughter run her hand over her own visible baby bump. Robert would have loved if his new grandchild did not have to be carried by a mother in mourning. But he knew nothing could be done about that. They could only be there for Mary and her baby. And be there they would.

After conversing for a little while with everyone in the room, Robert decided it was time to check on his wife. He bid his family goodnight and went upstairs.

At his knock, Cora bid him enter. When she saw it was him, she said nothing, merely stood up from the chaise and tugged at her dressing gown tie, letting the garment fall from her shoulders and onto the floor.

Robert gaped at his wife who stood before him in the rose-pink silk night dress with its lace and rosettes and ribbons. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders, and she wore a bright smile, her cheeks pink and her eyes lit up like blue stars.

"Cora?" He barely got her name out as his eyes ran up and down her body, lingering over the porcelain of her shoulders and arms and the loveliness of her lower limbs, visible to him below the hem of the night dress, which came to a few inches above her knee.

"Yes, my darling?" she asked, taking a few steps toward him, smoothing the pink silk over her stomach.

As she approached him, he could feel himself grow warmer, his heart already racing. He cleared his throat. "Are you – why are you – what are you -?" His eyes were drawn now to the bodice of the night dress. A ribbon marked an empire waistline just above her bump – and just below where it showed off her enlarged breasts to excellent advantage.

Cora laughed lightly, as he was so obviously flustered. "I do believe I've caught you off guard, haven't I, darling?" She stopped right in front of him, her eyes flitting down to where his trousers already sported a bulge. Her brows lifted. "Goodness. I thought I was going to have to convince you."

"Convince me?" He stayed still, his eyes dark and his breathing heavy.

"Yes, to make love to me," she whispered, reaching up to pull on the ends of his tie, loosening it and then unbuttoning and pushing the jacket off his shoulders. "You will, won't you?"

Robert swallowed hard. He wanted nothing more than to do just that, but he was concerned. "Aren't you tired? Won't you be uncomfortable? Cora – are you sure?" He looked deeply into her eyes.

He saw no trace of doubt. Nor did she seem a bit tired.

Nodding, Cora eased him out of his waistcoat and tossed it aside. "I'm sure, darling. It's been too long." She hooked her fingers under his braces on either side of his chest and pulled him down gently toward her, pressing her lips to his.

"Oh, God," he breathed against them, closing his eyes and placing his hands on either side of her face. Robert kissed her passionately, earnestly, moving his hands down her shoulders and arms, around to her bottom. Cora answered his squeeze with a groan of pleasure, her fingers working quickly to unbutton his shirt.

Soon, his hands were everywhere as he kept kissing her deeper and more fervently. Robert couldn't seem to touch her enough, caress her enough, kiss her enough. Cora kept disrobing him as best she could while he continued his attentions, her own hands fondling his skin as she bared it and through his clothes where she hadn't yet managed to.

Finally, all his clothing lay in a pile on the floor and all that was between them was her pink night dress. Cora guided him slowly to the bed, walking carefully backward as they kissed. Once she felt her legs hit the mattress, she pulled away gently, giving him a tender smile and reaching up to cup his face in her hands.

Robert let his eyes travel up and down her silk-clad body one more time. "You're radiant," he whispered when his eyes met hers again. "And beautiful, and I love you." He covered her mouth with his, resting his hands on her hips for just a moment before beginning to hitch up the night dress. "Lift your arms, sweetheart." When she did, he lifted the night dress over her head and flung it behind him. "Now you're even more radiant and beautiful." Robert smiled at her, kissing her forehead and then each of her cheeks.

Cora sighed happily. "Darling, I love you too." Then she touched his chin tenderly. "I need you, Robert," she whispered, sitting on the bed now.

"I need you too," he said huskily, kissing her mouth one more time before asking, "Do you need a pillow for your back or your hips?" He'd already retrieved one for her head, handing it to her.

She lay back upon the bed, putting the pillow under her head. "No, darling – not unless it helps you."

Robert eyed where she lay. "I think I'll be alright. I can adjust if need be. I simply want you to be comfortable." He leaned down to stroke her face.

"I'm fine," she said reassuringly. She took his hand and pressed it to her breast, closing her eyes. "Please, Robert, soon."

His eyes growing darker with his desire, he kneaded her breast for a moment, causing a deep sigh of pleasure to escape her lips. He then drew his hand away to lift her legs and wrap them around his waist, his thighs up against the bed as he stood before her. Slipping his hands under her bottom, which rested just at the edge of the mattress, he waited a few seconds while she nodded at him. Then, with a great moan of satisfaction, he pushed into her, even more satisfied to hear her own noise of delight and feel her legs tighten around his middle.

As he moved against her, he locked eyes with her, since he could not kiss her as he would have liked. She grasped the blankets and panted, breathing his name over and over as he thrust into her, and he answered her with his own guttural sounds of bliss.

Robert kneaded her bottom with one hand, extricated the other to fondle her just above his now frenzied motion. He bit his lip and finally had to close his eyes, holding on as best he could, wanting to be certain she had her release first. She started to writhe with his attentions and his increasing tempo, and he opened his eyes and whispered, "Yes, my love. Yes, yes, yes…."

Then he saw her arch her back up and felt her clench her thighs around him. The feeling of her was amazing and intense, sending him completely over the edge, and only a moment later he was leaning heavily against the bed, smiling down at her, endeavoring to catch his breath. He ran a lazy hand over her thigh, caressing it.

Cora grinned back up at him. "Yes, it had been far too long since we did that."

Robert chuckled and raised a hand to brush her hair out of her face, his stomach touching hers. Then he bent down and pressed a tender kiss to her baby bump.

"Darling?" she whispered.

"Yes, sweetheart?" He looked up at her from where he still had his head close to her belly.

"Might you help me up? I need to…" she indicated the washroom with a nod.

"Of course, my dear." He grasped her hands in his and hoisted her into a sitting position, then aided her to stand. "Are you alright?"

Cora leaned up and kissed his cheek, smiling. "Yes." She began waddling to the washroom, and Robert went over to pick up her dressing gown off the floor.

He dropped it again at her cry of "Robert!"

He darted over to the doorway of the washroom and beheld the astonished face of his wife. "What's wrong, Cora?"

Cora looked down, and his eyes followed hers to where clear fluid pooled around her feet. "Get dressed and telephone Dr. Clarkson," she said in a strong but calm voice, meeting his eyes. Then she smiled at him. "We're having a baby."

Pink: "compassion, beauty, romance, faithfulness, love, friendship, sensitivity"