A/N I own nothing. Have some Cobert for your enjoyment.

Cora woke gradually to the sun shining across her bedroom. She stretched over to feel Robert still asleep beside her. She nudged him awake.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," she smiled at him.

"Morning," he said leaning over to give her a kiss. She giggled before pushing him away.

"We need to get up. It's already after eight."

"Who cares what time it is?" he said pulling her back towards him.

"Robert!" Cora laughed leaning away from him to pull the cord for Baxter. "Go get dressed for breakfast. You have a meeting with the tenants this afternoon."

"Oh, don't remind me," Robert groaned throwing his feet over the side of the bed and sitting up. "I'm not looking forward to it at all."

"It can't be that bad," Cora mused watching her husband put on his dressing gown.

"Mr. Robinson has decided that he hates Mr. Carter since he started growing beets as well. So now Robinson isn't the sole beet farmer at Downton. It's a right mess in all honesty. A man has the right to farm as he wishes, but," he shrugged.

"Poor Mr. Robinson," Cora smiled in sympathy. They were interrupted by Baxter carrying in Cora's breakfast tray. Robert slapped his knees and stood.

"Well, I'll leave you to it."

He left for his dressing room as Baxter sat the tray over Cora's lap. Cora smiled in thanks and began to eat. She watched as Baxter set about gathering her clothes for the day in silence. "You're awfully quiet today, Baxter. Is something the matter?"

"No, your Ladyship," Baxter answered looking surprised to be addressed. Cora nodded and went back to her tea and toast. She wasn't in a particularly talkative mood today anyway. When she finished she motioned for Baxter to take the tray and then stood to wait for Baxter to begin dressing her.

"I think I'll take a walk this afternoon so please find my blue coat, Baxter."

"Yes, milady."

Cora looked more closely at Baxter as she stepped into her dress. Baxter was a reserved person by nature but she seemed to be even more so this morning. Cora normally exchanged pleasantries with Baxter at the very least and usually they would share a bit of household gossip. Baxter didn't seem ill although she was clumsier than usual.

"Are you sure you're alright, Baxter?" she asked concernedly. "You're not ill?"

"No, milady," came the hurried reply, "I'm perfectly alright, thank you."

Cora furrowed her brow at the brusqueness but decided to let it drop for now. She sat at her vanity and watched in the mirror as Baxter moved throughout the room. There was something odd about the way she moved as if she wasn't entirely sure what she was doing. She finally came to the vanity looking apprehensively at Cora's hair. Cora gave an exasperated sigh causing Baxter to jerk the ribbon tying her braid.

"Baxter!"

"I'm so sorry, milady!" Baxter fumbled pulling the braid again. Cora watched as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Cora looked intently at her in the mirror until she met her eyes. Baxter smiled apologetically and began brushing out Cora's hair more gently. She took longer than usual with Cora's hair and it wasn't as neat as it normally was, but Cora said nothing, more worried about her maid than the state of her hair.

"Will that be all, milady?"

Cora turned around to look squarely at Baxter. "I insist you tell me what is the matter."

"Milady, there is nothing—"

"There is obviously something," Cora persisted. "You've been distracted all morning. Now tell me what it is."

Baxter visibly swallowed glancing around the room helplessly. "I've not been feeling well, milady," she finally said. "Nothing a headache powder won't cure."

Cora continued her scrutiny of the woman before nodding slightly. "That will be all, Baxter. Thank you."

"Milady," she curtsied and scurried out the room leaving Cora to look after her in concern.