A/N: Small "fluffy," chapter! Thank you for your reviews on my last chapter, I hope everyone enjoys this one!!
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Robert and I head for a walk, taking advantage of the dry afternoon. I have barely processed that we're together again, it seems surreal to me. Every time that Robert touches me, a warmth spreads through me and I smile. I haven't felt so happy since we first got together. I think, during our separation, we realised how much we had begun to take each other for granted. We talk about everything we missed about each other's lives in the month we spent apart, there's a surprising amount you can miss in a month. We pause at the the top of a small hill, where the increased height allows a pretty view of London.
"And how is your father?" I ask.
"He's out of hospital, thankfully," Robert answers. "He's taking it easy, but he's hoping to be fully recovered in time for Christmas." I smile.
"That's good! Have you gone to visit your parents, recently?"
"No, I probably should soon. My sister has been to see them and assured me they're alright, and I spoke to my mother when she was in London a few weeks ago." I blush as I recall the conversation I overheard between Robert's family. Robert notices my blush. "Why are you blushing?" he asks, amused. I pull a face, how do I answer that?
"I saw your mother, when she was in London," I tell him. He raises an eyebrow.
"Oh? She didn't mention it. Where did you see her?"
"I didn't technically see her... I overheard a conversation." Robert laughs, shaking his head.
"What did you overhear?" Robert asks, displaying a wide grin.
"I was waiting to go into a conference room to close a deal, and your mother was inside arguing with your sister. Marmaduke was trying to diffuse the situation." Robert laughs again.
"Poor Marmaduke. What were they arguing about?" I bite my lip, how do I tell Robert that I overheard his mother say he should get married to his ex?
"Uh... your mother was trying to persuade Rosamund to help her coerce you into getting married." Robert's grin fades.
"Getting married?" he questions. "Gosh, who to?"
"My name was mentioned, but your mother dismissed it. She suggested Jane Fernsby." Robert frowns.
"That's not happening, I can assure you." I smile.
"Rosamund was very against it. Your mother said something about producing an heir for the Earldom as they argued, and the conversation ended very quickly after that."
"I imagine it would," Robert says, nodding. "Rosamund is very touchy about the subject of children."
"Because of her miscarriages, you mean?" I ask, and Robert does a double take.
"How do you know about that?" he asks, sounding shocked.
"Rosamund told me, because we were talking about the conversation I overheard... I asked why her children with Marmaduke couldn't be the heirs." Robert nods.
"Rosamund's children wouldn't be eligible as heirs because the line for inheritance for an Earldom only goes through the male line, even in modern day."
"Oh," I answer. "Why is it so complicated?"
"No idea," Robert answers, smiling.
"You know the day after I heard that conversation, the newspapers broke a story about you and your new girlfriend. I was distraught." Robert smiles, and strokes my cheek.
"I don't like to think about you being upset. If it makes you feel any better, I didn't go on a single date during our separation."
"That does make me feel better," I answer. "And I know that the woman in the articles was one of Marmaduke's sisters. Rosamund told me." Robert smiles, wryly.
"Rosamund told you a lot."
"Yes. She didn't tell me everything, though. I still have a lot of questions."
"And I'll answer them in due time. There's one question that I want to give you the answer to though."
"Do I get to ask the question, or are you choosing the question you want to answer?" Robert laughs, but he looks slightly nervous as he plays with a strand of my hair.
"I'm choosing the question you want to answer," he tells me, and I smile.
"Well, how will you know that I want the answer?" I ask, and he shakes his head, bemused.
"You'll want the answer," he says, and I smile, glancing towards London as Robert pauses. "You asked me, when we were at Downton Abbey, what we were doing." My heart is pounding in my ears as I wait for him to continue. "And you followed that question, with a question about the depth of my feelings for you..." I bite my lip, and nod, trying to steady my trembling hands. What is he going to say? "I told you, earlier, that I can't let you go, but I didn't elaborate any further. During our separation, I came to realise how much I cared for you... What I'm trying to say, Cora, is that I love you." My heart is racing and I can't contain my grin. I don't even have to think about my response, despite the fact I've never said those three words to anyone beside my family.
"I love you, Robert," I answer, kissing him and wrapping my arms around his neck. His arms circle my waist and lift me lightly off the ground, causing me to squeal. He places me back on the ground and kisses me once more, his hand trailing up my back and resting on my cheek.
"That's enough emotion for me," Robert says, making me laugh. "Come on, you'll miss your train if we don't get back." I grin and take his hand as we walk back to his house.
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A/N: It's a very fluffy chapter, which I usually try to avoid, but I wanted to break up my usually dramatic chapters and give you some cute Cobert after the chapters of them separated :)))