Robert laid his hand on Cora's abdomen. "Do you feel our little boy already?"

"Some days I think I feel the baby, but it is a bit early. I am only 16 weeks pregnant. I have read that with a first child, it can take up to 20 weeks before I will start feeling something. And please stop saying it is a boy. We don't know." Cora turned on her side.

Robert pulled his hand back, he got Cora's hint. "I know, the baby can be a girl, but I am just having hope it will be a boy. I can dream right?"

"I am just afraid you will be disappointed if I can't give you a boy."

Robert got out of bed. "We will see in a few months. Don't worry about it too much."

Robert still confused Cora. He was so sure she was carrying a boy, it scared Cora to her bones. Her feeling was a girl, and what if she was right. How would he react. She took a deep breath and tried to let the worry go. She had a busy day today. Rosamund was taking her on a trip around London. She had said that after living in London for 7 months now, she should start to get to know the city.

Cora also got out of bed and took a shower. Robert was shaving himself, but when she was under the water, Robert joined.

His hand roaming over her abdomen. He kissed her neck. "Whatever is growing inside you, I will love the little one." He pressed his body against her back. Cora tried to relax her body, his hands on her bare skin always had a magical effect, but she wasn't sure if he meant what he was saying. Nevertheless, she turned around and pressed her body against his. The way he kissed her neck aroused her and she wanted him. Her hand went down to his manhood, he grew under her touch. She kissed his chest and played with him. Suddenly he pulled back. "Let's not do this, we have a busy day." He stepped out of the shower and after drying himself off, he left.

Cora finished her shower. What happened, why did Robert not want this? He was always keen on being intimate with her. Although she had to admit, since she was pregnant, he was different. Was he scared he would hurt her? She was going to ask this tonight, but for now, she would let it rest.

"How is it possible, that this is the first time you are seeing Covent Garden? Did Robert not show you the city?" Rosamund asked with big, surprising eyes.

Cora's cheeks coloured. "He never did. But we don't do a lot of fun things together."

Rosamund chuckled and gave Cora a cheeky smile.

"What?" Cora asked.

"According to that tiny bump you are showing, you two have fun together."

"Rosamund!" Cora gasped in shock. "Did you and Marmaduke ever talk about having children?"

Rosamund lowered her eyes. "Unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to become Mum and Dad. And then he died suddenly."

Cora rubbed Rosamund's back, when she saw her eyes shimmering with tears. "I am sorry. I should not have asked."

Rosamund put her hand on Cora's arm. "That is alright. I don't mind talking about him. I rather love that. Mama never wants to talk about Marmaduke, and I have nobody, who wants to listen to my grief."

Cora wrapped both arms around her. "I am here for you. Please talk to me about him. I would have loved to meet him, he sounds like a wonderful man.

Robert tried to focus on his work, but his mind was absent. He kept going back to this morning. Cora wanted to have fun, but his needs had changed. While in the last months a quick one in the morning was almost standard, now he was happy with a lot less. What if he hurt Cora or the baby? He knew it was said that it was safe for the baby, but he didn't want to risk, besides, Cora was now pregnant. The need to have sex with her wasn't that high.

The moment those thoughts went through his mind, he felt guilty. He hadn't realised he only was attracted to her because she was going to give him an heir. Or was his fear of hurting her, blocking his feelings. He had feelings for Cora, right? Maybe the feelings weren't real love. But he cherished her for who she was. And she was a beautiful woman, so he got lucky. He got money and looks in one package. He decided to talk to her tonight.

Cora was making dinner when Robert came home. The moment Cora looked at him, she knew something was wrong. She dropped the spatula and stepped towards him, kissed his cheek, and asked: "What do you want to drink?" Her hand brushed his arm.

Robert's guilty feeling grew inside him, and he let out a deep sigh.

"Darling, something is wrong, can you tell me?" Cora's hand still rested on his arm, her thumb softly brushing the hairs.

"You married the wrong guy." He said.

Cora just looked at him. She knew what was coming, him apologising for not loving her. She couldn't do anything with those excuses, and she was getting tired of them.

Robert continued. "You should be with a guy who loves you and wants you for who you are."

Cora felt her eyes tearing up. Before she could hide her feelings much better, but since she was pregnant, her hormones were interfering.

"Please, don't cry. I don't want to upset you." Robert put his hands on her shoulders.

"Why do you keep bringing this up? I know why you married me. And if I had known that earlier, I would never have agreed. But we are in this situation now and I have feelings for you. I just hoped you would get them too, especially now I am carrying your child. But since I am pregnant, you are distant. Is that because your job is done, and you don't need to have sex with me anymore? Was even that an act?"

Robert's cheeks coloured and he lowered his hands. "Cora, I………"

"This is enough answer." Cora said.

"No, that isn't my answer. You are right, that I don't love you. But I cherish you. You are a beautiful woman, and I am lucky to have you next to me."

Cora huffed.

"And that I don't want to have sex with you, isn't because you are pregnant, and I did my job. No, I thought about it today, a lot. But I am so scared to hurt you or the baby. What if I do something that will hurt our little one." His hand moved to her abdomen, Cora didn't pull away. "I can't forgive myself if something happens." His eyes were filled with tears.

Cora moved closer. He didn't love her, that was clear. But he did like her and that was enough. "You Donk." She put her hand on his, that was still resting on her tiny bump. "This little one is safe in there, you couldn't hurt it." She pressed her lips against his. It was a strange feeling, knowing he still didn't love her, but she was determined to make the best of this marriage and if that was only with lust, well, then that was it. She would take what he was giving her.