Cora came home full of energy. She found Robert in Mary's room. Rocking their little girl. Mary was now 3 months old, and growing steadily. She was overall a happy girl.

Cora got on her knees next to Robert and touched his arm. He got startled, Cora hadn't noticed he was sleeping. "Oh, I am sorry darling, did I wake you."

Robert wrapped one arm around her, his other firmly over Mary's body. "Waking up and seeing you is always a good thing." He kissed her.

Butterflies were all over Cora's stomach. She touched his cheek with her hand. "You are a darling. Did Mary drink enough?"

"She got her whole bottle down in one go."

"I am happy she is taking the bottle so well." Cora brushed Mary's back.

"Do you think we should start using formula?"

Cora's eyes got wide. "Why?"

"To give you some rest. Now you have to pump when you go away and really have to schedule your day."

"As long as I have milk, she is getting my milk."

"Did practice go well?" Robert said changing the subject.

Cora's face lightened up. "It did. You remember that song 'Wild Horses' you played in the car a few weeks back?"

"I think I do." Robert said with a frown.

"We made our own version of it. The lyrics are the same, we just added our own sound. Simon says I am a good singer. Do you want to hear it?"

"Did you record it?" Robert said surprised.

Cora chuckled." I meant live of course."

Robert put Mary in her crib and followed Cora to the living room, where she played the song for him.

"Hello darling." Robert kissed the top of Mary's head before kissing Cora. She was carrying Mary in a sling while making dinner.

"You are home early?" Cora kissed him back and leaned in on Robert.

"I got a call from Mr. Bamford."

"Oh" Cora asked a little bit scared.

Robert put his hands on her waist and pulled her against him. "Nothing serious, don't you worry. He needs to go away for a month and asked if we would like to stay at the house."

"What did you answer?" Cora asked, turning around to face Robert.

"I said I had to talk to you about that."

Cora exhaled audibly. "Thank you. But I guess you want to go there?"

"To be honest? Yes, I would love to spend a month there together with you and Mary. And I was thinking of taking John with us, so we can pay a visit to some of the estates in the area."

"And what do you want me to do there? It is already hard to go through my days here. I am happy I have Rosamund to go to and the regular visits to your mother. But overall, I am not doing much."

Robert frowned. "You don't mind going to my mother? Do you?"

"Oh Robert, don't start. You know how your mother thinks of me. She still doesn't think I am good enough for you. In fact, I think she has a bet on to see when I will give up."

"Don't say that. My mother is happy with you as her daughter-in-law!"

"Let's leave it at that." Cora felt her heart started racing.

"Mama accepted the fact, that you are not having dinner parties at our home. She accepted the fact, you aren't mingling in society, only when we go together. What do you want from her?"

"That is, it Robert. I don't want anything. I just want to be your wife and make our life together."

"You married me! And I am in the middle of society. You are a lady, that is a fact."

"I know, I know." Cora lowered her eyes. "When does Mr. Bamford leave?" Cora tried to go back to the conversation they had.

"In two weeks. Are we going?" Robert's eyes started sparkling.

How could Cora deny Robert a month at Downton. It was theirs and she was already happy Robert agreed to stay in London. She leaned in and kissed him. Robert pulled her close and kissed her back until Mary started to squirm in between them. "Thank you." He said.

"I can't wait for the first official dinner party at Downton." Violet said during dinner at her place.

"Mama, first let us go there. Then we will see what we can do." Robert said, looking at Cora across the table.

Rosamund touched Cora's leg under the table and gave her an encouraging smile. "I can help you and come over." She said whispering.

"Thank you." Cora whispered back.

"Care to join us in your conversation?" Violet said.

"Just something between me and my sister-in-law Mama." Rosamund said quickly. "How is Spratt doing?" She changed the subject.

Spratt was Violet's butler, but he wasn't here tonight. "He is getting better and will be back next week. I don't know how you two are doing things without a butler." She looked at Robert.

"Modern times, Mama. Modern times." Was the only thing Robert said.

Violet huffed and filled her plate with green beans. "No maids, no butler. As if they are living a normal everyday life." Violet muttered.

"In fact, we kind of do Mama. There is no need for all that in our home." Robert said annoyed.

"You are still an Earl, and your wife is a Countess. You are what you are, you can't change that!" Violet raised her voice.

Mary started crying. Cora got up and tried to calm her down.

"Maybe she is hungry?" Robert said. Cora got the hint and she walked out of the dining room with Mary. Hoping she would calm down. She could still hear the conversation in the other room

"You married Cora, against my wishes! The company didn't need the money!"

"Mama, I know the reason why I married her, and I am ashamed of it. But she makes me happy and because of her we have Downton back in the family."

"A home, she doesn't want to live in! Robert, open your eyes and see that you made a mistake."

"Mama!" Robert now raised his voice. "Cora isn't a mistake. I am truly happy with her, and she gave me my beautiful Mary. Can you please show some respect for my wife!"

Mary had settled down in the meantime, but Cora was ashamed to go back into the dining room. She knew Violet hadn't approved of her, but that she still felt this way, did hurt her. She also knew she had to put on a brave face and just go back and pretend she didn't hear what was said.

The moment she walked back in, all three of them felt silent. She sat down across Robert and saw his red cheeks from anger. She looked at him, although Violet's words were harsh, Robert had stood up for her. She tried to catch his gaze, Rosamund had started talking about an event that was held last week. Finally, Robert looked up, she gave him a smile. In that smile she said: "It is alright, thank you.