Cora was chatting with Mary at the breakfast table. Mary was now at the stage that she was really babbling.

Robert entered the kitchen, suppressing a cough. Cora looked up at the sound he made and gave him a worried look. "That doesn't sound good. I think you got a cold from that dip. Despite her worries, she had to force herself not to burst out laughing again.

Two nights ago, they went for a walk in the evening. Rosamund had offered to babysit Mary. They walked around a park close to their home. Robert was goofing around and one moment he was next to her and the other she heard a splash, and he was gone. In the dark, Robert hadn't seen the curve in the road and walked into a ditch. Cora burst out laughing, while trying to get him out. Robert was drenched, he had gone under.

Robert stood there like a drowned cat, grumbling about what just happened. Cora had a shawl on her shoulders, she wrapped that over Robert's and they started walking home. Although it wasn't a cold evening, Robert was shivering once they arrived home. He had taken a hot shower and Cora had made him a cup of tea.

"I must have picked up a bug from that dip." Robert said weakly. "I will stay home today".

Cora got up and poured him a cup of tea, she put a big spoon of honey in it. "Go back to bed. I will bring you your breakfast." Cora rubbed his back as Robert steadied himself while he was coughing. His whole body was shaking and the rumbling sound really worried Cora.

Robert's shirt was wet from his sweat. Cora checked if Mary was strapped in and helped Robert back to bed. His lungs made a worrisome sound, and his breathing was shallow. Cora tugged him in and kissed his forehead. "I will bring you some aspirin. Try to get some sleep.

Robert's eyes were closed before he rested his head on the pillow. When Cora returned with the aspirin, he gave her a faint smile. Cora brushed his hair and turned off the lights.

She called Rosamund to see if she could pick up Mary. She didn't want to take the risk of her getting ill. It wasn't likely, but still, it also gave her time to care for Robert.

Cora had heard Robert was awake, because of his coughing. She opened the bedroom door and saw Robert hunched over. He almost chocked on the mucus he was trying to work up. Cora rushed over and patted his back, hoping to help him get rid of it.

"Robert, we will take your temperature and I am calling the doctor. I am really worried. You don't breathe properly."

Robert leaned back into his pillow. He was exhausted. His chest hurt; his whole body was hurting. Like he was run over by a truck. He heard Cora talking but didn't process what she was saying. He just wanted to close his eyes and sleep. He heard a voice somewhere far and felt something on his cheek.

All of a sudden there were lots of sounds around him and he was lifted up from his bed. He wanted to say, that he wanted to be left alone, to let him drift off. He was just falling into a darkness that felt comfortable.

Cora was sitting next to Violet and Rosamund in a waiting area. She had called 999, when Robert's temperature got above 40 degrees and his breathing got so faint she had trouble hearing him breathing. Robert was rushed to the emergency room. A doctor had told them he had Pneumonia and was close to Respiratory failure. He was hooked onto a breathing machine to help him breath.

Finally, Cora was allowed to go to him. Only one family member was allowed to see him. Cora had offered her spot to Violet, but she said it was more important for Cora to be with Robert.

She was now sitting on his bedside, holding his hand. His eyes were closed and the machine next to him made sure he got oxygen in his body. Softly she was brushing his hand with her thumb.

Cora must have fallen asleep, because she was woken up by a lot of noise and a nurse who was rushing her out of Robert's room.

"What's happening. What is wrong?" Cora tried to go back into Robert's room. But the nurse held her back.

"You can't go back in there. Please calm down." The nurse said. It was a tall young man, who was holding her firmly at her shoulders. "Stay here and I will go back in to check what is going on."

Cora paced around until the nurse came back.

"The doctor will come and talk to you soon. Please wait a little bit longer." The nurse said with a sweet voice.

Finally, the doctor came out of Robert's room and explained that Robert had a sepsis. His blood pressure had dropped suddenly, but he was still with them and there was treatment. "You can go in now. Just talk to him. It will keep him calm."

Cora got back into his room unsure. Robert was very pale, even a bit blueish. She took his hand in hers and pressed his hand against her cheek. And whispered: "Darling, please come back to me. There is so much we still have to experience together. Mary can't miss her daddy. And our little one growing in my tummy needs a daddy. Please, darling, I promise you, if you come back to me, we will move to Downton. We will let our children grow up there.

Days went by without any change. Both Violet and Rosamund had covered for Cora so she could rest at home and be with Mary. Nanny was full-time staying at their house. Cora was sitting with Mary in her lap in the rocking chair, reading her a story. Mary's warm body against hers reassured her. She was too young to notice something was wrong, although with her 7 months, she picked up her mother was sad. She wanted to be picked up a lot more than usual.

Cora's phone rang, she saw Rosamund's name on the screen. Her heart started racing.

"Rosamund?" She answered.

"Cora, you need to come to the hospital." Cora gasped loudly when she heard Rosamund say that. "No, nothing is wrong. On the contrary, Robert woke up."

Cora rushed to the hospital, she took Mary with her. She almost stormed into Robert's room. He wasn't attached to the breathing machine anymore, but his eyes were closed. Violet stood up and offered Cora her chair next to Robert. Cora brushed his cheek and Robert opened his eyes. He gave her a faint smile.

"A sight to gladden my heart" Cora said smiling. She picked up Mary out of her stroller. "I brought you, your little girl."

Robert's hand went to hers. "Do you mean that?"

Cora picked up his hand and kissed it. "With all my heart. I want to keep my promise to you."

Robert gave her a surprised look.

She put Mary back down and leaned over. She whispered: "We are moving to Downton. Now close your eyes and take your rest." She kissed his lips and wanted to walk away.

Robert grabbed her hand and said very weak: "Thank you. I love you."

Cora smiled. "Get well soon, darling." She bent down and kissed him again.