"Baxter? Have you seen my red dress?" Cora was standing in front of her closet.

"That velvet off shoulder dress?"

"Yes, that's the one." Cora turned around to face Baxter. I was thinking of wearing that one tonight for his Lordships birthday."

"I am afraid that one is at the dry cleaner, Anna has taken some clothes that needed cleaning. Why don't you wear that blue one with the buttons in the front?"

"Thank you, I will." Cora was getting used to having Baxter around her. She knew Phyllis was an employee, but she felt like a friend. "I will change in the afternoon."

Robert entered the great hall, where he was greeted by Cora. "Good morning, darling. You were up early. Happy birthday." She took his hands and kissed him. "I had a surprise for you this morning, you will have to unpack that tonight." She gave him a cheeky smile and walked into the breakfast room. She heard Robert's quick footsteps behind her.

"What kind of surprise?" He asked, putting his hand on her hip and pulling her close.

Because of this move, Cora tripped, and Robert had to catch her. Giggling she hung in his arms. Robert bent down to kiss her, but they stopped when they heard Carson scrape his throat.

"Good morning, Milord, Milady."

Cora straightened her clothes and lowered her eyes.

"Good morning." Robert answered.

Robert took the day off and was sitting in the drawing room, when Cora entered with Mary on her arm. "Mary and I have a gift for you."

Robert looked up from his book. "I thought I was getting my gift tonight?"

"That's just something extra, this is your real gift."

Robert followed her to the great hall, in the middle there was Mrs. Hughes with a puppy next to her.

Cora said: "Meet Isis."

"You got me a dog?" Robert got on his knee to cuddle the puppy. Cora put Mary down and she started crawling towards Robert. It was an adorable sight.

"Happy birthday, darling."

Robert got up, on one arm with Mary and with the other he was holding Isis. "What a wonderful gift, thank you very much." He kissed Cora's cheek. There were to many servants in the hall, so they had to refrain from kissing on the lips. They all gathered to look at the dog.

Cora saw Carson's face and she instantly knew he disapproved. She tried to ignore the feeling, but she had a hard time. Robert didn't notice, but Carson wasn't in favour of Cora being the Lady of the house. Tonight, Violet and Rosamund were coming and that added to Cora's stress.

Her hand rested on her abdomen, and she took a deep breath in. "Are you alright?" She heard Baxter's voice next to her. What a sweet woman she was, she always was in tune with her. She gave her a smile.

"I am. Thank you."

Baxter looked at her. "I will bring you something, to calm down your nerves."

Robert gave Mary to Nanny and walked outside with Isis. Just before he would step outside, he turned around. "Are you coming?" He asked Cora, who just had taken Mary from Nanny.

"You go darling, I will put Mary to bed, and I think I will lay down to for a minute."

Robert nodded and took Isis outside.

Robert walked in their bedroom, he found Cora still sleeping. He sat down on her side of the bed and brushed her hair.

Cora opened her eyes and smiled at the sight of him. "Sorry, I overslept."

"That's alright, but Rosamund and Mama will arrive soon. Are you feeling alright?" He had a slightly worried look on his face.

"I am just tired. This little bean is already soaking up my energy." She put her hand on her abdomen. "I am coming down, did Carson see my table setting?"

Robert looked away for a second. "When you need more help around the house, just let me know."

Cora noticed he ignored her question. She got up and kissed Robert's cheek. "I will manage. Can you send Baxter in?"

Cora had changed into her blue dress. It was hugging her figure and her bump was clearly visible. She noticed, her belly was bigger already than with Mary. Her obstetrician told her, that she would start showing earlier this time. She would soon have to wear pregnancy clothing.

"Are you ready, Milady?" Baxter startled Cora out of her thoughts.

Cora walked down the grand stairs, still she felt like she stepped back in time in this house. And when she walked these stairs, she felt misplaced. At the bottom of the stairs, Robert was waiting for her. His eyes lit up, when he spotted her.

"Oh my, you look beautiful. I guess you expect me to leave your clothes on until after dinner?" He winked and took her hand.

Cora smiled at him, together they walked into the great hall, where Rosamund and Violet just arrived.

"Good night, Baxter. Thank you" Cora sent Baxter away, before Robert would enter.

She was busy undoing her hair, Baxter made a real artwork, but there were so many pins, she needed to take out. Suddenly she felt Robert's fingers on her hand.

He bent down and kissed her neck. "Do you need some help?" Without waiting for her answer his hands were searching for the pins and carefully taking them out.

Once, he found the last one, her hair was falling down over her shoulders. She had dark brown curly hair. It gave her angelic face an even more angelic look, when it was down. Tiny curls were in her face, and Robert put them behind her ear. Softly touching her skin. He got down on his knees in front of her and took Cora's hands in his.

"You make me so incredibly happy." He said, softly rubbing his thumb over her hand." Tonight, was perfect, you are perfect." He looked up into her eyes.

Cora looked down at him. "Are you sure?"

Robert gave her a startled look, but didn't say anything, instead he got up and scooped Cora up. She nuzzled her face in his neck.

Cora had already changed out of her dress and into her nightwear, she bought especially for his birthday. Robert laid her down on the bed and unwrapped her bathrobe. He looked down at her in slight shock.

"So, this is my real present." He looked at her perfectly formed figure, covered in a silk and lace babydoll. Her breasts were growing together with her adorable baby bump.

Carefully he opened the front laces and touched the skin between her breast with his lips. One hand rested on her hip, the other was softly kneading her breast. Cora moaned softly.

Robert looked up. "Does it hurt?"

"Just a little bit, but that's alright." Cora's hand moved to Robert's head. She played with his hair.

"I will be careful." Robert moved his kisses down, he opened her legs and played with her. He felt her body tense up from pleasure. His fingers slipped inside her and he worked until he felt she was ready.

Robert looked down at his beautiful wife. He saw her biting her lower lip and it aroused him even more. Her hands were resting on his lower back, and he felt her encouragement to move faster.

Carefully not to hurt her, his thrusts were getting stronger. Both reached their high. He had to work on Cora a little bit more, for her to reach it.

He rested his body next to Cora's, with one hand on her bump and his nose in her neck. Softly kissing her skin.

"This was a perfect day. Thank you."

"I hope it was good enough for your mother and Carson." Cora could slap herself for saying this, at this moment, but Robert didn't seem to hear it. His fingers were twirling over her bump.

Cora covered his hand with hers. "Just 5 more months and we will see this little one."

Robert leaned on his elbows and kissed her belly. "Take your time little one." He kissed Cora on her lips. "Sleep tight, darling." He laid back down on his pillow, Cora got close to him and fell asleep.