"Mama, I hoped you would want to do the award ceremony?" Cora asked, while she and Robert paid her a visit.
"The people would love that, Mama." Robert said. "I heard you always did that."
Violet started glowing. "Indeed, when you father and I lived here at Downton, I was the host of this event."
"You and Patrick started a lot of traditions is it not?" Cora asked.
"No, that's not quite right. We continued a lot of traditions. Robert's father loved traditions."
"Just like you, dear." Cora smiled at Robert.
"How are you feeling?" Violet asked looking at Cora.
"I am ready to meet this little one." she moved her hand over her belly. She felt enormous, in 2 weeks she had her due date. "But other than the normal pregnancy problems, I am feeling alright."
"As long as she keeps herself from doing too much." Robert said. He got up and put his hand on her shoulder. "We should go. John is coming this afternoon and I want you to take some rest.
A few days later Cora woke up feeling off but didn't tell Robert. She was invited to a board meeting of the local school, together with Violet.
Robert was already up, Cora was glad. Now she could move as slow as possible. She took a long warm shower, hoping she would feel better.
She had wrapped a towel around her and was brushing her teeth when Robert entered. "Good you are up." He walked over, stood behind her and wanted to lift her belly as he did quite regularly the last weeks.
However, Cora pushed his hands of. "Not now darling, my belly feels very tight."
Robert put his hand on her arm. "Are you alright? Is it time?"
"I think my body is preparing, but this isn't labour yet."
"Should you go to that meeting?"
Cora turned around. "Your mother would love it if I don't go" she sighed. "I only have to sit there, I can handle that."
"What is the meeting about?" Robert asked, helping Cora dry her feet. She couldn't reach so low anymore.
"I don't know, I think they are in need of new board members. And I am afraid, they are going to ask your mother or me, or both."
Robert frowned. "You are allowed to decline, darling."
Cora smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "I know. Can you ask Baxter to come and help me?"
Robert shook his head. "I can help you, my dear."
Robert drove Cora and Violet into the village, he had some business there too.
The meeting, turned out, to be about them joining the board. There was a presentation, about the school and the history.
Cora was feeling worse and worse and wished she had stayed home. During a coffee break she went to the bathroom and texted Robert, to come and collect her.
It didn't take 10 minutes and Robert walked in. He rushed over to Cora, who was sitting on a bench in the hallway, with a lady next to her. He saw her taking deep breaths.
"Did it start?" He asked softly.
"I think so yes." Cora said.
"I told you not to go." He saw Cora's face and swallowed the rest of his words. "Come, I will bring you home. Can you walk?"
"Just walk slowly." Cora took his hand and got up. She almost squeezed his hand when she got a contraction. Robert put both hands on her waist to steady her, it was a mild contraction, but he wanted to help where he could. "Does Mama know?"
Before Cora could answer, the lady who was sitting next to her said, she would inform Lady Grantham.
"If you don't mind, I like to tell her myself. What room is she in?" Robert asked. "Just wait a second, darling, I will be right back." He knew Cora would understand why he was going to tell his mother himself.
"What did Dr. Clarkson say about a home birth?" Robert asked when he managed to get Cora in the car.
"He said, that it would be fine. I don't have complications. He said to give him a call, once my labour would start. So, I guess that is now." Cora smiled.
"I don't get how you can joke about this." Robert said annoyed.
Cora still smiled. "Darling, this will take a while. It has just started."
"I know, but they say a second birth is always faster than a first one. And your first one just took a day. So, who knows how fast this one will go.
Cora put her hand on Robert's leg. "The contractions I have right now are 10 minutes apart, so nothing to worry about yet."
"Do you want to go upstairs, Milady?" Baxter asked, when she walked in. Cora got a contraction, when Carson opened the door and she had to grab on to him. Robert was parking the car. Carson had looked at Cora with bewildered eyes but gave her both his arms to grab onto.
"Thank you, Carson." Cora gave him a smile. "I think it is the best option to go upstairs now, before I can't manage the stairs."
"I will help you, Milady." Carson offered her a steady arm, and with one hand on the railing and the other on Carson's arm, she climbed upstairs. She had started to hate the stairs in her last month of this pregnancy.
In her bedroom, Cora sat down on the chaise longue. Trying to catch her breath again, Robert rushed in. "Dr. Clarkson is on his way, and he is bringing your midwife. Can I do something."
Cora was breathing away a contraction, once it slipped aside, she said: "Darling, you would help me by calming down." She smiled at him.
Robert sat down and put his hand on her belly. "I am sorry. It is just so exciting."
Dr. Clarkson arrived with Cora's midwife. Robert went down. He left Baxter with Cora, her contractions were closer together now and quite painful. They had just helped her taking a shower, it meant he had to change clothes afterwards, but he didn't mind. It had helped Cora to relax and that was what counted at the moment.
Dr. Clarkson did a quick examination on Cora. "You are at 6 cm's, you are doing great." He encouraged her. Cora was now having contractions every 2 minutes
She still wanted to walk around, it helped with managing the pain she said. Robert looked at Dr. Clarkson, he nodded and said she must do what feels right for her.
Cora paced over the corridor, grabbing on to Robert every time a contraction hit.
Dr. Clarkson had gone down, only the midwife was present. She asked Cora to lay down, so she could examine her. She was at 9 cm's. "Almost there Milady."
Cora breathed away another very strong contraction. "You said this would go faster." She said through her teeth.
Robert looked at his watch. She was working now for 7 hours. In the last hour or two with very strong contractions. "I read that, darling. I am sorry. Can I do something."
She shook her head while breathing away another contraction. "Just stay with me."
It took her several more hours, but finally with a big last push Dr. Clarkson laid down a tiny baby on her chest.
"Congratulations, you have a girl." Dr. Clarkson said.
Cora felt the same pain when Mary was born and instantly searched for Robert's eyes. She didn't see anything else in it, only adoration.
The midwife handed him the scissor to cut the umbilical cord. Then she picked up the little baby and did a quick check. She handed the crying bundle to Robert.
"Welcome, Edith Josephine." He said smiling and brushing with his finger her little cheek. With Edith in his arms, he bend down to kiss Cora. "I am so incredibly proud of you darling."
Cora had streaming tears.
"Are you in pain?" Robert asked and the midwife and Dr. Clarkson were directly standing at her side.
"No, yes, no. It is just." She sobbed. "Why can't I give you a boy."
Dr. Clarkson understood the delicate and pulled the midwife back, to give them some privacy.
Robert sat down next to Cora, staring at Edith. He laid his hand on her cheek. "Darling, don't you cry. You gave me a wonderful miracle, for the second time. I am blessed with you in my life, and now two daughters." He kissed away her tears and then softly he kissed her lips.
Once the afterbirth was delivered, Robert gave Edith to Cora, so she could feed her and he went to wake up Mary.
Edith latched on perfectly, Cora was feeling rosy, but she needed to stay awake for Mary.
Robert entered the bedroom with Mary on his arm. He put her down on the bed and said: "Meet your baby sister Edith."
Mary looked at Cora with the baby in her arms with a frown on her forehead, turned around to Robert and put her arms up. She fell asleep immediately on Robert's shoulder.
"She will meet her in the morning. You both need your rest." Robert said, smiling at Cora.
When he returned, Nanny had taken Edith and Cora was asleep. Robert tugged her in and watched her until he, himself fell asleep.