Robert softly opened the door to the nursery. Cora had gone up, to nurse Edith, but that was already a while ago.

He found her in the rocking chair, with Edith on her chest, both sleeping. Robert didn't want to wake her up, but there would be a meeting about the school board this afternoon.

He brushed her hair and said very softly: "Cora?"

She opened her eyes. "Oh no, I must have fallen asleep, did I miss the meeting?"

"Not yet, darling. I came to warn you the meeting is in an hour."

Cora got up, put Edith in her crib and followed Robert downstairs. He took her hand. "Are you alright?"

Cora gave him a little smile. "I am." But she pulled her hand back.

"I think it is a good idea if only Lady Grantham joins the board." Cora addressed the people who were sitting around the table. "First of all, Lady Grantham, knows far more about the history and the importance of this school and second, she has more time, to give you full attention."

Violet looked at her, and Cora couldn't tell if she approved.

At the end of the meeting, they all agreed, Cora would not join, but Violet would.

Once everybody was out of the house, Cora said. "I have to feed Edith and check on Mary." Before Robert could say something, she walked off.

"Robert? Is everything alright with Cora?" Violet asked.

"I don't know Mama. She is different since Edith is born. She shuts me out. And on top of that Mary is rejecting every contact with Edith."

"She needs to adjust to having a second baby, I think." Violet said, while standing up to leave. "And Mary is a typical toddler."

"You are not staying for dinner?"

"Not tonight."

Cora went to bed early, when Robert entered, she pretended to be asleep, but Robert knew her to well.

"Cora?" He didn't get a reaction. He put his hand on her shoulder and tried again. "Cora?"

"Hmmmm" was the only answer he got.

"We need to talk." He started. "Something is bothering you."

Cora was still facing the wall. "I am a disappointment, that's all."

"What?" Robert exclaimed.

"Admit it. Your mother didn't say it with so many words, but me having another girl was a huge disappointment. And you can say you love our girls, I know you want and need a boy."

Robert heard the tears in her voice. He scooted closer, but Cora pushed him off.

"Cora, darling. Mama didn't say it, because she doesn't think it."

"Don't lie to me, Robert. Don't lie!"

Robert sighed, of course Mama was disappointed and although she didn't voice it to Cora, she did to him. "Mama, would love to see us have a boy. But the moment she saw Edith, she loved that little one."

"Maybe, you should think about marrying someone else." Cora said very softly.

Robert couldn't believe his ears. "What did you say?"

Cora stayed silent. Robert forced her to turn around, by grabbing her shoulders. "Never say that again. I love you and the girls!"

In the hallway they heard crying. A knock on the door and Nanny entered with Edith. "It's time for her feeding Milady."

Cora sat up and latched Edith on her breast. "Thank you, I will bring her back when she is ready."

Once Nanny left the room, Robert tried to start the conversation again. But Cora was babbling to Edith, avoiding further conversation.

Robert felt lonely, Cora was avoiding him and spent a lot of time in the nursery with Edith and Mary. Mary wasn't happy to be a big sister. She was begging for Cora's attention every time she did something with Edith. They had to remove her from the room, when Edith was feeding.

At night Cora stayed on her side of the bed and didn't want Robert to touch her. They didn't really communicate anymore.

In the evenings he stayed very long in the library, drinking his whisky, avoiding lying down next to Cora. He wanted her affection, he needed affection, but she was rejecting him.

This evening, he knew he should not take that extra glass, but he did. He just sat down again when a maid entered.

"I am sorry, Milord, I didn't know you were still in here."

Robert looked up and saw a sweet young face. "Hello, I haven't seen you here before?"

"I am one of the new maids, Milord."

"I keep forgetting we still have maids in these days. Do you like it here?"

"I do, Milord." She got closer to Robert, pretending to clean something of the fireplace.

"Don't call me Milord. You can call me Robert, what is your name." He said with a double tongue.

Jane walked past him, touching his leg. "I am Jane."

Robert felt something stir inside. He got up and stood behind her, smelling her neck. Jane didn't move, she stood there and let Robert touch her.

He touched her neck with his lips, but before he really kissed her skin, he pulled back.

"I am sorry", he uttered and walked away.

Cora was in the music room, working on some songs. Mary was next to her. With her 1 year and 2 months, she was a clever girl. Her dark brown eyes looked at Cora and there was so much going on in that little head of hers. Cora was still amazed by her eye colour. Both her and Robert had blue eyes.

She put her guitar aside and picked Mary up. "What's wrong darling?"

"Mama? Play? Dog?" Mary started talking and it was the most adorable thing in Cora's eyes.

"Of course, we can. We will go outside." Cora stood up with Mary on her arm. "Isis?" She called out and a happy dog came running in.

Cora brushed her head. "Are you coming for a walk?" She put Mary down and took her hand. When she walked through the great hall, she saw Robert watching her.

She ignored him and walked outside.

Robert took in a deep breath and went back to his study. He couldn't focus on his work and walked around the house. He saw Jane, looking at him. She waved and got into a room, he followed her. He checked if nobody saw him, then closed the door behind him.

He stepped towards her and put his hands on her shoulders. She leaned her head back a little. And put her hand on Robert's arm.

He leaned in to kiss her, but a sound by the door, made him jump back. He looked at Jane and shook his head. "This is wrong, this is all wrong." He uttered. "I am so sorry, but this is wrong. I can't do this, I love my wife, I made a vow to her."

He took Jane's hands in his. "I am sorry, but I have to ask you to leave this house. You can't work here."

Jane lowered her eyes. "You are missing something, and I can give it to you." She looked up at Robert. "I can give you everything you want."

Robert pulled back his hands and looked at her in disgust. "I love my Cora! She gives me everything I need." He turned around and walked away.

Dr. Clarkson made a house call. Robert had called him and told him Cora was behaving differently and he worried about her.

"Milady." He started when Carson let him in the drawing room, where Cora was sitting.

"Dr. Clarkson! I didn't know you were coming."

"I wanted to check on you and baby Edith" he said.

"We are both alright. She is growing fast." Cora said with a forced smile.

"Milady, you can be honest with me." Dr. Clarkson said.

Cora felt tears sting behind her eyes and turned her head away. Dr. Clarkson stayed silent and just waited a second.

"May I tell you something." He started. "I recently read a book about how the gender of a baby is determined. Did you know that the father's chromosomes decide if it will be a boy or a girl?"

Cora looked at the doctor. "Is that true?"

"It is, Milady. This doesn't mean that you will never give birth to a boy, but if Lord Grantham carries more X than Y, or the other way around, chromosomes, you are more likely to give birth to a girl."

A tiny smile formed around Cora's mouth.

"Stop blaming yourself, Milady."

"Robert?" Cora asked, popping her head around the corner of the library. "I am going up, are you coming soon?"

Robert didn't know what he heard. He put down his whisky and followed her directly.

Back in their room, Cora started. "I am sorry, for the way I behaved the last weeks."

"Nothing to be sorry for darling." Robert sat on a chair, watching Cora take out the pins of her hair. He loved helping her, but he was scared Cora wouldn't let him.

Cora's fingers stopped and she looked at him. "I neglected you, and I am sorry for that."

Robert felt his cheeks colouring. "You needed time. I am glad you are feeling better." He saw her struggling to get the pins loose. "Can I help?"

"Yes, please."

Robert's fingers went through her hair, softly touching her. This was his home, with Cora. He was glad he pulled back in time. He would never forgive himself if he had truly kissed Jane. He kissed Cora's neck, he tasted her familiar taste and the rumbling he had felt in the last weeks settled down.

There will be no chapters this weekend. I will upload again on Monday.