"I really enjoyed this afternoon, thank you for an amazing birthday gift." Robert said while walking out the whisky testing room.
"You have to thank your sister for this. Rosamund gave me the reservation." Marmaduke said.
"I will thank her. How are you feeling?" Robert asked, looking at the tired face of Marmaduke.
"Not right at all."
"Can I do something?"
"Take care of Rosamund." Marmaduke answered.
"Don't be silly, you can do that yourself."
"I feel this will not take long. Please promise me you will take care of Rosamund."
"She is my sister, I love her and will always protect her, no matter what."
Marmaduke smiled. "Enough about me, how are you and Cora doing?"
Robert sighed, annoyed. "You know we are split up."
"I guessed it, but didn't know it. Why?"
"I can't explain." Robert looked at the ground.
"Why don't you go talk with her." Marmaduke sat down on a bench, clearly out of breath.
Robert sat down next to him. "I don't want her to get dragged into this."
"Robert, sometimes you are so hard-headed. Did you ask her if she minds being dragged into this?"
He shook his head, he felt so stupid. Marmaduke hit the sore spot. He assumed Cora didn't want this mess, but he never asked her. He thought he was protecting her. But was that what he was doing?
"Robert, Marmaduke I didn't expect to see you two here?" Rosamund's voice sounded.
Both Marmaduke and Robert looked up, Marmaduke started smiling when he saw his wife. Robert got up, we were on our way back home, but Marmaduke needed a bit of rest. He kissed Rosamund on her cheek. "Thank you for organizing this tasting, it was wonderful."
Rosamund bit her lip, she promised Cora not to tell Robert that she was the one who arranged it. Instead she turned towards Marmaduke. "Are you ready to go home?"
Robert watched how Rosamund helped Marmaduke up and guided him towards her car.
"I am off to Downton this afternoon." Robert said just before they got in their car.
It was late in the evening already and Robert was preparing to go to bed, when there was a knock on his door. Mrs. Hughes was standing in the hallway. "I am sorry to disturb you, but there is a woman at the front door claiming to know you."
Robert raised his eyebrows, who is it?
"Miss Levinson is her name."
Robert needed to grab the doorpost to steady himself. Quickly he recovered and said Mrs. Hughes could let her in. Her slipped on a jumper and waited for her to climb the stairs. He heard her before he saw her, his heart started racing. Why was she here?
He straightened his back when she came around the corner. She looked like an angel, her dark curls were down. How could he keep her at distance. "Hi" he said shy, stepped back and let her in his room.
The fireplace was lit, this big house could get quite cold. It gave the room a soft orange colour. He saw Cora wringing her hands. He stepped closer and kissed her cheek. "What brings you here?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain"
Robert raised his eyebrows. "You shouldn't be here."
"No?" Cora said surprised. "So you tell me, you don't miss me the way I miss you?"
Robert ignored the question. "How did you know I was here?"
Cora sighed and sat down on the chaise longue. "I went to John, but he only told me you were gone for a couple of weeks. Then I went to Rosamund and finally she told me you went here."
"And what made you follow me here?" Robert also sat down.
"I had a talk with Marmaduke." Cora started.
"You did what!" Robert almost exploded, Marmaduke had other things to worry about.
"Just so you know, Marmaduke came to me." Cora tilted her head. Why was Robert getting mad? She didn't except him to jump in her arms. Although secretly she had wished for it. Just like in the romcom's. But this reaction wasn't what she was expecting either. "He told me all about the hospital and I think I can help you out."
Robert huffed. "And how do you think you could help me out?"
"I will answer without commenting on your tone. Before I started working for 'Silver Linings' I followed a study in marketing." Cora saw Robert's eyebrows raise. "I never did anything with my studies, because 'Silver Linings' came on my way and I stayed."
"You are telling me, you know how to run a hospital?"
Cora shook her head. "No, I am not telling you that. I am only saying, I can help you run it. I know some things."
"But Mama." Robert started.
Cora got up and sat down on the armrest of Robert's chair. She brushed her fingers over his arm. "Let's forget about what your mother thinks. I can't be happy without you."
"Oh Cora." Robert wrapped both arms around her. He buried his face in her chest. He felt her hands on his back and immediately he calmed down. His whole body let go of the tense feeling he had for the last weeks. "How can you forgive me for my behaviour?" He said when he pulled himself back.
Cora cupped his face with her hands. "You don't need forgiveness. You were hurt by the loss of your father and overwhelmed with all the responsibilities." Softly she placed her lips on his. She felt an electrical shock going through her body, just like the first time he came close to her in his kitchen.
Robert pulled her closer and she slit of the armrest in his lap. She giggled and Robert thought it was the best sound he could ever hear. "It's good having you back in my arms."
"I want you to promise me one thing." Cora said. She suddenly had a serious face.
"Anything, darling, Anything."
"Don't you ever shut me out again."
Robert tickled Cora, who started giggling uncontrollably. "Never." He buried his face in her neck and placed kisses.
There was a soft knock on the door. Cora shot up from Robert's lap, when the door was opened.
"I am sorry, Milord, but here are some things for Miss Levinson, I guess she is staying the night." Mrs. Hughes put a small suitcase and a bag in his room and closed the door again.
"The suitcase is mine." Cora said. She had left it in the car. "But the bag isn't."
"I think you will find a bathrobe in it and some toiletries. Mrs. Hughes always makes sure those things are in the bathroom when guests are staying."
Cora looked around the room. "It's strange being here with all the staff, but especially because you are also a guest at the moment."
"I am never really a guest, we have our regular visits here. The groundskeeper knows that and is always prepared for us. Although we let him know in time when we will arrive."
He stepped towards Cora and pulled her in his arms again. "Maybe, one day you will be the lady of the house." He kissed her before she could answer.