Robert had lit the fire and was now sitting next to Cora on the sofa. She was al curled up against him. He had pulled up a blanket to cover her. Her head rested against his chest. Three days ago, they celebrated New Year's Eve at Rosamund's and Marmaduke's place.
"I enjoyed these holiday's days together with your family." Cora said.
Robert wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "I did too, thank you for wanting to spend all the days with my family. And I am sorry, your mother and brother don't live closer." He said softly.
Cora looked up; she saw a wrinkle on Robert's forehead. She reached up with her hand to caress his cheek. "Don't you worry, your family made up for missing mine."
"Are you sure?"
"I am sure, darling. As long as I can celebrate the days with you, I am perfectly happy."
Robert sighed and stared into the flames.
"Robert, something is troubling you, what is it?" Cora sat up and looked into his eyes.
Robert looked down. He wrangled his hands in his lap.
Cora put her hand on top of his. "Can you tell me what is troubling you?" She softly squeezed his hand.
Robert let out another deep sigh. "The doctors finally found what is wrong with Marmaduke."
Cora grabbed his hands. "Bad news?" She saw a tear rolling over Robert's cheek. Softly she brushed it away with her finger. Robert tried to speak but could not. Cora pulled him close and brushed his back. "Let those tears out. Let them go." She felt his shoulders shaking and heard his soft sobs. She moved her hand to his head and softly pressed his head against her shoulder. They sat for a while, until Robert could talk again.
He sat back up. "They say he will have just a couple months left. It's cancer."
Cora lost all colour in her face. "Oh no, how terrible." She did not know what to say, so she took Robert's hand back in hers and softly rubbed her thumb over his hand. They were silent, until Robert looked up again.
"We should marry soon, so he can be my best man."
Cora nodded.
"We could get married on the 16th of February." Robert said.
Now Cora looked at him surprised. "Why the 16th of February? What is so special about that day?"
"That is the date I first laid eyes on you. I remember it so vividly; I was standing in your office admiring a painting. Then I turned around and was faced with the most beautiful woman I ever met."
Cora chuckled.
"I mean it." Robert said, "I felt something very special when I saw you in that office. I noticed your incredible blue eyes the first time, when I offered you that cup in the hospital."
"The first time Anthony assaulted me." Cora shivered.
Robert put his hand on her cheek. "I am so sorry you had to go through that."
"It isn't your fault. You saved me, you are my knight." She leaned in and kissed him. "Do you think we can manage to arrange a wedding within a month?"
"Well, we already have a venue with, as I may say so, delicious food." He winked, meaning 'Le Grantham'. "We only need to make sure; your mother and Harold can come over."
"I also need to call Adeline and make sure she is in London that day. I need her as on our special day."
"We make sure she is there; don't you worry about that. I only hope Marmaduke will still be with us.
Cora leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder. "He will, he has to be. Let's call Rosamund and tell her our plan." She immediately got up, to pick up her phone. It was a funny thing, before she met Robert, she always had her phone on her, because Anthony did not like waiting for her to pick up the phone. But now she could go out the door and even forget it. How different this relationship was. It was crazy to think they would be married a year after they first met. She still could not believe she was wearing his ring. She played with the ring on her finger.
"You are daydreaming again." Robert said, pinching Cora's side.
"Happy dreams, only happy dreams." She smiled up at Robert.
"What is that for question. I make sure I will be in London on the 16th. No matter what I will be there on your special day. Do you already have a dress?" Adeline said excited.
Cora chuckled, she loved how enthusiastic her friend could be, she was more outgoing that she was. She always kept her emotions in, but not Adeline. She would let you know how she felt. "I don't have a dress yet." Cora tried to continue but was interrupted by Adeline.
"Good, next week I will be in London, we will go and buy you a dress. I know the perfect place, she is a friend of mine, so we will be available for you. She is one of the best wedding dress designers in London. Oh, and when is your mother coming over? We need to celebrate properly that you are going to marry. You did not think that, because you gave me this short notice, I would not plan anything for you. No, no, no girl, you got that wrong."
Cora smiled, she loved her best friend, especially for this reason. "My mum and Harold will come on the 10th of February; we just booked their flight tickets.
"Oh, my darling, I am so happy for you. Finally, somebody is going to make you happy. I am grateful you met Robert."
"So am I, so am I. Adeline, I need to run, I will see you next week."
She hung up the phone and smiled. For a second she just stared in front of her, until she saw a shadow coming closer.
She looked up and saw Andrews smiling face. "It is wonderful to see a smile on your face daily." He said. "Can you look at these designs, I am not sure if I am happy with them, but I can't get the design team to understand what I mean."
Cora took the tablet from Andrew and looked at it. "I know what is missing." She transferred the document to her computer and showed Andrew what she would do.