Robert handed the service over to John, he was going home earlier today. When he left this afternoon, Cora was not acting like herself and he wanted to be sure, she was feeling alright. He stopped at the flowershop and bought some sunflowers, to cheer her up. When he got home, he could not find Cora. The kitchen was empty, and so where the living room and her office.

Maybe she was getting groceries. He put the flowers in a vase, it amazed him Cora was not home. But at the same time, he didn´t know what Cora did when he was not home. Was Adeline in London? Maybe she was there, he should text her. He walked to the hall to get his phone, when he heard the toilet upstairs flush.

Robert called Cora, but she didn't respond. Something was wrong, he felt it. He walked upstairs, he found her in the bedroom, covered under the blankets. He sat down on the bed and put his hand on her shoulder. He felt her shoulder jolting. He pulled down the duvet cover and brushed his thumb over her cheek. "Cora?" He asked softly.

She looked up at him, her eyes were red from her crying.

"Cora, what happened?" His hand now rested on Cora's back and he softly moved his hand up and down. A lot of thoughts run through his head. Did somebody die? But he could not think who. She would have called him if it was Adeline. Marmaduke could not be the one, because Rosamund would have called him. Did she lost her job? No, that wasn't possible, Andrew was so happy to have her in his company.

He bent down and kissed Cora's temple. "Darling?" He tried again.

Cora's sobbing finally slowed down. She took Robert's hand. "I thought I was pregnant."

Robert was lost for words. "I am sorry, we will keep trying."

"You do not understand." Cora said and pulled her hand back.

"What do you mean?" Robert asked.

"This is the third time, I was late, but got my period in the end."

"Cora, why did you not tell me this earlier?"

"What would you have done? You can not change the fact, that I can not get pregnant." Cora said irritated.

Robert shifted on the matras. "Cora, please, do not shut me out. I would love to have a little one together with you."

They were interrupted by the doorbell, Robert got up, he gave Cora another kiss on het forehead and walked downstairs.

He got surprised by Rosamund, when he opened the door.

"Rosamund?" Robert exclaimed and kissed his sister on her cheek.

"I needed to get out of the house and hoped you or Cora would be home."

"Come in, come in." Robert stepped back to let her in. "You want some tea?"

Rosamund nodded.

Robert heard the bedroom door close and Cora walked downstairs. She kissed Rosamund on her cheek. "Good to see you sis." She said.

Rosamund wrapped her arm around Cora's waist. "It is good to be out of the house."

They had chatted for a while when Rosamund looked at Cora. "You don't have to stay here if you do not feel well."

Cora coloured. "I am alright." She lied.

Rosamund gave Cora a look, Robert decided it was time for him to leave the room. "I will start dinner, Rosamund do you stay for dinner?

She looked at her watch. "Yes, let me call Julia." Julia was caring for Marmaduke, but also took a lot of housework out of Rosamund's hands.

When Robert had left, Rosamund sat down next to Cora on the sofa. "Can you tell me what is wrong? Is Robert not good for you?"

Cora chuckled. "Your brother is an angel, sometimes even to caring."

Now it was Rosamund's turn to laugh. "Oh don't tell me, he is smothering you?"

"Some days, he is indeed."

"He is so incredibly in love with you, we can not blame him."

Cora smiled.

"But that is not what is bothering you." Rosamund said.

Cora shook her head. "You are right. I think, I can not get pregnant."

"Cora! You are married for a month now, don't give up."

Cora's cheeks turned bright red. "We didn't start trying after our marriage. We never used protection."

"Oh" Rosamund said softly.

"This is the third time, I thought I was pregnant. But I got my period again."

Rosamund wrapped her arm around Cora's shoulders. "I am sorry to hear this. Did you and Robert talked with a doctor?"

Cora shook her head again. "Not yet, I didn't tell Robert about the previous two times. But today, he found me crying."

"Cora!" Rosamund rebukingly. "You need to talk with Robert. He is also part of this."

"I know, I know." Cora said ashamed. "I do not want to see him in pain over this."

"So, you suffer alone? Cora, Robert is your husband and he would love to have children with you, but if that is not possible, you two need to process that together. Do not shut him out."

"Dear." Robert's voice sounded. "I wish you would have told me this before. I married you for better and for worse. And if this is our worse, I want to go through it together with you. You do not need to do this alone." He kneeled down in front of her.

Cora reached her hand to his cheek and kissed his lips briefly. "I am sorry, sweetheart. I know this is also something that involves you. I do not know why I was not sharing. I think I am so incredibly scared something is wrong, and telling you, would make that fear real." Cora felt tears dripping down her cheeks.

Robert pulled her close, his hand on her head and let her cry on his shoulder.

Rosamund got up and walked to the kitchen. Should she leave? She saw Robert was indeed cooking for three. She decided to finish the cooking and wait for them to come to the kitchen. She felt a pain in her heart, she would have loved to have children with Marmaduke, but she never got pregnant and now...