Cora was in her study when Robert entered.

"Did you talk with Charlotte." He said without a hello.

"Robert, you are back home already. That's early!" Cora said in surprise.

"We have that benefit evening tonight, I expect you to be there."

"You didn't tell me, you wanted me to be present." Cora looked at Robert in surprise. It was days since he talked to her, and she had thought he didn't want her there.

"You are always next to me during evenings like this."

Cora just shrugged her shoulders. "To answer your first question. I had a talk with Charlotte a few days ago."

"Why is she still seeing Kieran then?" Robert looked angry.

"Maybe, because she really likes him? Robert, what do you want me to do about it? They like each other and want to be together."

"They can't be together. I forbid it." Robert said in a loud voice and turned around, just before he left her study he said: "Can you wear that black shiny dress, it suits you really well."

Cora was taken aback with Robert's behaviour. He was really harsh and there was no affection in his voice anymore. He was worried Charlotte would make the wrong decisions, but in this they couldn't protect her. The time of wrapping the girls in bubble wrap had gone. Cora was liking this new phase, it meant the girls were growing up.

They just celebrated Mary's 22ndbirthday. She didn't want a big party. There had been some friends and family. The birthday party of Sybil and Charlotte had been grand. The girls wanted a big celebration, with all their friends. It was the first time Cora and Robert met Tom and Kieran. They were brothers. Tom was a very sweet character, where Kieran was a little bit wilder. Robert had not liked Kieran from the start.

That same evening in bed, he had taken Cora's hand and talked about his worries. Kieran wasn't right for Charlotte, he said. He was also not sure about Tom, but said he could get used to him. Cora had tried to reason with him. It didn't work, every time Charlotte mentioned Kieran. Robert got steaming mad.

When Charlotte announced, she was going to live together Robert had gone through the roof. There was no way of normal communication with him. His attitude towards Cora had changed drastically. They had the most wonderful relationship. There was mutual love and adoration, but now, there was only anger. Robert blamed Cora for the situation. Because she didn't condemn the relationship, it had gotten out of hand.

Cora missed Robert intensely. She needed his affection and love. She thought back at the day they met. Her mother, Martha had taken her to an event. There they met with Violet and Robert. Robert started to flirt with her and soon they were in a relationship. Cora learned Robert was courting her for her money, but she didn't care. She felt love for this man. Luckily after about a year of their marriage, Robert started to love her back. He was so thoughtful. He brought home flowers and unexpected gifts. He took her on holidays as a surprise.

He was overfilled with joy when she fell pregnant with Mary. When they learned Mary was a boy, Cora had noticed Robert's disappointment. When Edith was again a girl, she felt guilty. Robert wanted a boy so badly. 3 years later she gave birth, again. Two girls, Sybil and Charlotte were twins. Robert loved his girls dearly and spoiled them to the bone. But Cora had kept praying for a boy, this never had happened.

How different the situation was now. Robert didn't look at her and at night, he was facing the other direction.


"Are you ready?" Robert was looking sharp in his tuxedo.

"I am." Cora answered. "Will I do?"

Robert said annoyed:" You know you do."

Cora put her arm in Robert's and followed him to the car. Robert hadn't said a word, but when they walked to the entrance of 'The Ritz' he started talking. This confused Cora, but she decided to play along, this wasn't the time to discuss this.

Inside they met with Rosamund, Robert's sister. When Cora had just met Robert, she was working in the family business. When she met Marmaduke, she didn't need to work anymore and left the company to travel along with Marmaduke. Recently Marmaduke had unexpectedly died. Rosamund had started working in the company again to keep busy. Marmaduke had left her an enormous amount of money, but Rosamund didn't want to sit at home, alone. Cora admired her strength. She didn't know what she would do if Robert died, and she had her girls for support. Rosamund never got blessed with children.

Of course Rosamund had noticed something was off between Cora and Robert and near the end of the event she took Cora aside.

"Trouble in paradise?" She asked Cora

Cora sighed: "You always see everything."

"I know my brother and he treats you differently."

"Charlotte dropped a bomb last week. She wants to move in with Kieran, unmarried." Cora said with her gaze to the floor.

"Let me guess, my dear brother is against it and is blaming you?"

Cora looked up in surprise.

"I know Robert! He can be incredibly hard-headed. I know how he feels about Kieran, he has told me over and over in the office. Is Kieran really that bad?"

"Kieran isn't the guy I wished for Charlotte. But I know, fighting it, doesn't help. It will only make it worse. I wish Robert would see that."

"You want me to talk to him?"

"You are a darling, but we have to work this out, ourselves." Cora gave Rosamund a smile. "Come we have to mingle again." She hooked her arm in Rosamund's.

Robert had looked at them with a dark gaze in his eyes. It gave Cora an unruly feeling, what was going through his mind. Was he afraid she was plotting something with Rosamund? She walked over and put her hand in his. "The evening is a success right?"

Robert looked at her and said, "We should go home."

Normally Robert's hand would softly squeeze hers, but she was holding a stiff hand. And as soon as they stepped in the car, Robert shut her out again.