Robert took Cora's hand in his. They had sat down on the couch opposite of Rosamund. He saw her hands tremble. He let his leg lean against hers, and then he felt her leg was also trembling. Softly he closed his fingers around her hand.

Cora wrapped her fingers around his hand but did not look at him. "Rosamund, can you please tell us why you are here?"

"Of course. Papa called me this morning and told me about last night. First I want to apologise for my mother's behaviour."

"You don't have to." Cora said timidly. "It is not your behaviour."

"Rosamund, I know you mean well, but please tell us what Papa told you." Robert glanced at Cora; her jaw was tight with tension. He hated what was happening. These first weeks after a birth should be different. He said it before, but they made a mess of everything and now his mother was adding to it.

"Mama's plans for you to go to Spain, are not just plans. We cannot back out of them anymore."

"What do you mean, we cannot back out?" Robert said annoyed. "I can always say no."

"Well, that's the thing you cannot anymore. If you say no, the company will lose a lot of money."

Robert raised his eyebrows. "What did Mama do?"

Rosamund sighed and gave an apologetic look. "Mama bought a building already and has hired staff members."

"Then she can hire someone to replace me." Robert said firm. "I am done that Mama is controlling my life. She knows Cora cannot go to Spain, and I am not leaving her." He looked at Cora, who looked down at her legs. Softly, he squeezed her hand, which made her look up.

"Robert, please. Do not be foolish, you know we cannot send anybody else. Your face is needed, and the only way to make a success in Spain is when you are there." Rosamund answered.

"I am not going." Robert got up and started pacing around. "Mama is blackmailing me. She cannot do this. Why didn't Papa stop her? Or you? Rosamund, why did you let her do this? " He was steaming.

"Robert." Cora's voice sounded softly. She looked up at him and pleaded him with her eyes to calm down. "Rosamund isn't the bad guy here. Don't get mad at her."

Robert abruptly turned around. "You want me to go to Spain? Oh, and Rosamund, where in Spain are we talking about?"

Cora's eyes grew, and she now looked up at him, shocked.

"We are talking about Barcelona. Please, I do not want to see you two fight over this. We will find a way to solve this."

Robert started pacing again. "There is no solution, is there?"

There was a soft knock on the door, and Martha appeared. "Cora, darling."

Cora turned towards her mother, and at the same time, she heard Patrick's crying.

"Cora, he isn't accepting the bottle. Can you..."

Cora was already next to her mother before she finished her sentence. As always, her breasts reacted to his cries. She turned towards Rosamund and Robert. "I am sorry."

"Don't be silly, go." Rosamund smiled.

Cora walked to Patrick's room and sat down to feed him. Martha had followed her. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Oh Mama, I don't know. It is all so complicated. I do not know why, but Violet does not like me and now she is sending Robert away again."

"Why are you not going with him?" Martha asked, while sitting down.

Cora looked at her. "I am not willing to give up my job. I love what I do, and I worked had to get this job at the university."

"I guess you are right, but are you sure Robert will come back?"

Cora took a shaky breath. "I hope he will." She quickly looked down at Patrick, who was peacefully drinking, to hide her tears.

"You and Robert will figure this out. I am going to pack my suitcase."

Cora brushed a tear away. "I totally forgot that you are leaving tonight."

"Rosamund, you do understand that I am in an impasse at the moment?"

Rosamund had managed to get Robert to sit back down. "Of course I do, but do you really think Cora will not wait for you?"

"I do not know what she will do. I cannot expect her to wait forever, who knows what Mama will do next."

"Oh no Robert, this is the last time Mama is pulling a stunt like this. I threatened her, she will not be welcome at my wedding day if she keeps doing this."

"Rosamund!" Robert exclaimed.

"Papa agreed with me, he is angry with Mama."

Robert rested his head in his hands. "So, now also Papa en Mama are fighting?"

"You know they do that often right? You always think they have the perfect marriage, but sometimes you can be so blind for things. They are not the happily married couple you think they are, they are alright, but do fight regularly."

"I hope you and Marmaduke are. Or did I also see that in a brighter light?"

Rosamund now smiled. "We are definitely very happy with each other, I love him with everything that I am."

"I am so happy to hear that." Cora's voice sounded. "I hope you will have your wedding day before Robert leaves for Barcelona?" She walked over to Robert and put her hand on his back.

Robert now looked at her in surprise. Cora did not say anything, she softly brushed his back.

"I will leave you two, there is a lot to discuss." Rosamund got up. "Oh, Cora, to answer your question. Yes, we will. We kept it a secret, but next week we will say: yes to each other."

"Next week? Rosamund? Why have not you told me that sooner. What if Cora and I cannot come."

"Oh, but you can. You have that event booked in your agenda next week, right?"

Cora started to laugh. "You are kidding me. We went out dress shopping for that event, but that is your wedding day?"

Rosamund smiled. "We wanted to keep it a bit of a secret to surprise you all. But yes, that day is our wedding day."

"This is something only you could do dear sister."

Rosamund still smiled. "And now I am off."

Cora walked around the sofa and sat down next to Robert. Quietly she took his hand in hers and rested it on her leg. It was silent for a couple of minutes. They were holding each other's hand but did not look at each other or say anything. Robert was the first to speak.

"Are you sure I should go to Barcelona?"

"Darling" Cora turned her body towards Robert, she did not let go of his hand. "We do not have a say in this. And this is the best option, to just follow what you mother wants. We are not fighting her, that is exactly what she wants. We are going to show her that we are stronger."

Robert laid his hand against Cora's cheek, his thumb softly rubbing her cheekbone. "I do not know what I did to deserve you." He felt her smile against his hand. "Whatever happens, I am not letting you go, and I will fight for this relationship. I need you and Patrick in my life."

Cora nestled herself against Robert, she pulled her legs up on the sofa, her head in the nook of his neck, her arms around him. "We will survive this."

Robert wrapped his arm around her shoulders to press her even closer to him. He buried his face in her hair. "Thank you." Softly he placed a kiss on the top of her head. He felt Cora sigh deep and her body relaxed against his. He could sit here forever he thought. "And now, we have to go."

"Go?" Cora stretched her neck, so she could see Robert's face, without leaving her warm spot under his arm. "I did not know we had to go somewhere?"

"It is a surprise. Can you go and get Patrick?"