Robert

In the days and weeks to come he wonders whether he shouldn't have kissed Cora again, whether he shouldn't actually have proposed to her that night. Because that is what he will do, he is sure of it. This time around he will ask her to marry him and again, he is almost sure that she will say 'yes'.

They decided not to tell Mary about Cora coming to Downton for Christmas because the time period in between is too long for a three year old to grasp and would just make Mary impatient.

Four days after his and Mary's return to Downton he is handed a rather thick letter sent by his sister. He doesn't open it in the library, but takes it upstairs to his bedroom. When he opens it, two envelopes fall out of it. One is addressed to Lord Downton and the other one to Lady Mary Crawley. They are addressed in the same hand writing, a hand writing that is too neat to belong to his sister. He smiles at the thought of Cora having written to Mary. He decides to read Mary her letter when he tucks her in, but he opens his letter now.

Dear Robert,

I hope you arrived at Downton safely. Well, to be honest I know that you did, because I asked Rosamund whether you had sent a telegram the day after you had left and she told me. I also asked her the day you left and she told me to stop pestering her, but I know she was only joking. I must say that I like your sister a lot. She is very nice, even if she doesn't necessarily seem to be at first glance. And she loves you very much. She told me about how you helped her with making your parents see sense about Marmaduke. I am rather impressed by what you've done, how you must have spoken to and probably upset your father to help you sister marry her true love. But then I suppose that you knew what it was like to be married to someone you don't like.

How is Mary? I hope she is coming out of her shell a little more every day. I've sent a letter to her too, maybe you can read it to her before she has to go to sleep, I'm sure she'd like that. I hope I haven't overstepped my boundaries in writing to her.

Speaking of our children, I think that Sam misses you. I can't say for sure of course, but he's been a little fussier than usual ever since you've been gone and he did spend quite a lot of time being held by you, so I suppose it is only natural that he reacts in such a way.

I miss you too. I miss talking to you and just being with you. It is surprising what a central part of my life you have become, considering that we really only spend three weeks with each other. But then again, we did spend a lot of time together a few years ago.

I have had a letter from my brother; he has cancelled his wedding, although I am not surprised by that. It was supposed to have taken place in March, which means that I hadn't even bought the tickets for the crossing yet, so it really doesn't matter to me. I don't want my brother unhappy of course, but he is such a playboy that it is probably much better this way. Although I would have liked a reason to travel to America.

Rosamund and Marmaduke are coming here for dinner tomorrow, I am looking forward to that very much. Maramduke has had to deal with some American clients this week and I am interested in what he has to say about them. I'll let you know.

I'd be very happy if you wrote back to me.

Cora

The letter leaves him speechless. It is the kind of letter he expects married people who are in love and have known each other for years write to each other. Cora is so open in that letter; there is hardly anything she holds back. The letter also causes him to decide to defy his parents in something they have asked of him. Both his mother and father think that the earliest point at which he could get married again would be six months after the divorce, but he won't wait that long. He can't marry again right away, he knows that, but he won't wait for half a year either. Unless Cora wanted that, but her letter makes him think that she doesn't.

He gives Mary her letter when he says goodnight to her right after dinner. His parents don't mind him leaving them for a while after dinner to bring Mary to bed, unless they have guests. But they don't and he is very happy about that.

"Papa!" Mary exclaims cheerfully when he enters the nursery.

"Hello my girl. Are you ready to go to bed?"

"No. I want to stay up." This has become a regular feature of their nightly routine.

"But you have to go to sleep."

"Will you read to me?"

"Yes. I will read this to you, if you like." He hands Mary her letter and she looks at him questioningly. "What is it?"

"It's a letter for you."

"For me?" Mary asks incredulously and Robert realizes that Mary has never gotten a letter before.

"Yes. It says Lady Mary Crawley. That is you."

"Who sent it?"

"What do you think?"

"Cora?"

"Yes." Mary's face is the picture of happiness.

"Would you like me to read to you?"

"Yes, Papa. Please."

So he sits down next to his daughter, puts one arm around her and lets her open the letter. She looks at it in fascination before handing it to him.

Dear Mary,

How are you? Your aunt told me that you arrived safely at Downton and I am glad to hear it. I am sure the journey on the train was exciting. I remember the first time I traveled on the train from Cincinnati to New York. It took a very long time, but I got to see so much. We even had beds on the train, that is how long it took. If you would like to hear the story, I'll tell you all about it the next time I see you.

Sam and I went to the park yesterday and we walked past the fountain you showed to us on our walk there. You were right, it is very pretty. Sam enjoyed being outside but I think he missed you. He kept looking around as if he was looking for something and I am almost sure that it was you. You two have spent a lot of time together and you are a very good friend to him.

Your aunt and uncle are coming to my house for dinner today and I am looking forward to that very much. The next time you are in London you should come to my house too. I'd be very happy if you did.

I am almost sure that your Papa will read this letter to you right before you have to go to sleep. So sweet dreams, my girl.

Cora

"Can I keep the letter, please?"

He has to take a deep breath before he can answer his daughter because there is quite a lump in his throat.

"Of course you can. It is your letter."

"Do you think she will write to me again?"

"Yes." Cora hasn't written anything about that, but he is sure that she will do it and he can ask her to do it anyway.

"Papa, I want to learn how to read. I want to read the letters myself."

"Reading is difficult. And it will take months before you will be able to do it by yourself."

"Then I should start tomorrow."

"All right. I'll teach you if you would like me to. But we'll start with numbers, they are easier than letters."

"Good. When should I come to you for my lesson?"

He has to laugh about the seriousness in his daughter's tone.

"How about after lunch? You could come to the library."

"Yes. I will be on time, I promise."

"All right, Mary. And now you have to go to sleep or you will be too tired for your lesson tomorrow."

He joins his parents again, but his thoughts are elsewhere and he goes back to his room rather early to write back to Cora.

Dear Cora,

Thank you so much for your letters, you've made both Mary and me very happy.

Mary wanted to know whether you would write to her again and I told her 'yes' because I am sure that you had planned to do this anyway. She wants to learn how to read now, to be able to read your letters herself. I told her I'd teach her but we'll start with numbers, see how that goes. My parents think I should hire a governess for her, but I think she is still too young for that. A governess will be stern and give her structured lessons every day and I think that Mary is too young for that, regardless of her intelligence. Of course, she will need a governess sooner rather than later because I won't be able to teach her everything, but I am not that bad at Latin and Math, so I should be able to teach her some things myself, even if they aren't lady like. But Mary is so intelligent that it would be unfair to her not to give her every opportunity to learn. And I don't believe that gender has an influence on one's ability to learn anyway, after all, I grew up with Rosamund. Of course I won't be able to teach Mary French and how to curtsey.

I am sorry that you lost your reason to travel to America, but isn't wanting to travel there reason enough to actually do it?

I miss you too and I am looking forward to seeing you again very much, even if it will be quite a while. I know we've already talked about this, but please don't tell Mary you are coming for Christmas. It is very frustrating for me to have to wait for it but I am sure that it would be even more frustrating for her.

My lawyer has sent me a letter, telling me that the divorce proceedings have actually gone ahead now, so it won't be that much longer. I am so relieved by that. I'll let you know as soon as I know more.

I told Mary a while ago that she'd have to go to sleep or she'd be too tired for her lesson tomorrow, and the same is true for me now. So goodnight,

Robert

Cora keeps on writing to Mary once week and he is beyond thankful to her for doing it because Mary treasures every single letter she receives from Cora.

She writes to him more than once a week and he always writes back the same day and he treasures Cora's letters too and decides to buy his sister a rather expensive Christmas present for being the proxy for him and Cora in their letter writing. Rosamund sometimes includes letters of her own, telling him that she spends quite a lot of time with Cora and that she likes her very much and that she is looking forward to having Cora as a sister-in-law. He writes to her that she should not say that out loud and she writes back and asks him whether he thought she was stupid. But it was obviously written in jest and Robert can't help but think that his relationship to his sister has improved quite a lot, thanks to Cora.