"Thank you, darling." Cora smiled up at Sybil, who had woken her up. Robert was still sleeping. He had slept close to her the rest of the night. His hand was still lying on her hip. Sybil had come in and very quietly gave her, her medication.

"You are really feeling better? Aren't you?" Sybil asked.

Cora nodded. "Due to your good care."

"It was not just me." Sybil protested.

Cora padded her hand. "You are allowed to take the credit, darling." She scraped her throat, which resulted in a coughing fit. Next to her, Robert woke up from the sound and the shaking of the bed. He shot up when he realised she was coughing.

She felt his hands on her back. There was still a lot of mucus in her lungs, what needed to come out. The rhythmic beats on her back worked well to loosen it.

Sybil gave her the oxygen. She did not use it during last night, but it helped to catch her breath again. She felt Sybil's hand on her forehead. "I think your fever is gone. Let me take your temperature."

"I am going to take a shower." Robert said quickly, kissing her cheek. Cora chuckled and let Sybil take her temperature.

"Her Ladyship is finally feeling better." Mary said to Anna.

"That is a relief, Milady." Anna answered. "How is the event of next week coming along? Did you have time to work on it?"

Mary looked at Anna. She had totally forgotten about the event. "I, oh no. I forgot. We have 3 days left. I need to check what Mama….. I am sorry. Her Ladyship has done already. She said she didn't make any seat arrangements yet."

"I can help you with that. The people coming are all people we have had in this house before. I think I know who can sit next to who and what is wise."

"Oh, Anna, would you do that?" Mary touched her hand.

"Of course, you can focus on the rest. But maybe you should not ask her Ladyship, and find out yourself what needs to be done from this point. I suspect there is a list inside her desk with all the things that still need to be done."

"What are you doing?" Edith asked, walking inside her mother's office. When she walked past, she saw Mary going through her mother's desk.

"Nothing that concerns you, Edith" Mary bitched.

"Mama doesn't like it when we mess with her stuff. You know she hates it when we do that, so why are you doing it."

"As I said, it doesn't concern you, and you would not even understand. You never run a business or do anything in your life."

"Girls!" Rosamund also stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "What is going on here?"

Mary rolled her eyes. "We have that event next week, and I need to finish some things for it. And I do not need her." Mary pointed towards Edith. "Help with it."

Rosamund sighed. Since the girls were little, they had been bickering. Rosamund wished it would have been different. Luckily enough, both girls had a good relationship with Sybil. The peacemaker, she had a very sweet character and knew how to make people feel better. Rosamund remembered when she was born, both Cora and Robert had been nerves, bringing another baby home. But since day one, she had been very easy, and Mary as Edith loved her.

Cora opened her eyes. After O'Brien helped her freshen up, Cora had fallen asleep again. She was weak, what annoyed her, she knew her body needed time to recover. But getting up from the bed was enough to get in her in a coughing fit again. She could not even stand on her feet and needed to sit down while O'Brien changed the bedding. She was glad when O'Brien suggested not to shower but fresh herself up with a washcloth. Her hair needed washing, but she felt exhausted just thinking of walking to the bathroom.

She saw Robert sitting next to her. He had pulled a chair close, and his feet rested on the matrass. He was reading some papers and made notes. It warmth her heart knowing he wanted to be close to her. Even though he needed to work. She had not given him enough of her attention over the last weeks, and she felt they had grown apart. He deserved more of her, and she promised herself to redirect more work towards Mary from now on.

She watched how Robert's forehead frowned. He was biting on his pen. His eyebrows moved down and up, and the pen started tapping on the paper. He moved it back to his mouth, his brows drew together.

"Difficult matter?" She asked.

This scared Robert. "Darling, did I wake you?"

Cora's lips turned into a smile. "You have not, sweetheart. Do not worry."

"Good." He put his papers down on her nightstand and bent forward. He wanted to kiss her forehead, but Cora put her hand on his cheek and directed his lips towards hers. She felt him sigh, she thought from relief.

Robert looked at the clock. "It is almost dinner time, do you think you want to eat something?"

"As long as it is no chicken broth, yes, please."

Robert laughed out loud. "You are not happy with what we gave you over the past days?"

"I do not think I was able to eat anything else, so I am not complaining, but something different tonight would be lovely."

"I will ask Mrs. Patmore to make something tasteful." He was getting up, but Cora grabbed his hand.

"Robert?" Her voice was all of a sudden, soft and unsure.

He stopped his movement. "Darling?"

Cora reached for his hand, and he took it. "We are alright, aren't we? She asked. "Because I think I neglected you, and if I did, I am sorry.

Robert swallowed. "You do not need to apologise to me." Softly kissing the back of her hand.