"Cora, how wonderful to see you downstairs." Rosamund said when she saw Cora enter the drawing room.

Robert jumped up and rushed towards her. He offered her his arm. "Darling, why did you not tell me you wanted to come down? I could have helped you."

While taking Robert's arm, she padded his arm. "I am well enough to walk the distance between our bedroom and here."

"Milady, it is good to see you back up again." Carson said.

"Mama, I was not expecting you downstairs already." Sybil entered. "Is it smart with the event tonight?"

"As long as I can sit down right now, I will be.

It was as if Robert woke up from a trance. "Oh, my sweetheart, sorry, I did not realise." He walked with her to the couch. Do you want something to drink?"

Cora let out a sigh when she rested against the backrest. The walk from the bedroom downstairs had cost more energy then she wanted to admit. "I see Carson brought in some tea, which would be nice."

With his finger Robert caressed Cora's cheek. "Coming right up."

Mary came inside with a bundle of papers and walked towards Cora. "Mama, can you please take a look. I think I have a good seating plan, but I am not sure."

Cora wanted to take the papers, but Robert interfered, he was sitting next to Cora and took the papers from Mary. "Your mother needs rest, it is wonderful that she is downstairs with us, but let's not wear her out."

Cora tried to hide her cough, her lungs were clearing up, but the cough was still lingering. She looked at Robert. "Robert, I will look at the papers, it will also give me some peace knowing more about tonight."

Robert clenched his jaw, it was only three days ago that he had to help her into the bath, because she was to exhaust. And now she was already forgetting about her promise. She said she would direct more tasks to Mary and give him more of her time. If that meant, being in the same room as him, but still working on different things, it felt like an empty promise.

Knowing her husband for so many years, she knew he was getting angry. Or at least upset with her. She leaned in on his shoulder, her hand moved towards his hand that was resting on the couch. She curls her little finger over his. "I am keeping my promise." She said very softly, so only Robert could hear her.

"What jacket do you want to wear tonight?" Bates asked.

Robert was not paying attention, he looked down at the table next to his dresser. There was a little note in the drawer, Jane wrote it on the day she left. Daisy had brought it up. 'Jane asked me to give you this.' She had said. He had not looked at it but put it down in the drawer of this table. Why he did not throw it away, he did not know.

"Milord?" Bates voice sounded again.

This time the sound reached Robert's ears and he looked in Bates direction. His mind was still with that little note, what was written inside it? He shook off the thoughts. "Can you repeat your question?"

Robert gasped when he stepped into Cora's bedroom. He loved that they still had so many customs from back in the day. He changed into the little room, conjoining Cora's room. They also still called this room Cora's room. Although they always were together in it. It was done like this one hundred years ago and they liked the tradition of it. "You look amazing darling."

Cora was wearing a long turquoise evening dress. The dress followed her curves perfectly, with the high up neckline it gave her a classy look. She turned around on her heels and looked at Robert.

"You do not look bad yourself either." Her eyes glancing over his body.

O'Brien had put Cora's curls up into a beautiful updo. "Thank you, O'Brien, that is all for tonight. I will see you tomorrow."

"You do not need help tonight?" O'Brien inquired.

Cora chuckled. "I will manage perfectly fine by undressing myself. I love all the work you do for me, but for tonight you have done enough. Thank you." She sunk back on a nearby chair, standing still for too long was still exhausting.

Right before Robert stepped inside, she wanted to ask O'Brien if something she remembered was a fever dream or that it really happened. She remembered O'Brien asking for her forgiveness and saying she made a terrible mistake. But was it really a memory or a dream? She did not know and in a way she did not like embarrassing O'Brien by asking. If there was truly something she would tell her.

"What is on your mind?" Robert had stepped closer and put his hand on her shoulder, softly massaging it.

Cora raised her hand and covered Robert's. "O'Brien said something to me while I was ill, but I am not sure if she really said it, or if it was a dream. And I do not know if I should ask her about it?"

Robert was glad he was standing behind Cora and that she could not see his face. "What did she say to you?"

Cora sighed. "I am not 100% sure, but she made a terrible mistake and needs my forgiveness."

The colour drained out of Robert's face; she thought O'Brien said that.

Cora's grip on his hand tightened and he saw she was looking at him. "Everything alright? Please do not tell me you are getting ill now?"

Robert shook his head. "No, I am not ill. Do not worry, I am just shocked that there could be something O'Brien should ask forgiveness for. You know I never liked that woman, what did she do? Did she steal from you. Did you check your jewellery?" He was glad he could come up with this so quickly.

"I do not have to; O'Brien is not a thief. Come, let us go downstairs. The guests are coming any minute now." A large part of the evening would mean that she could sit down, and for the rest she would use Robert a s crutch, she was looking forward to this night. Seeing what Mary had done and how it would all work out.