"Robert? I was not expecting to see you again today." Rosamund said when Robert walked to his office.
After dropping Cora at the airport, he decided to go back to the office. He would only worry at home. It was better to try and focus on work.
"I better try and get my mind on other things." He answered.
"I thought you would be on your way to New York right now." Rosamund said.
Robert looked at her and then shrugged his shoulders. "It is not my place to be there."
"Maybe, but Cora could have used your support."
"Rosamund do not try and talk me into a guilty feeling. There is no way, I was going to walk into that hospital room with her, explaining to her dying father who I am." Robert paused. "High Mr. Levinson, I am Robert Crawley. I have treated your daughter horribly for months. But now I changed my mind and want to date your daughter."
He could see Rosamund tried not to laugh."That is one way you could have done it. If you ask me. I would have waited outside for her to come back. And then just be there for her."
Robert slowly started to realise that Rosamund made a lot of sense. He hit his forehead with his hand. "Now it is to late."
"Papa has a private jet, and I think that if you explain why you want to use it. That he will be more than happy that you go to New York with it.
Nervously Robert walked up to the gate. Should he have texted Harold or Cora? Were they coming home today? When he pressed the bell, a woman answered.
"Hello, I am Robert Crawley and I am here for Miss. Levinson."
"They are not home, please come back later."
He heard the sound of the line disconnecting. What should he do now? He did not want to call or text them, what if he disturbed them? He better call for a cab and go and find a hotel for the night. While he took his phone out of his pocket, a car approached the house.
Robert looked up and saw the car coming closer. He hoped Cora was in the car, or at least Harold. He waited for the car to come closer and it was indeed Harold who got out of the car.
"How long have you been standing here?" Harold asked.
"Not that long, I was about to call for a taxi to bring me to a hotel."
"You are not staying in a hotel." Cora's voice sounded.
Robert looked over Harold's shoulder and saw Cora standing behind him.
"Hi," Robert said, all of a sudden insecure. He noticed that the gate had opened and the car drove towards the house.
"You better come inside." Harold said, he looked at Cora and then walked towards the house.
Cora stepped closer to Robert. He saw her red eyes and frail figure in the light of the lantern. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms, but he was not sure she would like that. Instead, he stood still and felt dumb for not knowing what to do.
"Thank you for being here." He could hear in her voice, she had been crying.
"Always."
"I was not expecting you here. How did you manage this?" She looked up to his face.
"I used my father's plane." He saw Cora's bottom lip tremble and realised his mistake. Robert gently put his hand on her cheek and brushed a tear from under her eye. "I am sorry. I should not have said that."
Cora shook her head. "It is alright. I just miss him so much already." She looked up again. "Oh, Robert. Why did he go so soon?" She started crying.
Without hesitation, he pulled Cora in his arms and pressed her against his chest. He felt her arms wrap around him. He murmured soothing words and moved his hands over her back to calm her down.
They stood there for a while until Robert felt her calming down. This was the second time within a week he held a crying Cora in his arms. Gentle he pressed a kiss on top of her head. "We should go inside." He said. "It is getting late, you must be exhausted."
Cora rested her head against his chest and yawned. "I could sleep for days."
"Well, let us not wait any longer and bring you to bed."
Cora moved her hand up to Robert's chest, her fingers playing with the fabric of his jacket. "It feels like I am a weak woman. You have taken care of me this whole weekend, and here I am crying in your arms, again." She lowered her eyes. "This was not how I would have thought our relationship would start."
Robert put his hand on top of Cora's and softly brushed over it. "Are we in a relationship? Are you sure?" He moved his hand to lift Cora's chin, so he could look into her eyes. His other hand was resting on her lower back. "Let me say that in a different way. I am very happy that you fell ill." Robert felt his cheeks burn from shame when he heard Cora's soft chuckle. "No, I do not mean, I was happy you were ill. I meant, oh, how do I correctly say this..."
Cora got on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss on his lips to stop his stuttering. "I know what you mean. Even though I was sick, I loved having you around."
Robert was surprised by her move, her lips felt even better than he could have imagined. So soft and warm. "Just to make one thing very clear." He pressed another kiss on her lips. "I do not think of you as weak."
Cora leaned heavily against him now, her arms wrapped around him.
Robert pushed her back. "I love this feeling of you so close, but I think we need to make sure you will get some sleep. The coming days will be busy and emotional."
"Will you be here?" Cora angled her face up. "Will you stay with me and than bring me back to London?"
"If you are very sure about that, I will."
Cora did not answer, but she pressed her lips once more on Robert's. This time longer and more intense.