"This is exactly how I imagined you would look like holding a little one in your arms," Robert said quietly while squatting down next to Cora.
Cora was holding little Peter. Marmaduke's and Rosamund's son. After Marmaduke's phone call that Rosamund's labour had started, they rushed back home the next day. If it had been up to Robert, they would have jumped in a private plane directly. Cora had managed to calm him down. Early labour did not mean she or the baby would die. She was thirty-three weeks pregnant; the baby would be able to survive with a little bit of help.
"Look at his little fingers." Cora said admiring Peter. "And his nose. He is perfect."
"Rosamund would like to see you, she is awake." Marmaduke said, while walking towards Cora. She handed Peter back to him.
"Fatherhood suits you well." Robert said, patting his shoulder.
Cora had already walked back to Rosamund's room. "Marmaduke told me you did wonderful. Congratulations with your baby boy."
"Thank you." Rosamund smiled. "But why are you here? I thought you and Robert would stay in Salzburg until after Christmas."
Cora chuckled. "That was what he had planned, but when Marmaduke called that you were in labour, he almost booked a private plane back home. I managed to calm him down a bit, but he wanted to go back as fast as possible."
"I am so sorry. I have ruined your holiday." Rosamund said.
Cora chuckled. "None of that. I enjoyed the time we had very much, it was an amazing time. And now here you are with the perfect Christmas present."
"I am glad Rosamund, and the baby are fine," Robert said while he stroked over Peter's cheek.
"You did not have to come back for us." Marmaduke handed Peter to Robert. "Here, hold your new nephew." Carefully he placed Peter in his arms. "Did you manage to ask Cora?"
Robert gave Marmaduke a confused look. "What do you mean?" But at that same moment, he knew what Marmaduke meant. "No." He said. "I was planning on taking her to the ice rink today and popping on one knee. But things turned out differently. And maybe it is better this way. Cora does not like cheesy things, and this was kind of cheesy don't you think? And maybe I am asking her too early. We have known each other for only a couple of months now."
"You are overthinking it now. That is never a good thing to do. Follow your cut and ask her when it feels right."
"I want it to be special."
"You know Cora better than I do, but if you ask me, I do not think she would mind where and how you ask her. As long as you ask her."
"Do you really think so?"
"I do." Peter started to squirm in Robert's arms. "This little one wants his mother," Marmaduke said while taking him back and bringing him to Rosamund.
Cora waited for Robert to get under the covers. They took the subway to his Westminster apartment after the hospital visit. Cora was starting to love this place, and she had some ideas to make it more of a home, or at least a bit cosier.
Robert leaned towards Cora and kissed her. "Sleep tight my darling."
Cora raised her hand and brushed over his jaw. She could feel his stubble. "Sleep well, Uncle Robert."
Robert huffed. "That does sound a bit weird still." He sighed and kissed her again "I am sorry." He said while lying down on his back.
Cora snuggled against him and rested her hand on his chest. Brushing over the skin on his neck. "Why would you say sorry?"
Robert put his hand on Cora's and brought it to his mouth so he could kiss her hand. "We were still supposed to be in Salzburg. But because of me, we are here now."
Cora sussed him. "You would not have been able to enjoy our time in Salzburg knowing your sister was in the hospital."
"I should have trusted Marmaduke when he told me Rosamund was doing well. But I got so scared I would lose her." His voice broke.
Cora leaned on her elbow and looked at Robert. "Darling. I had an amazing time. Hearing those angelic voices singing Christmas songs during midnight mass. Strolling around the various markets with you. Eating traditional Austrian food. It was all just perfect." She kissed him intensely. His hand moved to her lower back. "I mean it. I do not mind being back in London. Now I got to witness you with a baby in your arms and I can tell you that it made me weak."
Robert strengthened his grip on her. "I can say the same thing. You holding that tiny human being made me love you even more." He lifted his upper body so he could kiss her again. "My darling, darling Cora. How lucky am I having you in my life."
"I can say the same thing." She murmured while kissing him over and over. "And you know what the best thing about being back in London is?"
Robert gave her a surprised look. "You tell me."
"I am here with you." Cora chuckled, the chuckle turned into a belly laugh, which only stopped when Robert crashed his mouth on hers.
"I adore you so much."
Cora let her head rest on Robert's chest, while her fingers followed his jawline.
Robert buried his hand in her hair and massaged her scalp. He was the luckiest man on earth. He was still confused as to why she loved him and stayed with him. He did give her plenty of reasons to leave, but she stayed and forgave him for everything. Even now, they were supposed to be on their romantic getaway and here they were back in London. Cora managed to turn anything into something positive and he admired her for it. He admired how she stood up for herself and made sure she got what she wanted. She had a weak spot for her loved ones, like her mother. When she had ordered her to go back to New York the first time she had followed, but the second time she dared to say no. He hoped she would also be that strong against his mother because she would need that strength in the future. Especially when she would become his wife. Oh, how he regretted the fact he could not ask her to marry him in that romantic spot he had picked out. When he had seen the ice rink covered in fairy lights and surrounded by Christmas trees, he knew that he was going to ask her there. Before they left for Salzburg, he had called Harold and asked for his permission to marry his sister. Since her father had died, he was the one who would give her away. But Marmaduke was right, Cora would not mind if he found another place to ask her. She would prefer it to be less public and more private.
"Can you share your thoughts?" Cora stroked with her hand over the side of his face.
She had moved her position so she could look at him again.
Robert took her hand in his and brushed over the back of her hand. "My dearest Cora." He started. "You are the love of my life. You have brought a light into my life that I never knew existed. You showed me how it is to truly care for somebody else. So much that you want to give up a part of yourself to make sure the other person is happy. Cora, you are that other person for me. I cannot be happy if you are not happy, and I will make it my life's duty to make you happy. I do realize that we have only been dating for a couple of months, but it feels like I have known you for much longer and I cannot imagine my life without you. I want to show you the world, I want to give you the world. Beautiful, caring Cora do you want to marry me?" He surprised himself with this, what a difference this was to what he had imagined. They were not surrounded by sweet music, fairy lights, or Christmas trees. Only the covers on the bed and the dim light of the fireplace. He realized in horror how far from romantic this proposal was and started to stutter. "I am so sorry. This was not how I had imagined this. Oh, please forgive me."
"My dear one. Please stop apologising. It does not matter to me how you asked!"
"But we are lying in bed."
"Sssssst." Cora put her finger on his lips. "I care about you, that's all there is to it. How long we have known each other does not matter to me, what matters is that I love you. I do not mind where you popped the question, I am just happy you did. I am so excited to start our future together. I cannot wait to become Mrs Crawley, so I will answer you with a big, resounding "Yes!". Yes, I want to marry you, you silly goose!"
Robert put both his hands on Cora's face. "I cannot tell you how happy you make me." His mouth found hers again and they shared a long and very passionate kiss. He then tried to get out of bed. "I am forgetting the most important part." He rushed out of the bedroom to his suitcase and came back holding a small box which he handed to Cora, who was now sitting upright against the headboard.
Inside the box was a ring with an oval cut pink diamond framed by two round brilliant cut diamonds. Robert got on his knees on the bed and took the ring out of the box and with his other hand he took Cora's hand in his. Carefully he slid the ring over her finger. "Do you want to give me the honour of becoming my wife?"
Cora admired the ring for a couple of seconds, before looking back up in Robert's adorable pleading eyes. "Yes, I want to give you that honour."
They found each other and formed as one they laid back down on the matrass. Discovering each other as if it was the first time.
