"Please, darling, can you promise me to be kind to Cora?" Patrick was sitting next to Violet in front of the house. Robert and Cora could arrive any moment.

Violet gave him a harsh look. "I will be normal towards her."

Patrick sighed. "You know perfectly well what I mean."

"She is the reason Robert does not want to live here permanently. She came barging in and changed him."

"Robert never wanted to live here in the first place. He has always said that he will take over once it is needed. But until that day, he loves his freedom in London. And Cora did not barge in, Robert and her just met and they fell in love."

"Ugh." Violet huffed.

"Cora is a nice girl and Robert is happy with her. Even Rosamund adores Cora. I ask you to be nice to her when they arrive."

At that same time a car approached the house. "There they are." Patrick said.

"What a welcoming committee." Robert kissed his mother on her cheek, this way Cora could greet his father first. "Papa it is good seeing you outside the house."

"I am doing fine, my dear boy." He smiled. "Now, let us see what we will have for lunch. Can I escort this beautiful lady inside?" He offered his arm to Cora.

She smiled and took his arm gently. "You may." She answered.

Patrick tapped her hand. "It is good having you here again."

Cora felt her cheeks colour. Patrick was always so kind and attentive. Robert had inherited that from his father. "It is good being back here."

After dinner, they had all gone to the drawing room. Robert sat down next to Cora, touching her very briefly. It was weird being back in Downton again, Robert was so different here. She was very thankful for Patrick; he kept dodging Violet's attacks.

"Are you going to tell us why you are here?" Violet said when the drinks were brought.

"Can we not just pay you a visit mama?" Robert acted innocent.

"My dear boy, you cannot fool us. Your mother is right, there is a reason why you two are here." Patrick now said.

Robert took Cora's hand and softly squeezed it. "We indeed have something to tell you. Two things even." He looked at Cora. Not sure where to start.

Cora saw his hesitation and decided to decide what to tell first. "Without you knowing." She started. "For years Robert has studied playing the piano and he is incredibly talented. I hope that one day he will be playing for an audience."

"What is she talking about?" Violet looked straight at Robert.

"I am saying that your son plays the piano and he is very good at it." Cora continued, ignoring how Violet tried to get Robert to talk. She was not entirely sure it was a smart move, but she wanted to make clear how proud she was.

"Robert?"

He squeezed her hand again and looked at Violet. "Mama, Cora is right. I have been playing for a couple of years now and I love doing it."

"He has composed his own music too." Cora added.

Patrick scraped his throat. "I would love to hear it." He smiled. "The grand piano gets tuned twice a year, but it is rarely used."

"We hire professional pianists from time to time for concerts." Violet said in a harsh tone.

"I know how our piano sounds, but I would love to see and hear Robert play. If you want to?"

Cora felt Robert's hand getting sweaty, she shifted on the sofa and put her other hand on top of their combined hands. "You could play Gymnopédie No. 1 by Eric Statie. You know that one by heart."

Very nervously Robert adjusted the piano stool, he focused on the keys and let the song go through his head. Slowly he put his hands on the keys and started playing. The moment the first notes sounded, he forgot his surroundings and got lost in the music.

Cora had taken a step back and watched how Robert sat down. She waited for the reaction of Violet and Patrick. She felt Violet's disapproval, but Patrick was excited. The moment Robert started playing, Violet's face changed. Was she enjoying it? Cora could not really tell, she hoped she was. Robert's music made her worries disappear and for a moment she forgot where she was.

"That was wonderful my dear boy," Patrick said enthusiastically. He padded Robert's shoulder. When he turned around towards Violet his face was beaming with pride. "Did you ever imagine Robert could do this?"

"No. I never imagined this." Violet said harshly. "And I do not see why this is so special. Robert is the next Lord Grantham. Have you ever seen a lord performing on a stage? It is ridiculous and I do not want to hear anything about this anymore." Terribly upset she stormed out of the room.

Cora had stayed downstairs with Patrick. Robert stormed upstairs, when Cora wanted to follow, Patrick had stopped her.

"Let him cool down. We both can use something to drink, I believe."

Now she entered the bedroom. The lights were off, and she saw Robert's figure in the bed. Quietly she undressed herself and changed into her nightgown. Softly she brushed over her belly, they had not got the chance to tell his parents about this little one. Maybe tomorrow?

She was not sure Robert was asleep, or that he pretended to be sleeping. Without lifting the covers to much she scooted closer to him.

When she rested her hand against his back, she felt him sighing deeply. She scooted even closer and pressed a kiss on his neck. Her hand slid towards his chest, where he immediately covered her hand with his. They stayed like this for a while, until Robert sighed again.

"I was not counting on my mother to be enthusiastic, but I had also not expected this outburst." Robert suddenly said.

Cora did not respond.

"What does me being the next lord Grantham have to do with me playing the piano?"

Cora moved her fingers over his chest.

"It does not make sense. She got so incredibly angry. I have seen my mother angry before, but this was next level. Especially with this reason. I am only enjoying playing the piano. Did she not see how much joy it brings me?"

"I do not know darling. But your father did enjoy your music, and he loved it. He will talk with your mother; I am sure of that."

Robert huffed. "As if she would listen to him. My mother has never cared for anybody else then herself."

"Are you sure that is true?" Cora pressed a kiss on his shoulder blade. Robert was not wearing his pyjama shirt, as he did not regularly. "Your father does seem to have an influence on her."

Robert turned around and faced Cora. "You are desperately trying to see a positive side in my mother, but I can promise you, it is a waste of time."

Cora moved her hand to Robert's jaw and followed his jawline with her finger. "She has raised you, and you turned out pretty decent." Her hand now rested on his neck, softly caressing his skin in the meantime.

"You think so?"

Cora smiled and pressed a kiss on the tip of his nose. Without a word, she took his hand and pressed it against her belly. "This is enough proof of how wonderful you are."

"You having a baby is proof of me being wonderful?"

This made Cora chuckle. "You think I would have married you and wanted a family with you if you were a horrible person?"

"My father started a family with my mother!"

"Darling, your mother is not a horrible person. She can be very mean and a bully, but she is not a horrible person."

"You remember our wedding night? She even tried to ruin that by sending O'Brien to our room."

"I do remember. I also remember the amazing night we had, once you got me out of that dress. I also remember your mother firing her as soon as we learned she was the one spreading rumours about my illness. She is strict and very, very firm. She is maybe old-fashioned and does like things going her way, but she loves you and I bet she will love this little one too." She brushed over her belly again. "I cannot wait to tell them this news tomorrow."

"Maybe she will forget about the disaster that happened today. As I should forget about playing the piano publicly."

Cora pushed herself back. "Promise me, that you will never say that again."

Robert looked at her confused.

"I do not care about your mother's opinion. You are a very good musician, and you will pursue this dream. With or without support from your parents. Your father, Rosamund and Marmaduke support you and I do. You do not need your mothers approval. You did not have her approval when you married me, did you?"

Robert laughed. "No, I did not." He kissed her. "But it was the best decision I ever made. The first time I chose for myself, and it turned out great."

"Did it?" Cora joked.

Robert's big hand went to her waist, and he started tickling her.

"No, please, no." Cora giggled.

"Say you love me, and I will stop.

"That is an easy one," Cora said while giggling. "I adore you."

Robert did not stop, and he even intensify his tickles. "That is not what I said." He grinned mischievously.

"I", "I love" she giggled even harder. "Love you."

Robert rested his hand on her hip and pressed his mouth on her lips. "That is better." Softly he bit her lip.

Cora moved her hands over his ribcage. "I am so lucky." She murmured against his mouth.

"I cannot believe you did that." Patrick walked into Violet's room.

"I did not invite you into my bedroom tonight." Violet did not look up from her book.

"I know, but I did not know I needed an invitation to talk with my wife."

Violet sniffed.

Patrick stepped towards the bed and sat down. He could move pretty easily recently, and he enjoyed the freedom he got back. "Violet, you know that I love you, but I cannot accept the way you treated Robert today."

"It is all the fault of that American girl. She came here and decided to change everything about our dear boy."

That American girl is our lovely daughter-in-law, Cora. Robert did not change, he only finally found real happiness. And it is impossible to be this good at playing the piano in the short time they know each other."

"Maybe he happens to have a lot of talent and did learn in such a short period of time."

"So? You do agree that he has talent?"

"Patrick, what do you want!" Violet said annoyed.

"I want you to be happy for Robert that he found something he loves doing. He is happy Violet, do you not see that?"

"But it is not what we had in visioned for him."

"Children will walk their own paths and we must let them go."