The rain slammed against the windows, and the wind was howling. Robert looked up from his work and stared outside. He was happy knowing Cora had a rest day today. They arrived in Nottingham yesterday, but they would not have a book signing. The editor had planned some full days off in between the travelling and signings.
Robert tried to focus on his work again, but it was difficult. He missed Cora's presence. Work was also incredibly boring, there was one plus side. John would arrive today; his father had agreed to get him as his assistant. That would give Robert more time to be in London and do his work there and focus on Cora and his future family. Robert chuckled at that thought, his father did not know how close that future family was at the moment. Cora entered her second trimester this month. He hoped that as soon as she was back in his arms, he would be able to feel more of the baby. He knew it would not be movement, but just feeling her raised belly was something he was looking forward to. Cora had described to him how she noticed little changes in her body already.
"I would think you were working." Violet's voice shook Robert out of his musings."
He turned around and smiled at her. "I am working, do not worry. Was there something you need?"
"I wanted to let you know that Miss O'Brien is back from her holiday and Carson pulled her aside."
"Oh." He pushed his chair back. "Thank you for telling me."
"This does not mean you can stop working." She said unkind and walked away.
Robert sighed, it was high time he went back to London, this situation would not work for much longer. He knew his father was healthy enough to do some of the work, and John could do all the jobs he was not capable of anymore. For now, he needed to go to Carson, he had to know if it was her. "Mama, you do not have to remind me when I need to work, or not." He gave her a hard look and left the room. His heart pounded. Standing up against his mother was not something he did with ease.
"Violet?" Patrick stood behind her. He was getting a lot stronger and used his wheelchair only when he went outside. "When do you think Robert will do something well enough?"
"What do you mean?" Violet turned around. "Why are you not in your chair?"
"You know exactly what I mean." Patrick ignored her remark about the chair. "Robert will never do good in your eyes. Do you understand how hard that is?"
"Patrick can you please sit down; it makes me nervous." Violet took his arm and forced him to the nearest chair. "Once Robert will do the things the way I told him too, I will praise him."
"He is never going to do that. He has his own view on things, and I believe that he adds a lot of value."
"We will see about that."
It was a long time ago that he went downstairs towards the kitchens. He never had a reason these days to be here, and it felt like he was invading the territory of the staff.
"Good afternoon, Milord." Mrs Hughes greeted him.
Robert smiled at her. He liked this woman very much; she always was in the right place at the right time. "Good afternoon, do you know where I can find Carson?"
"He went into his office a couple of minutes ago."
"Thank you." Robert quickly got to Carson's office and knocked. He hoped he would be alone.
"Come in." Carson answered.
He opened the door to his office.
"Milord." Carson said surprised and almost jumped up. "I was not expecting you."
"I know, please sit down. I heard that O'Brien is back from her holiday."
Carson sat back down when Robert also took a seat. "Miss O'Brien has indeed returned from her holiday and at this moment she is packing her bags."
"Does this mean she was the one talking about Mrs. Crawley's illness?"
"Unfortunately, she was. I had hoped the staff would be more discreet."
Robert was furious, but he made sure to stay calm. "I believe that we should ask Mrs. Crawley what she wants."
"I am sorry Milord. I do not understand what you mean." Carson looked at him surprised.
"O'Brien is her lady's maid and I believe that she should be the one making the decision if she wants to keep her or not."
"She was hired by her Ladyship, and she told me that the moment I found out it was her, that she should be fired. I did not realise you disagreed with that."
"Oh, I definitely do agree with you and my mother. But I am not sure my wife will agree too. But well, I say we are better off without her in this household. But please let the decision to hire a new lady's maid be one that she will make and not my mother. I am not sure we will hire a new lady's maid, especially not when we will be moving back to London as soon as it is possible.
"I understand Milord."
Robert left the downstairs area and decided to go outside. The rain was still pouring down, but with a good raincoat and umbrella, he could go for a walk. He needed to clear his head, he also did not want to run into O'Brien, it would be better not seeing her. He was not sure if he could hold his anger. How dare she talk about Cora the way she had done. She had tried to cast her in a negative light. And she had also made her illness much worse than it really was. They had actually not wanted to tell anyone outside the family circle.
Without realising he reached the folly Cora loved so much. He felt his heart ache from missing her. Just two more weeks and she would be back. These past two weeks had felt like an eternity, how was he going to cope with two more?
He sat down in the same spot he and Cora had spent a couple of evenings now. In his head, a melody started to form, and he realised that he needed to go back to London soon. He wanted to play this melody and make a recording of it for Cora. He thought back to when he was playing in his Richmond house not knowing she was listening to him and writing her first book. And now she was on a book tour for her second book and pregnant with their first child.
Robert took his phone out of his pocket and send Cora a text. 'I love you.' It was the only thing he wrote in the message.
Very quickly he received a message. 'I love you more.'
It warmth his heart, knowing that she was having fun with Rosamund and Sorcha, but he was clearly still in her mind. He just adored everything about her.
"Papa." Robert walked straight into his father's office when he returned from his walk. "I know that John will arrive today, but I need to go back to London for a couple of days."
"Can you not wait at least until tomorrow? I think that John will appreciate you being here."
"Papa, you will be more than capable to tell him everything he needs to know."
"He is your friend Robert. I do not know what is so pressing for you to be in London in such a hurry, but it will suit you if you at least welcome John."
Robert knew his father was right and it would not matter if he stayed another night at Downton. He was happy to see John again. But the plan that had formed in his head was making him impatient. "Alright, but tomorrow morning I will leave early in the morning."
"You know how your mother will react to this."
"It does not matter. Whatever I do, it is never good enough for her. I am not good enough in how I work in the business. I married the wrong woman. She will have to accept that I am going to London for a couple of days. You are doing well enough and with John's help, you can work less and take more rest. Because it seems that working less is helping you feel better."
"Can you tell me why you need to go to London in such a hurry?"
"No, I cannot."
"Alright. It would make it easier to explain to your mother if I knew, but it is your choice."
"I will tell Mama myself."
"How is Cora doing?"
Patrick changed the subject so suddenly that Robert had to think about his answer.
"Is she doing well?"
Robert smiled. "She is. They arrived in Nottingham yesterday. Every signing until now was busy. Her book is very popular, and they are already asking for a next book."
"Good and how is she feeling herself?"
"She is doing well. Her headaches are manageable and less frequent. There is enough time in her schedule to take it slow and I am glad that she is taking that time."