With a cup of coffee in her hand, Cora walked into the living room. A couple of vases, pillows on the sofa and some artwork on the wall would improve this room. Robert could also move his grand piano, it would look amazing, and she had to admit, that she was looking forward working on her book while he played.
She had never imagined she would ever leave Richmond but with Robert's work, it would be easier to stay in Westminster. This was something they had not discussed yet. She glanced at her finger and smiled. She loved how this had happened. No big show, just them two in a cosy setting. Even though she loved how he did it, she was curious to his original plan, that he never told her.
With her coffee and notebook, she sat down at the table in front of the windows. She missed the peaceful sound of her own house. If she opened a window there, she would here the birds. Here she would hear street sounds. A good thing was that it was too cold to open a window so today it would not make a difference being here or in her own house. She had learned how Robert's sound system worked, so she asked the system to play nature sounds.
"How come you always wake up before me when we are here." Robert kissed her neck.
"You had a late evening." She raised her hand and touched his jaw; she loved his morning stubble. "Do you want some breakfast?"
"You were fast asleep when I crawled in. I will take some yoghurt, thank you." He kissed the palm of her hand. "What are your plans for today?"
"I am meeting with Rosamund, will have a cuddle session with Peter and then we go dress shopping."
Robert had already walked towards the kitchen, but now turned around. "How could I forget, still a shame that I cannot come with you."
"You are welcome to come to the cuddle session, but after you will have to leave." Cora chuckled.
"I will do anything to see you with a little one in your arms."
"You should have come home a bit earlier last night; we could have worked on that."
With a couple of steps Robert was back next to her chair. "We could try it now." He brushed with his hand over her shoulder.
"I do love you, but I really need to get some work done, I already know that the rest of the day I will not be able to."
Robert kissed her neck and nibbled at her earlobe. "Are you sure?"
Cora moaned softly. "I was."
Robert moved his kisses to her lips. "I will get myself some breakfast and make sure I will be home on time."
"You are so strong." Cora smiled at Peter, who was holding her finger. This made Peter smile and giggle. "Yes, you are," Cora said in a cheerful and cute voice. "So strong."
"He likes his auntie." Rosamund said while she walked back in the room.
"Well, he is in luck, because this auntie likes her nephew very much." She started to hand Peter back to Rosamund.
"You can hold him longer if you like. I can cuddle him the whole day every day."
Cora pressed Peter's little body a bit closer to hers.
"Are you and Robert thinking about starting a family?"
Cora looked up. "We are not even married yet."
"I did not know that you could not get pregnant when you are not married." Rosamund joked.
Cora coloured. "I am not so sure how your mother would react if I turned out to be pregnant before the wedding."
"She is old fashioned, but that would be her problem, not yours."
Cora decided not to react. It was easy for Rosamund to say, but for her it was different. She had heard Rosamund bite back at her mother, she could never do that to Violet. She had to stay polite. But she would love to start a family with Robert. Rather sooner than later. Robert wanted to marry on the 16th of February, which meant they had to wait a year. This February would be too soon, it was already mid-January. She had decided to go dress shopping now, what if he managed to get everything arranged before the 16th, then she would have to marry in a simple dress. And she did not want that, she wanted something special. She did not need a grand day, but at least a special day. Knowing Robert, he would pull every string to get them married this February.
Peter started to cry, and Cora raised his body to her shoulder. "Are you hungry little guy?"
Rosamund stood to take him from her. "Let me try to feed him and then we are ready to go."
"This skirt is too big." Cora turned around in front of the mirror. "I do like the lace, but not the skirt."
"You do not like the big ballroom skirt. Do you want it to fall flat?" The designer asked.
"I am not sure; it would make it maybe too simple." Cora turned around again and fidgeted with the dress. This was the 10th dress she tried on, but none of the dresses were what she wanted. She walked back to the dressing room to take the dress off.
"Can we try one more thing?"
Cora agreed it would not matter, she was not going to find anything, but if she insisted on trying one more, why not.
"I think you will like this one." Rosamund now added.
"We can customise your full dress. If you want, we can even design something new. I am not giving up until you find the dress for you."
Cora was starting to like this woman; she was the owner and designer of this wedding dress shop. Rosamund had recommended this one and she had not said too much. Philippa was indeed a genuinely nice woman. She was handed another dress in the meantime. The fabric felt nice and soft. With Phillipa's help, she got in the dress.
Rosamund's eyes lit up when she stepped back in front of the mirror. Her own eyes were getting watery. This was the one, this dress she could picture herself in next to Robert.
"I think you found your dress," Phillipa said.
Cora looked at her and Rosamund. I think I do." She looked back at herself. She was wearing a classical corseted high-neck dress with an embroidered tulle bodice, decorated with pearls. A fluid, silk satin organza skirt, and a dramatic train.
Philippa pulled the dress a bit more around her body. "We will take your measurements and make it perfectly fit around your body. When do you need the dress to be ready?"
Cora glanced at Rosamund. "I am not sure. My fiancée and I were talking about the 16th of February, but I am not sure if he wants to arrange everything for this year or next year."
"Knowing my brother." Rosamund started. "You better count on this year. He will not want to wait a full year."
Phillipa checked her agenda. "We can make that work. Come back the first week of February and your dress will be ready.