The Shake up

Untitled Part 4

Cora, are you alright, darling?"

"Just thinking about the conversation with Mary."

He took her hand. "Darling don't worry on it too much. When she sees her little sibling she'll see sense."

"I hope so," Cora replied, placing a hand on her belly. This little one was not going to be tiny. Maybe there were two? She was much bigger than she'd been with any of her girls. It was hard enough to get used to the fact they were having a baby, the thought of having two at once and at her age frightened her a bit.

"Oh!"

"Are you alright?" He asked, concerned.

"The baby kicked," she said with a beautiful smile.

Robert placed a hand over hers. "Feisty. i wonder where our little one gets that from," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Robert, I don't know why I have this feeling, but what if we have twins?"

His face lost it's color. "Twins? Why on Earth would you think that? Has Clarkson mentioned that it's possible?"

"It's always possible I should think. My father's sister did as well as his brother's wife."

"You never said. I didn't really think of it until I noticed that I'm as big as the estate!"

"You are not," he replied, placing a hand on her cheek. "I cannot imagine how uncomfortable it must be to carry a child , My darling, but you do it with such beauty and grace,"

"Such a flatterer, which is just as it should be since you put me in this condition."

"Well, if I remember correctly, you weren't against it," He told her, admiring the beautiful blush on her cheeks.

She laughed as he kissed her then pushed him away. "Darling keep those wondering hands to yourself!  We need to go downstairs."

Robert sighed. "Very well," He said, taking her hand a leading her to the Staircase.

Carson was in the Great Hall when he saw them coming down.  He still couldn't get used to the fact that Her Ladyship was in such a delicate condition. He only hoped it ended in happiness. when he learned the baby that was lost had been a boy, he too had been heartbroken. He remembered the early days and all the pressure on them to produce an heir. They had four beautiful daughters but he knew it must have been difficult on them both to not accomplish their duty.

Carson opened the door and the couple entered greeting their guests. Rosamund went over to her. "You look beautiful, Cora," She said kissing her cheek. "And brother you look gobsmacked."

"I can't help it! Just look at this amazing woman!" he said only loud enough for her and Cora to hear," at least he thought.

Violet rolled her eyes at her son's obvious blatant disrespect for everyone round him. He got worse with age,