AN: This is a story of around 15 chapters that are all around 500-800 words long.

I wrote most of this a while ago. This is more or less a feel good story. I hope that it doesn't seem too rushed.

Chapter One – August 1889

„You cannot mean that mother. There must be a mistake. Something must have gone wrong." She stares at her mother who only shakes her head.

"No. There is no mistake. Your father has lost everything. Your inheritance, your brother's inheritance, the business, the houses in New York and Newport. All that is left is the house in Cincinnati."

She needs to sit down because this cannot be true. Her world has been shaken. They have lost almost everything. All her dreams of marrying into the English aristocracy vanish into thin air. Although those dreams have always been more of her mother's dreams than her own.

"Cora," her mother says gently and she looks at her.

"Your father and I have debated whether we should still try to arrange your marriage to Lord Downton. We know you like him and he seems very nice. But your father is afraid of going behind Lord Grantham's back. So we will just have to leave." She nods again.

"May I say goodbye to him? I don't have to tell him the truth, I only want him to know that we are leaving.

Her mother looks as if she was weighing her words very carefully and then speaks against her better judgement.

"Yes. You may say goodbye. Tell him that someone has died. Or better yet, that you have received another offer marriage. From an Astor or someone like it. Make sure he wants to forget about you."

Now it is her who nods.

"You have to do it right now. Go to Grantham House now. We are leaving tonight. Your father will try to sell off the jewelry so that we can at least afford second class tickets."

She feels numb inside when she puts on her gloves and her coat and wonders how long she will be able to keep them. They will probably have to be sold.

When she and her maid arrive at Grantham House and are let into the building she feels a wave of sadness she did not expect. It is true that the Viscount Downton has touched her heart but she knows as well as anyone that the feeling was not mutual. To him she was just the means to an end, an end she can't help him to find anymore. It might in fact be better the way it is now. She won't have to marry someone she does not like. Although she likes Lord Downton very much.

"Miss Levinson," Lady Rosamund says and she nods at her. Throwing all caution to the wind as she is never going to see these people again anyway, she asks for a private conversation with Lord Downton.

He looks at her a little bewildered but leads her into the garden none the less.

"Lord Downton," she says and he looks at her.

"I came to tell you that we are going back to America today. Something has…happened. We have to leave."

Without preamble Robert looks at her and says "Your father is broke. You received the news this morning."

"How do you know?" she asks with as much indignation as she can muster.

"We, that is to say my parents, have spies. So I already knew that you are now out of the question."

"Of course," she says and wants to look away. But Robert lightly touches her cheek and makes her look at him.

"I am sorry for you. I truly am. I want you to know that I had been planning to… I wanted to call on you… no, your father, and you of course, to, to," and then he stops speaking. It breaks her heart and she wonders what would have happened if the news had arrived in England a few weeks later.

"That is very kind of you to say and I am sorry for all your troubles with me." She feels she needs to leave or else she will start to cry. So she says

"Goodbye then Lord Downton. I don't suppose I will ever see you again." She turns around but he grabs her wrist.

"No, I don't think we will. Although my sister always says that forever is a long time. But promise me something. Make something out of your life. Don't go back to Cincinnati and play housekeeper for your parents. You are more than that. Find work. Work that makes you happy. Become independent. Because that is who you are."

She doesn't know why but she says "I promise," before she gently pulls her wrist out of Lord Downton's hand.

Please let me know what you think of this story!

Have a great day,

Kat