The Beauty in a Smile.
She knows his routine like clockwork. Every morning for the past year the handsome Englishman buys the morning paper. And every morning he passes her window. She smiles. He doesn't. The same thing happens the next day and the next. A week goes by and Cora's used every trick she can think of to get him to acknowledge her existence. The kind smile, flirty but mysterious. Everything! And yet, he barely looks in her direction. Those beautiful eyes probably gaze adoringly at someone a lot sexier than her. But, it still irks her. He can make an effort to wear a designer suit but smiling at another human being? So difficult!
It starts to tick her off but, she bites her tongue and tries not to listen to the sound of her own voice wondering why the hell she's wasting her days thinking of nothing but him. His kiss, what it would feel like. She'd even gone over to the newsstand to prize his name out of Izzie.
Robert Crawley.
She's the most exquisite creature he's ever seen. Dark chocolate hair in a short bob. Eyes so bright he feels like he could drown in them. Lips that quirked into a breath stealing beam. And that's the point, every time he sees her Cora, his chest tightens, his hands start to sweat and he turns into a complete bumbling mess. Or he would if he could even pluck up the courage to open his mouth.
"You coward Crawley. You absolute bloody coward." He sighs to himself.
It just happens. The anger. The gaul, whatever it is that makes her hand over control to her assistant Elsie and go storming after him like a raging bull until, she is finally face to face with one incredibly startled Robert Crawley.
"Are you a robot?"
"Excuse me?" He says immediately affronted and yet trying desperately to regulate his breathing as she blocks his way. "You heard me." Cora huffs. "Are you a robot who is incapable of even attempting to smile?"
"No. Of course not!" Robert replies frustrated. "Now if you would kindly move."
"That's funny because that's exactly what I've been trying to get you to do for the past week."
"I don't know what you're referring to." He tries but, Cora won't have it. "Bullshit." she shouts not caring who hears her. "Bullshit you don't know!' "You don't know that I have spent the last week making a complete fool out of myself. I stood there everyday. Every single day." Her anger turns to a defeated sigh. "I bet you don't even know my name."
However, just as she begins to walk away a hand catches her arm and a voice stops her. His.
"Cora." She can see the glint in his eyes as he breathes out her name with ease. "Cora Levinson." "You're a florist from Cincinnati Ohio. The daughter of a wealthy oil magnate and his socialite wife. You have an older brother Howard and a cat named Luna."
"Did you Google me?" Cora feels a smirk form on her lips and a blush redden her cheeks as Robert holds her firmly but gently against him.
"Does that surprise you?" He chuckles.
"It does actually. But, how did you know about Luna?"
"Google has its charms. But it doesn't know everything." Robert replies so warmly she feels she could melt faster than Olaf in Summer. He wants to know everything. Oh god help her!
"Elsie told me." Robert admits, relieved at finally feeling her slowly relax in his arms. Cora laughs. "Elsie made me look you up."
"Robert Crawley son of Patrick and Violet Crawley is a successful lawyer who recently made partner despite only being at Clyde and Sons for eighteen months. You have a sister named Rosamund who is an Interior Designer." "She'd love you." He says honestly. It's true, if Rosamund were here she'd have dragged him into her shop by his ears and not let go until they had decided the name of their firstborn child. Mama on the other hand...
"I doubt it after I shouted at her brother in front of the whole of New York." Cora says deeply ashamed. "I'm so sorry."
"No. Miss Levinson." He catches himself. "Cora." "I have been the most gigantic fool." Robert breathes out stroking a tear away. "Please don't cry my darling."
Darling. Was she still alive? Oh god. Oh god help! Taking an almost painful breath, she presses her hands gently on his chest and pushes herself up on her tiptoes until, her lips find his in a blissful and completely overdue kiss. It makes her feel hot and cold and giddy and so many things she can't put into words as it ends that is until she feels the next one. A tender and loving peck to the forehead causing her to blush furiously.
"Robert Crawley you are full of surprises today." she gasps but he interrupts softly. "Robert."
"Robert." Cora whispers, before they both have to part. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sooner." He promises. "Much sooner."
She didn't know what he meant or what the future held but Cora knew one thing for certain. She could not wait to find out.
I love Downton Abbey and this couple. I don't own any of it that all belongs to Sir Julian Fellowes and the wonderful DA team. I don't know if I should continue? Xxx