Cora stuck her head around the library door. "Robert? Are you busy?"
He looked up from where he was replying to his correspondence. "Never to busy for you, my darling. How can I help?"
Cora pushed the door fully open and walked towards him.
"I've had this letter from the Buckingham's asking if we'd like to go to London to visit with them." She stopped in front of him and smiled.
"When do they want us to go, Cora?" He turned in his chair to face her.
Cora looked down at the letter, scanning it for a date. "Oh" Her smile faded. "The weekend of the fifteenth of March."
She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. Robert thought for a second and realised the significance of the date. Keeping a straight face he spoke calmly.
"I see no reason why we can't make the time to go. A weekend in London will be just the ticket."
Cora looked at him, slightly bewildered. "You've made no other plans for that weekend, Robert?" Putting her hands on her hips and tapping her foot.
Robert, trying to keep a straight face, looked up at her. "No. Should I have?"
Cora sighed audibly and folded the letter. "You'd better let them know we're coming then. Seeing as we've nothing else to do that weekend."
Looking sad, she turned and started to walk away from him, muttering under her breath. "Our thirtieth...how could he."
Robert, unable to see her hurting any more, rose quickly from his chair. He closed the distance between them just before she reached the door. Sliding an arm around her waist, he turned her and settled his arms around her.
"Cora" He said with an amused tone. "Did you really think I'd forget?" He pulled her a little closer. "It's our thirtieth wedding anniversary that weekend and if you're not too busy I'd planned on taking you to Paris."
On hearing the word Paris, Cora relaxed in his arms and slid her hands up onto his chest. "Paris, you say? I think I can find the time."
She smiled up at her husband who had a boyish grin on his face. "Did you think it would be funny to make me think you'd forgotten?"
Robert nodded and chuckled. "You know I can never pass up the opportunity to play with you, Cora. We have so much fun making up."
Robert lowered his head and whispered in her ear. "Will you kiss me now that you know I didn't forget?"
Cora let out her own chuckle and lifted a hand to raise his head so she could see his eyes. "I think you have more pressing things to do. You need to write a letter to the Buckingham's letting them know we can't make their invitation."
With that Cora pushed him away and turned on her heel. Just as she was about to walk through the door she looked back over her shoulder at him.
"You know you shouldn't play with me, Robert. You always lose." With that she left the library, giggling to herself.
Robert stood where she'd left him, slightly bewildered. "You'll never learn, Crawley." he said to himself as he walked back to his desk, pulling out his pen.