Chapter One: Hide with Me

Robert and Cora were sitting rather close together on the settee, talking to each other. They were alone in the library for the first time in a few weeks, with all the wedding bustle, they barely had time to see one another, except in the evenings. Robert looked at Cora expectantly, as if silently asking her a question. Cora tried to keep herself from blushing, biting her bottom lip gently before nodding. She knew exactly what the question was, for Robert had asked her almost every time they were alone together these days. Ever since he had told her that he loved her. Robert smiled and placed his hand on her knee, making her blush. He inched closer to her, putting his other hand on her face, cupping her cheek. Cora parted her lips slightly as he leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips. Robert bit her top lip teasingly and gently at the same tip while Cora bit his bottom lip, sucking it between her lips. Robert smiled into the kiss, making Cora smile too. Cora's hands moved from her lap to cup Robert's face before she trailed them to the back of his neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. Robert moved closer to Cora, unknowingly nudging her onto her back. He slid his hand up from her knee to her waist, pulling her closer to him. Feeling his top half go horizontal, he broke the kiss and looked at Cora, staring into her eyes.

Cora looked up, breathless. Robert moved back to a sitting position. "I... I am so, so sorry Miss Levinson, I don't know what came over me," he stammered nervously. If someone had walked in and seen them like that, her good reputation would have been ruined and his mother would have been furious.

"I do, it was only a kiss, Robert," she said, smiling at him, making him want to kiss her again. "There's nothing wrong with an innocent kiss, is there? Do the English not kiss before their wedding day?"

"Of course we do, Cora, you know that," he continued stammering in reply. "And there's nothing wrong with an innocent kiss, but what we were doing is completely different. I was on top of you. If someone had walked in..."

"Then let's go kiss where we won't get caught," Cora suggested, smirking lightly, her chest rising and falling as she imagined kissing Robert in a small and dark closet. It was such a naughty notion and it made her quite giddy just imagining it.

Robert reddened and looked around quickly. "Where did you have in mind, my dear?" he asked. He wanted to hide away with her anywhere, he'd even risk being found in his dressing room, or her newly adjoining bedroom. Since they got adjoining rooms, they had opened the bolts on the door so that Robert could slip into Cora's room and chat and cuddle with her before finally going to bed. It was quite exciting, the prospect of being found. And they would be married in a week, what was the harm in a little bit of excitement and naughtiness.

"A small, dark closet perhaps," she leaned in and whispered into his ear. "What do you think?"

"That sounds splendid, Cora, but we'll have to be very sneaky," he replied, whispering into her ear. "Do you know how wonderful it is that you're American and willing to do things that aren't exactly proper?"

"No, why don't you tell me," she suggested, winking slightly before getting off the settee and walking to the library door, checking to make sure the coast was clear before beckoning for Robert to come along. He hurried to the door, where she whispered, "lead on, my love."

Robert took her hand and looked in the hall again to make sure no one would catch them running upstairs. "Come on," he whispered, quickly leading her up the stairs and to the nearest closet. Cora opened the door and pulled Robert inside with her, shutting the door quietly. Cora grinned before practically throwing herself into Robert's arms and kissing him like crazy. Robert immediately responded, wrapping his arms tighter around her, backing her into one of the shelves before he could stop himself. Cora's arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her. The couple remained like this until light poured in and their lips sprang apart, but they held onto each other, as the, now shrill, voice of Robert's mother started hollering at the couple.

"ROBERT CRAWLEY, HOW DARE YOU DO SOMETHING THIS IRRESPONSIBLE. YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU WERE RAISED BETTER. I BLAME HER. YOUR FATHER AND I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR BEHAVIOUR UNTIL THE AMERICAN CAME ALONG," she shouted, making Cora quite nervous. Lady Grantham had threatened on several occasions to cancel the engagement and neither Robert, nor Cora, would be able to bear it if that happened. They loved each other and couldn't bear to be apart from one another. Robert had told his mother last time that if she forced Cora out, he would leave, find her and they would elope. Cora was pleased at his romantic gestures like that, but now the couple remained silent.

Once Lady Grantham stopped shouting about how she blamed the arrival of Cora and her 'American indecency' for Robert's change of behaviour, Robert finally took a deep breath. "I'm sorry mama," he said, leading Cora from the closet and down the stairs. "I'm sorry Cora."

"No, Robert, it's me who should be sorry, not you," she said. "I tempted you."

"I tempted you as well," he replied.

"But I am supposed to be a lady, I should be able to resist," she whispered.

"If you could resist me, there might be trouble," he joked, looking around before pressing his lips to her's eagerly. "I love you."

"And I, you," she replied, smiling up at Robert.