How had it come to this?
How had he misjudged the danger?
How could he save her?
6 Days Earlier …
"I don't believe I have ever seen you so happy to set foot in America darling." Cora teased her husband with a wicked smirk, looking up at him as they strolled towards the waiting car. She was filled with excitement at being on US soil again, at being so close to seeing Sybbie and Tom, at being off the ship … finally.
Robert inclined his head to look at her face and gave her his Robert Crawley smile.
The real one. Not the Earl of Grantham stoic upturn of lips, but the real childlike grin of a man filled with happiness. She thought he looked adorable in his glee. So very unreserved, so terribly handsome, and so wonderfully relaxed.
"You know how much I miss her … I know you do too." He explained almost sheepishly as he took her elbow in his hand and began to steer her to the car. "Over there Cora." he added, indicating with his head the expensive vehicle he had just spotted in the distance. "Your mother's showing off again with her outlandish taste in automobiles."
"Don't be jealous." She chided.
Robert blew out his breath in a slow appreciative way, "I can't help it Cora … it's so sleek and spiffy … would I sound like a petulant child if I said I want one?"
Cora laughed as Robert handed her into the waiting motor. "Yes, I believe you would."
Following her in and sliding along the leather seat inside Robert took his hat into his hand and pulled his face into a frown. "Then I shall have to be a petulant adult and pout."
Cora laughed once more at the look on her husbands face. Warmth spread throughout her body at the sight of him. She loved him like this. Relaxed, happy, playful. She loved him always, had always, would always – but there were moments when it was a fair sight easier to love him than others. When he was stoic and unrelenting she found him loveable yet distant. When he was tired and moody she found him loveable yet trying. When he was condescending and dismissive … she found him … she still loved him … it was just she didn't particularly like him in those moments. But moments like now … when he was playful and sweet and childlike … in these moments she loved him the best. In these moments he was Robert … just Robert … no title, no responsibilities, no expectations ... just Robert – and Cora had always found she loved Robert the best.
"You are an adult child … but adorably so." She leaned against him and rubbed her palm across his chest affectionately. He stilled her hand with his own and slowly lifted it to his lips gently kissing her palm.
"Do try and remember how adorable I am next time you are cross with me." He said with a grin as the driver turned them in the direction of her mother's house, his eyes remaining fixed on the rearview mirror as he pulled the car from the curb, unaware of the eyes watching them.
"They're here Robert … quickly darling … they're here, they're here." Cora dropped her book on the settee as she hurried towards the door, her skirt whipping about her ankles as she rushed.
"Slow down darling … the car has just pulled up." Robert's words sounded on deaf ears as he watched his wife almost run out the door and through the hall, although he would like to do the same he found he must at least retain some decorum in his mother in laws house. He was more relaxed here than at home, even he felt his stiffness softened by his surroundings, but he couldn't simply let it all go. Martha's voice could be heard calmly issuing the order to bring the cookies, cakes and drinks through to the sitting room and he found his own step quicken. Treats. Treats for her. She had arrived and he felt his chest stirring in anticipation and his whole body warm with joy.
By the time he reached the front door Cora was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, Robert came up beside her and slid his hand in hers as he leaned close to whisper in her ear. "Who's the child now?"
She gently swatted his arm, "Hush. I know you are excited to see her. To see them both."
Robert's face pulled into a warm smile, "I feel I could burst …I confess I am eager to hear her call me Donk again. She managed to teach the other 2 before she left, but it just isn't the same … it is hers."
"You wont have to wait long … here they come." Cora took the steps eagerly reaching the bottom with her arms outstretched. "Sybbie my darling! How I have missed you!" she gushed as her granddaughter flew into her outstretched arms. Cora stood wrapping her arms tightly around the little girl, their daughter's final gift to them all. She held her close and closed her eyes as she inhaled the sweet scent of her dark hair, the feel of her little fingers clutching her tightly, the soft skin of her cheek pressed against her own.
"Donk!" Sybbie exclaimed excitedly as her Grandfather came near blinking the tears back at the sight before him. His heart filled and he held his arms out taking the little girl from his wife's embrace, swinging her in the air before folding her in a large and much needed hug.
"Say it again Sybbie." He murmured into her hair.
"Donk!"
Robert could hear Tom and Cora laugh at Sybbie's pet name for her grandfather, he could see them embrace in greeting and smile at one another happily, he watched as Cora took Tom's arm and they began the ascent up the stairs to his mother in laws New York home. He felt his body follow them up the stairs, could see the butler holding the door open, hear Martha's voice wafting through the doors.
What he didn't see was the man in the dark suit, with the bowler hat pretending to read his paper across the street, the sinister gleam in his eye, the slight nod he gave to his partner, and the note he made in the book he drew from his pocket. The only thing Robert could focus on was the sound of Sybbie's voice and the feel of her in his arms.
"Donk!" she said on a giggle as he carried her inside.
"I do believe I have never seen anything quite as adorable as your tea party with Sybbie this afternoon." Cora said with a smile as Robert walked into her room after dinner. She picked up her cream and began rubbing it into her hands as Baxter walked out of the room clenching her lips into a straight line so not to smirk.
Robert rolled his eyes as he sank into the wing backed chair, "I find that hard to believe darling, considering you said almost the exact same thing yesterday."
"Not quite the same … that was to do with the teddy bears picnic the two of you had after breakfast … which is clearly not the same as tea … tea with dolls to be precise." She clamped her lips together in an attempt to stop herself from laughing outright.
Robert gave her a look of mild irritation and let out a huff of air, "And what would you have I do? She looks at me with those big eyes … with Sybil's eyes, and she tilts her head just so …and then says 'Please Donk' in her perfect little voice … I will not lie Cora, she has me quite wrapped around her finger and I just can't bear to tell her no."
Cora gave up the fight to contain her humor and let her smile take over with the breath of a laugh. "And why should you? It is perfectly respectable to dote on your grandchildren, and her especially so. She is the only daughter of our baby, who looks just like her mother at that age …"
"Doesn't she though! It's uncanny." Robert added as Cora continued, standing from her chair, slipping her robe off placing it on the chair behind her.
"… who is no longer with us, and now lives on the other side of the world. She is our first grandchild, and completely lovely … if you didn't dote upon her I should think it strange." She removed her slippers and walked toward her husband.
"Then why tease me about it … you are the same with her and you know it." He looked up surprised at her close proximity; she stood directly in front of his seated form. Tilting her head to the side she smirked.
"Because it is such fun … you do rather beg to be teased Robert." He rolled his eyes and turned his head to the side which made Cora almost laugh out loud. He was so easy to tease. His adoration of Sybbie was heart warming and delightful, and his being teased about it was almost as good. Reaching out her arm she touched his shoulder and he turned to face her.
"Teasing aside darling, you are a wonderful grandfather and your granddaughter adores and loves you – as do I." He reached up and took her hand from his shoulder bringing the palm to his mouth to kiss it softly.
"And I you my darling." Cora bought her other palm to rest against his cheek rubbing her thumb across it eliciting a sigh of happiness from her stoic husband. He released her palm and leaned forward in his seat, bringing his arms about her waist and resting his head against her stomach. He moved his head from side to side until Cora wriggled in an attempt to free herself pushed against his shoulders with her hands.
"Robert that tickles." She gasped as he held her tighter. "You are a grown child, I swear."
"I hope not." He replied in a muffled response against her stomach. "Children don't do things like this."
"Like what?" Cora asked, feeling awfully like she was walking into a trap.
Robert pulled his face back from her body while his hands continued to clutch her firmly about the waist. Shifting backward in his seat he looked up at her confused face before breaking into a large grin …"Like this." He said as he yanked her forward and shifted all the way back into the chair, the force bringing her onto his lap where he maneuvered until she was straddling his lap her legs resting on either side of his.
"Robert!" she scolded in surprise. He shifted his hands from her waist to her perfect bottom where he gave an affectionate squeeze. "What are you doing?" she questioned with a throaty laugh. Her husbands response came out muffled as he buried his face into her slender neck, the hot breath tickling her sensitive skin and automatically sending the loveliest feeling through her body straight to the area between her legs where she felt excitement begin to build. The thought crossed her mind, if not fleetingly, that she was easy to seduce … well at least for Robert anyway.
"If you can't tell …" his muffled words came slowly as his lips and tongue swirled the most delicious patterns across her neck. Then slowly across to the other side where she tilted her head to give him easier access. ".. I must be doing it wrong."
Cora let out a satisfied sigh as her hands made their way to his shoulders.
"Not at all." She murmured softly, "In fact I would encourage you to continue."
Robert's arms slid firmly from her from her buttocks up her back pulling her closer so that her breasts touched his chest making her laugh and gasp at the same time.
"Mmmmm … continue you say?" he murmured against the ear he was now tracing with his tongue, his warm breath making the skin there tingle in response.
"Yes." Cora breathed, shifting her position slightly so that she truly straddled his lap, bringing one hand to the back of his neck while the other ran along his shoulder, gripping his pajama top in the process and sighing once again. "Continue. Please."
In response to her repositioning Robert felt his body respond, his own senses now heightened, he moved one hand from her back sliding it firmly across the soft round of her hip and along the top of her thigh which was now squeezing tightly against his own. He ran his hand down further, adding his other hand to her thighs equally glorious partner on the other side eliciting a surprised squeak from his wife's mouth.
"Continue …" she murmured as her limber fingers rounded Robert's shoulders and slipped between the small gap created between their chests as she leant back. "… on other words…" her fingers slid down the front of his shirt undoing one button, then slowly another as she felt his hands find the hem of her nightgown and tug on it to move it up. She shifted her weight in order to help him and was satisfied to hear him groan slightly as she resettled herself on his lap, without the added barrier of her nightwear.
His hands slid slowly up her thighs under the silken material and the skin on skin contact made her tremble. "… in other words…" she repeated, managing the last of his buttons before slipping her hands between the opening and running her palms along his masculine chest enjoying the feeling of him beneath her hands, and the feel of his hands on her skin. "…do not stop." She finished with a bite of her lower lip and the clenching of her thighs against his. He laughed throatily at her and moved his hands further across her skin, cupping her thighs and finding her quite naked beneath her nightgown.
"What is this?" he asked feigning shock and closing his eyes contentedly as her fingers found his nipples circling them in unison. "Oh God" he breathed as she ran her fingers across the eager buds and squeezed them firmly.
"I'm sorry? Did you say something?" she asked with an innocent expression as she leaned forward using her tongue to lap gently at his throat. His lack of response and the increased way he gripped her hips pushing her down against his now bulging erection gave Cora the triumphant feeling that she had effectively turned the tables on her seducing husband. "I couldn't quite hear you darling." She spoke against his neck as she rotated her hips grinding herself against him causing them both to groan.
Removing his hands from her hips swiftly he made quick work of his pants, shifting and bucking his weight beneath his wife in his effort to free himself and claim her. She placed her hands on the back of the chair and using it as leverage lifted herself up helping him in his efforts. When he was finally ready she hovered just above him thrilling in the urgent need she now saw on his face. Good Lord but he was handsome! His face a beautiful mixture of child and man, his body strong and masculine, his hands firm and gentle. The lust she could see written across his face was all consuming and it struck her how quickly they had gone from regular conversation, to the heady need of their anticipated joining.
He reached up with his hands cupping her face and bringing it down to his, her hands still gripping the chair behind him as his lips locked with hers and her body slid down to accept him. She felt the satisfied moan against her lips and used the leverage of her arms on the chair back to raise herself back up slowly, before easing herself back down again. She repeated this again, and again, and gloriously again until desperate for air their lips released each other gasping and panting with their efforts.
"Good God" Robert groaned desperately as he gripped her waist and aided her erotic movements. Cora threw her head back and gripped the back of the chair tighter and she rode her husband with wild abandon. She could already feel herself coming undone as he leaned forward and attached his teeth to her neck, his lips sucking as he did. His hands left her hips and raced up under her nightgown to cup her breasts, relishing the heaviness of them in each hand, running his thumbs across the pert nipples and finally punching her nightgown up to her throat bearing her chest to his view. The chilled air hit her breast causing her to shudder in delight at the contrast, and then cry out as he attached his mouth first to one and then delightfully to the other. She fell easily over the edge of bliss as he continued to buck wildly beneath her seeking his own, needing to spill into her, claim her.
Neither of them could know the eyes on the street watching their window, making out their silhouettes in the backlit room, puffing his cigarette slowly, and making plans.
