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Silently she dragged him up the stairs, her hand still clasped tightly around his. She could feel the energy and excitement radiating off him and she wondered how it was that he could not tell that she was annoyed.
"Oh that's my room darling." She ignored him still pulling him along, "Oh well I suppose we can go to your room if you want. I think we're supposed to go to mine…. But that's okay, no matter." She pushed him into the room which was assigned to her and shut the door softly. It was then she took the time to face him, she saw him visibly swallow and wondered just how annoyed she looked.
She folded her arms across her chest as he stood perfectly still, "Robert did you know what this was when you said we would come?"
"I…" he did. He had known exactly what this was and yet he, with some heavy convincing by Rosamund had agreed that they would come.
Her eyebrows were so high on her head he thought they may disappear, "you did know."
"Darling I thought..." she cut him off,
"Thought it would be fun?"
"Well, yes" her look told him that was the wrong answer, "But not like that Cora."
"I suggest you go back to your room while I have a rest."
"But Cora, everyone else…" he blushed at the implication and she scowled at him, "Just go." He walked out silently seething slamming the door behind him walking back up the corridor to his room.
She really was being unreasonable. He really had meant to tell her, but he just couldn't seem to find the words and then once they had arrived he had been whisked away so quickly he barely had time to peck her cheek, let alone have a conversation. This was certainly not how he intended the weekend to play out. He had thought it would be perfect, socialising and then making love whenever they pleased with no judgment. Well, considering what the others got up to, they really had no right to judge. Rosamund had been asking him for such a long time that he had finally said yes, just last Wednesday. He sat on the edge of his bed now and considered their conversation just a week ago.
"You know you and Cora don't have to actually participate?"
He had taken a long sip of scotch and considered his older sisters words. He and Cora had never found the need to take lovers, they had each other for that. He could see the value in it though, he thought back to Jane with a silent sigh.
"Really it's just an excuse to get away and I'm sure you and Cora need that occasionally." She had been right of course and they hadn't been away in such a long time. He wondered how on earth his sister had gotten involved in such a group, although she had always had an eye for trouble. He also wondered who on earth Rosamund took to such a weekend, but quickly pushed that thought away, not really wanting to know.
"Please Robert, the gang have been begging me for ages to bring the famous Countess of Grantham." He had raised his eyebrows at this wondering what exactly his sister meant by this.
"I will tell them all you're both thoroughly out of bounds; it's always such a fun time. I know Cora would adore the group."
He hesitated, "Alright then, I suppose." She had jumped up from her seat and pulled him for a tight hug, "Wonderful, next Friday it is."
He shut his eyes and lay back on the bed; he desperately needed to get Cora back on his side. Of course it would end up that the married man was left alone in his bed while everyone else was enjoying themselves. He had thought that of all people Cora would be open to the idea, she was the most forward thinking person her knew. She did however have very strong feelings about love and marriage and he supposed he really should have given her time to adjust to the idea. Although it wasn't as though they were expected to take other people to bed, just each other. He let out a groan and rubbed his temples, this was going to be a very long weekend indeed if Cora kept this up.
There was a polite tap at her door and she hesitantly got off the bed to answer the door. A small part of her hoped it was Robert and a large part of her hoped it wasn't any of the others looking for a good time.
"Hold on."
She opened the door to see a maid holding a tray giving her a small smile. "Lord Grantham asked that this be sent up to your room m'lady."
She couldn't help the smile that lit up her face as she allowed the young woman into her room. A pot of coffee and a fine china cup were placed beside a small platter of tea cakes. This was Roberts idea of an apology and she couldn't help but feel pleased that he could actually see that he had done some form of wrong. She shook her head as she poured herself a cup of coffee and bit into a tea cake. Perhaps her anger had been misplaced, it was all just a bit much to take in and she wondered what he was doing right now. Probably sulking knowing Robert, she let out a giggle into her coffee and considered her plan of action. Hopefully he would come back before dinner as was their ritual and she could apologise for her silly behaviour.