A blinding light ripped through Cora's eyelids the next morning. Her eyes were still shut but that didn't stop her from squinting through the sudden change in brightness. She groaned and rolled onto her back feeling very stiff and sore, particularly between her legs. "Good morning milady," Charlotte said. Cora gulped in some air.
"Urg, what time is it?"
"7.30am milady."
"Very well. Sorry I slept in. I would have rung the bell when I woke up though Miss Lacombe." Cora struggled out of bed and traipsed over to her vanity where she was shocked to find some visible red marks on her neck and arms.
"I do apologise milady but Lord John insisted that you were up and about or I daren't have disturbed you." The young woman hung her head in embarrassment. Then she saw her mistress running her fingers over some marks on her left arm. Charlotte frowned. "Are you alright milady?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes, don't worry about these." Cora gestured to the marks. "I had a fall at the ball last night. Apparently I had one drink more than my reason could handle," Cora lied.
"Very well then," Charlotte acknowledged as she walked over to Cora's wardrobe and started sifting through various garments.
Since John had ordered Cora to get up she now found herself down in the dining room at breakfast with King James II looming over them at the front of the room. John was sitting opposite her with his head behind the newspaper and totally ignoring her. After several minutes of eating and drinking tea under the watchful eye of the old butler Elliot, Cora was struggling to keep her composure. She felt so alone and downtrodden. The arrival of the morning post signalled a brief reprieve when Elliot presented her with a letter.
Cora took her letter eagerly hoping that it would be from her mother but the address was London-based. Cora's heart sank a little but she still ripped it open and read its contents. A slow smile crept onto her lips as she finished it and looked up to find John eyeballing her from over his paper.
"Who is that from?" he asked gruffly.
"It is from Lady Pembrook. She has invited us to attend her annual Masquerade Ball at the end of next week." Cora's thoughts drifted off to the magnificent gowns and masks from last year when she had attended it for the first time with her mother. It had been a fabulously fun evening, seeing all their acquaintances dressed up so differently and colourfully.
"Quite frankly I don't care for such things," John broke into her reminiscing. Cora's shoulders drooped. "But since I know my younger brother will be there we shall go. You may reply to Lady Pembrook with our confirmation." John nodded curtly and stood up, paper in hand and left the room as Cora tried not to look too happy.
Cora sat in the light blue coloured parlour in front of a blank canvas, her brushes and paint all laid out neatly before her. After yet another harrowing night she would like nothing more than to put all her feelings onto the canvas before her but knew that it would be much too obvious and the colours would be most unladylike. She would never hear the end of it.
She sat in silence for a while, waiting for inspiration to come and eventually her mind wondered back to America. She could not paint her home but the Newport coastline and beach that she played at as a girl would surely suffice. After all, John didn't know much about beaches so she felt confident that he would not know this beach was American. Cora shut her eyes and visualised the landscape. She then opened her eyes, picked up a brush and dipped it into the paint. With the skill and purpose that her mother had taught her, Cora began to stroke the paint onto the canvas.
The day of the Masquerade Ball had finally arrived and Cora was bursting with excitement. She had picked up her gown from the dressmaker yesterday and it was exquisite. She was also very pleased because she had finished her painting that morning and it had turned out beautifully and the beach looked just like she remembered. Cora decided to treat herself to another look and made her way along the hall to the parlour. As she walked by John's library he emerged with a book and some parchment in hand.
"Where are you going?"
"To the parlour to see how my painting turned out. I finished it this morning and it should be dry by now." Cora was quite put out when John started to follow her. They rounded the corner and entered the parlour. Cora admired her handiwork happily as a frown began to show on John's forehead.
"Where is this place?" he asked.
"It is a beach from Southern England," Cora lied.
"I don't believe you. Beaches don't look like this down there and I am sure your mother never mentioned any trips outside of London. This is America isn't it?" Cora held her tongue, unsure of what to say. John pulled his eyes away from the painting to look at her. He nodded his head in confirmation.
"I didn't say anything!" Cora protested as John grabbed the painting and began to punch it and throw it onto the ground.
"I could tell you were lying!" Cora was shocked numb. Was it her voice or expression that had given her away? Or both? She watched as John bashed the painting down onto his knee before throwing it onto the ground. "Just you remember that you live in England now and as such you have left your country behind. I expected you to have adapted by now so stop clinging to this ridiculous sentiment that you have been labouring under!" John thundered. Cora choked up, barely able to keep herself from breaking down. The thought of the ball that night and the societal freedoms it offered was the only thing she could draw on to stop herself from crying. John marched out of the room, satisfied that his message had gotten through.
The carriage pulled up outside of the gates of a grand house in Eton Square and the door was opened by a smartly dressed footman who offered his hand to Cora. She climbed out of the carriage and waited for John who was promptly be her side. Linking arms they follow other Lords and Ladies up the path to the big marble steps that marked the entrance of Pembrook House. They were greeted by Lord and Lady Pembrook who took a moment to admire Cora's ensemble. She was wearing a maroon dress with gold beads and diamonds across the bodice. She had a sash around her waist that then hung loosely down one hip to her knee. Her mask was a matching maroon with more gold beads encased around the eyeholes.
"I must say Lady Durham that I would never have recognised you with this mask. You look ravishing!" Lady Pembrook complimented her as John suppressed a smirk at the word 'ravishing'. "Now do continue into the ballroom my dear as that is where most of the others are and I shall see you later." Cora thanked her and led John towards the ballroom.
As they made their way in between the other Lords and Ladies and their extravagant outfits and masks, John was hailed by his brother and father. Much to Cora's relief, Lord Furringham released her to go and find some of her acquaintances. She began moving around the room again, squinting through her mask and finding recognising anyone and everyone to be impossible. They had all split off into little groups around the dancers and all seemed content. Just when Cora was wondering what to do a tap on her shoulder made her turn around.
"Is that you Lady Durham?" the woman said cautiously.
"Lady Cumberson! How lovely to see you, well kind of." Cora gestured to their masks and they both giggled.
"Yes indeed, trying to find ones friends is proving a most taxing assignment tonight as everyone in here is making full use of their masks. I was only guessing it was you and am quite relieved." Cora saw her smiling below her mask.
"Is Lord Cumberson with some of the other gentlemen? Lord John was claimed almost the moment we came in here. I think he must have tipped off what suit he had chosen so he could be found." Cora felt a pang at her idea and wondered if John had hoped for Cora to get wrong footed so he could have another go at her later.
"Lord Cumberson is in here somewhere," Lady Cumberson began. Cora suddenly was knocked off balance as a woman and a man rushed by them towards the dance floor as the music for the next number began. Cora stumbled on the train of her dress and began to fall. "Lady Durham!" Lady Cumberson cried.
Cora felt a strong arm around her and a hand on her shoulder as the man that had appeared behind her gently steadied her and helped her find her feet. Cora turned around to face the stranger who had now released her and quickly ducked back behind his mask before she could catch a glimpse of him. She found herself face to face with a gentleman in a white jacket and tails with four crystal buttons. His mask was also white with a startling blue shade lining the eyeholes. Cora's eyes sought his own and she immediately noticed that the blue eye liner complimented his own blue eyes. He was very tall and well built and although she could not see most of his face, she could tell he was very handsome.
"Please forgive my sister. Her invigoration sometimes overtakes her sense of propriety." The young man looked intently at her, in awe of her beauty. Her dress complimented her figure perfectly and her dark brown hair shone under the massive candle laden chandelier. "I don't believe we have been introduced," the man continued. "I am Lord Robert Crawley, Viscount Downton at your service." He bowed elegantly and looked at her expectantly.
"I am honoured to meet you Lord Downton. My name is Lady Cora Durham, wife of Lord John Durham, heir apparent to the dukedom of Furringham." Cora curtseyed gracefully and offered her glove clad hand to Lord Downton which he kissed. Cora felt as if she had stepped into a fantasy world and was taken aback when Lady Cumberson interjected.
"Oh there are Lord and Lady Lincoln, without their masks no less. The must be hoping for friends to come to them. I must go and greet them. Would you think me quite rude if I begged your indulgence to release me to them?" Lady Cumberson enquired hopefully. "You have Lord Downton to talk to now."
"Ah no, no. By all means and do pass on my regards," Cora responded.
"Thank you, I will try to find you later Lady Durham though I fear it will be quite the mission." Lady Cumberson curtseyed and hurried away.
Cora turned to Lord Downton and smiled. "So how are you enjoying this evening?" he asked her.
"I am enjoying it very much. A masquerade ball rarely happens here which is a pity as it is a good chance to loosen up and have some fun." Lord Downton noted her American accent as Cora scanned the room and spotted Lord Furringham, John, his brother and some friends in a corner, cigars in hand. By the look of things, they were heading out to the balcony. Cora's eyes then fell on Lord Downton's sister and her partner as they danced enthusiastically.
"My sister is Lady Rosamund and the gentleman she is dancing with is Lord Marmaduke whose family have a house here in Eton Square. We are expecting them to officially announce their engagement any time now but for now it is still quiet," Lord Downton explained.
"I won't say a word to anyone," Cora promised as the dance finished and Lady Rosamund spied out her brother. Lord Downton stepped forward as they approached and turned back to Cora.
"Lady Rosamund Crawley, Lord Marmaduke Painswick, may I present Lady Cora Durham to you." They all exchanged bows and curtseys.
"Was it you that I knocked?" Lady Crawley asked.
"Yes it was," Cora replied.
"Oh I do apologise. I was in such a hurry because that was my favourite dance and I feared we would miss it," Lady Crawley explained and tossed her red hair away from her matching red mask.
"I understand and you needn't worry because your brother was here to catch me," Cora said and looked up at Lord Downton.
"I couldn't just let you fall," he said and smiled warmly at her. Cora was grateful for her mask as she felt her face flush. "Unless you are otherwise promised, would you like the next dance Lady Durham?" Cora considered for a moment and her eyes flickered to the balcony entrance. There was no sign of John or any of the others.
"I would love to do the next dance with you Lord Downton, thank you." Cora lowered her mask and passed it to Lady Crawley. Lord Downton hid behind his mask a moment longer, drinking in her incredible facial features. Her lips and eyes in particular got his attention. He then passed his own mask to Lord Painswick as he grinned down at Cora. Lady Crawley's eyes raced between her brother's and Lady Durham's faces. No one noticed her raise her eyebrows as Lord Downton took Cora's hand and lead her to the dance floor.
"It is such a shame that young lady is already married. We have barely spoken two words to each other and I like her already," Lady Crawley observed. "And until today, I did not know that my brother had an eye for American women."
"Indeed," Lord Painswick concurred. "Well shall we find a better spot to observe them from?" He offered his arm and they made their way to the front of the surrounding circle of observers.
For the first time since her marriage, Cora felt at ease with a man. The dance had passed by in a dream and she had enjoyed it immensely. Lord Downton was a skilled dancer and led her in the set effortlessly, gliding on his feet and weaving through their fellow dances back to her. He kept her eye contact as much as possible. Now they stood to the side, waiting for each other to say something. Lord Painswick and Lady Crawley had not yet reached them to return their masks and Lord Downton was soon hailed by another gentleman that he introduced as his neighbour up in Yorkshire, Sir Anthony Strallan. Lady Crawley and Lord Painswick soon caught up with them and returned their masks. As they all began to engage in conversation Cora found her arm in her husband's firm grasp.
"I am sorry to bother you all," John addressed Lord Downton and the others, "But I am afraid I must reclaim my wife as we are leaving."
"I am sorry to hear that," Lord Downton responded. "It was lovely to meet you tonight Lady Durham. We all bid you a good evening." He bowed to her as she curtseyed.
"Thank you, I hope to see you all again," Cora said sincerely though she was only thinking of Lord Downton. John had already started for the door and Cora turned to hurry after him as Lord Downton's eyes followed her out of the room.
John had apparently been drinking as she could smell it along with cigar fumes on him as their carriage took them home but for once, Cora didn't care about what would likely happen that night. Nothing could curb her high spirits on this night because she felt like she had met an angel, a true gentleman. He was the sort of man she so wished John could be and Cora could not get him out of her head.