She dismissed her maid and went down the stairs hurriedly, fully conscious of how much she was late for dinner. She had not heard the dressing gong and if it wasn't for her maid, she would probably still sleeping in her bed. As she came down the stairs, feeling uncomfortable by the strange silence that seemed to have fallen over the house, she felt the strange sensation of being observed. She crossed the great hall to the drawing room and stopped at the door, turning her head to scour the large hall with her eyes. For a moment she felt the same warmth that used to rise her neck every time she felt Robert's gaze on her. Then she shook her head, completely upset with the impossibility of it, and opened the drawing room's door.
She was surprised to find the room already empty. It was true that she was late, but she inwardly thought that her family would be kind enough to wait for her. She walked to the dining room only to be stunned at the sight of a empty room. There was no sign of dinner, of her family or even of the servants. It wasn't so late that she had missed dinner completely. So where was everyone?
The room was softly illuminated by the light of candles scattered around the table on the chandeliers. Actually, now that she had noticed, it had more candles than usual. And then she saw the flowers. A trail of colorful flower petals spread across on the white towel on the long dining table, encircling a white envelope in its center.
She walked slowly toward the table and picked up the envelope, her hands trembling slightly, her heart pounding in her chest. She hesitated for a moment before opening the envelope, fearing create hope that her wishes had miraculously become reality. Inside the envelope was a note written in a handwriting Cora didn't recognize.
"There are always surprises under the Christmas tree. You just need to believe."
Then she heard the sound of violins and felt a pang in her chest. As she followed the sound of music in the great hall, all her senses told her that there was only one answer to that. But she was so afraid to be disappointed, that even after she entered the great hall and saw that familiar handsome man standing there, elegantly dressed up in his red military jacket and with those stunning blue eyes glowing softly in the candlelight, she was slow to believe in what she was seeing. She saw the coy smile on his lips and felt her knees tremble when he walked towards her, the image of his face suddenly blurred by the tears that formed in her eyes.
"You are here," she finally managed to say in a whisper, her voice choked with emotion. He nodded slowly, a gentle smile lighting up that face she loved so much. His eyes slid down her face, seeming to want to absorb every detail, every line, every curve, as warm as a caress. And she felt that familiar shiver ran down her neck. She reached out and touched his cheeck, her fingers gently sliding down his face, and he closed his eyes, letting himself get lost in the warmth of her touch.
"Am I dreaming?" The trembling of her voice made him open his eyes and smiled at her, covering her hand with his.
"No," he replied in a whisper at the same time he pulled her hand to his lips and placed a warm kiss on her palm, his eyes locked on hers. "But you're certainly the best of my dreams," he whispered, the electricity from the touch of his lips on her skin making her shiver slightly. Then he handed her the flower he held in his hand, causing her lips finally curved into a smile, which he returned with one of his own. So, he wiped the solitary tear that had rolled down her face with his thumb, and traced a slow path with his forefinger, first to her lips and then to her chin, which he held gently, slowly approaching his face to hers.
The sound of violins filled the air when he finally captured her lips in a passionate kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. She encircled his neck with her free arm, her fingers sliding gently through the hair of his nape. He felt in her sweet surrender the same urgency, her demanding lips hungry for his, without fear, without shame, just with that very same emotion that made his heart beat fast inside his chest as he deepened the kiss.
And when they broke their kiss, both breathless, she rested her head on his chest, listening to the unsteady beat of his heart. He kept her close to him, his strong arms tightly around her, as if he never wanted to let her go. And she felt happy and safe once more. They stayed silent for a long time enjoying being in each other's arms, wrapped in the soft music of violins, his hand sliding gently up and down on her back. Until he placed a kiss on the top of her head, and she pulled away from him slightly, just enough to be able to look at his face. She found on his lips that soft smile she loved so much and that look in his eyes which always made her heart beat faster.
"You didn't mention anything about coming home in your last letter...", she finally said, "So I thought..."
"I didn't know I would when I wrote it," he told her softly, placing a soft kiss on her cheek, "I'm sorry."
"And how long..." He silenced her by placing his forefinger gently on her lips and shook his head.
"No," his blue eyes sparkled when he smiled. "I don't want to waste any minute of tonight thinking about departures, my sweet darling. This is a night for encounters. A very desired one, I must confess. In a night that is only ours." He leaned over and kissed her on the lips again, this time more gently, and he felt her lips curving into a smile that was still there when he broke the kiss. He saw her fighting back tears again as she looked around until she spotted the violinists beside the Christmas tree.
"Did you organize this all by yourself? Flowers, violins, ... the surprising disappearance of the whole family?" She asked him, her eyes fixed on his with adoration, and he gave her that boyish smile, without hiding his satisfaction with himself. "I would like to say that yes, just to impress you, but... The truth is that I had some very special assistants."
"Well, you always impressed me. And today was no different."
"Truly?" He smiled coyly.
"Truly", she smiled back before kissed him tenderly. "And... where is everyone?" She raised an inquiring brow and he chuckled.
"Don't worry, I promised they are all safe in their bedrooms." He gave her a mischievous look and approached her to whisper in her ear, his lips lightly brushed against it, making her feel a shiver go down her spine. "What makes just the two of us for dinner," he told her in a teasing tone.
"Oh, so there will be a dinner?", she tilted her head with a mischievous glint in her eyes, and he grinned. "Tonight you are full of surprises, don't you?"
"You can't imagine how much," he said in a low voice making her feel the goose bumps in anticipation. "But, first things first, m'Lady. And if I still remember right, you love dancing. So...", he had a seductive smile playing on his lips as he leaned slightly, reaching for her. "May I have the honor of this dance, Lady Grantham?"
She smiled broadly, her first genuine smile in weeks, and held the hand he had extended to her. After she placed the flower gently on one of the support tables, he took her in his arms, making her to spin elegantly around the room to the sound of the violins. His eyes were fixed on hers and she held his gaze, a smile playing on her lips as she let herself be guided by him, feeling completely happy in his arms.
Slowly he pulled her closer to him, shortening the distance between them more than properly when they were in front of others. She offered no resistance, without caring about whoever would see them. Having him there, safe and sound, be like that in his arms, was all that mattered to her at that moment. Especially because something in the way he had spoken to her had given her the feeling that he would not stay for long. But she quickly forgot that dark thought when he smiled and said in a whisper.
"You look so beautiful…" She saw his eyes sparkle when she smiled. "You are so incredibly beautiful…" He then approached his face to hers, his lips mere few inches, to whisper on her lips, causing her to feel a warmth rise up her neck and cheeks. "And I've missed you so much..." He kissed her again, pressing his body into hers, his lips devouring hers and she felt her knees go weak. Her whole body immediately answered to his kisses and his touches. And as his lips slid down her neck, she tilted her head back slightly, indulging herself completely to that moment, being abandoned by any coherent thought. After all, that was their night.