Cora took Robert's arm as he escorted her from the boat. They both smiled at the chauffeur and made their way to the waiting motor.
"Robert? Is that a Rolls Royce?" Cora asked.
"It is, my love. I mean for this trip to full of only the best of everything." Robert looked at his wife and smiled, pleased that she was happy with his choice of transportation. Cora looked up at her husband and returned his smile.
"Then I can't wait to see where we will be staying. You are so mean not telling me." She gave him a cheeky grin and squeezed his arm.
Robert chuckled as he helped her into the car. "I wanted everything to be a surprise, Cora. It won't be long before your curiosity is satisfied." He climbed into the car and sat next to her, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. "Not long, my love."
The car pulled away from the docks and made its way through the streets of Paris. Cora found she was unable to take her eyes from the passing scenery and listened intently as her husband pointed out various sites of interest along the way. She always loved when he told her of things that interested him. His voice always took on an excited tone and made her feel warm inside. She squeezed his hand and let him wax lyrical on his knowledge of Paris.
The motor began to slow and Robert kept his eyes on his wife's profile as she took in the hotel. She put her hand to her chest and took in a deep breath then turned and gave him the biggest smile he thought he'd ever seen. She cupped his cheek with her hand and spoke quietly. "Robert it's perfect. Thank you." She placed a small kiss on his lips before turning to look at their hotel once more.
Robert, wanting to be the perfect gentleman, climbed quickly from the car and almost ran around it to open his wife's door before the chauffeur could get there. He held her hand and helped her from the car then folded it over his arm before leading her into the hotel.
"Welcome to the Ritz, Paris, Lord and Lady Grantham. We are honoured to have you stay in our hotel." The manager shook Robert's hand and smiled at Cora before walking them personally to their suite. Once he had gone over everything he felt necessary for them to know and the porters had left their trunks they took each other hands and stood in the middle of their plush sitting room.
"This is beyond perfect, my darling." Cora looked up into her husband's eyes and stepped closer to him. "Just as I wanted it to be, Cora. I'm pleased you like it." Cora shook her head. "I more than like it, Robert, I adore it. We are going to have the most wonderful fortnight of our lives." Robert lowered his forehead to hers and rested it there. "That was my plan. Let's hope nothing ruins it." Cora looked deep into her husband's eyes and sighed happily. "Nothing will as long as you are here with me." She closed her lips over his and pulled him into a deep tender kiss.
Robert sat in the chair and watched his wife as she busied herself with their trunks. "Will you let me help, Cora?" She shook her head. "I may not be accustom to having to do this but at least I know how." She smiled at him and stopped briefly. "Anyway, it makes me happy, Robert. However much I love our lifestyle I like to be able to take care of you when I get the opportunity." She placed his ties into the drawer and closed it softly then continued with his shirts. Robert shook his head and looked out of the window at the view from their suite. "We can take a walk when you've finished fussing." Cora stopped and sighed. "I am not fussing, Robert, I am simply hanging our clothes so they have less creases. Do you want to be seen in Paris in crumpled clothes?" Robert shook his head and continued to gaze out at the sights. "No, but I don't see why you can't just let a maid do it. I didn't bring you here to fuss over things you don't have to." Cora sighed once more and placed his last shirt into his wardrobe. She turned and walked over to him, placed both hands on his back and started to make gentle passes over it. "My impatient husband." She rested her head against his shoulder blades and slid her hands around his waist. "How I love you so." Robert looked down at her hands and smiled. "That's better." He said as he turned in her arms and mirrored her actions. "I prefer you taking care of me this way than making sure my clothes are hung up." She gazed up at him and smiled warmly. "You remind me of when we were younger when you get like this, Robert, always wanting more of my time." Robert lifted his hand and ran his thumb across her cheek. "I can never get enough of you, Cora. That's why I brought you here. I want your undivided attention. No servants to direct. No estate to run. No grandchildren to entertain. Just you and I." He bent his head and kissed her gently before pulling her closer and deepening the kiss into a long passionate one.
Robert nodded to the manager as he led his wife through the foyer and out onto the streets of Paris. "Where would you like to go first, darling?" Cora shook her head a little and spoke excitedly. "Can we just walk and take in the sights and smells?" Robert chuckled. "We need to have a destination in mind, Cora. We can't just amble aimlessly around the streets of Paris." Cora stopped them and turned to him. "Why ever not? We did on our honeymoon." Robert laughed. "That was thirty five years ago. I imagine things might have changed somewhat since then." Cora nodded enthusiastically. "My point exactly, Robert. Let's go and discover Paris like we did when we were here last." As she said this she started to walk again but in a more determined fashion. Robert shook his head and grinned at his impetuous wife. "Whatever makes you happy, my love."
Robert and Cora walked the streets of Paris for what seemed to Robert like hours and hours. They discovered little backstreet cafes which Cora made Robert promise he'd bring her back to. They found boutiques that Cora spent also what seemed to Robert like hours and hours looking around. She even convinced him to buy her a new dress for their holiday which Robert was more than happy to do after many promises of what he might receive in return. They walked by the river, hand in hand and took every opportunity to steal a kiss. Cora convinced Robert to sample coffee with his croissant and laughed at the faces he made, finally giving in and letting him have tea. They shared pastries from a patisserie in the park and just took the opportunity to enjoy each others company without prying eyes or time restraints. Robert looked around many antiques shops for snuff boxes for his collection and was overjoyed to find a seventeenth century French box to add to it. Cora found a vase which she knew her mother in law would like so had it wrapped and sent home as a gift from them. They spent the whole day exploring the backstreets of Paris and enjoying every minute of it.
"Cora, it's getting late, we should get back to change for dinner." Cora, who was trying to make sense of the French newspaper her husband had bought, looked up. "Hmm, Robert?" He pointed to his pocket watch. "We should make our way back to the hotel, it's getting late." Cora closed the newspaper and pouted a little. "Must we? We've had such a wonderful day, Robert; can't we go back to one of the little cafes and eat there? Just this once?" Robert watched her and grinned when she smiled in her special way, knowing he couldn't resist. "Of course, my darling. Whatever makes you happy" They collected their purchases and wondered back, hand in hand, to a little café they'd seen earlier that day. They ate snails and frogs legs, and fed each other oysters. They drank wine and champagne and feasted on strawberries.
Robert, the happiest he remembered being for a long time, held his wife's hand as they strolled back in the moonlight to the hotel where they planned on finishing their night in the perfect way, both of them hoping this was just the start to a perfect fortnight.
