"You seem to have returned to your normal self, Cousin Cora." came Isobel's voice from across the dinner table. Cora's eyes snapped away from the glass her mind had been sinking into. She'd found her mind wandering right through the meal, unable to truly involve herself in the conversations flipping between her family. She had become quite an expert at plastering a mask over her face... So many years of these gatherings had taught her well. Smile and nod every now and then, usually she could float through a dinner unscathed. The likes of Isobel though, seemed to be able to detect a detached mind a whole mile away.

"Thank you, I think it's safe to say I'm out of the woods now." She flashed a pleasant smile across the table at the older woman.

"I'm glad... How is Miss O'Brien? Matthew tells me she refused to shift from your side for weeks!"

"Quite true. I'm not sure what I'd have done without her." Cora glanced at Robert, who dropped his gaze to his place and continued as if he hadn't heard a single word. A spark of anger shot through her. After everything O'Brien had done, and Robert still could not bring himself to like the woman. She fought hard not to allow the scowl brewing behind her mask show on her face. Where had he been when she was ill, thinking death was at her bedroom door? Hidden away with one of the housemaids! Stop it.

She put her glass to her mouth quickly. This wasn't the time to think about that, not here at the dinner table. She could feel her cheeks warming... She needed a distraction, so etching to change her path of thinking.

"I'm thinking of going to Ripon, tomorrow," she said, as pleasantly as possible. "I'm in need of a few things from the village, it might do me good to get some fresh air."

"No." Cora was unable to hide the frown from her face as her eyes snapped onto her husband, who had drawn the attention of everyone at the table.

"Papa?" Mary broke the uncomfortable silence that had descended upon the table, her expression matching Cora's.

"I said no." Robert shifted in his seat slightly, putting his glass to his lips for a second. Cora watched him, almost completely stupefied.

"Robert, I think you ought to inform them." Robert shot Matthew a dark look across the table, placing his cup back on the table. For a second he said nothing. Cora could see his brain ticking furiously, torn between telling them the issue and taking instruction from Matthew. He gave a small sigh.

"I was hoping to not worry any of you," Again, another dark look was sent Matthew's way. "But I would never forgive myself should something happen." Cora could almost hear every heart beating through the silence in the room. "I had a visit today from a police officer today. He informed me that there's been breakout from one of the institutions in one of the villages, not far from here. He tells me the man who has escaped is to be considered a great danger to everyone in the area." Every single pair of eyes were locked on him as he spoke. "So no, Cora, you aren't going to Ripon, not alone anyway. Matthew and I are busy tomorrow, so nobody is to go anywhere without speaking to me first." The firmness in his voice made the hairs on Cora's neck stand up. "Do you hear?"

She tried to keep her face as neutral as possible, the attention of the room now turning to her. She felt like a naughty child being scolded in front of the whole school, and it made her want to scream in his face. She gave a small nod, pleading desperately to herself to cease the burning of her cheeks.

"Yes."

How she got through the rest of the dinner, she'll never know, and before she knew it, she was bidding good night and climbing the stairs. Robert had given her a grunt, then turned his attention back to his conversation with Matthew. She found herself almost trembling as she closed the door to her bedroom, almost running to the bell to call for O'Brien.

What had happened between them? What had she done for him to distance himself so greatly? Surely it ought to be her giving him the cold shoulder? She hadn't had a fling with a member of the staff while he'd been dying of illness, had she? She hadn't slept with the maid, had she?! She growled in anger, sitting at the dressing table and putting her face in her hands.

"M'lady?" Cora almost jumped out her skin as her O'Brien moved behind her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you come in, O'Brien." Cora sat up, trying to regain her composure. She glanced at her maid through the mirror, but dropped it instantly. She was on the brink of crumbling, and she knew one tender look from her maid would push her over the edge. She started to take off her jewellery as O'Brien made for the pins in her hair. They were in silence for a few minutes, Cora closing her eyes at the feeling of O'Brien's fingers soothingly running over her scalp and through her hair.

"Are you alright, m'lady?" O'Brien asked quietly. Cora glanced up, O'Brien's gaze softly watching her through the mirror.

"Yes, thank you O'Brien." The sympathetic tones in O'Brien's voice made Cora physically quiver. She stood up as O'Brien began to pull the dress off her, every second the emotion threatening to brew over and completely engulf her. She could feel her eyes starting to burn as she turned to face O'Brien so she could prepare her for bed.

"No." O'Brien looked up quickly, honeyed eyes creasing as Cora brought a hand to her face.

And she broke.

The tears fell down her face, her shoulders trembled and a sob escaped her lips.

"Oh, m'lady..." She felt O'Briens arms tenderly embrace her, and she melted into her. There they stood, attached and connected, Cora's sobs being softened with every stroke of her hair. She felt so safe and protected, O'Briens comforting words brushing away the anger and frustration she'd felt moments before.

"There, there..." O'Brien cooed, steering Cora towards the bed and sitting them both down on the edge. Her hand stroked gently down Cora's back, and the Countess settled her head on O'Briens shoulder. Slowly through the occasional sob, Cora filled O'Brien in about the dinner. She said nothing when Cora first finished, and continued her comforting motions down her spine.

"I'm sure his Lordship just wants the best for you, m'lady. He just wants to keep you safe." Cora didn't reply, another tear rolling down her face. "It'll be alright, m'lady. Things have a way of working themselves out." O'Brien gently wiped the stray tear escaping down her face away, and Cora couldn't help but seek out O'Brien's eyes, now brimming with warmth and... Something Cora couldn't quite describe. She gave her a sloppy smile, her cheeks flushing in the warmth of O'Briens breath.

"Oh Sarah... What would I do without you?" The mention of her Christian name seemed to set something ablaze in O'Briens eyes, and Cora felt herself being drawn closer to her. The heat between them increased dramatically, and Cora could feel her stomach clenching, her heart rate increasing. The evening blurred, and she moved closer, inch by inch. She could feel O'Briens whole being mingling with her own. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing quickening. The draw to her was magnetic and inevitable...

"M'lady..." The spell was shattered as O'Brien got to her feet. Cora could feel her soul cracking within her, dread filling her up like cold water. "We can't... You have too much to loose. I can't let you risk everything for this."

Panic filled Cora's core, and she sat numbly on the bed. All her security walls had crashed around her in the space of a few seconds.

"Sarah... I..." She could feel the tears prickling at her eyes again and she stood up, taking O'Briens hand in her own. "You are... I need you with me, you're part of my very being... I think I..."

"M'lady... This world is not for us... You have your life, and I mine. In another time, another place..." Sarah looked away, tears falling down her cheek. Cora placed a trembling hand on Sarah's face, joining their foreheads together. Both women stood there, tears falling in unison.

Sarah said nothing else, copying Cora's gesture and placing a hand gently on Cora's face. She pulled away carefully, pausing for a second before opening door and disappearing into the corridor.

Cora sunk onto the bed, her hands trembling. The unfairness of it all came crashing down around her. The person to soothe everything was just there, within her grasp, and yet there was no way of penetrating the sheer reality of their situation. Sarah was right... And it made her want to crumble.