Cora and Margaret settled themselves in Cora and Robert's sitting area with an elaborate tea the next afternoon while the men went – well, Cora wasn't sure where they'd gone. The two women had been shopping that morning and had had their luncheon in an elegant restaurant before they'd parted to rest a while. Now they'd reconvened, and Cora realized she hadn't seen her husband all day. Then, she colored, thinking of the last time she had seen him.

Pouring herself another cup of tea, Margaret settled back against the settee. "What sort of thoughts made you blush all of a sudden, pray tell, Cora?"

Finishing a cucumber sandwich, Cora shook her head slightly. "I shouldn't say, Margaret. I don't want to embarrass anyone." She grinned.

Margaret let out a rich chuckle. "As you like, dear. Although I'm not the type to be embarrassed."

Cora laughed. "How do you know I meant you?"

"Well, perhaps you didn't. I won't pry, then." Margaret took a sip of her tea, then looked at Cora more seriously. "Are things any better between you two?" They hadn't really discussed this during their outing that morning, concentrating instead upon purchasing expensive lingerie and exquisite millinery. Cora had even picked out a gorgeous new night dress for the night she would invite Robert back into her room. It was, after all, their honeymoon.

Sighing, Cora shrugged. "It seemed better last night. Did you see the necklace I wore?" At Margaret's nod, Cora went on. "Well, he brought me that as a gift – to cheer me, he said."

"Yes, Henry mentioned that Robert had gotten you a gift whilst they were out yesterday." Margaret picked up a biscuit.

"Margaret, I just don't know. Sometimes Robert is tender and gentle and caring, and sometimes…." Cora closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "Sometimes he appears completely indifferent to me. I don't know what to make of it. But last night, he left me with such a wonderful kiss."

"Well, that's something, isn't it?"

Cora shrugged again. "Every time I allow myself to think that, I get disappointed." Her eyes fell to the teacup she held in her lap. "Sometimes I wonder why I didn't go when my mother asked me to before," she said in a tiny voice.

A voice Margaret obviously heard. She leaned forward, her long arms reaching across the small table between them, and rested her hand on Cora's. "Because you loved him. And you still do."

Cora swallowed hard, nodding. "I do." After a moment, she turned her hand to clasp Margaret's, grateful for her friend. She lifted her eyes. "I even told him once – that I'd fallen in love with him."

"What did he say?" Margaret prompted softly.

Fighting back tears – not because she was ashamed of shedding them in front of Margaret, but because she wanted to be able to talk – Cora replied, "He looked shocked. Then, I think, a little sad. He said that he'd never considered it. He wanted me to be his wife because he thought I would be a good partner for him. And because I was the only one he could even see himself with. I can't fault him for being honest with me. It's the kind of man he is. The man I fell for in the first place." Tears escaped her eyes. "But, oh, Margaret, I wish he could love me."

Margaret, who Cora gathered was not easily moved to tears, appeared unable to speak for a moment and pulled out her handkerchief. "I see now how very fortunate I am," she whispered. "But I don't think you should give up, Cora. Remember, I've known him for many years – at least as much as our social circle brought us together from time to time. He's never really gone after women. A few flirtations that fell flat before many weeks were out, I'd say, but nothing like when he pursued you. And, remember, he did pursue you, Cora. And he did ask you to stay. But as he's not had many relationships before, he could be just as confused as you are. Did you ever think of that?"

Cora thought about this a moment. "You know, Robert's father said something very similar to me on our wedding day – about Robert not having much interest in women before me. As for the confusion – no, I hadn't really thought of that. Robert doesn't seem the type to be confused." A conversation they'd had their first night came flooding back to her all of a sudden. "Although he did once tell me that I made him forget himself." She blushed, smiling a little.

Pressing her hand warmly, Margaret smiled back. "Cora, I don't think all is lost. As difficult as it is, don't give up hope. We both know that Robert is a good and worthy – albeit sometimes misguided –" here she chuckled lightly – "man. And good men are worth waiting for."

Dabbing at her wet cheeks with her handkerchief, Cora sighed. "But what if it's all for naught? What if he never loves me the way I do him?"

Margaret was silent, gazing at her friend, evidently unsure what to say to keep her from despair. "Only time will tell, Cora," she said softly. "In the meantime, you have more than many women of our station have: Robert respects you and treats you as an equal. He doesn't shun you or berate you."

Cora rolled her eyes. "No, I have his mother to do that."

"But he doesn't like it when she does, does he?"

"No, he doesn't," Cora admitted. "Although he's done very little to defend me to her either."

Margaret's brows drew together. "Give him time. I know a bit about his relationship to Lord and Lady Grantham. It's very difficult for him to stand up to his mother, I'd expect. She's notorious for being formidable."

Cora began to laugh. "Well, that's true enough." After a moment she grew silent again. "But he has stood up for me before – that's what I find so bewildering."

Squeezing her friend's hand, Margaret asked, "He has?"

"Yes. When Lady Grantham accused me of having an affair with a footman – in front of my mother. And Robert." Cora went a deep shade of scarlet.

Margaret's mouth gaped open. "Why would she do that?"

The heat rose even higher in Cora's face. She cast her eyes to the carpet. "Robert and I – well – we didn't wait for our wedding night," she murmured.

"Cora!" Margaret's expression was a mixture of astonishment and awe. "What – how?"

"He and his father had 'the talk' – you know the one, I think – two days before we were to be married, and Robert knocked on my door, and we hadn't been alone together in so long…." Cora paused to take a deep breath, her eyes still on the floor. "Robert kept telling me he would leave, but I didn't want to wait. He kissed me, and his arms were around me, and I didn't want it to end." She raised her eyes to her friend. "Am I horrible, Margaret?"

Margaret shook her head and smiled softly. "No, Cora. It's not horrible. I think you needed to be close to him – am I right?" Seeing Cora's acknowledgement of the truth of this, she continued. "And Robert stood up to his mother? Admitted that he'd been with you before you married?"

"Yes," Cora breathed. "It was magnificent, although my mother might have been the greater antagonist to Lady Grantham." She laughed lightly.

"Cora, I don't think that's a small thing for Robert, to admit such a thing to his mother. He must have been mortified."

"He was. But he stood his ground. I was so proud of him, Margaret. After that, though…. I don't know. He has such respect for his mother, even when she's cruel to me. He says he doesn't like it, but he doesn't do anything about it." Cora put her head in her hand. "I don't know what to think anymore. I want to think the best of him –"

"Then do," Margaret interrupted. "Think the best of him. Please, Cora. Would you have ended up with someone you were even half so happy with in Newport or New York?"

Her question startled Cora a bit. She looked up. "I – probably not. I love Robert. I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone else."

"Then I think you know what to do. You have to give him a chance." Margaret's eyes bored into Cora's, as serious as Cora had ever seen her.

"I will," whispered Cora. "I will."

When Cora stepped out of her room to join her husband that evening, she caught sight of his face and immediately blushed. She did her best not to grin, yet ended up blushing harder as he approached her.

He took her arm, and they went downstairs to join their friends for dinner. After dinner they went dancing. Cora could not seem to stop blushing, to stop glancing at him and remembering – the kiss or what she saw and heard through the keyhole.

Robert smiled down into her face as they danced, and she could barely breathe, her entire body tingling with hope and love.

After several hours of dancing, Robert leaned near to her and whispered in her ear, suggesting a stroll in the gardens. "It's quite close in here, Cora," he offered in explanation.

This did not help Cora with her attempt to stop the blush from spreading. Nevertheless, she nodded, and they said goodnight to Henry and Margaret, the latter sending Cora a surreptitious wink.

Once they'd strolled a little while in silence, Robert stopped her, his expression serious.

"Cora?" he inquired. "Is something wrong?"

This only made her feel warmer. She cast her gaze down onto the path. "No," she said. "Nothing is wrong."

"But you appear very flushed, and you have been all evening. Are you certain you aren't ill?" He tugged off a glove and touched the back of his hand to her forehead, and she closed her eyes, breathing harder.

"Yes, I'm certain." She let out her breath in a long exhale, enjoying the feel of his hand upon her brow.

Robert removed his hand in the next moment, replacing his glove. "Well, you don't feel overly warm to me. Although I thought you might be too warm inside and that the cold air would help. If you seem feverish tomorrow, I would suggest seeing the resort physician."

Cora opened her eyes and smiled. "I assure you that I'm perfectly healthy, Robert."

"I'm happy for that then." He bent his head to her ear yet again, murmuring, "I had some champagne sent up to our room to await our arrival, and I wouldn't want it to go to waste."

"Champagne?" Cora blinked at him in disbelief.

"Yes. We've been spending so much time with Margaret and Henry – not that I haven't enjoyed it – and very little time with one another. Especially in the past several days." He took her hand and kissed it, then threaded her arm through his to walk with her again.

Cora didn't know what to say, so she stayed silent, her heart pounding.

They wound through the high garden hedges together in companionable silence for a time. Then, coming across a secluded nook containing a stone bench, Robert let out a low chuckle. "This reminds me of our first kiss. Do you remember?"

"Of course I remember," she said softly, astonished when he drew her to the bench and had her sit with him.

"Except – this time – I can see you." He gave her a wide smile. "And you're just as beautiful now as you were then." He reached a gloved hand up and brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek.

Cora emitted an involuntary sigh and closed her eyes once more.

Then his lips converged upon hers, his hand cupping her face. The kiss was gentle, his lips rubbing against hers, as if he were savoring the taste and feel of her lips. Cora found herself unable to do anything other than return his kiss, so surprised was she. Her hands and arms felt numb, and her heart thumped an excited staccato. Another breathy sigh rose from her throat, and this seemed enough incentive for her husband to deepen the kiss.

After several moments of this sweetest of heavens – in Cora's view – Robert ended the kiss. Cora fluttered open her eyelids and stared at his smiling face in awe, rendered speechless. His thumb stroked her cheek lightly. "It's starting to get colder, Cora. We should go upstairs and open the champagne. Would that suit you?"

Cora nodded, thinking that she had not noticed the cold, his kiss had warmed her so. He stood and extended his hand to her, pulling her arm through his to walk with her back into the hotel.

Robert kept glancing around at her with a smile as they made their way upstairs to their suite. This had her blushing again. When they walked in, he ushered her to the settee, then, taking off his gloves, picked up the bottle of champagne, checking to be sure it was thoroughly chilled before beginning to open it. Cora watched his tongue poke out of the side of his mouth with concentration, careful not to giggle at this.

He paused once he got close to pulling the cork all the way out, and glanced at her. "You're very quiet, Cora. You're certain you're feeling alright?" His brows drew together.

If she were honest, Cora would have to tell him that she'd been so happy that she'd been afraid to speak and possibly break the spell. Instead she shook her head slightly and said, "Yes, I'm feeling very well, Robert." She cocked her head at him. "I hadn't expected you would know how to open a bottle of champagne."

Robert chuckled, Cora relieved he knew what she meant. "Yes, well, the lads at school used to sneak bottles from receptions into our rooms, and we all got very good at opening them properly." A soft hiss from the bottle indicated the cork had been freed. "We didn't want a loud noise to give us away." He held up the cork and then deposited it onto the table before pouring two glasses.

"But you don't really like champagne," she said as he handed her a full glass.

"No, and I didn't often indulge, but they came to me to open the bottles because I apparently had a way with them." He sat beside her and took a sip.

"Well, that's certainly a skill I hadn't known one could possess." Cora laughed and had a long drink from her flute.

He presented his hand with a flourish. "One of many ways of being good with your hands."

Cora choked on the champagne, beginning to cough. What she'd seen through the keyhole had suddenly flashed through her head.

"Are you alright?" He raised his hand again, poised to thump her on the back if necessary.

Nodding, Cora coughed for another minute before her throat felt clear enough again. She was almost grateful for the fit of coughing; it successfully hid how red she'd blushed at the memory.

"Would you like some water?" Robert half stood, a questioning look on his face.

"Yes," she answered with another small cough. "Thank you," she said when he'd brought it, feeling much better after she had some.

He put the water glass aside after she finished it. "Better?" He smiled at her.

Returning the smile, she had a sip of champagne. "Yes."

"Good."

When he took a drink, Cora realized she'd begun staring at his hands. She marveled at how strong they looked, and yet how gently she knew he could touch her. She'd never really noticed before how beautiful his hands were. And then she wished she could hold them and trace over the lines in his palms, map them all in her head, memorize the contours of his fingers, and press soft kisses to the backs of them.

"Cora?" Robert's voice nudged her from her reverie.

"Hmm?" She tore her eyes reluctantly from his hands and settled them upon his face.

"You appeared lost in thought." He cleared his throat softly. "But perhaps you're tired. We can retire if you prefer. I just wanted –"

He appeared disappointed at the idea that they might end the evening here. Cora shook her head, giving him a smile. "No, Robert. I'm fine, really. I was simply, well, lost in thought, like you said." She lifted her flute a trifle. "Besides, there is still champagne left."

"That's true," he conceded, grinning at her and having another sip of his.

The way he gazed at her made her heart pound. Then he sidled closer to her on the settee, taking her hand. She glanced down at their hands and back up at him, trying to control her suddenly erratic breathing.

Perhaps Margaret had been right.

Once they'd drained their glasses, instead of pouring more, Robert put his down, then carefully took hers away and placed it next to his. He leaned forward and kissed her again, rather like he had in the garden. He pressed her hand and rested his other upon her neck, just above her collar bone. "Cora," he murmured as his lips left her mouth and kissed gently along her jawline.

"Robert, I still have several more days… we can't…." Her whisper ended in a contented sigh as she tilted her head back to accommodate his desire to kiss her throat.

"I know," he breathed against her neck before raising his head to look at her, his hand gliding over her shoulder briefly before caressing her cheek. He gazed at her intently. "I just wanted to kiss you."

Dipping his head down, he kissed her again, releasing her hand to slide his fingers up her arm to the top of her long glove, working this down. Cora worried the tiny buttons at her wrist until they were undone, making it easier for Robert to remove the glove. Dropping this upon the floor, he grazed his fingertips over her arm with the lightest of touches, sending chills up and down Cora's spine. A delighted purring escaped her throat as he continued to kiss her and move his hand up and down her arm.

Eventually Robert clasped her hand in his once more and drew back from her with a smile, running a thumb along her cheek. "Is that alright? If I sometimes just want to kiss you?"

Cora's heart leapt. "Of course it is." She met his smile with one of her own.

"More champagne?" he asked.

She didn't see how the evening could continue in its perfection, so she answered, with a tiny shake of the head. "No, I think I'll go to bed now. I'm rather tired, Robert."

"I understand," he said with a nod. Cora thought she detected a hint of disappointment, although his smile didn't waver.

"I had a marvelous evening." She squeezed his hand and lifted his other from her cheek gently, pressing it in her own. "Goodnight, Robert," she said softly, rising from her place on the settee and releasing his hands. She cast a glance over her shoulder before she disappeared behind her door, a blush creeping into her face to see that his eyes had followed her.

Leaning against the back of the door, Cora traced her fingers over her lips, closing her eyes. "Perhaps Margaret is right," she whispered to herself with a smile.

For the next several days, Cora felt as if she were in a dream world. She and Robert spent a great deal of time with their friends still, but every day Robert carved out several hours that they would spend alone together. They went into the city or walked along the beach or had tea in their suite. And at night… every night Cora's sense of caution, of potential impending disaster would sneak into her mind and cause her to end them in a similar way as before.

But it had an unexpected effect. Her being the first to say goodnight appeared to encourage Robert to spend even more time with her on the subsequent day.

Then, on the fourth night, Cora said goodnight. But when she stood, she kept his hands in hers and bent to whisper in his ear. "You might join me tonight, after Banks has left." Without waiting for an answer, Cora brushed her lips over his and pulled her hands away, closing her door. She didn't even spare a glance behind her this time.

While waiting for Banks, she retrieved the new night dress from the wardrobe. She couldn't wait for Robert to see her in the tissue thin rose silk that she believed would highlight her slender curves to excellent advantage.

And when Cora saw his face after he entered her room, she knew it did.

"Oh… Cora… you…" He didn't manage anything else before he seemed too overcome and bounded across the room, wrapping his arms around her and pressing her tightly to his body as he kissed her even more intensely than he had all week.

What she had forgotten was how acutely he reacted to her when he'd missed a night in her company. Except, this time he'd been absent from her a week.

It was all over far too quickly.

Although not exactly disappointed, Cora felt somewhat cheated. Margaret had told her that it had taken her a few times to feel, well, what Cora thought she might feel. But, how was Cora to get there? As Robert rolled them onto their sides and held her against him, the new night dress still bunched up around her waist, she sighed silently. Perhaps it was time to speak to him.

Cora moved her hand from where she'd been stroking his hair for a while, Robert having fallen into a doze, to rearrange her night dress over her lower limbs. When she drew her hand back, she brushed against him by accident, eliciting a sharp gasp from her husband. Flicking her eyes down, she could see even in the dim light that he'd reacted to her brief touch.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, unsure what else to say.

She could tell that his face focused now on hers. "Only apologize if you won't let me be with you again," Robert whispered in earnest.

Cora's eyes went wide to realize that they could be together more than once in such a short space of time. It pushed what she'd been about to discuss with him into the furthest recesses of her mind. "No, it's alright." She touched his cheek and smiled.

With this permission, Robert cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. She slid her arms around him and ran her fingers over the muscles of his back. He sneaked one of his hands down between their bodies and kneaded a breast, making Cora breathe in sharply and prompting one of those wonderful tugs between her thighs.

"Robert," she sighed against his hair as his lips burned a trail of fire over her collar bone.

Lifting his head and pressing her back into the mattress once more, Robert grazed his fingers up her legs, dragging the hem of her night dress up as well. He murmured in her ear, "Cora, how do you bewitch me so?" He touched her cheek, looking down into her face, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"I don't quite know," she answered honestly, wishing it were lighter in the room so she could see his eyes clearly.

Then Robert bent his head down again and took her earlobe between his lips, beginning to gently nibble it.

"Oh my," Cora breathed as she closed her eyes and pushed her hips up against him involuntarily.

Robert let out a deep groan at this. "Cora, please," came his husky voice in her ear.

"Yes, Robert," she hummed, the surging of blood between her legs growing ever more intense.

In another moment, he'd slipped inside her and began moving. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her hips lifting to meet his strokes. Once more, just before he collapsed against her, she thought she might be close having the sort of experience her friends had described… yet, she didn't. She sighed as she held her husband against her, resting her cheek on the top of his head and blinking into the near darkness. She told herself to enjoy what she had and try not to worry about the rest. At least he was here in her arms for a while.

She hoped the rest would follow, in time.

During the last week of their honeymoon, Cora allowed this hope to strengthen. And because of this, they were halcyon days for her. Yes, Robert still left her room after they were together. Yes, they spent time with Margaret and Henry as well as time alone. But Cora had found a friend in Margaret, and she began to see Henry as a friend too.

Despite the fact that she couldn't change Robert's mind about sleeping in the same bed with her, Cora thought the two of them were becoming much closer. And, when he showed signs of leaving before she was ready, she'd "accidentally" brush her hand over him again, earning herself a second opportunity to be with him and then hold him close afterward.

Robert didn't seem to mind this.

When the final day of their trip approached, Cora felt confident enough in how everything between them was proceeding that she felt only a faint tug of sadness that they'd be departing the next day. Most of this sadness had to do with leaving Margaret and Henry, rather than leaving Nice. Their friends were staying for several more days, then they were off to tour Europe for a few months. Cora knew she would feel the loss of Margaret keenly over those months.

After tearful goodbyes on the part of the ladies and vigorous hand-wringing on the part of the men, Cora and Robert headed home. But instead of Cora watching Robert read the entire time, they talked and ate and laughed together, and Robert even made a few nocturnal visits to her.

Thus, it was with a great sense of peace that Cora watched Downton appear before them on the last leg of the journey. Now their marriage could really begin.