It hadn't been a very busy night downstairs with only the family dining and most of the day's work had now finished for the servants, all except Thomas. He was sitting at the table in the servant's dining room sulkily wishing that he could turn in for the night like everyone else but alas, His Lordship's tweed jacket needed its left cuff mended. Lord Grantham had only noticed it when he had been rummaging in his closet for one of his more casual dinner jackets which meant Thomas had not had the time to see to it with dinner set to start. Carson was still insisting that he oversaw Jimmy and Alfred in the dining room, assisting if need be.

As much as Thomas felt he should like to put down the jacket and go to bed it was good to get a quiet moment. O'Brien was being a right old cow of late, mother ducking her nephew and treating him like a Pharaoh. Damn her. Alfred was not going to be the Earl's valet. He had waited so long for his opportunity and this young upstart was upsetting the balance of things.

Thomas finished his work and stood up, placing the jacket on his arm as he did so when he heard a crinkly rustling sound. He stepped towards the door that lead to the hallway and up the stairs to the servants' quarters and was met with silence. He turned his attention to the jacket and started searching the outside pockets which revealed nothing though he heard another rustle on the right hand side. Putting the tweed jacket on the table, Thomas lifted the right-hand side up and felt around the inside of the jacket for another pocket which he quickly located. He grasped what felt like paper and pulled out a telegram. Thomas knew he shouldn't read it but obtaining some information, whatever the contents, may prove to be useful at some point. Thomas unfolded the telegram and began to read.


Cora looked up expectantly as the door to Robert's dressing room opened and her husband appeared in his black nightgown. Robert closed the door behind him and ambled over to sit on his site of their bed so he could remove his footwear.

"You look tired darling," Cora observed.

"Oh, I'm alright. Just had an eventful day," Robert mumbled as he thought back to what had happened that morning.

"Well I can certainly sympathise with that. Isobel paid me the quickest call since I met her this afternoon. I'm sure she wasn't even five minutes!" Robert pushed his slippers to one side, pulled his feet up and slid them under the bedcovers. He turned to Cora with a bewildered expression.

"What on earth did you do to merit such a brief visit?" he asked.

"Absolutely nothing," Cora replied indignantly. "She let herself into my sitting room and proceeded to ramble about the village men wanting a cricket match with us."

"With us? Cora what on earth are you talking about?" Cora sighed and decided to start again.

"Isobel was approached by some of the village men today. They asked her to pass on a message to me regarding our families' interest in hosting a cricket match between them and us. I assume the servants are included or we would be short on numbers." Cora frowned as she tried for the first time since Isobel left that afternoon to piece it all together in her head.

"Do you know I haven't played cricket since studying at Eton. I used to be a bowler by preference." A smile crept onto Robert's face as he thought back to his school days. Those were his final carefree days with his friends spent indulging in sports and enjoying some space from his mother before he entered society and began searching for a suitable wife. His eyes flickered towards Cora who seemed to be amused about something. His eyebrows furrowed slightly and he rested his head against the headboard. "What is it?"

"Sorry darling, but the image of you bowling in a game of cricket outside the library-" Cora was unable to finish her sentence as she dissolved into a fit of giggles. Now Robert was the one feeling indignant as Cora wiggled right down into bed, trying not to laugh at the look on his face.

"I was quite good you know," Robert said. He tried to keep his tone light.

"How I would love to see your prowess darling. Hmmm, I think I am liking this proposed cricket match after all. I think I will tell Isobel to let the villager men know that we will host it." Cora winked at Robert and rolled onto her side, looking up at him mischievously. Robert gave up all hope of Cora taking him seriously and grinned down at her. He would show her when the time came. "So what did Sir Anthony want this morning?" Robert was caught off guard.

"I told you at dinner. He came to see me about his estate as he is having a problem with one of his tenants."

"I would think by now he would be perfectly capable of dealing with that sort of thing without great difficulty," Cora searched her husband's face. He seemed to be feigning indifference and once again Cora had a strong sense that Robert was only telling half the story. "Was that all he came to see you about?" She reached up and placed her arm on Robert's right shoulder and pulled herself up against him. Robert was momentarily distracted as he felt his wife's invitingly warm body press against his side.

"Yes, yes it was." Robert recovered just in time. He really wanted Edith's impending engagement to be a surprise for Cora after Mary's wedding at the end of the week especially considering the amount of time they had spent thinking it wouldn't even happen for Edith over the years. Robert only hoped his response had been convincing enough.

"You really must be tired Robert. Your reactions are getting rather slow." Cora pulled at Robert's shoulder again insistently, trying to encourage him to lie down with her. Robert offered little resistance as she planted a sweet kiss on his lips. "Roll onto your stomach darling."

"What for?" Robert had always thought himself in tune with his wife most of the time but tonight he felt he kept missing the mark. He complied and then let out a soft sigh as Cora began to massage his shoulders. She kept up her efforts for several minutes as Robert lay still and content, enjoying every relaxing movement her dainty hands gave him. The next three days would be hectic will last minute wedding arrangements but right now they couldn't be further from Robert's mind as he closed his eyes.

"I wonder when Sir Anthony will propose to Edith?" Cora mused out loud. She looked down to see her husband's eyes had flown open at her remark.

"I see what this is. You are cunning." Robert rolled onto his back, forcing her to cease her massage of his shoulders. He looked up at his Cora sitting beside him with a decidedly straight face.

"Cunning about what darling?" she prompted.

"About Sir Anthony of course. You knew just what you were doing giving me that massage." He gripped her arm and pulled her down under the covers again.

Cora grinned wickedly at Robert. "I knew that you would appreciate my massage since I don't often give you one. You are reading too much into nothing you silly man."

"Oh I don't think I'm silly at all this time, I think I'm right," he countered. "It is all too obvious now that I think about it. You had decided what you wanted to believe right from the start. It's you who is reading too much into nothing." Robert reached around and gave Cora's bottom a smack.

"Hey!"

"My loving but devious wife," Robert continued playfully as he rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow to look down at her.

Cora's nose was nearly touching his own when she responded, "well obviously not devious enough." She laughed softly as he closed the gap between them and gently laid her onto her back.

"We'll see," Robert whispered.