School's starting on Monday (today's Saturday)! I don't know how I'll keep up with this, but I'll think of something... Maybe write it during school and then quickly type it up at home? Might work, but I'm afraid people will go through my stuff and find it (happened once). But overall, I'm afraid it'll be shorter and/or updated less frequently.


Cora stared at herself through the mirror, admiring the silky new dark purple dress that Robert had bought her earlier that week when they went for a stroll. It complemented her dark hair and brought out her stormy blue eyes. Turning around in her leather-lined seat, her eyes met her ladymaid, Mrs. O'Brien. "Do you know where Robert is?" she beseeched, concerned. She had not seen him all morning, not in bed when she awoke or at the breakfast table when she arrived.

"My Lady, I was told that His Lordship went out to the village," O'Brien replied with not much emotion. Cora turned back to face the mirror, and O'Brien began tying Cora's hair back with her quick fingers.

"To see who?" she questioned after O'Brien finished, looking for anything that seemed off.

"Dr. Clarkson, I believe, to get glasses."

She said nothing in return, but her eyebrows raised in question. "I didn't know he was going today..." she murmured half to herself as her ladymaid was finishing up with her,

"To be honest, My Lady, I think His Lordship was rather keen on having Your Ladyship's complete knowledge of this to be nonexistent." O'Brien stood back as Cora twisted and turned to catch all the views of her new dress.

"Well, isn't that so?" Cora spun herself around, her dress flowing in the air. She abruptly stopped, satisfied with the little restriction of her dress, and she smiled and nodded at her ladymaid. "Thank you, O'Brien."

O'Brien ducked her head down in respect, and Cora watched as she left the room.

"Glasses, today?" Cora spoke aloud to herself in the empty room, thoughtful.


Robert gripped the door handle, and as quietly as possible, he slid the back door open. He stepped inside the cleaning room, casting wary glances around him. Once he realized he was alone in there, he relaxed a little, and he took his glasses off of his nose and stuffed them inside the given case.

"Robert?"

Cora saw him whirl around, surprise masking his face. She stood outside of the back door, her arms crossed in front of her. "Where were you?" she prompted, her voice giving no signs of her knowing.

He flashed her a meek smile, and with a flourish, he tipped his hat to his wife. "In the village, dear..." It sounded more like a question that an answer.

"With Doctor Clarkson?" She caught him, and they knew it.

Robert let out a sigh of defeat, and muttered, "Yes. For the glasses." He appeared genuinely upset and embarrassed.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were going out this morning?" Cora asked, taking his hand into hers. "It's nothing to be so flustered about."

Like a guilty schoolboy, he slowly raised his shoulders in a tiny shrug as if that answered all her questions. "I don't know, dear. I'm sorry," he interjected.

She squeezed his arm and gave him a swift, small kiss on his lips, and he quietly returned it with a smile. Cora could practically see him feeling better as they looked at each other with intent and steady eyes.

"Well. Let me see you with them," she finally said, once they calmed down a bit.

"I'm afraid," he confessed, removing his new glasses from the case, "I look quite like a silly boy with them on." But nonetheless, at his wife's beckoning, he plopped the glasses on.

Wow. Her breath caught in her throat, and a small smile crept up to her lips. It was a fresh look for him, and not in a bad way at all. The wire-rimmed glasses made his cool-mannered blue eyes seem ever the more intelligent, and it suited his gentleman persona he proudly wore around with him.

"You look..." she breathed, more than attracted to him, "... Endearing."

"Endearing?" Always amused, Robert shook his head, his lock from his hair falling playfully over his forehead. A cheeky smile tugged on the corner of his lips, and his brow rose ever so lightly. He took her by her hands, drawing her closer to his body so he could whisper, "Judging by your response, I'm more than just 'endearing'."

"Well, yes." She pressed against his chest, peering up to his sweet eyes framed by his glasses, the lights in his eyes dancing. Reaching out with her index finger, she lowered his glasses down to the bottom of his nose.

Following suite, he tilted his chin down, the glasses resting right under his eyes and gave her a mock-serious look. "Miss Levinson," he rumbled, shocking her by saying her maiden name, "It seems you have yet another infraction."

"Yet again?" she gasped playfully, circling her arms around his neck, her fingers brushing the edge of his hair. "Do I have to meet you after class, Professor Crawley?" Cora made a fake pouting face, evoking a small laugh from the two of them.

He grinned lopsidedly, his hand cupping her cheek. "You know the rules," he murmured in a low, gravelly tone, his warm, soft breath reaching her cheeks. He leaned towards to plant a well-deserving kiss on the tip of her nose, and winked into her eyes. "And if you're late, you're twice in trouble, and I would have to arrange another meeting."

"You know me so well." She laughed into his salt-and-pepper hair, running her fingers the silky strands.

"I do, don't I?" Robert buried his chin into her shoulder, leaving a line of kisses on her neck. "I know everything about the teacher's pet."


Some fluffy goodness for you guys. ;3

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