A sharp rapping at the front door of Brougham House pulled Elliot out from inspecting the dining room for His Lordship's breakfast, not that His Lordship had been home much recently. For once, however, His Lordship had decided to eat in and Elliot wanted to be extra prepared. His employer was a ticking time bomb these days and with Her Ladyship gone leaving no trace along with her Ladies Maid, Elliot often wondered how long it would be before Lord John finally cracked under the strain.

Reaching the door, Elliot unbolted it to find himself face to face with a man that he had never seen before in his life. The man was quite young and wore a low quality business jacket with an old fob watch just visible from the right pocket. He had sandy hair and a weather-beaten face. "May I help you sir?" Elliot enquired politely.

"No I think it is I that can help you," the man replied gruffly.

"Excuse me sir? Why do I need help?" Elliot looked at the man suspiciously.

"I mean your master old man," the visitor responded sarcastically. "Is he home?"

"Yes though he isn't seeing any callers." Elliot shot the man a look, reeling from his snide tongue.

"He'll want to see me."

"Does he know you?"

"No, but he'll be very interested in the information I have for him."

Muffled sounds from the kitchen greeted Robert's sleepy brain in the bedroom at Rooksway. He stretched his legs under the covers, trying to gather his wits as a soft sigh tickled his chest. Pulling his eyelids apart, Robert looked down to find Cora right where she had fallen asleep and he lay quietly and watched her dozing for a couple of minutes. Her hair was draped over his right arm, her head rested on his shoulder, one silky smooth leg had found its way in between his legs and her hand rested over his heart. She looked as though she was almost smiling in her slumber, such was her contentment and Robert marveled at her unparalleled beauty.

The smell of Miss Lacombe's cooking had started to waft under the door and Robert heard his stomach complain about the torture. He froze in embarrassment as Cora began to stir. She shuffled a bit closer to him and, seemingly satisfied that she was comfortable again, started to breathe rhythmically again. Robert thought fast. He did not want to wake her up but his stomach was starting to make a very strong case and it would be such a shame to let good food go cold. He tilted his head down and started to pepper her forehead with kisses while his arm simultaneously began to rub her back.

"Cora my love," he whispered and stroked her cheek with his free hand.

"Mmmwha?" Cora was wonderfully warm and comfortable and had no interest in moving.

"Its midmorning and Miss Lacombe is cooking us breakfast, I can smell it." Cora shifted her hand from his heart down to the other side of his body and held on to him.

"Trust a man to think with his stomach," she mumbled. "Must we get up?"

"Surely you don't want to waste the day?" Robert adopted a tone of mock horror. "Not when you are going shopping?" he informed her. Cora shook herself awake and lifted her head to stare at him.

"Shopping?" she said blankly, still feeling a bit drowsy.

"Yes, you are going to Ripon today to get some new clothes. I daresay Rosamund will want hers back at some point, Miss Lacombe will accompany you."

"But what is the hurry? Surely we won't be seeing her that soon and why can't you come with me?" Cora rolled away from him in a pout.

"I wish I could come with you my dearest but if the villagers see us together then our cover will be blown." Robert shifted onto his side and maneuvered himself until he was pressing against her from behind while balancing on one elbow. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck, his arm drifted over her waist and his hand snuck up to her breasts which were squeezed together a little bit from her position. His fondling easily distracted Cora from the discussion at hand as his touch began to stoke the fire he had created inside her the previous night. Growling stomach forgotten, Robert Crawley concentrated on a much more desirable morning activity.

The road crossing was not far off and Robert could already see the figure of another man as he hurried on. He had seen Cora off to Ripon nearly half an hour ago before hurrying out to the prearranged meeting point with his investigator. Robert finally reached him and stepped around a puddle to come face to face with his companion. The wind whipped over the blades of green grass, fresh and healthy from the rain during the night. It played with the hem of both men's jackets as they stood just off the road, silently communicating with their eyes.

"Good morning Mr Murdoch," Robert said cordially.

"Good morning Lord Downton," Mr Murdoch replied and tipped his hat to Robert. "I believe you are in need of my assistance?" he stated.

"Yes indeed," Robert confirmed. "I need you to go to London and track Lord John Durham for me. Take note of where he goes, what he does and any aggressive behaviour, particularly towards any ladies in society. Please be discreet as well, I don't want you getting into difficulties." Mr Murdoch nodded.

"Do not worry Lord Downton; I am not new to this sort of work."

"I know, I didn't mean to offend you. I am sorry if I have." Mr Murdoch nodded again. He liked Lord Downton very much. He was an amiable gentleman, honourable and very wise for one so young. When Lord Downton had first contacted him, seeking his advice on his situation, Mr Murdoch had felt mixed emotions about helping the young Lord. But as their correspondence continued and more information came to light, Lord Downton had convinced him comprehensively that it was in everyone's best interests to help him, even Lord John's himself.

"I will leave directly for London Lord Downton," Mr Murdoch concurred. "It is but an hour's walk to Downton Station from here and once there, I will send back regular reports."

"Thank you Mr Murdoch," Robert acknowledged gratefully. Mr Murdoch went to take his leave when Robert stopped him. "One more thing."

"Yes?"

"Please get this letter to my sister Lady Rosamund Crawley first. She is also semi-privy to what is going on and she is one of my closest allies. She could be very helpful to you for her way of thinking can be quite imaginative more often than not."

"Very good Your Lordship," Mr Murdoch said. He bowed to Robert respectfully who nodded in return before hurrying down the muddy road in the direction of the train station. Meanwhile, Robert turned on heel and set off back to Rooksway at a quick pace.

Lady Crawley was about halfway home from calling on Miss Hepworth when her carriage suddenly pulled over on the side of the road. Befuddled, she peered out the window and silently cursed her incompetent driver. Then the driver jumped down onto the sidewalk and she heard urgent voices but couldn't make out what they were saying. A feeling of apprehension began to nibble away at her stomach as the voices continued to converse, then all at once, the carriage door was opened and a man Rosamund had never seen before jumped in and took a seat opposite her.

"Excuse me sir but this is a private carriage!" Rosamund said indignantly.

"I know it is My Lady and I do beg your pardon. It is just that I have a letter from your brother," the stranger quickly explained.

"You do?" Rosamund could hardly contain her surprise. Clearly, her little brother was taking every possible precaution to keep Cora safe. Cora. She hadn't even noticed until this moment that she had begun to think of the young woman as more of a sister let alone use her first name.

"I am Mr Murdoch and I work privately for your brother. I know all the particulars of what has happened but Lord Downton wants this kept quiet. He specifically asked me to find you and give you this though." Mr Murdoch drew a letter out from his waistcoat pocket and handed it over. Rosamund accepted it and glanced down to see Robert's eloquent handwriting on the front of it.

"Thank you for giving me this as I confess to wondering when I would hear from him again. It is much appreciated. But pray tell me, what is it he is trying to do? What is the 'this' that you mentioned?" Rosamund looked at the well dressed gentleman curiously.

"I'll explain as we go along. Your brother thinks highly of you and thinks you can help." Rosamund raised an eyebrow.

"Drive on!" Mr Murdoch called out to the driver and the carriage jerked forward.

Having barely removed his walking boots, Robert looked up from the sofa and out the window as a hired carriage pulled up outside the cottage. He caught a glimpse of Cora and Miss Lacombe as they disembarked and made their way to the front door. Seconds later, there was the sound of a clicking lock and then the front door opened.

Cora made her way into the dining room and looked across to the open plan lounge to find Robert sitting serenely on the sofa and giving her an approving smile with his eyes. Miss Lacombe came up and murmured something Robert couldn't hear before taking her leave.

Once the door had closed and the carriage had pulled away, Cora sauntered over to Robert who immediately rose from his perch. He placed both of his hands on each side of her head and ran his fingers through her hair before lowering his jaw until it was level with hers. Cora took up the invitation and for a few blissful seconds, her lover kissed her tenderly. Robert nipped at her bottom lip and pulled back to see a delightfully surprised Cora whose eyes were following his every move.

"Well how did you get on my dear?" Robert focused his full attention on Cora's eyes as his hands ran down from her head to her arms, which Cora was finding just a little bit distracting.

"It all went very well thank you. I have been measured by the local seamstress and have picked out my materials etcetera. She says the dresses and nightgown will all be ready by the end of the week." Robert looked pleased as Mrs Galbraith had always been efficient getting Rosamund's items of clothing finished smartly and to her own set time frame as well. "Oh and I used another name to be on the safe side," Cora added as an afterthought. Robert was now visibly impressed.

"Good thinking. I am curious though Cora. What does Mrs Galbraith think your name is?" Cora ran her hands up his chest and they meet together behind his neck.

"She thinks I am called 'Miss Astor'. It was the only name I could think of at the time and they are very good friends of my family back home. I couldn't use an English name because of my accent," Cora explained. Robert let out a rush of air through his nose and grinned coyly as he shook his head slowly in disbelief. "What?" Cora pressed him, feeling the urge to laugh for no apparent reason.

"My word Cora, I am so grateful that you chose to be mine. I couldn't ask for a better partner or a more intelligent one." Cora tugged on his neck playfully as his fingers crept lower.

"Thank you Robert. I feel the same about you," she whispered as he urged her back towards the sofa, trailing kisses down her neck to her chest. Moaning softly, she allowed Robert to lower her onto the couch as his hands began to wander into more intimate areas.

Back in London, Rosamund had just arrived home and was now standing outside the front door of Crawley House, waiting for Oldroyd to let her in. The door opened and she found herself face to face with none other than Marmaduke.

"Marmaduke what are you-"

"Shhhh," Marmaduke hissed with his second finger to his lips and pulled her over the threshold, taking care to shut the door very quietly. Rosamund then followed him as he crept stealthily down the hallway and came to a stop behind a table with a floral arrangement done by Lady Grantham.

"I really don't understand-" Rosamund whispered, trying again to make sense of Marmaduke's peculiar behaviour.

"Are you two going to have a staring match all day?" Lady Grantham's voice ripped through the silence in the drawing room just beyond the table.

"My son is an honourable man and I refuse to believe that what Lord Durham says is true! Your source must have clearly been mistaken sir," Lord Grantham snarled. Rosamund's stomach did a lurching somersault in horror. Lord Durham had somehow found out about Robert and Cora!

"How dare you insinuate such a thing," John retorted. "My source is very reliable so you had better accept the facts Lord Grantham! Where is he? Where did he tell you he was going?"

"On a countryside expedition with a couple of his old school friends," Violet cut in before Patrick could answer.

"Violet," Patrick hissed. Dissention was quickly descending on the inhabitants of the drawing room.

Out in the hallway, Rosamund exchanged a look with Marmaduke. He decided with everyone speaking a lot more loudly he could risk voicing the explanation he knew he owed his flame. "I called to see if you were here," he whispered in a hushed tone. "They think I left just before Lord Durham showed up but I was in fact in the gents. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but curiosity got the better of me." Rosamund took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently.

"Come with me," Rosamund said and lead him back towards the front door. She knew she had to warn her brother, get to him before Lord Durham at all costs. As far as she could make out, he would not find out Robert's whereabouts here which gave her more time but firstly, she needed to talk to Marmaduke properly and discreetly. It was her turn to explain.

"Where are we going?" Marmaduke protested quietly as he glanced almost longingly back at the drawing room door. He wanted to find out what would happen next but the seed of curiosity that Rosamund had just planted in him with her simple words was now sprouting and growing faster.

"The George Inn." Rosamund answered shortly.