A/N: Thanks again for the reviews I've gotten in the last few chapters, please continue to give me feedback! It helps motivate me and I can know how to make my writing better. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well! Let me know what you think and leave a review!

During the season in London, Cora finds herself bored and feeling unsociable. How can Robert help? What happens when old topics stir up guilt and other feelings?

Chapter 10: When in London

Cora walked aimlessly around the sitting room, her mind miles away. Stopping at one of the large windows, she looked out onto the streets of London in summer. She was bored and tired of the parties for once. Usually the gracious and enthusiastic hostess, Cora felt rather against the idea of being in a room of gossiping women flaunting themselves and their daughters.

Was she like that? Cora pursed her lips and shook her head. Of course not. Robert would not allow her to act in such a way, and she wouldn't be able stand herself.

With a sigh, Cora raised a hand to play with the curtains that framed the tall window. Some days, she didn't know what to do with herself. While Robert was at the club and the girls were preoccupied, she got very bored. And lately she had been so tired, so reading a book only resulted in her falling asleep. Robert had found her several times dozing in the library or in their room while sitting on the chaise lounge chair.

With another sigh, Cora wrapped her arms around herself and leaned against the window, watching the people below.

Robert entered Grantham House with a smile on his face. After enjoying the morning with some of the other lords in the club, he was in a good mood and happy to be home. He was ready to see his wife.

"Carson, is Her Ladyship in?" he asked as the butler allowed him in, taking his cane and hat.

Carson nodded.

"I believe she is in the sitting room, M'Lord," he answered, ever stoic. Robert smiled and nodded his thanks before heading off to find his wife.

He found her, his eyes landing on a slender silhouette against one of the large sitting room windows. She wore the most beautiful pastel blue dress, the neckline a plunging in a V shape. The plunging neckline didn't reveal anything, to his disappointment, since beneath the blue top she wore a high lacy white collar. He never did understand how she could stand the high collars, he knew he didn't really like the idea of them hiding her alluring fair skin.

Deciding to make his presence known, Robert stepped from the doorway and into the fully room. At the sound of his footsteps, Cora's head turned. Her face, bearing a tired and bored expression, changed instantly at the sight of him.

"Robert! You're back," she said happily, turning away from the window. Robert chuckled at how happy she was to see him. He really did find it endearing and heartwarming. "How was your morning?"

Robert continued walking towards her as she approached him simultaneously. Meeting in the middle, they took each other's hands in their own and leaned in for a greetings kiss.

"Quite enjoyable, but I'm glad to be home," he told her, his soft eyes telling her the reason for this was standing in front of him. Cora chuckled at the sweetness of it, and leaned in for another kiss.

"Don't be too glad..." she warned, a soft smile on her face even as she groaned. "There is nothing to do. I've been bored for hours!"

Robert chuckled at her dramatic show of distress.

"Well, we could read together..." he suggested, but Cora immediately shook her head, her nose scrunching in distaste.

Robert chuckled, but as another idea entered his mind, a smirk emerged on his lips. Slowly, he pulled her closer to him. "We could do other things together..."

Cora's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly recovered, giving him a soft smirk.

"Later, darling, I need some air first. I'm not sure I'd be very pleasing," she said softly, leaning in and smiling up at him. Robert sighed disappointedly, but smiled down at her.

"Believe me, darling, you always please me," he spoke softly, seeing the rosy blush appear in her cheeks. As Cora smiled down in embarrassment, Robert continued, saying, "I could walk with you to the park."

With that, Cora raised her head and her eyes brightened at the suggestion, and she nodded excitedly.

"Yes, fresh air and new scenery sounds lovely," she gushed. "I'll go get my hat and parasol while you change."

And with that she was off. Robert chuckled, shaking his head. She really had been bored and tired of being inside.

It wasn't long before the couple stepped out of Grantham House and onto the stony streets of London. Robert had changed into his white jacket and trousers, sporting his tan hat upon his head and his cane in his left hand. And of course, Cora looked lovely as ever, her white hat pinned to her dark hair and her cream parasol opened over her shoulder.

"Where are the girls today?" Robert asked causally, watching Cora's side profile. She sighed, a small smile forming on her lips.

"Your sister's," she answered, her blue eyes taking in the view of the city. Robert's brows furrowed.

"Why didn't you accompany them?" he asked curiously. Cora felt her smile tighten, and she looked on ahead of them, trying to find how to best formulate her words.

"I wasn't feeling sociable today is all," she answered, glancing at him and his concerned expression.

"Were you ill this morning?" he asked carefully, concern lacing his words. Cora smiled and shook her head. Since their arrival in London for the season, she had occasionally gotten ill to the point of being nauseous. She chalked it up to the summer heat and the stress of the season. It wasn't anything, and besides the illness was very fleeting.

"Perhaps a little more tired than usual, and breakfast wasn't exactly appealing, but since then I've felt perfectly fine," she insisted, smiling her charming smile that caused him to want to believe or do whatever she said. As she spoke, she looped her arm around his, resting her hand in the crook of his elbow.

"I'm glad. I do hate seeing you ill," he spoke, causing Cora to giggle.

"That's sweet, Robert."

"Oh, no, just a loving husband worrying for his wife," he answered, smiling back at her and bobbing his head forward, touching his forehead to the brim of her hat before pulling away.

She hummed contently beside him, her gloved thumb caressing his arm.

In comfortable companionship, the couple conversed about the previous balls and dinners, world affairs, and affairs at home.

"Has Mary given you any hint to her answer?" Cora suddenly asked as the two walked into the park, passing benches that looked out onto the river. Robert sighed, his eyes searching the glittering water in the distance. They had so far avoided this subject.

"No...she really must make a decision soon. It must be killing Matthew, not knowing," he said, tapping his walking stick against the pavement as he veered them further into the park.

"Don't I know it," Cora sighed, shaking her head. She twirled her parasol distractedly. "She should be married..."

Robert smiled and laughed under his breath.

"Now, where have I heard that before?" he said teasingly when she looked up at him questioningly. Cora gave him a playful glare, shaking her head.

"Tease me all you like, I am their mother and I have the right to worry for our children."

Robert chuckled.

"Of course, dear."

"And I really do not see Sybil staying unmarried much longer," she said with a proud smile. Robert frowned down at her.

"She is still young, Cora. Too young," he protested. Cora had to smile at this protective side of her husband. Sybil was his little girl.

"I was her age..." she said softly, looking up at him sweetly. Robert could only grimace, his eyes turning away from her. Cora sighed, tilting her head to the side as she watched him sympathetically. "Darling, you must let it go. I am very happy now..."

Robert sighed, nodding. But he couldn't look at her, instead keeping his gaze forward. He remained quiet for a moment, wanting the subject to be dropped. But her words echoed in his mind. The images of his unhappy Cora in the first months of marriage came to mind, causing his heart to weigh heavily with guilt. It was bad enough when his mother spoke of his reasons for pursuing Cora, but when he was tormenting himself while in Cora's company the weight of guilt seemed to double. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh.

"But you weren't happy," he said, looking forward with a frown.

"For a very short amount of time, a small sacrifice for what we have now," Cora said in her soothing voice. When Robert still couldn't look at her, she lightly elbowed him, giving him a teasing smile as he looked down at her confusedly. "One year compared to 23 years of happiness is nothing, darling."

Robert heard her laughter and the emphasis on one year. She knew it was the one thing she could bring him to joke about. And he knew she was using it to lighten his mood...and it had worked.

"Not a year...not that long," he said, finally allowing a small smile to cross his lips. He looked deeply into her sparkling blue eyes, feeling his heart swell at the love and adoration he saw in them. "I don't even remember what it feels like to not love you, Cora," he whispered.

Cora smiled as she felt him relaxing against her and his mood lightening.

"Exactly."

"How could I have been so foolish all those months? How could I not see?" Robert asked, shaking his head at his stupidity. "But now I do, and I will never forget it. I will always feel guilty about what I did to you—"

"Robert—"

"However," he continued firmly, cutting her off. "However, I find it hard to regret, for here you are still loving me."

Cora nodded, smiling up at him like the adoring wife she has always been.

"Please, always remember that. I don't hold anything against you, even if I do tend to tease you," she giggled, drawing a chuckle from Robert. With one last shared smile, the two turned away to look around the park.

As they walked along the path, they passed a beautiful stone fountain. Water spouted from a sculpture, making a soothing sound as the water traveled back into the pool at the base of the fountain. Surrounding the fountain were several geese and white swans, which caught Cora's attention. And of course, they had to stop to admire the feathered animals and the water fountain.

"How beautifully majestic they are," she said as she watched the animals. Robert only saw birds, and he chuckled at his wife. This caused her to throw him a playful glare, one she broke with a smile and soft giggle.

"Aahhh!"

Cora and Robert's eyes snapped towards the scream, their expressions alarmed and worried. But as they looked, a little boy with chestnut hair came stumbling towards them and the birds. His running steps were clumsy and adorable, causing Cora to smile fondly at the small child.

Robert's eyes watched the young boy amusedly, but looked up to see a woman hurrying towards them and the boy.

"How precious," Cora gushed quietly, leaning towards Robert and whispering.

Robert looked down, watching his wife's beautiful face, her eyes sparkling with amusement and compassion as she watched the little boy stumbling around after the birds. The woman, perhaps the boy's mother or nanny, came and swept him into her arms, giving Robert and Cora an apologetic smile.

They watched as the woman and child walked away from them. A man met them a ways away, putting his hand on the woman's back, and the little family walked down the path.

"Remember those days?" Cora asked, chuckling as she remembered her children as their littler selves.

"Yes, but we had two that were in that stage simultaneously," Robert chuckled, thinking of Mary and Edith as little toddlers, only a year's difference in their ages. Cora laughed, shaking her head.

"That was not planned, my darling. I blame you," she said, turning to fully face him. At her teasingly accusing words, Robert's gaze snapped to hers, a smirk flashing on his lips.

"Really?" he asked challengingly. Cora nodded.

"Mm-hmm," she pouted. "Mary had barely been born when I fell pregnant again. And we know how that happened."

Robert guffawed, shaking his head at her act.

"And how, pray tell, was that my fault?" he asked, grinning amusedly.

"Well, it wasn't the butler's fault," she shot back, flashing him a grin. Robert's brows raised in surprise at her joke, but he laughed aloud once more.

"You're too cheeky for your own good," he chuckled, raising his hand and gently pinching her cheek. "But I don't see how you can place the blame solely on me...not when you so thoroughly enjoyed—"

"Robert," Cora hissed, slapping her hand onto his chest to silence him and looking at the few people around them. Her cheeks flushed crimson and she had to look away from his smirking lips and eyes lit with satisfaction. Taking her hand laying on his chest in his own hand, Robert raised their joined hands to his lips. He pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles, the warmth of his lips traveling through her white gloves.

"I'm sorry. Our act of love is very special and sacred," he whispered. "I treasure each moment I spend with you, and since the first time we truly made love, I've sworn to treasure and worship you and your beautiful body."

Cora stared up at him, her lips parted but speechless. Robert brought her hand to his lips once more, pressing a lingering kiss to her knuckles. Then he placed her hand back over his heart, smiling down at her.

"That will have to suffice," he chuckled softly. "If there weren't so many eyes, I would kiss you good and properly."

Cora glanced around again, noticing two women walking by and a man sitting on a bench with a newspaper in hand.

Suddenly, Cora's hand gripped Robert's jacket.

"Kiss me," she whispered, looking intently into his eyes. Robert's brows raised, glancing around. "Robert."

He looked down at her, his eyes moving over her face. She was serious.

"Kiss me," she said again, her voice soft and breathy. Robert couldn't resist.

He leaned in, gripping her hip with one had while his other went to cup her cheek. As Robert's lips met hers, Cora placed her parasol in front of their faces, blocking the view of the few bystanders. She knew their eyes were on them, but she didn't care. She was content with the privacy her parasol provided.

Her eyes closed in pleasure as Robert's mouth moved gently against hers, and then the kiss quickly grew in intensity. The world seemed to disappear, blurring like a painting around them. Cora could hardly form a coherent thought, not with his warm hand pressing into her hip and lips molding to hers. It took everything in her to finally pull away.

As she ended the kiss, Cora looked up into his eyes, breathing heavily. He looked down at her, caressing her flushed cheek lovingly.

"Take me home?" she asked hopefully, a small smile forming on her lips. Robert smirked, dropping his hand from her face and instead holding her free hand.

"Gladly..."

And with that, the two began on their way home, with hurried steps and a closer proximity than before.

They ignored the eyes that followed them, and only focused on one thing.

Getting each other home.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed another moment in London! This one is a little different than my others, since it doesn't truly explain the feelings of onlookers. But I hope you all enjoyed anyway! I'd love to hear what you thought about their time in London. Thanks!