The sun shone brightly through the open windows in the front sitting room, and Cora relished in the warmth the rays provided from her seat at the window. She sat on the edge of the thin cushions, spine straightened to full height, a book daintily folded open in her lap. Her eyes flickered across the pages full of tiny print that was nearly impossible for her to read from this position. Yet it was the expectation that she was fully engrossed in the story before her, and not at all interested in the heated debate that transpired between Martha and Lady Spenser over afternoon tea.

"But the Duke of Cheshire seemed such a promising match from the start," Martha moaned, tilting back her head in despair.

"I think it's high time you let that go, my dear." Lady Spenser stated evenly, patting Martha's knee with little reassurance. Once she settled back in her seat, and Martha sat up straighter in hers, Lady Spenser lifted her teacup to her lips, all the while pointing out, "He's practically promised to Lady Frampton's daughter at this stage."

"But it's hardly been a month," Martha countered skeptically. "How could it possibly be settled so soon?" Martha demanded, setting down her teacup with such vigor that a rattling noise prompted Cora to jump.

Fortunately her mother was still too appalled that they missed their chance, and Lady Spenser was too taken aback by Martha's outburst to notice Cora's interest in the book was wavering.

Lady Spenser let out a terse breath before insisting, "That's just the way these things are here, my dear. It's no reflection on Cora…"

"Well I should certainly hope not! If anything, it's a reflection on the Duke and his-"

"It won't help to fuss over it," Lady Spenser went on as calmly as the situation would allow for. "What's done is done. Cora ought to focus her attentions elsewhere." She placed her teacup back on the table, her dreary, gray eyes shooting across the room to find Cora's.

She instantly felt a jolt course through her middle, and reaffixed her gaze back on the printed pages before her. There was a silence that descended upon the room, and she swiftly flipped a page in the book.

Eavesdropping was a punishable offense in the eyes of Lady Spenser. And Cora already had a sneaking suspicion that her exemplary behavior was one of the few reasons the hostess tolerated her mother's regular outbursts. She couldn't risk a black mark over something so frivolous.

But instead of offering some reprimand that insulted her mother's rearing of her daughter, or the importance of Cora understanding that some affairs shouldn't concern her, Lady Spenser called out to her directly.

"Come here, child," She lifted her hand, and inclined her head gracefully. Join us."

Abandoning the book on the window sill ledge, Cora folded her hands at her waist and walked towards the round table in the center of the room. She sank down on the empty chair across from both her mother and Lady Spenser, glancing between both women, waiting for what was to come next.

The sloshing sound of tea filling the cup in front of her soon caught Cora's attention. And the pair of wrinkled hands that tilted the silver spout in her direction belonged none other than Lady Spenser. She was older than her own mother, having married on the brink of spinsterhood to an already widowed husband. Her hair was faded gold, streaked with silver that matched her dreary grey eyes. Muted in color, they were still sharp enough to send chills across Cora's skin, especially whenever her nostrils flared and her bottom lip curled under in distinct disapproval.

Cora eyed the lady of the house rather cautiously, waiting for her to release the teapot and settle back in her seat before pouring in a few dribbles of milk and stirring in two cubes of sugar.

"I'm sure you've come to understand," Lady Spenser began, pausing for Cora to meet her eye again, "your mother is naturally disappointed in the dissolution of your acquaintance with the Duke of Cheshire."

As if she hadn't heard their conversation from seconds prior. Cora looked down in her teacup, stifling the urge to roll her eyes at how idiotic the whole charade was. Still, ladies were to be seen, not heard unless addressed directly. Those were the rules of the house, and she would do her best to play by them.

"You mustn't blame yourself, dear," Lady Spenser insisted, reaching a hand across the table to gingerly pat Cora's.

Realigning her gaze to find Lady Spenser's, Cora quirked a brow. Then she realized perhaps she appeared more contrite over Lady Spenser's words than she ever anticipated. Deciding it was best to play along, Cora bobbed her head and blinked several times as if to show it gave her great heartache to lose one of the most coveted catches of this season.

Martha snorted in response, but Lady Spenser pretended not to notice.

Instead, she seemed content to ramble on about how the match between the Duke and the Frampton girl was predetermined ages ago, but they both had to play at least part of the season for the sake of the thing itself. "Even so," She cleared her throat, sharpening her tone of voice, "we must think of alternative options in order to alleviate your mother's obvious distress."

"It's for her own good as well," Martha piped up smoothly, garnering her daughter's attention.

"Yes, yes, of course" Lady Spenser agreed flippantly.

"Cora," Mother implored, tilting her head to the side, "tell us how you find this Lord Downton fellow."

She shouldn't have been surprised when he was brought up in this conversation. Her every move was monitored at each event. Even when certain freedoms were granted rather unexpectedly. She supposed her latest involvement with Lord Downton must have created somewhat of a stir at the Jarivs' House.

Taking another sip of tea, Cora took great care in setting it back on the saucer and folding her hands on the edge of the table before disclosing the other night to both women.


Cora's eyes darted from across the table as the unmarried ladies and gentleman were settling in their chairs and already mingling. She smiled politely at each of them, inclining her head when necessary, and even going as far as to say a quiet, 'hello,' to them when it seemed acceptance to do so.

Her stomach was a bundle of nerves ever since Lord Downton had released her arm in the middle of the dining hall, in search of his own seat in the vast dining hall. It never occurred to her that he might not end up beside her during the entirety of the meal as well. She wondered whom would be placed beside her. Would he find her company agreeable? Would he make her feel more anxious?

She anticipated it was most likely to be a 'he,' given the pattern the fifty or so chairs were filling up. But she never anticipated it was to be him.

"I'm afraid you aren't rid of me so easily, Miss. Levinson."

She felt the knot at the pit of her stomach dissipated upon hearing the smooth cadence of his voice. Allowing herself a broad smile, she turned her face up towards his, and mused lightly, "Oh? And why's that?"

"Lady Jarvis has just informed me that I am to sit to your left," He answered with a grin, sinking down in his seat.

"That's quite lucky," She glanced down to her empty plate, focusing on the delicate geometric patterns that lined the edges of the china.

Not that that it would be a significant detail she'd remember from this evening.

"I hope you don't view it as too much of an imposition," He went on, and she swore she detected a note of self-consciousness in his tone.

"Not at all," She assured plainly, catching his eye again. "In fact," She thought for a moment before admitting, "it is a bit of a relief to know I'll have at least one familiar face beside me."

Inclining his head he remarked, "I quite agree."

The corners of her mouth twitched and she couldn't help but tease, "You're quite liberal with your flattery, Lord Downton."

His eyes twinkled in response while he wondered, "Why do you say that?"

"Because I have no doubt you know everyone in this room," She replied with a knowing grin, arching her brow as if to challenge this point.

He snickered slightly and bowed his head forward. She indulged in a lighthearted peal of laughter as well, and was on her way to insisting her correctness on the matter whenever he admitted rather modestly, "I wouldn't be so bold as to say I know everyone."

"But nearly so?" She continued goading him.

He glanced up form the corner of his eye, his mouth creasing in another smile. Bobbing his head, he told her, "Well you have me there, Miss. Levinson."

Cora sat back in her seat, wholly satisfied with herself for getting something right. Of course the feeling was short lived as Lord Downton leaned closer to add, "But I must say that it is refreshing to be seated beside a lovely young woman whom I hardly know a thing about."

Chills cascaded across the surface of her skin, and she shivered from the unexpected compliment. Clearing her throat pointedly, she shifted in her chair and accidentally nudged the man to her right. Instantly whirling around, the beads of her earrings clicked from the sudden motion. Eyes widening in surprise, mouth dropping open, she instantly gushed apologetically to the stranger, "I am terribly sorry, sir. I didn't mean-"

"Think nothing of it," He remarked with a familiar hardness to his voice.

This, along with the warmth of his deep brown eyes and his crooked smile, instantly struck a chord deep within her. Cocking her head to the side, she couldn't help but marvel, "You're-you're American?"

"As are you," He observed with an air of amusement.

Cora shook her head, and let a ripple of laughter invade her next words, "Forgive me. It's just I didn't expect..." She paused, studying his expression that remained entirely focused on hers. And suddenly the rest of her thought didn't seem as important any longer. Not at all as important as him brandishing a hand and offering his name in formal introduction.

"Allow me to introduce myself first, Miss. Mr. Johnathan Clark."

"Miss. Cora Levinson," She replied easily, her hand slipping into his.

"A pleasure, Miss. Levinson," He assured with an air of sincerity she couldn't quite deny.

She was about to open her mouth and offer up a response to this whenever she heard a throat clearing on the other side of her. Slowly releasing her hold on Mr. Clark's hand, she turned back around to face Lord Downton.

"As I was saying, Miss. Levinson," He went on to explain once she fixed her attentions on him once more. "It is more of a pleasure for me to be seated beside a lovely young woman whom I hardly know a thing about, rather than one I've known my whole life. I believe it makes for more lively conversation if the two parties seated side by side know very little about one another."

Cora was about to open her mouth to respond whenever Mr. Clark chimed in from over her right shoulder, "I think that's a rather sound point."

"Well it's easier to agree with another man's observation than it is to make it known," Lord Downton rejoined stiffly.

Cora sat back in her chair, her gaze shifting a bit uncomfortably between both men. She had gone from feeling flattered to feeling like a prize to be won by the stronger contender. Seeking to dissolve the quiet tension that now hung above all of them, Cora racked her brain for a wave to steer this conversation into more neutral waters.

"Well whatever the case," She began good-naturedly, flashing a warm smile to man on either side of her, "I shall try to be a good sport and prove both of your opinions to be accurate."

Lord Downton's smiled deepened and he bowed in an almost reverent manner.

Soon after, Cora found her attentions enraptured by Mr. Clark's coy response of, "I appreciate your effort already, Miss. Levinson,"

Feeling the laugh work its way up the back of her throat made her feel warm all over. And she knew the blush that tinged her cheeks would normally make her feel nervous, but in this case, she welcomed the sensation of being noticed so by another man.

This only intensified with Mr. Clark's coy remark, "You know, I've heard a great deal about you, from Lady Spenser."

"Is that so?" She giggled softly, her mind whirring with intrigue. Cocking her head to one side she taunted, "Well, I hope nothing that will give me cause to blush even further."

"Nothing too litigious, I can assure you." He winked at her before adding, "Merely that you're from New York."

She shrugged and smirked, "Some might say that."

Mr. Clark grinned at her, his curiosity blossoming across his visage. "And what do the others say?"

Cora opened her mouth to offer a response whenever she heard one come from behind her left shoulder.

"That the Levinson's originally hail from Cincinnati."

She turned to glance at Lord Downton, noticing he now had a glass full of deep red wine before him. When the server stopped by her glass, she raised her hand in polite refusal and replied astonishingly, "Very good to hear that you remembered my family history, Lord Downton."

Following his slow sip of claret, Lord Downton informed her intently, "Well I tend to remember things I'm interested in, Miss. Levinson."

"And is American geography one of your interests, Lord Downton?" Mr. Clark decidedly chimed in.

She watched Lord Downton's gaze shoot beyond her to find Mr. Clark's. "More recently, yes, Mr. Clark. It is becoming one," He remarked flatly.

Cora looked downward once more anticipating another tense movement that would require her quick thinking. Thankfully, Lord Downton seemed to have lost interest in aiming to verbally cut Mr. Clark down to size. For he leaned forward, forcing her eyes to lift behind heavy lids and search his.

They were glimmering with intrigue again, and crinkled at the corners when he flashed a deep felt smile. "Thanks to Miss. Levinson," He muttered softly, lifting his glass in her honor before taking another sip.

It wasn't the first time that evening she felt herself grinning so deeply that her cheeks flush hot without an air of self-consciousness. But it was the first time she noticed a similar expression being reflected back at her. And in that moment, she didn't wish to turn to her right for the remainder of the evening.


Cora took another sip of tea, but it surprisingly felt quite warm to her. She lowered her eyes back to the table, setting the teacup on top of the saucer. She waited patiently, as a lady would, for either woman to comment on what she just shared with them.

"What do you say Lady Spenser?" Martha's sharp tone interrupted the quiet.

Lifting her eyes just a fraction, Cora saw her mother glance expectantly towards their hostess while asking, "Do you think his words earnest enough to hold any significant meaning?"

Lady Spenser chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully, clearly deliberating her next words very carefully. Once she found the right response, her attention settled on Martha while she informed her rather plainly, "I have known the Crawley Family for a long time. And while Lord Downton might be intrigued by your darling daughter, I can say with almost certainty that his mother will not be."

Martha rolled her eyes and practically scoffed, "Mother aside, do you think him out of her reach?"

Drawing her mouth in a tightened line Lady Spenser insisted tersely, "I'd say if you can gain her approval, you can have him."

"Splendid!" Martha crooned, prompting Cora to cringe as she went on with displaced zeal, "That's precisely what we shall do then! Would you terribly mind making the introductions?"

"If you insist," Lady Spenser's jerked in a jagged motion of disapproval. She raised her cup of tea, but hesitated before lifting it to her lips to take a sip. Her gaze shifted towards Cora's, and she addressed her, her head jerking ever so slightly to remind the both of them that she didn't agree. "However, I wouldn't entirely disregard, Mr. Clark. You should enlist someone to check up on him, Martha." Her eyes darted back over to Cora's mother before continuing pointedly, "I'm not so sure Lady Grantham would be convinced to allow her only son to seriously consider a girl from outside the system. Her children merely present the matches, she has every right to refuse them."

Cora bit down on her tongue, and dug her fingernails into the back of her wrist. She tried to keep her face unchanging as her reply to Lady Spenser's opinions blared through her head.

Unless of course, one of her children has already decided, Cora thought to herself.

Thankfully, Martha swooped in with a sardonic, "Well she just sounds like a dear heart then."

"One doesn't run one of the grandest estates in Yorkshire for twenty-some years by being a dear heart," Lady Spenser bristled, and soon both of the women were throwing back slights masked by smiles and clever words.

However, Cora was too distracted to listen to anything but the pounding of her heart. With Lady Spenser's brew description of the Countess of Gratham, she started to feel unnerved by the decision her and Lord Downton made the other night.


"I hope you aren't too tired after another waltz, Miss. Levinson," He remarked with a slight air of concern.

She beamed up at him as they slowly departed the center of the bustling dance floor, and began a slow stroll along the perimeter of the room towards her mother and Lady Spenser. "Not at all," She assured him, discovering a crooked grin reflected back at her. It was enough to rattle her heart inside her chest. "I must confess," She affixed her gaze forward again, so as not give into the sensations entirely and forget herself, "I haven't seen much of the dance floor aside from a few turns with your, Lord Downton."

"I can't help but also wonder what Mr. Clark thinks of that," He probed.

She instantly felt a jolt in the pit of her stomach at the sheer mention of the other man who sat close by her at dinner. "What does it matter?" Was her immediate, haughty response, and she quickly bit down on her lip as if she could somehow recapture the words and leave them unsaid. "That is," She began more meekly, flashing a slight smile at Lord Downton, "it's not his place to have an opinion."

He seemed nonplussed by her minor outburst thankfully, for all he did was shrug his shoulders and comment, "I suppose you're right."

They took the next several strides in silence again, before Lord Downton piped up, "I did enjoy our conversation over dinner quite immensely."

"Really?" She echoed, her eyes alighting out of relief. He nodded, out of mere politeness she was sure. But it didn't stop her from teasing, "I didn't bore you with too many stories?"

"Not in the least bit," He returned earnestly, his eyes shining with a similar pleasantness she definitely felt in his company as well. "I was fascinated by all of them."

Looking down again to disguise the fullness of her smile, she took small pleasure in knowing that at the very least there was a mutual interest between them. And then it occurred to her to tell him, "Well you'll have to reciprocate in like and tell me all about life at Downton one day."

"Do you foresee such a day occurring?" He asked, his tone lifting rather enthusiastically.

"Well..." When Cora lifted her eyes level once more, she noticed they weren't more than a few yards away from her mother and Lady Spenser. She halted their progress and turned to face him more fully. "...I don't have my crystal ball with me at present. But if I had to venture a guess I would say it's a likely occurrence."

She looked away, instantly feeling an unexpected air of self-consciousness wash through her. She hadn't said such things to a man in quite some time. And even then, it was a man she'd known for the majority of her life. This was quite different. Bolder than she'd ever been in her limited experience with the opposite sex. Yet, she was taking such steps for some reason unknown to her.

"So…" Lord Downton began after a slight pause in their conversation, "...might I call on you then?"

She looked up, grateful that he didn't rebuke her for her words, but rather felt some significant truth within them. His mouth parted again as if he were going to elaborate, and she searched his face, hanging onto the possibility that something more might come of their time sparse time together thus far.

"At Rosendale Manor?" He tried again, apparently waiting for her to reply.

Her lips broke into an agreeable smile, and she glanced downward momentarily in search of her calling card. Dislocating it from inside her small carrier, she offered it to him rather ceremoniously and inclined her head, "You certainly may."


I wanted to get this up before the weekend. In my haste, I am sure there are a boatload of typos/mispellsings/etc. Please let me know via PM if there's anything glaring so I might fix it upon my return. Thanks and I hope you all enjoy!