Robert waited in the library for Cora to emerge for the day. She had breakfast in bed, as was the custom for married women of course, but he thought by now she would have come down for the day and hoped against hope that she would not hide in her room as she had done after their wedding. He paced nervously catching the eye of his mother who had been down for at least 30 minutes.

"Perhaps it is an American custom to sleep all day" Violet said in a detrimental tone. Robert was about to interject when Cora's voice came out smooth as honey.

"Oh I think you will find we sleep in very much the same patterns as the English do Lady Violet" Cora had entered the library with her writing basket in hand.

"Imagine that" Violet said sarcastically and rolled her eyes as she left the room. Cora moved across to the desk and sat down without looking in her husband's direction. He knew this was not about to blow over, it had kept him up throughout the night and he had thought perhaps if he tried to take her out for a walk, maybe a redo of the picnic he had planned after their wedding. Maybe that would help her feel settled and not mind so much the sleeping arrangements.

"Good morning Cora" he offered lightly as he walked up behind her placing his hands on her shoulders and leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. She moved her head to the side indicating she did not want him to do so and he lifted his hands from her shoulders slowly. "I simply wanted to kiss you good morning Cora, nothing more" he said gently, it felt like such a blow whenever she rejected him.

"Had you slept in my bed last night you would have already been able to do that" she said without emotion as she unpacked her letter paper and writing equipment. He sighed and tried again.

"Cora, please. It's not me, it's the way things are done here, and – you know how it is, it's not something I want it's just a tradition, it's proper Cora and …" she did not turn her head or raise her voice when she interrupted him, it frightened more than her yelling at him last night.

"I think that is what makes it worse Robert" she had begun to date her first letter and spoke as if this was something mundane, not requiring her fill attention, it irked him. "That it is your duty to a tradition you do not even like that keeps you from doing something that you know is important to me" she addressed her letter, Mr. Isidore Levinson and began on the address.

"Perhaps if we could talk about it without you being distracted it mi …"

"There is nothing further to discuss on the matter Robert. Now you must excuse me, I have letters to write" and with that she began her letter.

Dearest Papa,

I am writing to you from my new home at Downton having returned from a blissful honeymoon just yesterday. Paris was wonderful, the sights magnificent … although you were right about the Seine, too many boats and people to be serene. Robert and I found ourselves visiting sights and walking the streets on a daily basis and I think it is somewhere I should like to return to someday.

Downton is still very new to me, although I find myself excited at the prospect of finding out more about the place. I am sure there are stories behind these walls, a very great deal of history here and so many lives were lived right where I sit now.

I know you asked me to promise to keep you updated on how things are with Robert and I know why. I told you there was nothing to fear Papa, he is the best kind of man and I am only sorry you didn't get the chance to get to know him better while you were still here. Perhaps we can come visit you and mother before too long and you will know him more then. As you requested, yes I am happy, yes he is treating me well, yes I want to be here. You needn't worry papa, all is well with me. My only problem is missing you so terribly much.

Give my love and warmest embrace to mother and Harold as well.

Love,

Cora Crawley

Cora knew Robert was still there reading over her shoulder but it did not bother her at all. It was good for him to be reminded his powerful and rich father in law had an eye on him at all times, it almost made Cora smile. Just as she began to address another letter Robert spoke.

"Do you mean what you wrote?" Robert was surprised that Cora had not mentioned their latest quarrel or the fact his mother had been frightfully rude to her at every turn. "It's just, I thought with the current situation you may have something else to tell him" Robert looked down suddenly embarrassed. It was know that Cora turned around and looked at him for a moment.

"Robert" she said almost frustrated, "I am mad at you, that doesn't mean I don't love you" deciding she needed some air and the chance to be away from her hovering husband Cora stood, "I am going for a walk, excuse me" and she hurried way from him.

It was 2 more days of Robert trying to talk to Cora and Cora trying to ignore him. She had almost moved past mad and into disappointed when she heard Robert and his mother talking one afternoon. Violet informed Robert that she knew he had not been to Cora's room for several days and that they had a duty to produce an heir and had better get on with it. Robert was all apology and explanation and it made Cora fume. It was none of her business what Robert and Cora did as a married couple, and that Robert was letting her intrude was all too much. She walked in and took a seat opposite Violet just as Robert excuse himself to see his father on estate business leaving Violet and Cora alone for tea together.

Cora began with small comments about the weather, how mild it seemed compared to France. Violet simply said France was too hot, too ostentatious, too … French for her liking and sipped her tea while studying Cora intently. After several minutes of Violet's studied gaze upon her face Cora asked,

"Is anything the matter?"

"I wonder Cora, do you understand your role here?" Violet asked, setting down her tea. Cora braced herself, sure this would not end well.

"My role? Yes I believe so" she nodded and sipped her tea, waiting.

"Because you know Cora, you are the heiress who married the Earl's son. One day you will be a Countess and do you know what a Countess needs more than anything else?" Violet looked intently at Cora with her hardened stare.

Shaking her head Cora complied with the ruled if this little game, "No Lady Violet I am sure I do not know. What is it that a Countess needs?"

"A son." Violet smirked as Cora's face registered her surprise and then she pressed on, "It is your duty to produce an heir for your husband so he may continue the family name. I should not have to remind you that it is not your place to deny your husband Cora. In matters of marital relations you need to submit to him regardless of you feelings on the subject or how unpleasant you may find it. He is the head of your home and in regards to things physical he takes the lead. Make a list in your head if you must, or count sheep until he is done, but you must submit Cora, it is part of being a good wife." Violet showed no sign of embarrassment or unease as she handed out her thoughts on Cora's marriage bed; she spoke as if it was as regular a matter as what to serve for luncheon and turned her face into a pursed frown. Cora could not stand it any longer, she was her mother's daughter after all and not one to sit idly by and be pushed around.

"I hesitate to remind you that he may be your son, but he is now my husband and what happens between he and I remains between he and I" Violet 's head snapped back to look at Cora and she opened her mouth to speak but Cora continued over top of her, "I would appreciate it if you kept your opinions and advice on this matter to yourself" and before Violet could answer Cora walked towards the door, she knew she shouldn't add the last part, she knew it would make it worse, but she did it anyway, Violet expected the worst from her so what did it matter, "I do not find it unpleasant in the least, and as son as Robert removes his head from his backside he is welcome in my bed anytime", there would be hell to pay later, Violet was not going to take that from Cora without a single word in response, but for now Cora smiled as she thought of her own mother and how she proud she would be for standing up to Violet on her own terms.

Cora heard the sound of Robert's footsteps approach her door and braced herself. His mother had told him, he was come to scold her and she knew she deserved a little scolding. She shouldn't have added the last part, but that woman set her teeth on edge and she found it hard not to bite. When Robert entered the room his eyes were much darker than the usual light blue, his shoulders were squarer and he looked mad. Cora decided she would hold her ground and stood in place next to her bed.

"You did not really say what mother says you did to my mother over tea this afternoon did you?" Robert spoke as calmly as he could muster, but he was mad at the foolishness of his wife's behavior, she would never win his mother over with stunts like that.

"It depends what she thinks I said. If she said I told her to butt out of our bedroom affairs and that I like sleeping with my husband then yes, that is what I said, and I would say it again too" Cora placed her hands on her hips to show her stance was firm.

"Cora, that was incredibly foolish of you" Robert raised his voice at her, "Mother is only saying what she thinks need be said, you need to learn to pick your battles with her, honestly" he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. His mother had been livid at the way Cora had spoken to her. She had called her every insult she could think of and Robert had had no ability to defend his wife as she had in deed done the things his mother accused her of.

"Foolish?! I am sorry Robert if defending our right to privacy is foolish, perhaps if someone else spoke up from time to time I would not have to do so" Cora was getting mad at Robert. He was too busy doing as his mother commanded to see what Cora was doing.

"I am defending you to mother ever chance I get and it is tiring me out. You need to figure out a way to get along with her without causing such problems" he threw his arm across the air for affect.

"Causing problems? Me? She is the one making snide comments and being rude. I would have expected my husband to defend me but he just does whatever his mother says, its disgusting Robert." Cora knew it was not just a fight about what she had said to Violet, but the sleeping arrangements as well.

"I do defend you. I have talked at length to mother about the way she treats you and I am trying to help, but then you do something like this and I feel like all my good work has been good for nothing."

"What good work? She get's worse every day, if this is a result of you helping me then please Robert, just don't bother." Cora let sarcasm drip through her voice as she delivered her words to Robert who had begun to pace. At her words he stopped in his tracks and turned to face her, his face red and mad.

"You need to learn the way things are done here Cora. You will be a Countess one day, you need to know how we do things whether you like them or not." Robert regretted his choice of words once they were out, but he was so frustrated, so irritated at both his mother and Cora that he had not thought them through.

"I left everything I ever knew to come here and be your wife, not to be treated like some kind of untrained leper that your mother allows in the house as some sort of pet. It is disgusting the way she acts Robert, disgusting … and you let her dictate to you like you have no mind of your own." She spat her words at him and watched his nostrils flare.

"Don't try to flatter me that you came to England for me Cora, you may have stayed for me but you came for the season looking for a title and now you will be Countess and you won't bother to learn from someone who had been one for years." Robert's words stung like he had slapped her across the face. Had he really stooped that low? After their beautiful honeymoon here they were again, this time dueling it out face to face rather than mulling it over in silence, but the result was the same – marital disharmony. Cora could play at that game, if he wanted insults then she could fling them back just as good as he could, perhaps even better … she was 'ghastly American' after all.

"If I am ever to have the title of Countess Robert" she spat each word out as if it were poison, "then it will be because I bought it"

Robert stared at his wife for several long seconds' anger blazing within him. Not knowing what else to say and being too tired to fight her any longer he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.