In the midst of the chaos that had come during the first weeks of their trip, early summer had melted to late and the Crawleys found themselves nearing the end of their stay in Newport. It had been just over two months since they had arrived and the time had passed by in a mixture of intense highs and lows; tears, joyous laughs, and long walks along the shore had comprised the most eventful trips they had ever taken.

Now nearly six months pregnant, Cora had taken to spending her days reclined on a chair out on the veranda so she could look on as Robert and Mary played around the gardens. Robert would chase Mary relentlessly and her little giggles floated through the thick summer air as she ran wildly around the grounds. Every so often, out of breath from their games, Robert's gaze would seek out Cora's and he would grin widely, glad to see her outside and happy. Then, offering her a quick wave, he would be off again in pursuit of Mary. Most of their afternoons had been spent in much the same fashion, as no one wanted to disturb the peaceful bliss that had descended upon the house after everything had been worked out a few weeks earlier. It seemed as though they had effectively left the awfulness of the early part of the trip in that small room at the inn, and since then everything had been rather perfect.

With only a week until their trip back to Downton, though, Martha had decided she simply could not let them go back without a proper end-of-summer party. Cora had explicitly said no, when she first asked, and Robert had said much the same—explaining that they would prefer to just spend their last days enjoying the quiet of the house. She knew the real reason was that neither of them wanted anything to do with another Newport party; that they did not want to risk spoiling the happiness they had all found in the later weeks of the trip, and that most of all, with the baby's impending arrival, no one wanted to risk the stress of it all.

But, Martha Levinson was nothing if not persistent and so she had asked repeatedly and nearly begged until Cora relented—under the promise that it would be a small event taking place in the backyard of the house one afternoon. It wasn't that Martha did not understand their concerns; it was that she felt an intense desire to rewrite the events of the only other party they had attended while in Newport. She could not bear to think that it would be the only memory Cora had of seeing her old friends and showing Robert off to everyone. She wanted more time with her daughter, and her son-in-law, and with Mary; but if she could not have more time with them, she at least wanted them to leave with a bang. And her parties always produced the most wonderful bangs.

The party was to be held on a Thursday, August the second. Martha planned it that way so the three of them could have a quiet Friday before leaving on Saturday morning for New York. Though parties were usually weekend affairs in Newport, nearly everyone was willing to make an exception for Martha Levinson, and so the guest list ended up being a bit lengthier than she expected. She commissioned the back yard be turned into the perfect party location, complete with elaborate tables, tents, and floral displays with fresh flowers from the garden. She was almost certain this party would outdo any she had thrown before.


The day of the party finally arrived after a fair amount of work and anticipation, and Martha was beyond thrilled at the results of her careful planning. Robert and Cora, though, were a bit more trepidatious in their enthusiasm. Neither of them really spoke about the party until late that morning as they dressed for the big event. Robert was nearly ready and after dismissing the footman who had helped him dress, he wandered back into their bedroom and sat on the bed lacing up his shoes, watching his wife toy with her hair in the mirror as she sat at her vanity.

He caught her glance in the mirror more than once but she said nothing and continued to fiddle with a stray curl, though she did offer him a small smile.

"Are you looking forward to the afternoon?" Robert finally asked, breaking the stillness of the room.

"Yes, very much so," Cora murmured, not taking her eyes off of her hair.

"As am I," he replied, unsure of whether she actually wanted to talk or if she was just trying to placate him.

"I think—I think I am ready to go home, though." Cora added quietly, finally turning around to meet his gaze.

"Home?" Robert paused and looked at her curiously for a moment before realizing what home she was referring to. "You mean Downton."

"Of course." Cora chuckled as she put on her earrings and stood up from the vanity with a smile, "that is where we live, is it not?"

Robert only chuckled and grinned as he offered her his arm. "Yes, it is indeed our home." He finally replied, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "You look lovely, my dear."

"Thank you. Shall we, then?" She smiled and nodded toward the door, gripping his arm a bit more tightly.

Robert led Cora down the hall toward Mary's room, and as she looked up at her husband she couldn't help but feel incredibly grateful that he was beside her. After everything they had dealt with during the trip she was surer than ever that their marriage was quite strong—and rather wonderful. Far more wonderful than anyone could have anticipated, at the very least.

Being pregnant did have its advantages, as everyone seemed to be taking care of everything around her, but Cora also couldn't help but be a bit concerned every time she stepped off the grounds of the house. Beyond the gate was a world beyond her control, and each time she looked down at the growing swell beneath her dress she feared something or someone might try to ruin it all. And now, as they walked downstairs, with Mary in tow, toward another party, she was admittedly nervous.

Robert seemed to sense her nerves, though, and he held tightly to her arm as the three of them went out to the veranda and took in her mother's handiwork. The lawn and gardens looked beautiful and people were already filtering in. Robert let Mary down, and she ran over to her grandmamma, who waved them over.

"You two look just wonderful!" Martha cried, taking in the sight of her daughter and son-in-law, as Mary situated herself onto her lap. "I've got Mary here, you go and mingle," she encouraged, with a wave of her hand.

The two of them smiled and wandered off, taking in the crowd and waving every so often as Cora passed people she knew from years before. Robert was intent on not leaving her side this time and so it took them a while to navigate around before finally getting drinks—champagne for Robert and lemonade for Cora—and finding two seats under one of the large tents.

"Is everything set for our crossing home?" Cora asked as Robert pulled out her chair.

"I think so." He replied, taking the seat beside her. "But I think I will go over everything with James tomorrow, just to make sure."

"That sounds like a good idea—" Cora began, but was interrupted by a tugging on the back of her skirt, so she turned around and found a grinning Mary behind her.

"Mama!" Mary cried happily with a giggle. She held out a flower from behind her back and excitedly handed it to her Mama and reached up, hoping she would be picked up.

Cora grinned back and scooped Mary up into her lap and kissed her forehead, before passing her to Robert. "Where is Grandmamma?"

Mary pointed her tiny finger across the tent to where Martha was watching. She waved to her mother who smiled at them before turning to go mingle with some guests.

"You don't want to stay with Grandmamma anymore?" Cora asked.

Mary shook her head and hugged Robert tightly. "No, only you and Papa right now." And then, after a pause, she held out her hand and patted Cora's stomach. "And baby too." She added with a smile.

Robert and Cora exchanged a happy glance over Mary's head and continued chatting as more and more people filtered into the party. After a while Mary began to fidget in Robert's arms and asked to be put down. Just as he let her down, though, Cora stood and he saw a couple approaching their table. Robert recognized J.J. Astor immediately, though the thin brunette woman in the elaborate ensemble beside him looked unfamiliar. Cora smiled as they walked up to them.

"Cora, I'm glad to see you. I thought you might have ducked out back to England to catch the end of the season!" J.J. said with a grin, taking Cora's hand, and then shaking Robert's.

"No, we are here until Saturday," Cora explained with a smile. Then, she turned her attention to the woman beside him.

"You must be Ava," Cora smiled at her warmly. "I've heard so much about you from my mother."

The woman nodded and smiled widely. "Yes, Ava Astor. And you're Cora Levinson, correct? Your reputation precedes you, darling!" She chuckled loudly as Cora frowned slightly and watched as Ava held her hand out to Robert.

"…And you are?" Ava asked with a sweet smile.

Robert cleared his throat and exchanged a quick glance with Cora before taking her hand with a faint smile. "Robert Crawley. Cora…Cora Crawley is my wife." He explained, kindly, taking Cora's arm.

"Ah, of course!" Ava said with an apologetic giggle. "J.J. do be a dear and go get us some more champagne?" She held her empty glass out to her somber faced husband who nodded and wandered off without another word. She turned back to Robert and Cora with another sugary smile.

"Are you enjoying the party?" Cora asked.

"Oh yes, it's lovely. Your mother is quite the hostess. Would you, sorry, hold on—" She paused and turned, scanning the crowd until she saw who she was looking for. "Vincent. Vincent Astor!" She called loudly, snapping her fingers.

Robert and Cora watched as a small boy, the spitting image of J.J., toddled to where they were standing. He appeared to have gotten into the gardens, as his crisp white pants were streaked lightly with grass stains and his hair was tousled from running over.

"This is my son, Vincent." Ava said, smiling as she picked up the little boy.

Robert grinned at him and Cora cooed and grinned as well. "Oh, aren't you just the most handsome little boy." She paused, and then spotted Mary, who had been hiding shyly on the other side of the table. "Mary, sweetheart, come here please."

Mary hesitated before smoothing out her dress and skipping over to stand beside Robert's leg.

"This is Vincent. Perhaps you two would like to play?" Cora suggested, as Mary eyed the little boy.

Ava nodded enthusiastically and released her son from her grasp, setting him down on the ground.

"How old is he?" Cora inquired politely.

"He will be three in November." Ava replied, nudging her son forward. "Vincent, don't be rude like your father, introduce yourself!"

The three adults watched as the little boy smiled shyly at Mary and extended his hand, a gesture he had no doubt picked up from watching his father. "Vincent," he murmured quietly, still holding his hand out. Mary only frowned and looked up at Robert, who nodded his approval, with a smile. Still, she hesitated and only looked at his outstretched hand suspiciously.

"And you're Mary, right?" Ava asked, looking down at her.

"Lady Mary," she corrected, finally taking the little boy's hand with a small smile. Not a moment later, the two of them had skipped off in the direction of the gardens, chasing one another and giggling as they did.

"Well, it looks like we have just secured a future marriage!" Ava said, laughing loudly once more.

"Perhaps," Robert replied politely, smiling back. "Though it will be many years before I let any young man near her." He paused, and then added, "I'm just going to make sure Mary hasn't run off too far." He explained, turning in the direction they had run.

Cora giggled and was about to add something, but Ava cut her off as Robert wandered in the direction of the gardens.

"So have you been enjoying your trip?" She eyed her curiously.

"Oh, very much so. Though I've been a bit tired, as of recent." She said, patting her stomach. Ava nodded in understanding and smirked slightly, almost conspiratorially.

"I heard you had quite the evening at my little party last month."

"Excuse me?" Cora replied, visibly taken aback.

"Oh, no need to explain. I got most of the details already. I'm only sorry I missed all the excitement! Such a pity I was off dancing." She said, patting Cora's arm.

Reflexively, Cora jerked her arm away with a frown and watched as Ava's grin turned to a slightly confused expression.

"I don't know what you've been told, but there was no excitement at that party." Cora replied coolly.

"Oh, Cora dear, don't worry about it! I wasn't upset the party was interrupted. We have all been there, but perhaps next time take him somewhere a bit more private! The perils of upper-class marriage, no?" Ava giggled once more and rolled her eyes cheekily as though they were sharing secrets.

Cora took a long, deep breath before taking a step closer, leaning in slightly, and lowering her voice so as not to make a scene. "I don't know what sort of marriage you have, but do not mistake me when I say what happened that night was no accident nor was it instigated by me. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go before I say something rude."

It took all the strength Cora could muster to turn away from a shocked Ava Astor and walk back toward the house. Choking back tears she walked faster and faster back toward the house, as she only wanted to get inside, away from all the guests—and away from the story she thought was already behind her. She had nearly made it to the veranda when she passed Robert, who was on his way back to the tent with Mary holding one of his hands, and little Vincent Astor holding the other. Cora looked at him with a strained expression before rushing past them into the house. Bewildered, Robert immediately waved over a maid to take Mary and Vincent before rushing into the house after his wife.

He found her in their bedroom sitting at her vanity with her head in her hands, crying.

"What happened?" He asked quietly, kneeling down beside her.

Cora only shook her head and turned away, crying harder as he grasped her arm.

"Cora. Come now, you must tell me…this isn't good for the baby," he said, hoping that would get her to calm down. Thankfully, it seemed to be fairly effective as she turned back to him a moment later and wiped her eyes.

"What happened?"

"Ava Astor said something about their party, something about an exciting night, and the perils of aristocratic marriages." She murmured, reaching inside Robert's jacket for the handkerchief she knew he kept in his pocket.

Robert only sighed and took Cora's hands, lifting her from the vanity seat. "My dear, you mustn't let it upset you. I only spent three minutes with that woman and even I am quite sure she is no great intellect!" He said, smiling at her. Cora managed a faint smile and held his hands tightly.

"I don't want people talking about me and about our marriage." She explained, whispering softly.

"Oh darling, people will talk whether you give them the ammunition or not. It makes it easier for them to ignore the deficiencies in their own lives."

"Perhaps you're right." She sighed, and looked away toward the window. "Would you mind terribly if I stayed up here?" She asked, turning back once more.

"Cora, my dearest one, let's leave the past in the past, and not allow ourselves to get caught up like—like before. Please, come back down with me." Robert held out his hand and kept his gaze fixed on Cora, silently pleading that she would take his hand. Deep down he knew the past couldn't possibly be all in the past, not yet at least, and Cora was still shoring herself back up. It was no matter, though. He was prepared to wait for her for as long as it could possibly take.

But much to his happy surprise, Cora let out a breath and took his hand. "You're right." She said as they walked back downstairs, "we must let the past be the past."

"Quite right, my dear. After all, we are the imperious Lord and Lady Grantham," He said with a mischievous grin, pulling her a bit closer as they neared the main hall. Once they reached the last step, Robert stopped and pulled Cora more firmly into his embrace, leaning down to kiss her softly. He let his lips linger on hers for a long moment and felt a slight tingle run up his spine as her hands found their way beneath his jacket and up his back. She pulled away a second later, with a coy grin. "Later," she whispered, kissing him once more before taking his hand and walking back out to the party.

To his further surprise, Cora released his hand once they made it outside, and patted his arm before saying she was going off to find her mother. Happy to see her going off on her own, Robert readily released her grasp and stood by the edge of the veranda sipping a glass of champagne.

He was nearly finished with the glass when he saw J.J. approaching him with a frown.

"It seems I own you an apology on behalf of my wife," he said quietly, the apologetic tones of his voice quite clear.

Robert offered him a small smile as they walked over to an empty table. "It's not necessary, but thank you."

"Well it is necessary, and please do convey my apologies—my wife's apologies—to Cora."

"I will, thank you."

"You don't have to say it, I already know." J.J. finally said, with a chuckle.

"What's that?"

"My wife, she is not a particularly nice person. I figured that out soon after our wedding."

"Ah, well I—" Robert paused, unsure of what to say. He found J.J. to be a kind man, someone he would likely befriend if he happened to meet him in London, but it was not quite in his nature to discuss marriage with anyone, beyond Cora of course. It felt a bit odd, and far too personal, though he didn't want to just brush him off, and so he smiled politely and nodded as J.J. continued to speak.

"It's no matter. She has her life and I have mine—and we have Vincent so I suppose it's no matter anymore. As of recent she's taken up with some sniveling society fellow back in New York…or so my staff tells me," He muttered, clearly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to burden you; I'd just like you to know, I don't condone what she said to Cora. I think you two make a fine pair and it's obvious you're very happy.." He said, standing up from the table with a smile.

"Thank you," Robert said quietly. "I think so too."

"Well, I must say, it's been an eventful summer." J.J. laughed, extending his hand.

"Indeed," Robert chuckled in agreement. "The next time you find yourselves in London, do write. I'm sure Cora would be glad to have a bit of America at Downton."

J.J. nodded and thanked him, before gesturing off in the distance. "And, I think my son is rather taken with your daughter!" The two men looked on as little Vincent held out a handful of flowers (though, it looked as though he had only pulled the blooms of the stems) to Mary, who arched her little eyebrows and skipped off in the other direction, with Vincent soon in hot pursuit.

"Tell him to write to me in about fifteen years," Robert laughed. "Actually—twenty make that twenty."

J.J. waved once more and Robert watched as he disappeared into the crowd of the party. Turning, he scanned the crowd for Cora, and saw her off in the distance, standing beside her mother and a group of women, all laughing and smiling widely as Martha told a story. She looked happy, and more than happy, she finally looked as though she was relaxed.


Late afternoon soon drifted into evening and the crowds slowly dissipated as the sun set behind the trees. Candles were lit as the last straggling guests said their goodbyes and Cora, Robert and Martha made their way inside. Mary had been put to bed earlier, and so it was only the three of them that officially ended the grand fete. Utterly exhausted, Martha excused herself as soon as they reached the stairs, and Cora and Robert followed up a moment after.

A while later, both dressed for bed, Cora laid on top of their bed and stretched out her arms, it had been a rather long day and she could feel her muscles aching a bit. Robert lay beside her and turned to face her, so he could run his hand over the visible bump protruding from beneath her pale peach nightgown. It had become a little habit of his, and Cora didn't mind. In fact, she found it rather sweet to watch, and so she reclined happily as Robert drew absentminded circles over her stomach, smiling up at her every so often. Soon enough he let his hand rest against her and looked up to meet her gaze, a mischievous expression playing at his lips.

"What is it?" Cora asked looking down at him.

"Oh, nothing…" He said lightly, though his expression indicated the exact opposite.

"Well what is that look for, then?" She replied, returning his playful smile.

"It's just—" He paused and crawled up beside her, so he could whisper in her ear: "I believe you promised me, later."

Cora stifled a giggle as she felt his breath tickling her neck and leaned away with raised eyebrows and an expression of feigned shock. "I promised you no such thing, Robert Crawley."

Robert only grinned wider and inched closer. "I'm quite certain you did, darling."

Cora smirked and hooked her finger under the collar of his pajamas, pulling him even closer as he moved to kiss her once more. "Well, perhaps I remember saying something to that effect." She said teasingly, holding him back.

Before she could say anything more, Robert drew her into his arms and kissed her passionately as his hands wandered up her back. Cora shifted slightly before leaning in to whisper one last thing in Robert's ear—

"Blow out the candle, darling."

Robert most happily complied.