Wow - I can't believe we're already at chapter 20! This is by far the longest story I've written and I just want to thank you all again for interacting with this story. Your support means the world and I hope you stick around because I've still got a few chapters left in me :-)

"Might I have the next dance, Lady Downton?"

Cora looked up to see the lanky, fair-complected Lord Hatton standing before her, an eager smile plastered across his face. Something about his grin made her feel rather like a lamb in the presence of a very hungry lion. They had only been introduced the previous day, when the Crawleys had arrived at Kirby Hall for a house party to celebrate the anniversary of Lord Hatton's parents, the Earl and Countess of Winchelsea, and already the viscount had made several unwanted attempts to corral her into conversation. He made her inexplicably uneasy and she was not the least bit interested in dancing with him now, but she could hardly turn him down in his own home, especially when Robert was somewhere across the room trying to find them a drink and incapable of saving her.

"You may," she replied with as much cordiality as she could muster, the words leaving a sour taste in her mouth. Taking the arm he extended, she allowed Lord Hatton to lead her away from the safety of her seat.

The string quartet struck up a waltz, and Lord Hatton began to whirl her around the floor. He held her just a bit closer than propriety dictated, a firm hand on her back keeping her from putting any more space between them.

"How do you find Kirby Hall thus far?" he asked her as they danced.

"It's lovely," she answered with a tight-lipped smile. It was a beautiful home, but she didn't want her words to be construed to mean anything else.

"Perhaps we might see you here a little more frequently?" The way he smirked conspiratorially at her, paired with his sweaty hand on her back, made bile rise in Cora's throat. She knew that many men of their station took mistresses, but she never expected that one would try to proposition her so openly, after knowing her for less than forty-eight hours.

"I'm afraid not," she said without the least bit of regret in her voice. "It's rather a long way from Downton Abbey."

Something unpleasant flashed in Lord Hatton's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Well, perhaps we'll see you in London for the Season."

"Perhaps," she replied politely.

They passed the rest of the dance in an uncomfortable silence. When the music ended, she dropped his hand immediately, anxious to get away. He let his hand brush down her back before loosening his grip on her, stopping just short of making this an indecent encounter, and it took every ounce of self-control Cora had not to slap him.

"If you'll excuse me, I must go find my husband." She didn't wait for a response before turning on her heel and hurrying away.

A quick scan of the room did not produce any sign of Robert. His parents were deep in conversation with Lord and Lady Winchelsea, and most of the other young people at the party with whom Robert might have conversed were dancing. She furrowed her brow, wondering where he could have gone off to. Then, she spotted a door off the side of the ballroom and remembered that earlier someone mentioned that it led to a balcony. Perhaps he had needed some air.

Sure enough, Robert stood on the small balcony, staring out at Kirby Hall's extensive grounds. Cora lingered by the door for a moment, enjoying the view of her husband's broad shoulders in his tailcoat and the refreshingly cold night air on her overheated skin.

"Robert? I thought you were going to find drinks?"

"You were busy," he said, his back still to her.

She took a few steps toward him, confused by his aloof response. "I suppose you could call it that."

Robert didn't reply, and she wondered if he hadn't heard her. "Hatton was rather friendly," he grunted after a moment.

"He was far too friendly, if you ask me," she replied, shuddering at the memory of the other man's hand on her.

It was then that Robert turned to face her, and she knew by the tight clenching of his jaw that something was amiss. Was he ill? He hadn't seemed ill earlier. Maybe she had done something to upset him. No, that couldn't be it either; it had been barely ten minutes since they last saw one another, and he had smiled warmly at her and pressed her hand before leaving in search of a footman with a tray.

"You seemed to enjoy his company," Robert snapped, sounding almost sullen.

Oh. So that's what this was about.

"Are you...jealous?" Perhaps this realization should have angered her, but instead it made her rather giddy. Robert had only recently confessed his love for her and the idea that he would envy another man just for dancing with her was more than she had ever dared hope for.

"No," he grumbled, but Cora noted the reddening of his cheeks, the way his eyes wouldn't quite meet hers. "I'm certainly not jealous of Samuel Hatton."

"Oh? You could have fooled me."

"I'm not." When Cora only raised an eyebrow at him, he grew even more flushed. "I just don't like the way he looks at you - like you're a piece of meat."

Cora agreed, but she wasn't about to say so and spoil her fun. "Does he? I hardly noticed." She grinned mischievously. "You see, I have my heart set on someone else."

Robert looked momentarily taken aback before catching on. "Oh! Is that so?"

"Yes," she said, taking a step closer. The smell of his cologne was deliciously strong, and she could feel the heat radiating from him. "It is."

He swallowed audibly, gripping the railing behind him. "And who might this lucky fellow be?

"Perhaps you know him. A Mr. Robert Crawley, from Yorkshire?"

"He sounds terribly dull."

"He is. But alas, he's devilishly handsome and I find I'm quite powerless to resist him."

"Might I tempt you to stray from this poor Mr. Crawley?" Robert asked, his eyes darkening.

"I suppose you may." She extended her gloved hand to him and he took it, first pressing his lips to her knuckles then trailing kisses reverently up her arm.

"You may tempt me," she continued, a little more breathily than she would have liked, "but Lord Hatton certainly cannot. I love you, you silly man.

With something like a growl, Robert tugged her hand until they stood with their chests pressed together, barely a hairsbreadth between them. He covered her surprised yip with his mouth, snaking an arm around her. His palm at the base of her spine sent a shiver through her and she curled her fingers against the back of his neck.

Suddenly, the door to the balcony swung open. Robert's head shot up, his hold on her waist tightening protectively. Cora gripped his lapels, burying her face in his shoulder and hoping it was only a footman that had discovered their little tryst.

"Lady Downton? I thought I saw -"

She stifled a groan at the familiar voice. Of course, Lord Hatton noticed her leave and had taken it upon himself to go after her. It served him right, she thought, that this was the scene he stumbled upon, rather than catching her alone as he had surely hoped to do. She only wished she could see his reaction.

"I'm afraid Lady Downton is otherwise disposed," Robert said gruffly from over Cora's shoulder.

"Right. Of course."

When Cora heard the door click shut, she lifted her head, giggling uncontrollably as a tear rolled down her cheek. Robert looked considerably less amused, but she could tell he was more stunned than angry.

"You think that's funny, do you?" he asked, taking her chin in his hand.

"Yes, I do. Now kiss me."

He didn't need to be told twice and so, with a smirk and a slight squeeze of her waist, he did.