Home alone

1891

Cora strolled the gardens on her own. Normally she would have a morning tea with Mama in between the large and luscious bushes of roses at this time. Her mother-in-law was a very demanding woman and Cora did have a hard time with her, there was no denying it. But Mama's penchant for gardens and flowers led to some of the most beautiful moments Cora had experienced at Downton so far. Violet had made it their habit in summer to discuss the day's tasks outside amidst her favourite part of the gardens instead of in her sitting room. Every morning, after Cora had joined Robert on his walk on the grounds, she sought the rose garden where her mother-in-law had advised the footmen to prepare a seating area.

Violet wasn't there at the moment. She was in London for new frocks which were her usual excuse for seeing Rosamund. She spent the day looking at several fabrics and dresses and pestering her daughter with questions. Rosamund had told Cora that Violet hardly ever purchased anything and she suspected that her mother only wanted to have a closer look at her daughter's new life as a married lady in far-away London. Today was one of the days the countess had chosen to grant her dear daughter a visit, and Cora was walking the paths in the rose garden alone. She enjoyed it though. The heavy scent floated around her and Cora relished the dream-like moment.

After her walk with Robert, he had returned to the house and she had decided to turn to the rose gardens nevertheless. Robert had to deal with some estate business because his father had left for London too. The earl was away for a few days, staying at the club and settling some business. He had advised Robert to manage a few minor tasks that would come up during his absence. Robert was eager to fulfil them responsibly and with care. He didn't want to show a lack of interest or success right at the start of what would be a long career as 'caretaker' of Downton Abbey. Cora supported his ambition into the still rather small tasks he had to handle and she had urged him to tell her every detail of how it went afterwards. She used her time at hand trying to recall the different types of roses and their names Mama mentioned by the by with such great ease. Cora could relate to Mama's interest in flowers but the older lady was a bit ahead in her knowledge and Cora always looked like a disinterested amateur next to her mother-in-law. She knew that with remembering the roses' names she could never manage to impress Violet but she had to start somewhere. Humming, Cora wandered between the bushes, easily recalling the distinct types. There was only one type of intensive pink and Cora had gotten the hang of telling the different white roses apart immediately after her first visits to the garden. But the apricot roses still posed quite the challenge. The shades and forms seemed to differ more within one bush than between the different types, and Cora thought all of them as equally lovely. If she would want to make real progress on her gardening knowledge, she should consider consulting the gardener, she thought.

Being up to Mama's mark proved to be more work than Cora had thought when she had married Robert a year and a half ago. Still, she hasn't given up find a way into Mama's good graces, although she doubted, she would find a way into Mama's heart.

Shrugging her shoulders and taking the last whiff of her favourite yellow bloom (she always imagined having a perfume of that particular rose, it would be lovely), Cora decided to return to the house and look how Robert was doing. In the hall, she already encountered her husband who was in discussion with a footman. It seemed he had received a telegram just now.

"Ah, Cora! Guess who is staying in London tonight?" Robert spoke when he spotted her.

"Uhm… Papa is, I guess," Cora tried an answer while attempting to discreetly shift her hat whose pins began to prick unpleasantly into her scalp.

"Well, yes," Robert replied with a shrug of shoulders. "But so is Mama. She just informed us that she would stay at Rosamund's overnight. She isn't feeling well and doesn't want to travel today." His tone was elated and he now accompanied her to the stairs, nodding his dismissal at the footmen silently.

"Oh, I am sorry," Cora exclaimed.

"She will surely be alright by tomorrow morning," he assured. "But she doesn't have to bother us until she is back." Cora chuckled at his statement.

"I will hurry to take off my hat. Might I find you in the library in a few minutes?" she asked.

"Yes, of course." Robert smiled softly at her before she ascended the stairs.

When she met him on the red settees not much later, he already reclined casually on the seat next to the fireplace, the one his father usually occupied. He patted the cushion next to him and Cora sat down by his side.

"You know what we can do when we're alone at home," Robert said in a low voice, searching her eyes.

Cora furrowed her brow, trying to think of something he could possibly mean. "What?"

"Well, … everything," Robert concluded. "It is our house for now, and there is no one to tell us what to do and what to stop." He reached out his hand to caress her thigh.

"I see," Cora murmured and a tentative smirk appeared on her features. Robert watched her reaction.

"What are thinking about?" he asked when she was silent for a while and her gaze had left his.

"I just thought that every single room is ours at the moment is all," she gave back without meeting his eyes. His grip on her thigh grew firmer and eventually, she looked up at his face. She was met by a wide grin and relaxed a little at this sight, not really knowing where this former tinge of nervosity came from. This was her dear and familiar Robert after all.

"I like that thought," he spoke softly and cupped her cheek with his other hand. He was rewarded with a content smile of hers. She leaned into his hand and her eyes swept adoringly over his features.

"What do want to do in this room for instance?" Robert inquired. Enveloped by her warm gaze he only focused on her vision in front of him.

"Well, I thought about using this comfortable settee in a manner your parents wouldn't approve of if they knew about it."

"Is that so?" he grinned and his voice held a teasing tone. Cora nodded and without breaking their warm eye contact she pulled up her legs and unbuckled her shoes.

"Yes, it's a shame we're having these cosy settees and no one ever gets really comfortable on them," she explained while stretching her legs on the part of the sofa that faced away from Robert and leaning her upper body against his. He chuckled and she felt the rumbles that shook his body where her side pressed against his.

"You are really one of a kind, Cora," Robert stated and began running his fingers through her pinned-up curls.

"Don't! You're messing up my hair," she argued with little conviction.

"I am careful," he assured. Cora turned until she faced him and her lips were mere inches from his. Without further words, she extended her definition of 'getting really comfortable' and covered his lips with hers, her arms looping around his chest. Robert moved his lips softly, relishing the opportunity to drag this unusually sensual kiss in the library. His eyes closed, the feeling of her warm lips was as present as the touch of her small palms on his back, and he enjoyed how her body moulded against his more and more. His hands splayed across the small of her back. Cora emitted low hums into their sealed lips before she tentatively tried to dip her tongue into his mouth. Robert gladly went along with her plans. After all, she was right, it was their room for now and the best way he could think of to use it was exactly what Cora initiated. But feeling growing arousal well up in him, he wasn't sure how far they should really take it. Therefore, he was glad when Cora pulled back to catch her breath, leaning her forehead against his. Robert brushed his fingertips across her spine and Cora tucked her head underneath his chin.

"I like having the library to ourselves," Robert pondered.

"Yes, me too," Cora purred, letting her fingers graze the skin of his neck just where his collar ended.

"You know? One day it will be like that every day," he said. Cora laughed without restraint.

"I don't think so," she chuckled.

"Why is that?"

"Well, I am sure your mother will never cease keeping an eye on us. Apart from that, we won't be alone, Robert. Not only will there be our dear Mama but also a bunch of children," she stated.

"Oh, right. I forgot about your big plans for the nursery," he teased. He could never forget her dream of a nursery full of their children. It was only a few months ago that baby Mary brought life to the nursery.

"These are our plans, Robert. Or am I mistaken?" she inquired, still fiddling with his collar.

"No, of course not. It takes two after all," he answered. His hands began pressing against her corseted waist more persistently. "Then we have to make the best of our peace in this house now."

Cora turned again in his arms, lifting her face to his height by pressing her palms to his chest. Her close-up grinning face made Robert chuckle lowly. "I totally agree," she purred.