AN: Thank you so much for the reviews on the last chapter! I really appreciate them.

And also thank you to those of your who reviewed some of my other stories.

As always, have a great day everyone,

Kat

Chapter 3

Cora – that same night on the balcony

"I know your brother won't be loyal to me," she says. "I know he'll have mistresses, I know he has one now. But he offers what I want. A comfortable home and freedom. Eventually. He won't lock me up in a drafty castle. He'll let me travel and do what I want once I have produced an heir and maybe a spare. I am walking into this with my eyes open, Robert." She realizes that she has never called him Robert, but as her future brother-in-law it seems appropriate. What does not seem appropriate is the sad smile on his face.

"I know you are walking into this with open eyes. You are intelligent and a pragmatist. But you and I in the same house with my brother gone to see his mistress would not be a good situation. Neither or me nor for you," Robert says. She wants to pretend that she doesn't know what Robert means, wants to tell him that for her it might not be that difficult. But she can't break his heart like that.
"We'll just have to find a wife for you then," she says and then gives him a sisterly peck on the cheek.

"I think we will have to do that," Robert says without moving his head away. And instead of taking a step backwards, of going back inside, she gives him another peck. On the lips. And she closes her eyes. She feels Robert grab her waist and pull her closer and realization shoots through her like a lightning bolt. When Robert moves away from her and begins to apologize she says "don't. At least now I know what it is like to kiss out of affection. Or being in love. And I gather you are not going to see your mistress tonight."

"No," Robert simply states and stares at her.

"I can't marry you," she says to him. "I'd prefer you over your brother but my parents wouldn't allow it and I want." But she doesn't know how to go on. She wants a title, she wants a big house and an estate, she does not need a love match.

"Well, I think you now know why I think we'd end up in an impossible situation. Both of us. If you accept my brother I will have to leave Downton. I'll stay with my sister and away from you."

This breaks her heart a little but she understands. And she knows this would be best.

"Yes. That seems like an easy solution." Of course it won't be easy but she is sure that Robert will find love somewhere else and quickly. And after all, he can't really love her, he might be in love with her as she is little in love with him but it isn't serious. How could it be serious after a six weeks acquaintance?

Patrick – Grantham House, London, a day later

"Violet, we need to talk." His wife looks at him and smiles. They may never have been in love but they have always been rather good friends.

"What about?" she asks and puts her pen down.

"Richard. And Miss Levinson. And Robert."

"So you have heard the rumors too? That we are actually trying to push Robert onto Miss Levinson?" He is glad that Violet already knows about this.

"Yes. And so have her parents. Her father has made it very clear to me that he wants a title for his daughter. Robert is not an option they'll consider."

"I gather not," Violet replies and looks thoughtful. "What it comes down to is that we either have to discourage Richard from proposing to Cora and push him towards Claire Walters instead or we have to encourage Robert to leave for a while." That is exactly what he thinks.

"Considering that our son's wife will live with us I think we should encourage Robert to go away. Miss Levinson is much more bearable than Miss Walters." Violet gives a dry chuckle.

"I find them both unbearable and both of them will need a lot of training to fill my shoes. But you are right. Miss Levinson is the lesser of those two evils. Although we might miss Robert."

"He would move away eventually anyway."

He is surprised by Robert's quick acquiescence to his plan of making him leave.

"To be honest Papa, I think that would be best for Miss Levinson and me and maybe also the family reputation." His youngest child looks quite determined, calm and detached. But still he thinks that there is something that Robert is keeping to himself.

"Why did you dance so much with her? Why did you talk so much to her?" Robert sighs.

"Because Richard made me. He wanted to be sure. And I understand that. He reasoned that women would be much more open with me than with him, seeing as they did not want to marry me. And I think that Miss Levinson is the best of what is available. She is smart, she knows what she is getting herself into."

"Which means she knows about your brother's affairs."

"I am sure her parents have spies. And she sees things for what they are. She is a pragmatist." He watches Robert toy with his half empty scotch glass.

"Do you like her?" he asks and Robert looks him squarely in the eyes.

"I am afraid I do. But nothing has happened and nothing ever will happen. I'll find someone else."

In this moment he feels strange pride for his son who sees the situation so clearly and does not seem intent on making a fuss. Instead he'll just take himself out of the equation.

Richard – that same day

He has made his final decision. He will propose to Cora Levinson tomorrow. In a manner he is looking forward to marrying her. She is quite beautiful and not overly emotional. He might actually be able to convince her to not just lie back and think of England but to make the private parts of their marriage a little interesting. She didn't seem a complete novice at kissing and clearly did not expect him to propose the second his lips had left her hers. It might actually be fun to share a bed with her. For a while.

He knows that eventually he will cast Cora aside completely but she'll find someone else. Maybe a stable boy or a land agent. Or someone in New York. He doesn't care. As long as she gives him an heir or two he is fine with whatever she does. He needs her money too of course. But that is in essence his father's task. He will secure it and tie it to the estate and make sure that during his life time there won't ever be any money problems again. Maybe he can get Robert to have a look at the finances from time to time. He and his brother don't see eye to eye on matters of the estate but he has a nagging feeling that Robert would run it better than him. Maybe he can make Robert his land agent once he is the earl. The thought makes him laugh, particularly because he envisioned his wife having an affair with the land agents only moments ago.

He casts that weird image aside and concentrates on tonight, his last night of real freedom. He'll go out with a few friends, visit one of his mistresses and come home very late. He'll sleep through his hangover and then propose marriage to Cora Levinson.

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