A/N: I wasn't going to do another note until the final chapter but I've a few things to say to you lovely people who are leaving me comments and reviews. I am very much appreciative that most of you guys are with me on the whole Cora deserves her own fun time - also I'm also glad I've not been roasted with negativity (no need for my fire salamander dance now...) Anyway, that could well change very soon. Cobert fans, oh dearest Cobert fans, please do bear with me and sit tight - it's about to get all the the more 'torturous' (as DowntonAddict put it ;)). I'll say no more to do with this chapter but now we have a few notices. Firstly, updates will becoming on Tues and Thurs days. Secondly, I've a poll on my profile to do with this story for those wishing to partake. There's no thirdly now... see you Thursday! x

4. A Stupid Mistake

"Perhaps I should leave if you're feeling violent?"

"Don't move. We are having this out now."

Just a few more days, Cora reminded herself. A few more days and it'll be like he was never here. The effects of the evening before had hit her full on in the face the next morning. It seemed a casual kiss in a moonlit room with someone other than Robert wouldn't be leaving her guilt-free - even if Robert was off doing just the same thing. Cora had tried to remind herself she was in control of herself here - it always took two to partake in these things after all. Perhaps if she held no interaction with Mr Napier for another three days there would be no temptation to do anything else inappropriate or remotely unfaithful...

Since their encounter in the drawing room, Cora had avoided him where possible - averting her gaze from him at breakfast and ducking out of Edith's activity organising. They hadn't shared any further words the night before, when Cora colelcted herself together again she fled the room and swiftly returned to bed, leaving Evelyn in a bewildered sort of daze. It seemed she was doing an awful lot of hiding lately...

Cora had settled on one of the high-backed sofas in the library, persistently poking at her current needlework while staring out of the window at a grey and breezy day. A sleepy yawn from Isis broke her away from her thoughts. Resolved to abandon her arabesque mid-stitch to go and tend to the guests she'd been neglecting, Cora was just about to get up when she heard the door to the library open and close. She swiveled around and peered over the sofa, about to call greeting to whoever she should find.

No words came to her lips, they were glued in her throat while her head pulsed with panic. Robert and Jane had entered the room and they obviously did not know she was there.

"But I can't stay, milord, if Lady Grantham-"

"Leave worrying about Lady Grantham to me. I won't have you leave because of my indecency."

"I wouldn't call it indecency, milord."

"I would... If you knew how I've wanted you."

Cora clasped a hand over her mouth to stop them hearing her cry. It was like physical agony to hear him speak such things, hear him talk of her to his maid like she could be blind-sighted and have her ignorance of them tended to. Cora lowered down onto the sofa, hiding herself from view. Isis had woken up and was looking at her quite confusedly.

"If you knew how I've wanted you too... you're all I think about," Jane said gently. Cora could tell they were huddled close, their voices had become husky and flirtatious.

"How I wish everything was different for us."

Cora couldn't listen to more of this. Putting her emotional distress in the next room, she rose from her pitfall with with the anger of an untamed inferno, the calm of a lioness about to pounce, the majesty of a royal. Very slowly, she turned and faced them to see them inches from a kiss. She cleared her throat with a business-like significance.

If ever Cora had felt powerful in her role as a Countess, she'd never quite felt the full effect as she did then. Jane looked genuinely scared for her life and quickly untangled herself from Robert's arms, fidgeting with her hands nervously while Robert stared at Cora dumbfounded.

"Robert darling," Cora said without affection. "The next time you choose to have an affair you might do well to keep it better hidden from me."

Her voice didn't quaver, she was thankful for that. As she made her way for the door, neither of them interrupted her. Isis had tailed after her, giving Jane a low growl and trotting along at Cora's heel. Robert broke out of his stupefaction and hurried after her without so much as looking back at Jane.

"Cora," he called after her but she didn't stop. "Cora!"

She continued straight out into the hall, making for the front doors.

"Wait! Where are you going?" he quickened his pace to catch up with her. He reached out for her arm to pull her back but Isis turned and barked at him. Surprised by his pet's obvious new dislike for him, he stopped. Cora turned around.

"Did you really think I didn't know?" she asked in defeat. Her prowess had crumbled now, all she really wanted was to cry alone.

"I... Well, I- No, of course not. But she doesn't mean anything-"

"Well I hope I'm interrupting something important," Violet sweeped in through the front doors, alarming Robert further. Isis gave a bark and wagged her tail enthusiastically.

"The Dowager Countess, milady," Carson said rather too late as he closed the door.

"Mama... are we expecting you?" Robert asked in a fluster.

"No but I thought I'd come for tea," she smiled, quirking her head.

Cora turned and headed up the stairs.

"Cora, wait," Robert called after her.

"I don't want to talk to you right now. Drink tea with your mother."

"My my, it seems I have arrived just in time," Violet raised her eyebrow at Robert.

Cora stopped at the top of the stairs and spoke directly to Carson. "Please let O'Brien know I don't want to be disturbed until the dressing gong so I will not be down to luncheon."

"As you wish, milady," Carson said with a nod.

"And of course this is the Entrance Hall," Edith came walking in with a troop of their guests in tow plus Sybil. "Oh... hello granny, I didn't think we'd be seeing you until tomorrow. I'm just showing the gentlemen the house."

"So I see," Violet replied.

Cora moved out of sight behind a pillar, leaning against the aged stone for support.

"Carson will you show the Dowager Countess to the library and have tea brought up. If you'll excuse me a moment," Robert said, hurrying up the stairs after Cora with as much gentlemanly grace as possible. "Cora?"

"Robert, leave her. She needs her time. Come with me, I need a word with you," Violet instructed.

Robert groaned inwardly but did as he'd been told. He didn't need embarrassing further in front Carson - or anybody else for that matter. Cora listened as Robert dejectedly walked back down the stairs to join Violet and their voices faded out as they went from the hall. Edith recited some partly true facts about the room and prepared the party to move into the next room.

"Actually, do you mind if you excuse me I've some... correspondence to take care of?" Cora recognised Sybil's voice as she tried to wriggle out of attending the rest of Edith's tour.

"Must you? We're about to do the portrait room..."

"I've a few letters to write myself," Evelyn's voice was distinct. "I hope you won't mind if I excuse myself aswell."

"Well... alright. I suppose we'll see you at luncheon."

"Thank you for the tour, Lady Edith," Evelyn said before making his way up the stairs while Sybil went off somewhere to not write correspondence letters.

"Alright, let's go on to the portrait room. It's one of the most historical and fascinating rooms in the house..." Collective footsteps followed Edith's voice out of the hall.

"Oh... Lady Grantham I thought you'd gone," Evelyn said, leaning against the stone beside her with a friendly smile. "Are we to talk about last night or pretend it didn't happen? I'll understand either way," he said in an up-beat way that confused her.

Cora blinked several times trying to find her thoughts and realise what he was saying.

"I don't... know."

"Alright," Evelyn said slowly.

"We'll..." she made her mind up then. A spur of the moment decision made in heart-break she'd not experienced before. "Come with me."

Evelyn followed beside her, intrigued. Cora walked down the corridors with her head hung, fighting a hoard of emotions as she led the young gentleman to her boudoir. They arrived and she held the door open for him but before allowing him to enter she spoke quickly.

"I think you know why I've brought you here and please, if you want to avoid my brash and - at the moment - badly judged decisions you should go."

Evelyn considered her carefully, her eyes were to the floor, her head hung a little. He swallowed hard and walked past her into the bedroom. Cora followed, slightly surprised, and turned to close the door behind them. Before she'd turned around, his hands were at her waist, lightly placed there while she felt his chest press against her back with his lips at her cheek. Her heart thumped wildly, everything about it was wrong and yet for some reason she needed to feel an intimacy, she needed to feel wanted by someone...

She turned to face him and he kissed her, her arms wound around his neck, his taste was on her lips and hers on his. He took his time, requesting slow entrance of his tongue into her mouth and his touch staying chaste while they found sync with one another. But as arousal burned heavier, want grew stronger than patience. Cora pushed his day jacket from his shoulders, he shrugged it off and let it hit the floor. Her fingers traced over his jaw-line and down his throat, pulling at his tie. He grew bolder with her confidence and began to unfasten the buttons at the back of her dress. She pushed the braces from his broad shoulders while their kisses became shorter and more desperate and quickly they became clothless. Cora had underestimated the tone of his physique and it had quite the unexpected effect on her. Powerful arms lifted her from her feet and carried her to her bed.

Yet in one moment of lost connection when he too got into the bed, her thoughts became articulate for just a split second. But before she could do anything with her doubt, he lay between her thighs and the best part of the deed was done.

From then on her mind scrambled again and not much else was apparent to Cora until she had well and truly crossed the line and run a mile past it...

Robert had calmed somewhat after an indeterminable length of silence.

"You know it's actually pretty much accepted for men to have affairs while their wives stay loyal," he said almost conversationally.

"I may have been able to accept that if our situation was different."

"And what is our situation?"

Cora breathed a sigh and met his eyes.

"I think... if we can't forgive eachother now, we're in trouble, Robert."

"You need to forgive me? How is that? I didn't do-"

"For once look at things from my perspective. I thought you were having an affair with... Jane but you weren't... quite. You thought I'd not been to bed with him... but I had. What we both know has just reversed. I will say I am sorry for what I've done but it's not entirely my fault Robert, at least accept you partly pushed me to go there."

"Well you 'partly pushed me' to nearly have an affair with the maid!"

"I've already told you what I was neglecting you for!"

"Yes but you still ignored me."

"I did not ignore you... We just slept together less often..."

Robert let out a frustrated growl and clenched his fists.

"I can't do this with you anymore!"