Another smudge of lipstick, another press of her lips, and she was dressed. She stood from the vanity, straightened out her dress, and thanked Baxter who nodded silently.
"And Baxter," Cora pushed a small handkerchief further into her clutch, "please let His Lordship know when I've gone that I've left early to beat the rain."
She looked up at her maid, prepared to hear the "Yes, my lady" or "Very good, your Ladyship" that was so often uttered. But there was nothing. Baxter only stared, barely blinking until at last, quietly, she answered.
"If you wish, Lady Grantham."
Inexplicably frozen, Cora tried to ignore the hitch of breath, the sharpness in her chest that she felt at the name Grantham. She stared back at her maid, and then nodded before leaving her room.
Downstairs seemed to have been abandoned, but she was glad of it. No need to explain. No need to feign innocence. For that she was thankful because she wasn't sure that she could. When she had mentioned going with Mr. Bricker again, the girls had looked up incredulously.
"Again?" Mary raised her brows. "Are you certain that's wise?"
"Wise?" She breathed out. "And why shouldn't it be?" She had waved her hand and picked up her tea cup suddenly, in order to busy herself. She had instantly regretted it. She should have just laughed. She was a terrible liar.
Mary held her cup still, the other two girls looking between she and her mother. "Mama, don't you feel at all uncomfortable with him?"
Cora continued to look at Mary, but had heard the crumble of Robert's paper. "No." She looked at her cup. "I feel very comfortable, thank you."
Robert hadn't said a word, but his paper, Cora noticed, had been put to the side for the remainder of their tea. And now, hours later, she saw it lying on the buffet by the stairs.
"You look very nice." Robert's voice surprised her and she looked at his figure as he came toward her. She took in a breath.
"What?"
He smiled before he grabbed the paper, looking back at her, "I said you look nice." He held his paper still, and he met Cora's eyes. He held them there until Carson spoke.
"Mr. Bricker, my lady."
Both she and Robert turned to him, slightly startled, and then to Bricker who came through, smiling, his hat crooked and his coat buttoned once. Cora could feel Robert's gaze on her smile.
"Lord Grantham, how very generous you are to allow me to steal away your lovely wife," he held out an arm for her to grasp. She did. "And now I'm afraid we must go, pleasantries aside, before it begins to rain."
"Haven't you driven?" Robert knitted his brow, looking at Cora briefly.
Bricker pulled her in more closely. "Oh, of course. But then there's the trouble of getting out in all the weather. Yes, much better to leave at once." He grinned. "Don't you think, Lady Grantham?"
She didn't appreciate that, the way he had somehow undermined Robert, but Cora agreed and brought her eyes back to her husband. He stood awkwardly with the paper folded in his hand while she held onto another man's arm. The sight of him standing there made her hurt. Physically hurt.
Mr. Bricker turned, with a small tug, but she remained steadfast, her eyes still on Robert.
"Have a nice time at the club," she offered another hushed smile, but he didn't take it.
There was only a shake of his head and a rather mumbled, "No, no, I've changed my plans." Another stop of her lungs.
"Very well, good night," Mr. Bricker rushed and pulled her arm. She followed submissively, letting her eyes linger on Robert until they were outside.
Bricker opened his car door for her himself, and she ducked inside, sliding along the seat to the window. He quickly came to her side, again clutching her arm. She felt suddenly very claustrophobic. She opened the top of her coat, and hoped he wouldn't notice, but he did.
"I thought perhaps we'd stop at my place for a while."
Cora glanced upward to him. "A while?"
"There's something I'd very much like you to…see."
Her heart was beating madly. "But," she swallowed, "won't we be late to the exhibit?"
Her voice was met with laughter. "Oh, Cora." An acidic turn of her stomach accompanied her name. He shouldn't call her that. "There is no exhibit." His laughter trailed off at her apparent perplexity. "You understood that, didn't you?"
She blinked and then shook her head, her brows furrowing. "No." She looked at her lap. "No, no. Simon…" She shook her head again. "Mr. Bricker." She took in a deep breath. "This isn't right."
He leaned forward.
She continued and found his eyes again. "I can't. I…I can't. I'm…I'm married."
He laughed. "I'm well aware of that." He was leaning in too closely, his fingertips touched her chin to lift her face. "But isn't that what makes it that much more exciting?"
There was a grin and glint in his eyes and then he kissed her, but unlike before, it was met with a recoil and a jerk of her head.
"Stop."
But he didn't. He shook his head, simpering. "Oh sweet, beautiful Cora…" He brought his lips closer and she turned away. His fingertips remained and pulled her back.
His face was harder. "You wanted this."
She shook her head, but it was true. Tears began to blur her eyes.
"You called me. You accepted my invitation. You kissed me!" He was raising his voice.
"Let me out."
"He doesn't care," His fingers had moved to her wrist and they were gripping her, holding her in place.
"Let me out!" she said louder, and the driver stopped. She could hear the tip tap of rain, but she opened the door regardless.
Bricker's face was stunned. "Cora? Cora, what are you doing?"
Rain was falling steadily, but she began walking in the direction of the door of Grantham House. They hadn't driven far at all. The door was just there, in sight. Another grip on her arm.
"Stop. Come back in the car."
She shook her head at him. "No, let go of me."
"I want you." The rain was growing heavier with each drop, and likewise his grip on her wrist grew stronger. "He doesn't, not like me. He's tired of you."
"Stop." She pulled away and walked forward and into the rain. She could hear him behind her, even as she climbed the steps to the door. She gripped the knob, not bothering to wait for Carson.
"He's had dalliances." His words stopped her, another grab of her wrist, and she spun around. The rain was pattering around them. "My God, Cora. Do you honestly think he's had none but you? Do you?"
Cora shook her head, swallowing, blinking. Raindrops were heavier than before. "It's a lie." She opened the door, but he pulled her around again, whispering hoarsely and vehemently.
"He's had others. He's loved others. Perhaps even now…" He stepped toward her.
"Don't…"
"What does he tell you, hmm? When you're alone?" Cora leaned away from him, the door creaked again. "That he loves you? Does he say that?"
She held onto the knob, her lip was quivering.
Then he shouted. "Does he!"
In the next instant, the knob was pulled from Cora's hand and Bricker's face transformed into one of complete shock and fear.
"Lord Grantham," Bricker stuttered, tried a grin, and then stepped backward.
"Inside, Cora." He said it flatly, but emphatically, never taking his eyes off of the man before him.
Cora's emotions were boiling over. "Robert-"
"Inside!" With a deep shout, he had met her eyes. He was fuming.
Cora silently moved past his body, standing then in the foyer, awkwardly overlooking through the crack he left in the door.
Bricker started mumbling something, an excuse, an explanation, but Robert's voice stopped him.
"If you ever, EVER, come back into our home, I will personally throw you out."
"My lord…"
Robert stepped forward. "If you ever speak to her that way again, I will make it so you cannot speak to anyone ever again."
"But she…"
"And if you touch her," Robert's voice was a growl. "You will have no doubts of my love for her, whatsoever, for how ever deeply I feel for her, I will hurt you." He leaned again. "And I feel very, very deeply for my wife."
Cora retreated further into the foyer until Robert came back in. He turned as he closed the door and slowly, very slowly, he looked up.
They found the other's eyes and stood silently there. The rain echoed in the quiet between them.