The trip to the London house for St. Valentine's Day went on as planned, though Cora was still not feeling tip-top. Her eyes heavy with fatigue, Elsie put the finishing touches on her hair and gave her a reassuring pat on the back.
"M'lady, are you sure you're feeling up to dinner out?" she cautioned, "You look like you'd much rather be kippin' than out on the town."
Cora smiled wearily, "I just wouldn't want to disappoint Robert is all."
"Oh, m'lady, I don't think you could - he's sky-high with glee over the news about the bairn."
"Well, I'm sure we'll call it an early night." Cora said, as she stood she turned suddenly back to Elsie, "Oh, that reminds me. On trips to the London, Robert and I usually. . ." she pursed her lips thoughtfully, her fingers waving in front of them a moment, "We usually don't require any help undressing for bed. So, you will be relieved of your duties after dinner and may do as you please. Hopefully you will be able to take in a bit of London this evening."
Elsie blushed, tidying up Cora's luggage so she wouldn't have to look her in the eye, "Very kind of you m'lady. I will probably curl up with a good book and call it a night m'self."
"Surely you'd at least like to spend some time getting better acquainted with Mr. Carson. . ." Cora asked, eyes sparkling girlishly. Elsie snapped her face up to look at her ladyship, who suddenly seemed much younger than her title might suggest. Elsie so quickly forgot that Cora was only in her early twenties, still a girl really!
"Well, Mr. Carson must have better things to do than spend time with me." Elsie sighed, unfolding one of Cora's chemises, "He must be looking forward to seeing some of his friends in the city this evening. . ."
Cora shrugged, "Honestly, Hughes - I couldn't tell you. Mr. Carson has never struck me as being much of a dandy."
"P'raps not, m'lady, but I'm about as dull as dishwater."
"Oh, Hughes! Don't say such things!" Cora said, placing her hands on Elsie's forearms. She smiled kindly at her maid, "You're very bright, kind and pretty as a picture - I happen to think Carson's keen on you!."
"Why do you say, m'lady?" Elsie stuttered. She wondered if, perhaps, Carson had confided something untold to his Lordship.
Cora smirked, "If we're to be friends, Hughes, I think you'll find that I know a lot more about what goes on at Downton - both upstairs and down - than I'd let on." she gave Elsie a conspiratory glance, "You promise not to tell?"
Elsie nodded, "Oh, wouldn't dream o' saying a word, m'lady."
"Well, Carson asked Robert - back when we were planning this trip - if he had a cicerone* for the new underground railway - it seems that he wanted to explore greater London for a "most beautiful spot."
Elsie's eyes widened, "Oh, but you don't think . . ."
Cora nodded, "Has he asked you to join him for dinner this evening?"
"Well, he did this morning, sort-of."
"What did you say?"
Elsie opened her mouth to answer, but they were both startled by a knock at the door. Robert appeared - ready to escort Cora downstairs. He narrowed his eyes briefly at the two women, who looked to be in the midst of some kind of scheme.
"Are you ready my darling?" he said. Cora smiled at him, then gave a small wink to Elsie as she headed for the door.
"Hughes, Cora may have already mentioned it but you are now relieved of your duties for the rest of the evening and Cora will call for you mid-morning tomorrow. You'll hear the bell."
Elsie nodded, "Thank you, m'lord."
Cora gave her another encouraging look and then the two of them disappeared down the hallway. Elsie could hear Cora's throaty laugh as they went down the stairs.
After she'd finished unpacking Cora's things - and turning down the sheets on her bed for later on - she made her way back downstairs to finish tidying up. The London house, though it was smaller, was no less grand than Downton in interior furnishings. She paused on the main floor, looking around at the beautiful artwork that seemed to hang on every wall.
"Startlingly pretty, isn't it?"
Elsie turned at the sound of Carson's unmistakable voice. "Oh yes, quite beautiful."
"Grantham House is the newer of the Crawley residences - it was built in 1849."
"Oh, so not long ago at all."
Carson walked closer to her and together they both made their way down towards the servant's hall. "I think it will see the most use once the young ladies have their first season."
"I've never seen the London season from the inside before." Elsie said, "My last job housekeeping I certainly saw enough of the young ladies as they were leaving - and coming home after - but I've always wondered . . ."
"I remember His Lordship's sister's presentation to court rather vividly," Carson said, "Lady Rosamund - you may recall, that is Robert's younger sister- had quite a marvelous debut."
"Oh, I'm sure." Elsie said longingly.
They had reached the entrance to the servant's hall and at once neither one of them knew just what it was they had come downstairs to do. Carson cleared his throat and shifted a bit awkwardly onto his heels.
"Are you still seeing Mr. Dickens this evening?" he said.
"Come again?" Elsie said, flustered? Carson laughed - a deep baritone that she wasn't sure she'd ever heard before.
"This morning, if I recall, you said your only plans for this evening involved a one, Mr. Charles Dickens?"
"Oh," Elsie blushed, "Well he's always a great comfort to me on long winter's nights."
Carson studied her face a moment, then, puffing out his chest a bit, he continued on in his pursuit.
"I hope I'm not being too presumptuous, but, do you suppose he would relinquish you for one evening - just long enough to keep a valet company for a while?"
Elsie felt her heartbeat quicken in her chest. "Mr. Carson, I don't know-"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Hughes. I'm sure you are very tired from the trip in. After all, this is only your first trip to the London House with us and there is much to grasp -"
"Wait," Elsie said gently, and before she could stop herself she felt her hand reach out and touch Carson's arm. He looked down and they both froze. Though the house was droughty from the winter's evening, a palpable spark could be felt between them, a certain heat traveling from where her hand grasped his dress jacket all the way up both their arms. "You're right, it's my first trip to Grantham House." she breathed, "So, perhaps we could start with a proper tour?" She smiled, "I don't even know where to go to make a cuppa."
A/N: A cicerone is a map of sorts."Cora, I know you still aren't feeling your best, so don't worry if you would only care to have light fare this evening." Robert said, looking across the candlelit table at his wife. They were seated at one of his favorite eateries in London, The Criterion in Piccadilly Circus*. Not only was the atmosphere of this particular spot conducive or a romantic evening, but it had one of the most astounding ballrooms in London - and Cora loved to dance.
"Don't fret over me, Robert." Cora said, her gloved hands running along the edge of her glass, "I might be in the family way but I'm not yet nesh."
Robert smiled adoringly at her and reached across the length of the table to take her hand. "You look lovely this evening."
Cora couldn't help but smirk, "Oh, Robert darling, I appreciate your generosity, but there's no need to flatter me. After all, I'm already you're wife."
"And this evening we shall celebrate that." he said, raising his glass. "I do hope you'll feel up to at least one dance?"
Cora took him in, his little boy-face could at times break her heart. But the sincerity and tenderness of his concern made her feel, all over again, that he loved her more than she perhaps allowed herself to believe.
"I expect it will make me feel better." she whispered, giving his had a reassuring squeeze.
At Grantham House, the tea kettle whistled loudly and Hughes rose from the table to fetch it. She and Carson were on their third pot of tea. The rest of the staff had long gone up to bed - and it was just the two of them, in amber lantern light, sipping their tea and softly talking.
"Well, I think I know just about every in and out of Grantham House now!" Elsie said, pouring another pot of tea, "I didn't know in addition to being his Lordship's valet you were also the historian in residence!"
"Downton's the only home I've ever known- I wouldn't go so far as to suggest I know more about it than his Lordship, but I may propose I know at least as much." he said, waggling his eyebrows at Elsie. She giggled and took her seat across from him at the table. Stirring her tea, she blew lightly on it to make it a sippable temperature, and then sighed contentedly, pressing the warm cup against her cheek.
"Mr. Carson, now that you've told me the history of Downton Abbey, perhaps you'll tell me a little about yourself?"
"There's not much to tell, I'm afraid." Carson said, sipping his tea, "I'm as dull as dishwater."
From their perch in the kitchen below stairs, neither Carson nor Elsie heard the commotion upstairs when Robert and Cora returned from dinner. The house was just dark enough, and the two of them overtired enough, that finding their way up the stairs to their room had posed quite a challenging task. Ever-afraid that Cora could trip, Robert refused to let go of her hand and Cora's meeger protestations as she grasped at her skirts to lift them only had them both reduced to laughter.
"Unhand me, Robert!" she laughed, gripping the bannister, "We'll both topple!"
From the stair above, Robert turned back to her and in one fell swoop, lifted her into his arms. She swung her arms around his neck and couldn't help but swoon - Robert always had been a man who knew how to woo. Though, he did tend toward having two left feet in the ballroom. But she'd forgive him that.
He carried her upstairs to their bedroom door. When they approached it, she reached one hand out to turn the knob, and as they stumbled into the bedroom - the lamps having already been lit, thankfully, they giggled as their eyes adjusted to the light. Robert set her down and closed the door behind them - snapping the lock shut with a heavy click. Turning back to her, both of their faces flushed, he took a step toward her, reaching for her face with his hands. He let his hands snake around the back of her neck, the feeling making her shiver hungrily. He pressed his lips to hers, holding back just enough to entice her to push in, which she did. They fumbled to remove their outer layers - which always took twice as long and much more effort in Cora's case - blasted corsets! Robert would bemoan, the laces slipping through his fingers in haste.
When he stood only in his undergarments, she in her chemise, he took her hand and lead her over to the bed. He sat down first, and when she did, he turned to face her fully - his hand reaching up to tuck a fallen piece of raven hair behind her ear.
"My dove," he whispered, gazing longingly into her eyes. He could already sense a smoldering fire within her, and as he pressed against her, lowering her gently down onto the bed, she let her body fall against the sheets with a dancer's grace. Letting her arms lay above her head, her dark curls now splayed against the white of the pillows, she smiled contentedly as he placed his hands against her bare thighs, moving ever so slowly up the length of them until they curled around her at the hips.
"I'm yours." Cora hushed, her voice barely above a whisper. He lowered himself, straddling her at the waist, and bent down to kiss her neck, paying mind to her elegant collarbone. When she shuddered in response, he moved his body against hers, a pleasant friction building where their skin so tauntingly touched. His mouth found hers again, and as he deepened the kiss he brought his hands up to clasp hers, pinning her against the bed. Her body rose up in response, her breasts pressing against his bare chest from beneath her chemise. Unable to withstand the torture of the fabric any longer, he broke the kiss and pulled himself up, running his hands along the underside of the garment, pulling it off her and discarding it onto the floor. She exhaled deeply, her breasts heaving.
"You're so spectacularly beautiful, Cora," he said, burying his face against her neck once more. He brought one hand up to take her breast, the weight of it against his palm all at once familiar and thrilling. Her breathing quickened and her hands grasped for his hair, her fingers pushing against the roots. She let her eyes flutter closed as he traced delicate patterns against the skin of her neck, her chest, down to her bare stomach. He pressed his lips against it, just below her navel, and she let her eyes open at his pause. He let his head rest against her for a moment, and she felt the sting of tears in her eyes. One managed to slip down her face and she instinctively reached up to swipe it away. Robert looked up and when he saw her tear-streaked face, he abandoned his lust and rose up to wipe her tears. "Darling, what is it?"
Though she was crying, she managed to squeak out a small laugh, "Oh, Robert, I'm not sad, quite the contrary." She sniffled, throwing her arms around him, "I just love you so - so, madly."
Robert tightened the embrace, feeling her relax into him. He reached up to wipe the few lingering tears from the corners of her eyes, and then kissed her ever-so gently upon the forehead.
A/N* It's possible that they wouldn't have ever gone to a place like this, but it was one of the most glamorous places in London at the time and I'd like to think that if they needed a night away they would go somewhere at least a little bit fun - even if it wasn't THE fanciest place in all of England!