My One and Only Love
A/N: None of these characters belong to me. Contains no spoilers. Thank you to SashaElizabeth, my awesome beta!
Chapter 2
Cora glanced across the dining room table at her husband. He had been unusually quiet since tea that afternoon. When asked, he gave the excuse of a headache, but Cora knew better. Though they had only been married for around eighteen months, she knew her husband better than anyone and could tell immediately that it was no headache. Robert was suffering from a case of jealousy. Cora could throttle Harold for bringing up the fact that two of her former suitors would be attending the ball the following evening. Seeing them there would have been a most unwelcome surprise, but at least then Robert wouldn't have had over twenty-four hours to brood over the fact.
"Should we have one of the servants bring you something for your headache, Robert?" Isidore ventured.
"Oh, no, sir," Robert replied. "It's not too serious. I think I'm just a bit tired from traveling." He offered a small smile to his in-laws, hoping this would placate them. It appeared to do the job, but Robert could tell as he looked across the table at his wife that she was anything but convinced of his malady. She arched a questioning eyebrow at her husband, and Robert knew he'd been found out. As much as he loved his wife, he found it a bit unnerving how she could always see right through him. He knew his act wasn't fooling her one bit.
As everyone finished their dessert, Martha glanced around the table at her family. "Why don't we all go through together tonight? Have an after dinner drink. Then we can discuss the details for tomorrow evening."
Cora smiled. "That sounds lovely, Mother. Don't you think so, darling?" She shot a meaningful look in her husband's direction. Robert cleared his throat.
"A marvelous idea, Mrs. Levinson," he agreed, hoping the smile he had plastered on his face looked sincere.
"Oh, no more of that 'Mrs. Levinson' nonsense, young man," Martha chided, a teasing lilt to her voice. "I'm your mother-in-law, Robert. You're more than welcome to call me Martha. Don't you agree that it's time we did away with the formalities? We are family after all."
"Alright…Martha," Robert hesitated, the Christian name of his wife's mother sounding strangely foreign as it passed his lips.
"And, call me Isidore," Cora's father added with a smile.
"You can call me 'Mr. Levison' if you like, Robert," Harold chimed in as the family made its way to the drawing room and sat down.
Cora rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Oh, hush up, Harold," she scolded. "Why would Robert call you that when our father doesn't require it of him?" Harold huffed at his sister's admonishment, and folded his arms across his chest as he flopped into an armchair.
"Fine," he mumbled, mimicking his sisters tone of voice. "Just call me Harold, then." This earned him a withering glance from his older sister. He responded by sticking out his tongue, causing Cora to once again roll her eyes.
"Now," Martha began, ignoring the dangerous looks being shared between her children. "I trust you brought new dresses, Cora. Specifically ones suited for a ball?"
"Of course, Mother," Cora replied.
"And, you brought your tiaras? You have to look the part of a Viscountess after all."
"Yes, Mother." Cora fought the urge to roll her eyes again.
"And, Robert. You did bring an extra set of tails, did you not?"
"Yes, Mrs….er, Martha, I did," Robert responded.
"Good. I want to make sure that you two look as a Viscount and Viscountess should. After all, Mr. Livingston and Mr. Whitfield won't be the only men in attendance who were in pursuit of my Cora. They were just the only ones bold enough to propose. We have to show that she made the right choice."
Robert suddenly felt as if the room was getting smaller. Bile began to bubble up his throat, but before he could respond, he heard Cora's voice. "Mother, how could you?" she questioned. "What were you thinking inviting all of these men to the ball? Did you not stop to think that it would be at all uncomfortable? Not just for me, but for Robert? I can't believe you've done this. I'm not even going to ask who else you felt the need to invite."
"Cora, calm down, my dear," Isidore intoned in an effort to soothe his daughter's nerves. "Your mother is simply proud of you and your husband. Did you hear the word I just said, Cora? Husband. You are married, sweet girl, and to a man you love. You shouldn't be worried about the intentions of these young men. You are already happily married."
Cora smiled and reached beside her to take Robert's hand. "I am happy, Father," she responded. "Happier than I ever thought I could be. And, I'm not worried in that way. I just don't think it's fair to my husband that he has to endure meeting these men. I don't think it's right to put either of us on parade, really. But, I know that you are both immensely proud of us, and we are very grateful for that. I just wish that these 'suitors' as you continue to call them weren't coming. I don't want them scrutinizing Robert; or me, for that matter."
Robert had never been more grateful for his wife. If he hadn't been sure of her love before that moment, there was no doubting it now. He squeezed her hand and smiled at her, causing her to blush and lower her lashes a bit. At a lull in the conversation, Robert once again squeezed his wife's hand to gain her attention. "I think I'll retire. It's been a long day, and we've a big day tomorrow."
"I agree," Cora answered. She stood to her feet, prompting Isidore, Robert and Harold to do the same. "Good night, everyone." She kissed her mother, father and brother in turn before taking Robert's hand and allowing him to lead her from the drawing room.
"Good night," Robert called back over his shoulder as they walked toward the staircase.
"Try to keep the volume down, you two," Harold called after them, prompting the couple to momentarily freeze in their tracks before hurrying up the stairs. Neither chanced to look at the other until they had made it to the landing. As they stopped in front of Cora's bedroom door, Robert took note of his wife's face. It was red with a mixture of mortification and anger.
"I have half a mind to go back downstairs and let him have it," Cora said, her voice shaking with the effort of not shouting. "The nerve that boy has!"
Robert decided against the laughter that threatened to erupt from him. It would not be a good decision on his part. "Well," he began, hoping that what he was about to say wouldn't result in being banished to his borrowed dressing room, "if this house is anything like Downton, the walls are not as thick as they appear." Noticing that Cora's expression had softened a bit, he continued. "And, I had rather hoped that we could…"
Cora smirked at him, her eyes full of mirth. "Oh, you had? Hmm…I wonder what can be done about that?" Before Robert had the chance to respond, she leaned up and captured his lips in a kiss. As the kiss ended, Cora whispered in his ear, "I'll knock on the door when I'm ready."
Robert looked at her with a slightly bemused expression, but nodded as he placed a kiss to her cheek. As Cora closed the bedroom door behind her, she couldn't help but smile. Yes; she was still upset with her mother for inviting old suitors to this grand party of hers. She knew that Robert would be a nervous wreck the next day. She needed to distract him, and knew the perfect way to do just that. After walking over to ring for her maid, she began looking through her armoire. She had hoped to save this particular new purchase for later. However, as she located her new night gown, she knew it was just the distraction Robert needed.
Carson had readied Robert for bed, leaving the young lord pacing the floor of the dressing room. Cora's enigmatic words echoed in his mind. I'll knock on the door when I'm ready. What exactly did she have in mind?
