July 1889
This was not how Robert Crawley imagine on whatever is he doing his birthday.
Being stuck in a large crowd, his Eton friends running late, and the members of his family talking to whoever they know that was there as well. Almost a year after Rosamund's equally scandalous and successful wedding to Mr. Marmaduke Painswick, everyone's eyes were now on him, especially after the papers dubbed him as one of the most eligible bachelors of the Season.
And he hates it. Very much.
And now here he is, downing on his third glass of champagne while avoided the prying eyes of the Mamas and dancing their daughters with him on the dance floor. He prefers simply staying at home, reading a book with his dog Horus in the library.
But being the heir of perhaps one of the most important earldoms of all of London, all atop of being a bachelor; he never felt the pressure more than ever, perhaps more pressure in guarding his older sister and not getting her too much drunk on her debut.
As Robert then decides to get out of the palace for fresh air and a good smoke, he didn't notice a young lady running towards him…making them collide with one another. Fortunately for her, he quickly caught her in his arms.
"Woah there!" Robert said "Are you alright, Miss?"
But the lady seems to ignore his concern, and instead asks him back "Tell me your name."
The Viscount froze on his tracks, visibly surprised at her sudden approach.
"Your name, sir?" she inquired again.
"I'm sorry, but whatever are you talking abou-"
The lady moves closer to him, making him even more surprised "There is this old baron who seems to be making advancements at me, and I find him quite creepy."
He then turns his gaze to an old aristocrat running around the corners of the ball, and seems to rather frantically searching for her.
"Lord Emmett?" he said to the lady "Is he what you mean?"
"Yes. And I don't want to dance with him, nor even be married to him!"
Robert tries his best not chuckle at the last part of the sentence. It was needed known around town that Lord Emmett is looking for another young and rich bride to marry him, as even after his fourth wife, he still had no heirs and is still in rather huge debt. No wife of his lasted more than a year with him, and it seems with the young lady's case, if ever she was to be married to the baron…she won't even last long either.
"How about this," he then spoke again in a low voice "I need you to get behind once Lord Emmett get closer to our direction. You'll simply follow my lead, and we'll wander around the halls and lose him at the same time all before we dash away out in the grounds?"
"Hide behind you?" the lady inquired, looking rather puzzled at his suggestion.
"I have broad shoulders, trust me milady." Robert grins a little "Now, I suggest you think about your decision fast…as the old baron is about to approach us."
With only a second to think, the lady quickly hid behind his back, just in time as Lord Emmett finally recognizes him.
"Downton? Is that really you?" Lord Emmett then said "Finally glad to you meet you!"
"The pleasure's all equal, Lord Emmett" Robert smiles as he shakes hands "You seem to be in a panic state, my Lord. Is something of the matter?"
"Oh, I am just looking for this…rather beautiful lady I was talking to minutes ago." the baron said to him "I was about to dance the waltz with her, when all of a sudden…she disappeared!"
"How unfortunate that must be!" Robert said in a fake sympathetic tone as he turns around smoothly, gently guiding the lady behind him by holding her hand.
"I heard that she is one of the richest debutants this Season! And the one of most beautiful too! Oh, I must find her before the waltz! I have a lot of things to ask of her" Lord Emmett continued on, "By the way Downton, do you want to have a drink with me inside? I am parched after all of this running!"
"I'm afraid I can't join you tonight, Lord Emmett." he replied politely, slowly backing away "I am exhausted as well, and would rather prefer to go home now than lounge longer at the ball."
The old baron looks at him for a moment, a bit puzzled, all before bowing his head a little to him "Very well then. Good night, Downton."
"Good night, milord."
After checking that the baron has entered back into the grand ballroom, Robert looks at the young lady from behind, and smiles.
"All is safe now, milady." he said to her "Shall we now take a dash outside?"
The young lady nodded in agreement, and the two of them then quickly dashed off to the royal gardens, hand in hand.
As the two have finally reached the royal gardens, both of then looked at one another…before smiling and laughing softly.
"Oh, I cannot thank you enough for saving me from him!" the lady then said, smiling happily.
"You are…most welcome, milady." he replied, "Though your approach earlier still baffled me a bit."
"I am so sorry about that. I was panicking and just wanting to run away from him! Oh, I am so, so sorry."
Robert then raises an eyebrow "You're…not from here…?" he inquired.
The young lady chuckles softly, and nods "No, I am American." she said "I suppose you can tell by accent?"
"Yes. And also…I have never seen such a beautiful woman like you." the young Viscount smiles, making the lady blush furiously "At least, not from all the ladies, I have tonight at the ball."
"Why thank you, my Lord."
"Robert." he then said "Just Robert."
"Robert…?" the lady looks at him.
"I suppose that answers your question earlier," he smiles "because if I remember correctly, you were quite eager to know my name."
She chuckles softly, and smiles back "Yes, yes it does."
"And now I suppose I could ask you the same: who are you, milady?"
"Cora. Miss Cora Levinson." the lady smiles and curtsies a bit to him, but he stops her halfway and takes her hand.
"An honor to finally know you, Miss Levinson."
Robert smiles, and gently kisses her hand. Cora blushes once again, making him smile sweetly at her. They were about to head inside, when they both heard the waltz music already starting inside.
"It would be inappropriate to come back inside now, isn't it?" Cora asks.
"It would, yes." Robert then looks at her "But I suppose it would just alright for me to ask of you for dance? Even if we are outside?"
"Of course." Cora smiles back at her "It would be more than alright."
With the orchestra playing and the moonlight shining above them, The Viscount Downton and Miss Levinson dance the night away in each other's arms…
…and little did they know, they were already destined to be with one another...
…forever.