The next morning was a blur of rushed and scrambled actions. Cora had slept in, yet again, and the train taking the newlyweds on the first leg of their journey left in just three quarters time.

Cora had obediently done as she was bid by her maid, Emma, and the other maids summoned to hurry along "that girl"; and by either luck or some divine intervention, Cora was seated, gloves on her hands and hat on her head, in the carriage awaiting Robert just in time. Robert climbed in, nodded a good morning to her, and they were on their way.

As the trap began to rock and bounce along the drive to the station, Cora glanced up at her husband. She had feared since the morning after her wedding that she wouldn't quite know how to act around Robert on this trip; after all, she was to be alone with him for nearly a month, with the exception of their servants. However, to her surprise, she felt very much at ease sitting next to him now, more at ease than at any other time during the past week – she felt like she had during their courtship: at home with him. Perhaps it was what he said last night that reassured her she had not indeed made a mistake. Our Downton, she heard him say again in her thoughts. She allowed the tension in her shoulders to relax and subsequently a soft sigh escaped her.

Robert looked over at her, his expression kind. "I'm glad we started out on time."

Cora smiled and tilted her head toward him slightly, "Oh, so am I!"

They looked into each other's eyes for a moment before Cora blinked at him, dismissively, and looked out of the window next to her.

"You look quite nice this morning."

Cora chuckled softly, glanced down at her lap and gloves, and then up at Robert. "Do I? To be honest I'm not even sure of what I'm wearing I dressed in such a rush." Laughing lightly again, she looked back to the scenery outside.

After a moment, she could sense Robert's eyes on her and also sensed a bit of uneasiness in his silence.

She slowly brought her eyes back up to his and gave him a warm grin, "But thank you for saying so, Robert."

She couldn't help but to notice that at the sound of his name Robert visibly relaxed and grinned back at her. He nodded, again, and followed her example by watching the trees and puddles slip by his carriage window.

Cora lowered her chin and squinted her eyes at Robert thoughtfully.

"Robert."

He looked at her expectantly, "Yes?"

Cora studied his expression carefully, now regretting calling out his name. She wanted to know what he expected of this trip. She wanted to know what she expected, really. However, she did not want to spoil the calm she had mysteriously reacquired in her interactions with him. "Never mind."

"No. Tell me. What is it?"

"It's only," she paused, creating something to say other than the subject that would bring up the uneasiness she was sure it would. She searched his blue eyes for a moment, hoping to find inspiration there, but failing. Instead, that familiar warmth she felt whenever she got a chance to look at him closely kindled in her breast and she shook her head. "It's only…I like train rides."

He peered at her skeptically.

"What?" Cora raised her eyebrows and shook her head, turning her face away from his. "I do. I find them enjoyable."

Robert laughed amusedly, he too looking away.

Cora snuck glances at him out of the corner of her eye. Chin held high, he gazed upon their natural surroundings through the window, slowly drumming his fingers on his knee. The sight of him made her smile, and she too threw her chin high and watched the drizzle of rain form droplets of water on the glass window.

They remained like this, quiet but content, until they reached the station.

Once they had arrived, the rain had begun to fall harder and their driver made special effort to help Cora out of the carriage under the shelter of an umbrella. She gripped his arm appreciatively as they crossed under the roof of the station. The moment she stepped onto dry ground, she felt Robert's hand grasp her arm.

"Thank you for helping her, Davis," he stated, pulling her closer to him.

"Of course. Safe travels, my lord. My lady." Davis tipped his hat and then disappeared into the bustle of people back toward the carriage.

"Now then," Robert said looking above the heads of the crowd, "to find our platform…" he peeked down at Cora, "my lady."

Cora beamed up at him. Although maybe more noticeable to her, she was pleased he had also noticed others using her new title. A title that he gave her.

Together, Cora's arm clutched securely by her husband's hand, they made their way to the correct platform and found their seats in the first class coaches.

Cora nearly bounced on the seat as she looked around their coach and at people still boarding from the platform. Robert slowly took his seat next to her, grinning at her excitement.

"You do enjoy trains, then?" he snickered.

Cora threw him a playful look and then resumed watching the excitement outside the train.

"I assume you enjoy boats, too?"

Cora turned to him again, smirking. "Lucky for you, I do. How else would I have gotten to England?"

Robert gave a small laugh and reached for her hand, "Very lucky for me."

Cora, her heart melting at his words and at the warmth of his alluring eyes, took a chance and moved closer to him on the seat; closer and closer until her hip touched his and their elbows knocked against each other's. Careful with her hat, she rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes blissfully, not caring if anyone saw. She was happy in this moment and she endeavored to keep it that way.

A quiet train ride, on which she fell asleep, a several hour interlude in Portsmouth, and then a shorter ferry ride to the Isle of Wight brought them to their first destination just in time for a late dinner.

Cora went quickly to her room in their hotel to change into something appropriate for dinner. She was dressed in a deep red dress with gold and black trimming, intricate detailing shimmering along the bodice. She wore a diamond necklace she had received as a wedding gift with a ruby drop dipping toward the plummeting neckline of her dress. Her porcelain skin was such a contrast to her dark hair and red dress that she nearly appeared to be a living painting reflected back to her in the mirror. Her spirits high, she waited for Robert to escort her down to dinner.

It was a lovely setting. Hundreds of white candles flickered throughout the dining room washing it in a soft golden glow. They moved past dozens of other very fashionably dressed parties, all of whom seemed to be smiling quietly at one another, raising their brows in polite appreciation of the conversations, and sipping expensive wines through pursed lips. Flowers, soft voices, and a tangible mirth filled the room of tables, cherry wood colored chairs, and crisp white tablecloths.

Their host waved his hand in front of the table that was to be their own. It was in a cozily secluded corner of the great room, and a velvet curtain hung near it, so that they could be part of the room if they chose or so they could enjoy some privacy.

"Oh, how lovely," Cora remarked as the host pulled out her chair for her.

Robert nodded and asked the host for some champagne as Cora indiscreetly looked around. Her bright eyes, even more startlingly blue in the glow of the candles, danced about the room.

"Do you see anything you like?"

She looked over at Robert who was reading off the menu card. She picked hers up from in front of her and read over the list of courses that they would be served tonight.

"It all sounds so delicious. I like it all - especially the asperges d'argenteuil, oh, and the sorbet au champagne. Mmm, and petit fours, too."

Robert chuckled, glancing up at her radiant face for a moment.

A waiter came round, then, with the champagne and poured out. Without reservation, Cora plucked up her glass by the stem and drank the bubbling liquid.

"Have you been here before? To the Isle of Wight, I mean?" She asked as the waiter poured her another glass.

"Yes. My father enjoys traveling and, with him, we've been many places. Not very often do we travel domestically, though, we have been here."

"Oh," Cora held the champagne flute to her lips. "So, we'll stay here for a few days and then on to…"

"Back to Portsmouth, actually. We'll sail from there to Le Havre."

"And then Paris?" Cora smiled against the glass pressed to her lip.

Robert grinned at her obvious excitement and nodded at another waiter as he placed a beef consommé before them.

A few courses and more than several glasses of champagne later, the room was feeling a little smaller and warmer to Cora, and the soft voices from before seemed to be a little louder than when they had first arrived. Robert was being a darling, smiling and laughing with her over their meal, and Cora found herself giving him coy glances and biting her bottom lip. And before long, the petit fours were taken away and a tray of cakes and puddings was wheeled to their table.

Cora tilted her head toward the waiter, and proclaimed more loudly than she intended, "Oh how delicious everything looks, but I don't think I can eat another bite!"

"Very good, my lady."

Cora lifted her chin and studied the sweets as the waiter stood patiently by waiting on Robert to make a decision.

"Yes, I believe I'm…"

"Is that a chocolate Charlotte?" Cora interrupted, her eyes wide.

"Yes, my lady, with strawberries as well."

She pressed her lips together, grinning madly, nodded ever so slightly and placed her hands in her lap. The waiter gingerly placed the dessert in front of her and took his leave as Robert assured him he would have none.

Cora picked up her fork, cut into the Charlotte, and very slowly took a bite off of her fork, pulling the silverware out slowly between her lips. She closed her eyes, turned up her chin ever so slightly, and sighed contently.

When she opened her eyes, she caught Robert staring, his mouth slightly agape. She stared back, and licked the tiniest bit of chocolate off of her top lip with the tip of her tongue.

Robert cleared his throat and looked away hurriedly, throwing his eyes down and then around the room as Cora slowly leaned forward on the table.

Perhaps it was the champagne, but Cora felt invigorated and, if she had to name it, daring. Leaning over as far as she could without smashing the pudding on her chest, she simpered at Robert.

"Robert?" He looked over at her, and she noticed he glanced down at her chest. "Will you take me up now?"

Wordlessly, Robert stood, and Cora did as well. Once she did, she had to place her hand on the table to keep from swaying, for the room seemed to be tossing like a ship upon the waves. She giggled a little to herself at the realization that she was probably drunk, but she didn't care. She was with Robert, and she wanted Robert, and the champagne may have just given her the fortification she needed to go through with what she planned to do.

Weaving her arm through her husband's, together they made their way through the dining room and up one flight of stairs. Cora held tightly to Robert, pressing her body against his side, and felt him reply by squeezing her arm tighter to him.

They made their way up another flight of stairs. Cora tripped as they reached the landing, and Robert caught her waist, holding her tightly.

"Are you quite all right?" he breathed into her ear.

His breath on her neck was her undoing and she uninhibitedly crashed her lips onto his mouth, feeling his lips reciprocate her effort. She had never been kissed this way and it caused such new sensations within her that she deepened the kiss and pulled Robert closer to her.

They stumbled to her door, into her room, and fell on her bed, Robert on top of her, fiddling with his trousers and pushing up her skirts.

She felt his hands become frustrated, fumbling around all of her underthings: her petticoat, her chemise and drawers.

"Bloody hell," he grunted as he broke their kissing to see what he was doing.

"Shall I call my maid?" Cora suggested between heavy breaths.

Robert peered down at her, looking over her entire face and studying her eyes for several moments.

"Perhaps we should sleep," he said quietly, getting off of her and fixing his clothing.

Cora sat up and stared at him, "It's no trouble. She'd be here in an instant."

"We have an early start tomorrow." He walked away from her and reached the door.

"Robert! Wait…please?" Cora's chest rose and fell.

He paused with his hand on the doorknob.

"Please, be with me. I want you to," she couldn't hide the desperation in her voice.

"I can't." And with that Robert left her room.