A/N Thanks so much to Tallulah James for helping me to iron out this chapter. Sorry for the delay but I haven't had internet for three days and before that it was patchy. The downside of hostel wireless :(

The clock on the mantelpiece of the hotel room signaled 10 o' clock in the morning but Cora took no notice. Since being left in her room after keeping up appearances downstairs so the staff wouldn't comment on her injuries she had been lying on the big poster bed resting. With no luggage to see to and exhaustion beginning to set in there was little else she felt capable of doing. And so as her worn out body finally tempted towards the bliss of sleep, the gentle chiming of the clock went unregarded...

A knock at the door startled Cora out of her dose and she heaved herself up to sit on the bed, wondering why the staff would be disturbing her.

"Cora, its Robert!" a frantic voice burst through the door cracks. Stunned at how quickly he managed to arrive, Cora hurried over to the door as quickly as she could and unlocked it before pulling it open for him. Robert stepped into the room and shut the door, careful to turn the lock again as he placed his bag on the floor. "I don't want us to be disturbed," Robert explained as he turned around to face her. "My God Cora!" he whispered as she stood before him.

Robert gave her a quick appraisal with his eyes. Her neck and was covered in sore red marks, she rolled up her sleeves for him to reveal several scratches and a deep cut caused by human nails, a bruise was just visible at the neckline of her travel coat as Robert walked around her. Cora told him everything that had happened and then about the big lump on the back of her head. "John hit my head against the wall. I don't remember much after that," she said as she ran her fingers through her half tied up hair. "I am aching all over Robert and don't feel very," she paused, searching for the words she wanted. Giving up, she continued, "I just am totally exhausted and in pain." As if on cue, Cora's back started to spasm again and she grabbed one of the four legs of the poster bed for support.

Robert felt worse than he ever had done and he could see what a mistake it had been to let her go back to her house and her husband. Without even thinking, Robert reached out and took a hold of the arm Cora was using for support and guiding it around his waist as he drew her against himself. Wrapping his arms around her he tenderly ran his hands up and down her back as he spilled out how sorry he was. Cora clung to him with all the energy she could muster, not wanting to be apart from him again. "Please, I don't want to go back. I am too scared. He'll kill me and I have nowhere else to go that is close to permanent. I would go back to America but that is easier said than done."

"Shhhh," Robert soothed. "You aren't going back to America and you certainly aren't going back to John Durham! He will go to the police when he figures out you have left him." Cora shuddered in his arms.

"I know... Do you think they'll find me quickly."

"No, not if we act fast. Do you feel up to travelling right now?" Robert thought he knew the answer but he was more concerned about the time already lost by him not getting to Cora as fast as he wanted to.

"Not really. Do you have something in mind though?" Cora asked as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"There is an empty farm house on my fathers' estate of Downton Abbey. I am sorry but I can't bring you to the house in case any of the servants should alert the police but at least I can keep you safe and dry and I'll-"

"That'll do Robert, take me there then. I will cope. I have had plenty of practice at that," she said as she smiled wryly into his neck.

"Too much. You should never have had to endure any of this. I will feign business and help you get set up and stay with you. You won't be alone because I care for you Cora, I feel strongly about you and I want you to know that in case you want to change your mind right now." Robert's chest swelled with emotion as Cora pulled back slightly from him.

"I know you care Robert. I have known from the moment we met that you weren't like your peers and that is one thing that has drawn me to you. I am so grateful to you for going to all this trouble for me and I have no intention of changing my mind." Cora badly wanted to profess her love for him but he had not used the word so she had adapted her own words. He held her gaze for a long moment, as if calculating exactly what he was about to get into. Keeping one arm around her for support, his free hand trailed up her back and settled at her neck. He took a quick steady breath to settle his nerves and slowly leaned in towards her. Cora tilted her head up at a slight angle, the long-awaited desire for his lips burning fresh within her and she let her eyes flutter closed. Everything around them was silent, for just a moment Cora's pain lifted, Robert's reservations removed. The soft touch of his lips meeting her own made her heart want to melt. He recoiled for a moment, allowing his confidence to fill him up as he reached for her again, this time a little bolder. He deepened the kiss, pulling her close against his chest and delighting in the wonderful softness of her lips and the way her body felt against his own. When he finally broke away, he looked down at her, apprehensive of her reaction given the circumstances. Her eyes were filled will love, hope and even admiration as her arms slipped around his neck. "I love you Robert," she whispered tentatively.

Robert couldn't contain his relief, "I love you too Cora, so much," he said and sought out her lips again.

Within minutes, Cora found herself being bundled into the carriage by Robert who instructed the driver to go to a place called Ripon. "Is that the name of the train station?" Cora asked curiously as she settled against his side. Robert laughed.

"No, it is the name of the village that forms a part of my families' wider estate. I'll give the driver further instructions once we get there. It will be a long day though so if you would like to sleep then I suggest you do," Robert advised.

"But wouldn't it be faster to go by train? I assume Ripon is also in Yorkshire?" Cora pressed him, feeling slightly out of her depth.

"Oh going by train is definitely preferable," Robert agreed. "But consider this, if the police have already received word from John that you are gone then that is one of the first places they will station officers at. And if not there would still be a high risk of someone recognizing us and then going to the police with the information later. I am not prepared to take that risk Cora, not for us. I know you are in a lot of discomfort but please try to bear with me here." Robert maneuvered his arm around Cora and drew her closer as he planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. Cora sighed as her arm snaked up his chest and her hand came to rest on his shoulder gripping it slightly as the carriage started to move.

"I understand Robert and I will do my best not to complain." Robert's hold became firmer around her.

"No Cora, if something is really bothering you then I want you to tell me and I will try to help. Don't try to conceal your pain from me and if necessary, there are plenty of doctors who practice in villages these days." Cora nodded against him in silent acknowledgement as she closed her eyes, wondering what her new future might hold.

Robert carefully guided Cora up to the front door of a small, red-brick cottage and pushed open the unlocked door. It was very late and they had barely stopped for luncheon and had not even had anything else to eat since. Cora blinked as she struggled to make out the inside of the cottage. Robert stepped forward and found his way to one of the oil lamps, determined to push some life into it. After a couple of attempts it started to come alive and Robert picked it up, returning to offer Cora his arm as she stepped over the threshold of her new residence.

"Come, it's alright" he encouraged her and led her through the hallway, past the kitchen towards the only bedroom. He quickly spotted another oil lamp on the small chest of drawers beside the double bed and it was soon burning brightly, obviously in better condition than the first one.

Cora sank down onto the soft mattress, her energy totally spent. She watched as Robert unhitched his leather bag from his back and began searching its contents for something. "Ah," he said happily as he pulled out a solitary nightgown and handed it to a shocked Cora.

"My word, where did you get this and whatever else that is in there?" Cora queried as Robert removed his hands and rebuttoned the bag.

"I grabbed a few of Rosamund's things on my way out the door this morning," Robert explained. "I am banking on that fitting since you two are quite similar in size and stature." Cora couldn't keep the coy look off her face as she raised her eyebrows.

"Don't you think she will mind?"

"No, I left her a note and I have every confidence that she will keep this to herself. I didn't give any specific details anyway. Now I will go into the lounge and sleep on the couch." Cora's face fell in disappointment. "You stay in bed as long as you want tomorrow so you may start recovering. I will get some supplies in the morning," Robert concluded. He picked up the bag and came around to the side of the bed where she was still sitting and brushed his lips over hers briefly.

"Won't you stay with me?" Cora said softly as she fiddled with the nightgown in her lap.

"Not tonight. You need rest, not distraction and I don't want to cause you further grief in your current condition. I love you and as such I also want you healthy and happy. We will take it a day at a time and I am sure it will work itself out. Now get some sleep," Robert said tenderly as Cora flashed him a small smile, appreciating his care and compassion. Robert stepped back from her and left the room, shutting the door behind him as Cora stiffly got up to change. After fighting with her aching body once more, Cora crawled under the sheets of the bed and curled up on her side. Sleep was not long in coming.