The next day…

The sun shone brightly overhead and there was not a cloud to be seen as the warm summer breeze brushed against Cora. She sat out in the back garden under a tree in the shade with her book in hand. Every so often she looked up and lost herself in a world of her own making as she studied the garden. It needed improving. The grass was long, weeds were the main attraction in the flower patch and there were several shrubs that were in need of taming. Cora did not know if Miss Lacombe was much of a gardener but she had a funny feeling that this would not be her forte.

It was proving to be quite difficult to keep attention on any given task though. Cora couldn't allow herself to be captivated by her book and nor was the issue of the garden enough to draw her mind away from what it had already spent so much time burning energy on. Before she had even noticed, Cora found herself wondering about Robert and how he was getting on. Despite the nights being warm at this time of year, she had felt oddly cold the previous night. Or at least it had seemed that way as she lay in bed, confused by how slowly she was warming up. It then occurred to her that she had grown used to getting into bed and cuddling up to Robert every night and that he was now her source of warmth. This had made Cora feel all the more downcast but on the other hand, she rejoiced in the love that she had found. This situation was bittersweet.

A commotion in the cottage snapped Cora out of her reverie and she stared over at the back door in confusion. Muffled voices soaked through the old mud walls and there was movement behind the kitchen window but she couldn't tell who it was with the reflection of the sun on it. Figuring she ought to get to the bottom of this mystery she marked her page in the book and rose from the chair she had Miss Lacombe bring outside for her. She had not gone three paces when the back door flew open and a tall, handsome figure stood in the doorway, still in the shade of the cottage. Cora froze in place and gaped for a few seconds, unsure if she was really seeing Robert or if she was just hallucinating but when he stepped out into the morning sun, she let out an excited squeal.

It was not ladylike to run but Cora wasn't a peeress by birth and she made straight for him and he walked swiftly out to meet her, grinning so much his facial muscles ached. She collided with him forcefully and immediately locked her arms around his chest, a tumble of welcomes falling like diamonds off her lips. He brought his own arms around her petite figure and rubbed her back while whispering his own hellos and devotions. He sought her lips in a kiss and traced the outline of her beautiful face with his fingers.

"My darling," Robert uttered into her soft, pink lips. "My love! I've missed you." He felt his fingers get damp and realized she was silently weeping. "Cora what is it?" Cora took a deep breath to steady herself and gazed up at him lovingly.

"I know it has only been a couple of days," she sniffed. "But it has felt like a lifetime to me." Robert smiled gently and pulled her closer. "I didn't expect you back so soon but I am ever so happy that you are," Cora continued. "I now understand what the great authors speak of when their hero's suffer from affairs of the heart. It hurt so much that you were gone Robert. My whole body was aching in protest."

"My my," he mused. "I think you must have coped worse than I did and I am so sorry." Cora rested her head in the crook of his neck and felt the vibrations coming through his skin as he spoke. "I had a lot to focus on during that trip south but I still missed you dearly, especially at night when I had time to think." Robert stroked the back of her head, delighting in her silky dark brown hair. "What were you doing before I got back?" he asked.

"Trying somewhat in vain to read a book," Cora laughed. "But thoughts of you kept distracting me!" She felt Robert's sides tremble slightly as he tried to suppress his amusement.

"Well I must say it is nice to know I have had such an effect on you my dear," he gushed coyly. She swatted his chest playfully and shook her head as she observed his smug expression.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" Robert asked, changing the subject. "We could then catch up on all our news without any interruptions."

"I would love to Robert. After all it is such a beautiful day." Cora pulled out of Robert's embrace and took in her surroundings. Perhaps the garden wasn't that bad. She could see pockets of flowers with pretty multicoloured petals sticking out in places that she hadn't noticed before. The sky seemed to harbour a complex array of light blues which drew her mind to painting again. She wondered if Robert took any interest in art and decided to ask him about it on their walk as they both turned to head back indoors to make their preparations. As she got to the worn down back step she turned back to the spot where she had set up camp and marveled at how her perception had changed in the last few minutes. The tree that had been sheltering her was covered in vibrant shades of green and her chair was right in front of a gnarly old trunk but Cora thought it had character.

"Cora?" Robert eyed her curiously.

"Sorry Robert," she said and hastily stepped over the threshold so he could close the door.

They were walking along a quiet country road lined with huge trees on either side. No traffic had passed them and they had moved at a relaxed speed in companionable silence for quite a while. Robert had taken Cora's had to hold as they walked, throwing propriety to the wind yet again. He had noticed that he had been doing a lot of that since he had fallen for her and brought her up north. He didn't care if Miss Lacombe or his sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law saw him exchange caring words and touches with his Cora. He knew that once he made her his wife and they moved to Downton then he would have to sweep this particular aspect of their love under the rug, only to be brought out in the right moments discretely.

Cora noticed the strange look on Robert's face and curiosity nibbled at her. "What is it Robert?"

"Hmmm? Oh I was just thinking about our lives at Downton when we are married." Cora's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Was your trip to London really that successful?" Cora blurted out.

"Well I achieved what I set out to do. And I now have an old friend on side who is going to help maintain my guise of being on a trip with my chums. His name is Viscount Thomas Berkley. We successfully paid Mama a visit and by the end we had left her under the impression that we were off to the Midlands. She wasn't very happy-" Robert cut himself short and stared ahead towards one of the trees.

"Yes Robert?" Cora encouraged, keen to find out more about his mother's state of mind. Robert's hold on her had tensed considerably and she noticed him flexing his muscles slightly though she was baffled at what had caused his behaviour to alter so drastically. He motioned for her to be quiet and stepped towards the tree cautiously.

It all happened very fast. Robert pushed Cora behind him as John leaped out from his hiding place, pistol in his right hand which he proceeded to point squarely at Robert's chest.

"Get out of the way Crawley!" John raged. "Cora I insist that you come over here immediately. That man is not what you think he is!" His eyes flashed wildly as he brandished the pistol at Robert.

"Cora don't move," Robert instructed firmly. She cowered behind Robert, fearing for them both. Her pulse was suddenly accentuated and her head began to pound.

"What do you mean Robert isn't what I think he is?" she squeaked out timidly, peering around Robert at her estranged husband.

"He is a lying, thieving, double-crossing womanizer who had the nerve to steal my wife away from me under some guise of love," John shouted at her angrily. "And I want her back Crawley!" He cocked his pistol and fitted his finger around the cool metal trigger.

Robert drew himself up to full height and flexed his muscles again, making very sure Cora was right out of John's sight. "Your accusations are baseless sir," he barked. "I know all the particulars of the way you treated your wife, how you made her life a misery! What makes you think she would return to your side? Especially when you are behaving in such a threatening manner?" Robert stated incredulously.

"You see, this is exactly what I am talking about Cora. He is so smooth and slippery, just a gentleman." John all but spat out the last word. "Does my wife not have a conscience? Moral values? You are mine by law and I will have you back," he growled.

"I do have a conscience!" Cora screeched, her head poking out from Robert's shoulder again as she gripped his arm. "And my conscience told me to run because I knew I deserved to be treated better than how you treated me," she said. She stepped out to stand beside Robert in an act of defiance.

"Cora," Robert whispered in a warning tone under his breath. He tried to get in front of her but Cora stood her ground.

"Look at this. Falling apart so quickly over the tiniest of things," John crowed mirthfully.

"Cora please," Robert pleaded as he tried to guide her back behind him.

"Get over here NOW woman or I'll pull the trigger." John stepped forward and anchored his feet.

"So you would shoot your own wife?" Cora spluttered as tears tried to escape her eyes. John grinned at her manically and it shook Cora to her core. This time when Robert stepped in front of her she did not fight him. She clutched the back of his tweed coat, now absolutely terrified. "Ask him if he has had anything to drink," she whispered to Robert urgently. "Buy some time." She was so frightened and dreaded what might possibly happen to Robert, to them both if John followed through with his threats.

"Have you had anything to drink?" Robert asked in what he hoped was a calm voice.

"Oh I have had plenty since you took my wife," John howled. "Now GIVE HER BACK!" he roared.

The resounding gunshot radiated out through the valley clearly. Birds startled into the air, rabbits raced down their bolt holes, sheep crashed into each other and the fences that contained them as the loud hiss of a bullet shattered the countryside air into a million fractured pieces. Cora could barely stand as she clung to Robert for dear life, completely forgetting to breathe. She waited for what seemed like an eternity, waited for her protector to collapse before her eyes in a pool of blood.

A gurgle and a gasp crackled through the heavy air and still Robert did not keel over. Cora was becoming extremely anxious and confused. Did John's bullet not make a clean hit? Would he force her to watch her lover die a long, slow, painful death? Robert drew a very sharp breath.

"Robert?" Cora whispered.

"Look over there," he wheezed hoarsely.

Cora glanced over to where his head was turned and pointing. A man stood beside another of the trees, a pistol in his hand which was hanging limply at his side. He seemed entirely focused on John rather than them though. A dull thud caused both Robert and Cora to both jump and Cora chanced a peek at John. He was lying on his side, blood gushing out of his chest, staining the grass with its presence. His eyes were still open but unseeing. John was dead.

Grabbing Robert's arm, Cora was suddenly overcome with emotion. She turned to Robert who was no worse for wear other than the shock of what had transpired in front of him. Her knees buckled under her and Robert snapped into action, preventing her fall and drawing her to his chest as she cried freely. Robert watched as Mr Murdoch put away his pistol and walked towards them. He was struggling to get his thoughts together while his detective was visibly composed.

"Good afternoon Lord Downton," Mr Murdoch stated calmly. He stretched out his hand for Robert to shake as if they were meeting under very different circumstances and Robert took his offered hand. Cora was still clinging to Robert as she hastily wiped her tears away and inspected Robert's right hand man through her wet eyelashes.

"You must be Lady Cora," Mr Murdoch said tactfully, avoiding the use of her former husband's title. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you," he said warmly. Cora gave him a small smile and nodded to him.

"I owe you a lot of thanks Mr Murdoch," Robert informed him having finally located his voice. "You saved my life and probably Cora's as well. You couldn't have timed your… your intervention better." Mr Murdoch bowed to Robert, accepting his thanks. "I take it you followed Durham all the way up here then?"

"Yes I did. I knew he had finally caught the scent of what was going on but I was determined to stay downwind of him so he wouldn't get a whiff that he too was being followed." Robert's lips curled upwards in appreciation. "At least you have managed to keep the truth from most of your family," Mr Murdoch observed.

"True, but it has gotten a bit messy. More people now know about this than I ever intended but I trust them all not to give us away. And I have had to work at placating Mama."

"Which is how John was able to follow you," Mr Murdoch pointed out.

"Indeed." Robert turned back to look at the crumpled body and sighed. "That man was a lost soul I think. He really was his own worst enemy. At one stage I thought he was going to kill himself as he seemed to be suffering such anguish." Robert thought that it was a sad situation but held his tongue as he didn't want Cora to misinterpret his words.

"Thank you for freeing me from that man." Cora's voice was barely audible but her blue eyes bore into Murdoch's, expressing everything she felt but couldn't currently bring herself to say.

"That is quite alright. We should leave here though. If anyone should come along then we don't want to be seen here," Mr Murdoch said seriously.

"Quite right," Robert agreed.

"I will deal with the body and make sure it is found, and then I will disappear. I have no intention of going to jail when my conscience tells me I did the right thing. You two ought to head back to wherever you are staying. I know you will have a lot to process," Mr Murdoch suggested as his attention fell on Cora. Robert rubbed her arm and kissed her forehead.

"Will I see you again?" Robert asked.

"I do not know," Mr Murdoch replied honestly.

"Then know that you will get what is owed to you and more. I wish you all the best in the future," Robert said earnestly and reached out, clasping Murdoch's shoulder, not something a social superior did but Robert didn't care. Mr Murdoch was surprised and touched by Lord Downton's move but then, he was a very good man. Mr Murdoch returned the gesture for a moment as though he were farewelling a brother before bowing to Cora and hurrying off to see to John's body. At the same time, Robert bundled Cora off the ground into his arms and vacated the scene urgently.

A/N Don't get too comfortable my faithful followers. You may think this story is nearly at an end given what happened but in fact I have another 10 chapters lined up plus and epilogue. The drama isn't nearly over yet so I hope you will continue on with me. I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter as it was one of the hardest to write.