A/N: Hello, hello, hello! Here is chapter six. This one is a little different and I've explored a couple of different ideas, so hopefully you like it! Please read the notes at the end, as I need to credit a user for one of the plot points in this chapter :)

Flux

Chapter six - in which tears are the only way to heal

Cora's eyes stung as hot tears streaked down her cheeks and her chest rose and fell with heavy beats as her breathing sped up. She was feeling so many emotions, anger, heartbreak, but most of all, fear. She wiped her cheeks clean, hoping to steady herself before beginning another desperate plea with her husband.

"Oh, don't cry, Cora" he begged, "you know I don't have a choice in the matter"

"But you do have a choice" she sobbed in response, "and I'm tired of us both pretending otherwise"

"I am bound by the sense of duty a man has to his country. You wouldn't understand that"

"Maybe I would if I was in my own country" she spat back, and Robert looked at her wide-eyed, "do you honestly have the audacity to suggest that I don't know about making sacrifices. I picked up my entire life to be with you, Robert. I left my country for you"

"And now I must do what I can for mine"

"Robert please!" she cried.

"You're making this more difficult"

"I am begging you to at least discuss this with me"

"There is nothing to discuss" he said with a strangled voice, "I must enlist"

"And what about me, Robert, what about the baby? Will you leave us for a battlefield?" more tears began to fall down Cora's cheeks and Robert felt his heart tear in two.

"It's not as easy as all that. I don't want to leave you, Cora. But I will always be a solider, and a soldier does his duty"

"But to leave you pregnant wife..."

"Cora…"

"I can't do it again, Robert. I can't watch you go off to war and spend my every waking moment worried sick about you! And there are the girls, they may have been young when you were in the war, but they were always worried about you, do you honestly think that fear will have dwindled over the years? It will still be there, Robert. If you can spare them the pain of potentially losing their father, then please do!" she was sobbing harder now.

"I can't just sit idly while my fellow countrymen go off to war, Cora, what kind of man would I be if I did that?"

"And what kind of man would you be if you end up wounded, or even dead?"

"At least I'd be able to say that I did something, that I was willing to make sacrifices for my country"

Cora could feel her hands shaking, and she clawed at her own arms in an attempt to steady herself, but it only made her tremble harder, and hot tears continued to paint her cheeks.

"Do you not care about us, Robert? Do you not care about the devastation that would befall us if we were to lose you?"

"Don't make out like I am heartless" he snapped, "of course, I care. I love you all more than I can ever convey…but to wilfully do nothing will wound me more than any bullet can"

"You think you're being selfless, but you're not, you're being the opposite. You're thinking only about your feelings in all of this, how you will feel if you do or don't do something"

"I knew you wouldn't understand"

"No, I don't understand. I don't understand how you can be so willing to leave your entire family, including your pregnant wife who is constantly being told of all the risks she may encounter; to leave your estate when the future ownership is in peril, and to leave your daughters when they need their father. All for a war that hasn't even begun and may not even be worth fighting"

"This country will always be worth fighting for"

"And what about me, am I worth fighting for?"

"Don't say that. Of course, I'd fight for you"

"Then do!" she bellowed, "I can't go through it again, Robert. I cannot make myself sick with worry because you could die at any given moment. I have done it before, and I cannot bear to do it again. Every time a telegram came, I was sure it was going to tell me that you were dead. And every time I closed my eyes at night, I had visions of you in some dreadful battlefield…I can't go through that again, I just can't…and now I'm carrying your child and I – oh"

She lost her voice then and her throat became overpowered by her sobs. She dropped down onto the chaise lounge and let her body heave in silent and painful cries until she was clutching at her chest from the agony, and her throat burned.

"Oh, my darling Cora" Robert breathed through tears of his own before dropping to his knees beside her and pulling her close to him.

Cora felt torn apart by him, and the contact only reminded her of her anger, but she couldn't bring herself to give it up because for the last twenty-four years, he had been her anchor. In times of trouble, tragedy and pain, it had always been him that she had turned to; and he to her. She had no one else who held her heart in such a way, and no one else she trusted with it. And so, despite him being the cause for her heartache, she clung to him, clawed at his clothing as if she were trying to tear it away and sobbed violently into his shoulder.

His palm cradled the back of her head as the other slipped to her waist, and she was vaguely aware of his own tears, but all she could think about was how she could get him to stay…and how she would fall apart if she were to lose him.

"Can…can you postpone it?" she choked into his neck.

"Enlisting?"

"Yes. Can you at least wait until the baby is born?"

Robert considered it in painful silence.

"Please, Robert. I need you by my side during this"

She said no more, and she didn't have to. It was only a number of weeks ago that he had been holding her in this very same room as they shared their fears regarding her health and the safety of the inevitable birth. He knew that she was scared, as was he, and her sickness and shown no real sign of going away.

"But Cora…" he began.

"No" she said firmly with a sniff as she pulled away to look him in the eye, "you listen to me. I cannot do this without you, Robert. I cannot go through the fear of the safety of my child while also worrying if my husband is still alive or not. And I cannot bear to lose you, none of us can. If you love me in any way, you will do this for me. You will – at the very least – wait until our child is born before you go running off into battle"

If he hadn't known it before, Robert knew now that she needed her anchor, and if he were to be honest with himself, he needed his too. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to face it, months away at war while he worried about his pregnant wife and the arrival of their fourth child…

His heart ached as he looked at her, so much fear and sorrow in her eyes, this wasn't the Cora he knew, and this wasn't the Cora he ever wanted to see. He would do anything to ease her pain.

"Okay. I will wait" he said slowly, and he watched the creases in her face soften.

She began to cry again, but not from sadness, instead from the heady sense of relief that began to drown her in response to his words. Her face fell to his shoulder again, and he simply held her as she cried into him, shush her gently and robbing slow circles across her back with his palm.

He couldn't find the words in that moment, but from his embrace he hoped that Cora knew that his love for her would drive him to do anything for her.

A couple of days later, Cora knocked softly on the door leading to her eldest daughter's bedroom, and slowly entered when she was beckoned in by a defeated voice. Despite being the middle of the afternoon, the room was dim, the curtains were partially closed, letting through only a slither of light that Mary appeared to be using to read…or at least she was pretending to.

There was a look in her eye that Cora recognised instantly, it was the look of mourning, not for someone who had died, but for someone who has been lost in other ways. It was a look Cora had while Robert had been at war all those years ago, and it was a look Mary now carried since her relationship with Matthew had ended.

"Hello, Mary, darling. May I come in?"

Mary closed her book, sat up a little straighter and put on a forced smile.

"Of course" she replied and watch as Cora tentatively made her way into the room and sat on the chair opposite her.

"How are you doing, Mary? Honestly"

"I'm fine, Mama" she excused, but Cora knew she was lying.

"Mary, please, I want you to be truthful with me. What happened between you and Matthew was a very painful thing and I know it must have hurt you a great deal. Believe it or not, I do want you to be happy and I hate to see you so withdrawn"

"I'm not withdrawn, am I? I certainly try not to be"

"Perhaps withdrawn isn't the right word, but I do notice a difference in you Mary and I just want you to know that you can confide in me if you're feeling any pain. I am past judging you for what happened with Mister Pamuk, my dear"

Cora watched as Mary tried desperately to hold on to the self-control and icy façade that she had perfected over the years, but the caring words of her mother had struck just the right chord, and soon her lip began to wobble, and a single tear trailed down her cheek. Cora stayed silent, allowing Mary the space she needed to open up only in a way that she was comfortable with.

"Oh, Mama…I just miss him so much…" she sniffed, "and I've ruined everything"

"Oh, my darling"

"I know that everyone thinks I've been a fool, or that I've been selfish and put him of just because his prospects were jeopardised, but my thoughts were so muddled for so many reasons I just couldn't stand it"

Cora pursed her lip. She couldn't even begin to imagine how tumultuous her thoughts must have been.

"I wasn't sure of anything…even before you fell pregnant. And every time I thought of just accepting with no regard to the past, I felt so dishonest…I don't think I could be happy in any marriage if the foundation it was built on was made of lies"

"You should never force yourself into a situation if you're not sure about it"

"Then why do I feel so hurt? If I could go back and change it all I would – without a second thought. You and I both know that I have ruined everything"

"We don't know that, Mary"

"I do. When I spoke to Matthew, he said he still would have accepted me, regardless of the baby or the inheritance – without all of this mess"

"We can't know how it would have played out. Things may seem obvious in hindsight, but the truth is that we can never truly know what would have happened had we made different decisions. There is no guarantee of anything. No guarantee of happiness, no guarantee of how Matthew would have reacted had you decided to tell him about Mister Pamuk"

"I thought you were trying to make me feel better?"

"I am trying to tell you that nothing can be known for sure. I don't want you to fixate on the what ifs. For all you know, this decision could be the first of many that lead to your eventual happiness"

"It's easy for you to say, you've found your happiness"

"And it didn't come without some difficult decisions" Cora said assertively, "I know you know about the motives behind your father's perusal of me and that you know it was an imbalanced relationship in the beginning. Do you think my decision to marry a man I loved who appeared to not love me back, and to move across an ocean and to another country to be an English countess was one that came easily to me?"

"I…I suppose not"

"You suppose right. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made, and it was one that I questioned on more occasions than I cared to admit. And once or twice I even thought that I had trapped myself in a life that would not make me fully happy. But I was wrong, so very wrong, and your father has proven that to me time and time again. We never know what might have been, but we also never know what will come our way – I think the past few months have certainly proved that"

"You're right" Mary agreed.

"I just want you to try and keep your chin up as best as you can. I know it's easier said than done, but sometimes the strangest of decisions can lead to our greatest happiness"

Mary blinked away the tears and gave her mother a slow nod. She truly hoped that she was correct.

Cora found herself resting her hand delicately on the small swell of her stomach as she made her way down the grand staircase. She had expected herself to carry small given the lack of evidence of her pregnancy over the past five and a half months, but it seemed that the evidence of the life growing inside her had begun to show itself rapidly over the past week. The curve of her belly was mostly covered by the lavish material of her dresses, but it would not take an eagle-eyed onlooker to notice the evidence of her pregnancy.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she caught a glimpse of Carson making his way through the hall and Cora immediately withdrew her hand.

"Carson" she beckoned.

"Yes, my lady?"

"I was just wondering if you'd see his lordship anywhere this afternoon?"

"He went for a walk about half an hour ago, milady"

"A walk?" she questioned, thinking it was odd behaviour for him so close to luncheon, "did he say where he was going?"

She caught the slight tension in the butler's shoulders.

"He did not, milady. Only that he wanted to take a few moments to clear his head. No doubt the early beginnings of the war have him preoccupied"

"I'm sure you're right, Carson" Cora replied with a well-practised smile, "if you see him when he comes back, could you let him know that I'm in the library"

"Very good, milady" Carson replied with a nod before Cora made her way to the library – her hand once again resting on the swell of her abdomen in a now revived method of self-comfort.

The announcement of the war had come just over a week ago, but ever since that haunting day – and since the row that had followed – Cora had felt an uneasy twisting in her stomach whenever she caught sight of her husband brooding. She knew he had been thinking about the war constantly; not only about the implications of what a war across Europe meant, but of his role in it all. Deep down, she understood why he had been so desperate to enlist, he had always been a man of honour and duty and serving his country in times to struggle was simply in his blood. But the fact that she had had to beg him to at least wait had torn her up inside, not because she thought he didn't care, but because she never thought she'd have to once again live through the pain of having a husband at war.

She hoped he wasn't in pain when he brooded and hoped that he could find satisfaction in their compromise. She didn't think it was something she would ever fully understand, to risk your life for your country and then be prevented from doing so…but she needed him by her side during this time, and Cora knew Robert well enough to know he would not be content anywhere other than by her side while she was still carrying their child.

She settled herself on one of the sofas, contemplating distracting herself with a book while she waited for her husband when she suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of his footsteps coming from the great hall. Cora sat up as they grew closer and greeted Robert with a soft smile as he finally entered the room; but to her dismay, it was a smile he could barely bring himself to return.

"Robert? Is everything okay?"

He moved slowly towards her – his chin pointed down in a display of downcast. He sat beside her on the sofa but couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye or at the obvious concern that lived there.

He exhaled through his nose.

"They don't want me" he said quietly.

"What, who doesn't want you?"

He laced his hands between his knees and bowed his head – avoiding Cora's eye.

"The army. They don't want me, I'm too old, apparently"

Cora felt her stomach drop.

"Robert, please don't tell me you tried to enlist"

He looked at her then and met the fear in her eyes, and she was met with the pain in his. He took her hands in his and squeezed them gently.

"No, I didn't, I promise you that. Since our involvement in the war, I have been contacted by Major Johnson, I served with him back in the Boer war, our correspondence has mostly been leisurely, but there has, of course, been a lot of talk about the war. In his last letter he spoke to me about some of the recruitment campaigns he's running, and it turns out that the British army are only looking for able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-one…" he trailed off there, and just by looking at him, Cora could tell that he felt like a failure.

Now was not the time for relief, nor was it a time for celebration, right now her husband was hurt, and she needed to do whatever it took to soothe him.

"Oh, my darling" she breathed as she removed one of her hands from his and stroked his cheek, "I can't imagine how downcast this must make you feel"

"That's not even the half of it. I feel useless, I feel like a burden on my own country" he winced.

"But that isn't true at all. You gave so many years of service to your country when you were a soldier"

"And now I can do that no longer"

"There comes an end for everyone, Robert. But it does not make you a failure. We all fall victim to the sands of time. Instead, you are a fine example to the men who will risk their lives for king and country"

Robert stayed silent, his brow furrowing as he battled with his own turmoil.

"You do not have to go to war to protect your family" she assured him, "I know that your presence will be a great help to us all – for morale and strength. And think about or child, Robert, think about everything you will do for us by being here. Having you by my side is the support I need, and you will do more for me and the baby by being here instead of overseas"

His expression softened, but his eyes betrayed the hurt he was still feeling.

"You saying that should be enough" he sighed, "I wish it was enough, but I…"

"I know. You still feel as though you have failed"

"I have once again fallen victim to the ways I have always known"

"It will happen to us all in our lifetimes. And I understand that sometimes words can never be enough when our own sense of identity is challenged"

"I value your words tremendously" he told her, "I really do. I respect your viewpoint…to an extent, I even agree with it, but I cannot help but feel the way that I do"

"I understand" and she did, and she knew a blow such as this would cut him deeply, "I know there probably isn't, but if there is anything I can do to help you through this, please let me know"

Robert squeezed her hand again and managed to present her with a smile.

"The offer alone helps more than you can know"

"Are you sure your up for this Cora? I know you were unwell this afternoon"

Cora smiled at him as she took her jewellery from her maid.

"I'm fine, Robert" she assured him with a small laugh.

"I just don't want you making yourself any worse…and you do look a bit pale" he replied as he fiddled anxiously with one of his cufflinks.

"O'Brian can confirm that I have been a picture of health all evening"

"She has" O'Brian said to them both, "Although, his lordship is only looking out for your wellbeing, Milady. And there's nothing wrong with that" she added softly, and Cora gave her a gentle smile in agreement.

"You're right" Cora hummed, "Thank you, O'Brian, you may go now"

"Just promise me that you will excuse yourself if you start feeling sick again" Robert said once O'Brian had left.

"Robert" she whined in a most unladylike manner, "ever since my sickness diagnosis I have always been honest with you about how I'm feeling"

Robert exhaled and moved towards her and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"I know I'm fussing you too much, I just -"

"- You worry, I know you do. And I know it's your job as the doting husband" she replied, quoting his words for a couple of weeks ago, "but I can assure you that I will always be honest with you about everything. About the sickness, the deficiency, everything. And if my reminding you every other day helps to quell your anxiety, then so be it" she smiled.

"You do keep me in my place" he chuckled.

"It's my job, and I believe I do it quite well"

Robert sniggered at her comment before glance at his pocket watch.

"We should head down; Major Johnson will be arriving shortly"

"Why has he invited himself for dinner?" Cora questioned, "I don't mind, of course, but given his new occupation, you'd think he'd be too busy for leisurely socialising"

"I suspect it may not just be for leisure"

"You mean he wants you to help him with army recruitment?"

"Perhaps. Either that or he's hoping that his visit will urge us to recommend enlisting to those in our employment who are eligible"

"I hope there won't be too much war talk. I prefer a dinner to be a distraction from ghastly world news rather than an indulgence in it"

"He was always rather enthusiastic about combat analytics, if I remember correctly. But he may tone it down when he's in a crowd of primarily non-soldiers"

"I suppose with everything going on, the subject is unavoidable. Do you really think it will be over by Christmas?"

Robert shook his head.

"I would like to think so, but I just don't believe it. I don't think any war has ever been so brief, and I doubt one as political as this will be"

Cora was silent for a moment before standing up and brushing off the sombre conversation.

"Let us hold on to the hope then" then she smiled, "come on, we should get downstairs before everyone starts wondering where we are"

Cora went to take his hand, when Robert suddenly jumped.

"Your hands are freezing!" he exclaimed.

"Well, I'm not planning on putting any gloves on, so you'll just have to keep your hands to yourself" she challenged, and she let out a teasing laugh at his shocked expression.

Robert said nothing and simply flashed her a cheeky smile before offering her his arm and leading them out of the bedroom.

"So, what got you into the recruiting business?" Robert asked Major Johnson after the women had made their way into the drawing room.

"Well, essentially, I wanted to do whatever I could to help. Having the contacts that I do, I found out pretty swiftly that I was above the age grade to be wanted for active service, so I thought I'd find some other way to help the war effort"

"And you ended up in recruiting?" Robert prompted as he sipped his whiskey.

"Yes. A few of my old comrades had been working with the war office and were already beginning to set up campaigns, so word spread rather fast among the circles. It seemed like a decent occupation, lots of opportunity to travel and speak with different communities. And I suppose if one can't actually enlist, the next best thing is to make sure that others do"

The Major took a long drag of his cigarette and Robert studied him curiously. Here was a man just like him, similar in age, military rank and experience, and yet, he seemed to possess no shame or shadow over not being able to enlist, and Robert couldn't tell if the man just didn't care, or if he had truly found enough enrichment in his new recruitment venture.

"I admire you" Robert told him.

"You do?"

Robert nodded.

"You seem to have embraced the strict rules for enlistment, and it seems to me that you have found a fair amount of enthusiasm within this recruitment business"

"Well, there are more ways to help a war than by fighting. Everyone has something that they can offer. It took a bit of time for me to figure out what that was for me, but I got there in the end. And, thankfully, it has proven to be very rewarding. There are so many fine young chaps in this country, and I know they will do us all proud"

"It's a resolve I strive to find myself" Robert admitted.

"You haven't decided what to do yet?"

"Right now, I'm still working on accepting the fact that I'm not wanted"

"I wouldn't put it so harshly. There are requirements that are set for the benefit of the public and the success of the war, you simply don't meet them. It's no different to how you probably wouldn't meet the requirements to be a jockey"

Robert cracked a smile at that.

"Perhaps. But it's still not a great feeling to know you can't help your country in the way a man ought to during a war"

"Were you terribly disappointed when you found out you were past the enlisting requirements?" Major Johnson asked as he took asip of his drink.

"I was. I admit it. It wasn't a good feeling to know that one is no use to one's country, but I suppose nothing can be done to stop the passage of time"

"We served our country as much as we could all those years ago, I think that's the important thing to remember"

"That's what I keep telling myself, though it's a hard thing to resign myself to"

"As I said before, there are still ways you can help now. It may not fully quell you hunger for duty and service, but it can certainly help soften the blow"

"I will consider it. But I think, at least for the remainder of the year, my focus is going to be on Lady Grantham" Robert told him, and he couldn't hide the proud smile that was sneaking onto his features.

"Of course, of course" replied the Major with a slow nod, "I must say, I'm impressed that you're being so stand-up about the whole thing" he added offhandedly.

"I'm sorry?"

"Well, if it were me, I don't think I'd be so optimistic about it"

"Well…" Robert began as he shuffled uncomfortably, "I know it's a little bit later in the race for us than it is for most people. But Lady Grantham and I have embraced it with nothing but mirth"

"No, I mean that -" but then the Major caught the honesty in Robert's eyes – which was quickly morphing into suspicion – and he instantly shut his mouth. "- never mind"

He watched as Robert studied him with a hard look and a set jaw, and the Major tried not to squirm as his blood ran cold and he realised he'd talked himself into a corner.

"No, go on" Robert prompted firmly, "what did you mean?"

"I mean no offence by it, but given the circumstances, I had simply assumed that…"

"Yes?"

"…that the child was the result of an external relationship on Lady Grantham's part, rather than your own"

Robert sat in silence, his sharp gaze unmoving and his jaw clenched so tightly that it hurt. One of his hands balled into a fist – his nails cutting not his palm – and his nose hissed in a forced exhale.

"Get out" he ordered quietly.

"Oh, come now, Lord Grantham, I didn't mean -"

"I said get out!" Robert suddenly bellowed as both men shot to their feet, "I want you out of my sight!"

"After everything we went through back in the war" the Major retorted.

"I couldn't care less" Robert seethed, "you come to my home, insult me and the reputation of my wife, and fuel the poisonous rumours about us. A handful of good memoires do not grant you permission for a lifetime of bad behaviour"

"Well, you can't throw me out. It's the middle of the night, I'll never be able to get a train"

"If I were less of a man, I would say that I don't much care. Lucky for you, I am still in possession of my manners. You may stay the night as planned, but if you are still here tomorrow morning, I will personally make sure that you are thrown out without so much as the clothes on your back. Do I make myself clear?" Robert spat.

"Fine. But let me tell you this, I am not the only one who thinks the way I do about you and Lady Grantham"

"Once again, I couldn't care less. I am finally beyond paying attention to words of people I have no respect for"

The Major opened his mouth to speak again but was interrupted by the sudden opening of the door, revealing a troubled butler and the rest of the family in a small crowd behind him. The two men fell silent, and Robert straightened his coat and quashed his anger.

"Is everything quite all right, My lord?" Carson asked calmly, but not without casting a suspicious gaze over their guest.

"Quite" was Robert's quick reply, "Carson, Major Johnson will be leaving us early tomorrow morning. Will you see that he has everything he needs so that he can catch the first train?"

Carson gave him a peculiar look but asked no questions.

"Very good, My lord"

"I guess I'll turn in for the night" said the Major sourly before marching out of the dinning room without a single glance to any of his hosts.

Robert exhaled slowly before making his own way out of the dining room.

"The table may be cleared, Carson, I think I'll turn in as well"

"Papa, what happened? We heard shouting" asked Sybil.

"Nothing" he lied as he continued walking towards the stairs.

"Then why is Major Johnson leaving first thing?" came Mary's question.

"A scheduling difficulty. I hope you'll all excuse me for my early departure, but I have rather a headache"

And those were his final words as he ascended the stairs.

Cora went to bed a little over an hour later. She had expected Robert to come and find her, but after a while, it was clear that his absence was intentional, so she got out of bed and went straight to his dressing room. She found him sat on his bed, elbows on his knees and his head resting on his knuckles.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" she asked gently.

Robert snapped out of his brooding and looked at her for a moment before staring at the floor.

"It's nothing to bother you with" he excused quietly.

"Anything that causes my husband to shout at the top of his lungs and essentially kick out a guest – one from his military days, no less – is something I deserve to be concerned with"

"I don't want to tell you because I'm afraid it will upset you" he admitted.

"Well, now you have to tell me"

"It was just mindless gossip" he excused, but Cora would not accept it.

"Again, Robert, it was serious enough for you to lose sight of your manners and cause a scene. So, I will ask you one more time, what happened?"

Robert sighed in defeat before standing and taking Cora's hands in his.

"The Major appeared to a have caught wind of some gossip about us, regarding the baby"

"More gossip besides the fact that we're apparently too old to be engaging in marital activities?" she asked with a raise eyebrow.

"Yes, unfortunately. It appears that he's come to the conclusion that the baby isn't…that it is the result of an additional relationship on your part"

He watched painfully as Cora's face dropped.

"Oh" she breathed, "I hadn't really considered that people might think that…but I suppose it was bound to happen in the end"

"But it shouldn't be happening!"

"No. It shouldn't. But it does. Unfortunately, it's part of the world we live in. And the rumour doesn't come completely from fantasy, you and I have both known people who have taken on…lovers"

Robert nodded thoughtfully. He, much like Cora, had anticipated gossip, but foolishly had been naïve enough to expect it to be about their age and their lack of propriety regarding their intimacy…not his wife's reputation.

"I know I made a fool of myself tonight, but to hear him make such vile claims about us, about you…it made my blood boil. To taint this happy thing that has happened to us, and to say it to my face, no less!"

"You were right to put him in his place. At least if he goes scurrying home with his tail between his legs it might help extinguish the fire" Cora encouraged.

"I hope so. Though, I doubt there is much of a fire, as you've put it. You and I don't exactly have a reputation for being completely chaste in public" he teased.

"You make it sound like you've been undressing me in the middle of the ballroom!"

Robert chuckled and shook his head at her humour. Even in pitiful situations such as this, she always managed to make him smile.

She gave his hands a squeeze before she spoke again,

"I'm assuming I don't have to try and convince you that there's no truth in the rumour?"

He looked at her quite seriously before answering,

"No. You don't"

"Good. Because I would never do anything to jeopardise our marriage. And I could never love anyone besides you"

There were so many things that Robert wanted to say in response, so many sentiments flooded his mind, everything from he knew, and neither would he. But they all thrummed in his head like a heartbeat, and so he chose to convey his emotions in the way he knew best. He tilted his head to kiss her softly, it wasn't frenzied like many of their kisses had been lately, but it was enough to reduce Cora's mind to nothingness and her entire body tingled from the contact. The kiss remained still at first, but eventually, Cora opened her mouth to him, coaxing him to deepen the kiss. They began to move their lips together, gently massaging them to the rising beat of their hearts, drawing them into that warm, delectable place that only they shared.

He pulled away reluctantly but let his forehead rest against hers before simply drinking in their closeness. The evening had been a wretched one, and yet despite their reputation being tarnished, they had come out of it closer, and it had done nothing but fuel their already solid love for each other. Robert removed one of his hands from hers and gently placed it upon the swell of her abdomen, and his heart soared dizzyingly when he made contact. A stupid, soppy smile broke out across his cheeks.

"You know, when I feel this, and I think about the fact that our child is growing beneath my palm, all of my troubles seem to melt away"

Cora returned the smile and brought he hand to her abdomen to lace her fingers through his.

"Me too"

A/N: Angst, hurt, romance, scandal - it's all here! XD So, I would like to credit Sara K M for the idea about people thinking that the baby wouldn't be Robert's. It was something I never even thought of (and like Cora and Robert, I feel quite stupid for not thinking of it). Anyway, as soon as it was mentioned, I *really* wanted to work it into the chapter somehow...well, I more or less based the latter half of the chapter on it, so thank you very much!

As always, thank you all so much for your lovely reviews - you are all the nicest readers ever and I feel so lucky. And, I know I say it every time, being able to read your reviews really motivates me and warms my heart. I am going to try and reply to a few and send some thank you DMs, but I am very forgetful, so please give me time - hehe.

Anyway, I'll see you for chapter seven (which will hopefully also be a spicy one)

- OMC

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