Written on request. S4 E9 after Violet commented: 'And what are the ladies supposed to do? Put feathers in their hair and light the gentleman's cigars.'

Robert was humming on his way back to the drawing room. He just handed the letter back to Rose. He knew he could count on Bates, to deliver. Carson had informed him her Ladyship was waiting for him in the drawing room. He thought she had gone up already after all the guests had left. He saw her go upstairs did he not?

In a very good mood, he opened the door and for a second the room looked empty.

"Close the door please." It was Cora's voice. Robert followed the request and closed the door.

"Cora?" He asked, he saw movement behind the room divider. Some sort of feather bopped above it.

Cora stepped out from behind the divider, she was still wearing the beautiful blue dress she had been wearing that evening, but she had done something to her hair. Her hair was down and there were feathers put into the curls.

His eyes widened, Cora never had her hair down for others to see. What was she up to? Then he noticed she was holding something brown in her hand.

Slowly she brought her hand to her face and put a sigar in between her lips. She tried to light it, but the only result was giggles coming from her mouth.

She looked up at Robert with coy eyes. "It looks so easy when you do it." With small steps she walked towards Robert. The feathers in her hair moving with every step.

Robert gulped, what was she doing? They were not in the privacy of her room. What if one of the staff members walked inside, or even worse a family member?

Cora reached Robert and she let herself fall against Robert's chest. He was not prepared for that move and he stumbled backwards. Wrapping his arms around her slender body to prevent her from falling.

Her giggles grew louder. "I know I had one drink too many, but I did not realize you were unstable too." Her hand was pulling at his dress shirt, trying to get it out of the waistband of his trousers.

One of the feathers in her hair brushed against Robert's nose. It made his nose tickle and he could not prevent a sneeze.

Quickly Cora stepped back. "Oh my, are you getting a cold?"

The sensation of her hands leaving his body made him hunger for her and with a big step, he pulled her close again. Robert put his nose in her curls and pressed his lips on her neck. "Your feather was tickling me, that is all."

Cora leaned back and laughed out loud. She reached up and pulled one of the feathers out of her hair. She brushed it against his jaw, and over his nose.

Robert scrunched his nose, trying to hold in another sneeze. "Stop teasing me," he said after a sneeze escaped.

Cora pressed her lips against his and murmured. "I am sorry." She intensified her kiss and Robert eagerly answered. He pressed her firmly against his chest, his hand resting between her shoulder blades. The dress she was wearing gave him easy access to her skin. He loved that sensation, normally he could only feel her skin once they were up. He noticed Cora relaxed in his arms. He could taste the alcohol on her tongue and smiled.

"What is funny?" Cora asked. Robert now noticed her speech was slurred, it was something that rarely happened. Cora always knew how far she could go with her drinks. Had she been trying to drink herself courage? It must be and Robert loved her even more for it.

"It is nothing, my dear." He put his hands on her face and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. "I love you, my Cora." The twinkle that appeared in her eyes made heat shoot through his groin, before he realised it he scooped her in his arms. "Let us go upstairs."

"But I have not lit your cigar yet!" Cora pouted.

It suddenly clicked in Robert's head, his mother had commented that afternoon. 'And what are the ladies supposed to do? Put feathers in their hair and light the gentleman's cigars.'

"I can live without that cigar, I want to taste something else." He knew what effect his words would have on Cora and it hit exactly where he hoped. A deep moan left her and she squirmed in his arms.

Cora buried her face in his neck, her hand playing with his hair. While Robert carried her upstairs to the privacy of her room.