"Can I walk you home? Would you like that?" Robert had just closed the door to the pub behind him. They spent several hours talking to each other. He had known that Cora was an interesting woman just from the brief moments they talked. Her life in the United States had been very different to the one she was living here. She talked about her job in the restaurant, and he sensed that she was missing something. That restaurant work was not her passion.

Cora looked up, Robert was a tall man and even though she was not short herself, she had to look up to him. She felt rosy from the wine. She noticed that he had paid attention to her wine choice the first time they met. Robert picked out the best red wines there were on the menu. "I think I will like that very much. " She leaned against him and angled her face up.

Robert looked down into her blue eyes and had to fight not to kiss her. When she rapidly blinked her eyes, he turned his gaze away. She was drunk, or at least tipsy and he did not want to take advantage of her vulnerable state. "You will need to lead; I do not know where your house lives."

This remark made Cora burst out laughing, her giggles kept coming and she leaned heavier against him. Her hand rested on his stomach. "Where my house lives." She hiccupped from laughing. "I think I know where that is. Because it is also where I live." She got on her tiptoes and tried to kiss him, but he turned his face away, so she kissed his jaw. Disappointed she lowered herself again.

"Let us start walking," Robert said, trying to ignore what just happened. He would have loved to kiss her, but he could not. He needed to know that she wanted it for sure. It did not feel right to kiss her now. "Lead the way, Milady." He offered her his arm.

Why did he not kiss her? Did she misread all the signs? Did he not like her? Despite her disappointment, she hooked her arm in his and started walking. Before she realised, they were standing in front of her door. They had continued the conversation they were having inside. And she learned a lot more about his work.

"Now you know where my house lives," Cora said a bit shy. She looked up again and she got confused when she saw the longing in his eyes. There was a fire inside them, it looked like he was hungry. Hungry for her. Should she try to kiss him again? What if he rejected her again? She did not have to think about the what if.

Robert stepped towards Cora, he put both his hands on her face and angled her face up. Her blue eyes looked up to him. He still did not want to take advantage of her, but he would regret it, if he would not do what he was about to do. Slowly he lowered his face and softly and very gentle he presses a kiss on her lips. She tasted sweet. He was surprised by the softness of her lips.

Ever so slowly he let go of her face, gently brushing over her cheeks with his thumbs. She was still looking up at him. Her cheeks had coloured, and she blinked rapidly. He was mesmerised by her long eyelashes. Robert felt her hands on his waist, pulling him close to her. He crashed his lips on hers once more. This time longer and with more passion. Her lips slightly parted.

Cora's hands roamed over his back towards his shoulders. Her fingers tried to grab him and pull him even closer. His tongue discovered her mouth and found hers. When her leg wrapped around his, he broke the connection.

Panting, he apologised. "I am sorry." He tried to step back, but Cora's hands on his back prevented that. "I did not mean to do this."

Cora's eyes changed and she got a confused look on her face. "What do you mean?" She asked quietly. Her hands left Robert's back and were now hanging along her side.

Robert took one of her hands in his. Brushing over the back of her hand. "I did not want to force you, I am sorry. I should have just brought you home and let you go to sleep."

"What if I liked it." Cora looked up at him while wrapping her fingers around his hand.

"Are you sure?" He tried to find the answer in her eyes. "We are both drunk."

Cora squeezed his hand, her other went up to his jaw. "I am not drunk, and I do not believe you are." She stepped closer again. Her fingers followed his jawline. She got on her tiptoes and pressed another kiss on his lips. "But I think we better say goodbye." She said while lowering herself again.

"Can I see you again?"

Now a wide smile appeared on Cora's face. "I would love that." Her smile dropped suddenly. "But you have to go back to Downton? Do you not?"

Robert felt his heart drop. She was right. He needed to go back; he could not stay. "I will find a way to come back often."

Cora smiled unsure. "Who knows what the future will bring. Your family needs you, and the business needs you. This was nice and I thank you for tonight."

Robert felt that Cora was distancing herself, and his heart ached. Why was everything always so complicated? He wanted to be here in London, in this lovely suburban street. He wanted to be with Cora, kiss her lips, feel her hand in his. He wanted to feel her body, he wanted to hear her voice. "Can I at least have your phone number?"

"Of course." Cora smiled again, but he saw that it did not reach her eyes. What had he done, why did he not let this go? He had made it worse for both. Now he knew how she tasted; he would not be able to forget that. He took her face in his hands again and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"What time are you leaving tomorrow?"

Robert sighed. "I had planned on leaving early in the morning. So, I will be back at Downton before luncheon."

Cora sighed. "Oh"

Robert felt his heart racing, he could not leave. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her close to his chest while burying his face in her hair. She smelt heavenly, it was a fresh scent, mixed with some flowery smells. He took a deep breath, before letting her go. "I will make sure to be back next weekend. I promise."

Cora rested her hand on his upper arm. "Do not make promises you cannot keep."

He looked at her with a puzzled look on his face.

"We both have things going on in our lives. If we can meet again, it would be lovely. But we also need to be realistic. You are not in London most of the time, how can we do this?"

"Cora." Robert said calmly. "I know we only met very recently. But since the day we met, I think about you. You are constantly on my mind, and I do want to make an effort to make this work."

"Make what work?" Cora said inaudible.

Robert smiled when he saw how insecure Cora was. He knew, he just knew she felt the same. He took her face in his hands again and kissed her. It was a long and tender kiss, he wanted to make sure she would feel what he meant. He did not have enough words to describe what he meant. With this kiss, he hoped he could tell her exactly what he meant. He felt her body relax in his arms and he intensified his kiss. He moved his hand over her neck into her hair. Softly massaging her scalp. He felt her moan, while they kept the connection. "Make this work." He said when they finally broke. "I will make sure this will work. I do not care how hard it will be or get. We will find a way to be together." He kissed the tip of her nose. "I cannot let you go."

Cora rested her head against his chest. "We will find a way, you are right."