A Little Touch Of Envy

AN: the characters do not belong to me.

Thank you to my amazing beta reader, Granthamfan. I couldn't do this without you.

This story is written for the 2015 Cobert Holiday Fanfiction Exchange. My prompt word was envy. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. xx

December 1925

Downton Abbey

Cora Crawley sat in the library, paper in front of her and pen in hand, staring absently out the window. The snow was falling and everything was so peaceful. Everything, that is, except Cora. Ever since Edith had introduced her mother to the world of writing, she had quickly learned what pressure deadlines could exert. During the summer, the ladies discovered a writing contest sponsored by a company in London that challenged its participants to write fifty thousand words in thirty days. To her utter shock, Cora had not only taken it on but succeeded greatly by writing a mystery novella. After that, Edith's magazine offered her a regular space in its monthly issue for a short story.

The idea that inspired Cora the most was the incredible love between herself and Robert. However, as soon as the Earl learned that his wife's stories would be published for the public at large to read, he disapproved of his private life being spread all over the page. Cora was undaunted and made a deal with him: that Edith would print her work as long as the characters, however autobiographical, would be given fictitious names. So Cora named the earl George, after Mary's son, and the countess Annabelle after a character in a book she loved. Peace was reached, and she went back to writing with more relish than ever.

Now she was facing a deadline, and it seemed to have sapped all the creativity from her mind. The magazine needed a Christmas story. She and Robert had spent so many holidays together. Which one would she use? Cora continued to stare out at the falling snow as one particular December came to mind.

December 1889

It was Cora's second Christmas at Downton, and she didn't feel much more welcome than she had the previous year. Violet was buzzing about the house, making and overseeing preparations not just to decorate the Abbey for Christmas, but to prepare it for the annual Christmas ball. It was the social event of the winter season, Violet had informed Cora. "So, please be on your best behavior. Try not to be American."

Cora's cheeks had flushed at the stinging barb from the Countess, although she should have been used to it. From the days of Cora's engagement to Robert, Violet had openly disapproved of Cora's origins and Robert's refusal to marry a nice English girl whom Violet felt would fill her shoes as Countess of Grantham one day.

"Try to ignore Mama," Robert said when he caught Cora alone in the halls on the gallery, stifling tears. "You're just fine as you are. The people of the county adore you."

Cora gave Robert a small smile. She reached for his hand and felt the warmth spread from his fingers to her heart. At least she had one person on her side. The people of the county may like her, but that didn't mean that other noblewomen approved of the raven haired beauty from the other side of the Atlantic. But her husband was doing his best, especially for an Englishman who had been trained since birth to hide his true feelings. Cora had changed all of that, creating a more open communication between the two of them. Only a few months before, he had begun to stay in her bedroom all night.

"Thank you, Robert," Cora said. "You are the one person here who has faith in me."

"I have all the faith in the world in you, Cora," Robert answered. "You'll see; the ball will come off without a hitch. Mama will be pleased."

"Then she'll find some other way I can disappoint her come New Year's Eve." Cora sighed.

Robert drew her into an embrace. "You'll see. All will be well. After all; I love you. What matters besides that?"

Cora could see the practicality in his statement. Things certainly had gotten easier since Robert had declared his love for her. Together, they were one force against the world. Even his formidable Mama.

"I need nothing else," she agreed. Cora was able to put the distress out of her mind until the party itself. It was a whole new kind of adventure, and not the most pleasant kind, either.