February 24th, 1887

My darling Cora,

I was most pleased to receive your letter informing me that you and His Lordship are to go to London for a few weeks. I know it is quite a harsh place to be at this time of year with the weather being so inclement but I think it sweet that you should want to accompany Lord John on his business trip.

Newport has been very quiet this last month and your father has been in bed with a bout of flu for most of it but the doctor says that he will improve when this ghastly snow finally lets up. It has been so bad that my gardener believes he will have to start from scratch in the spring. My dear cousin Eliza was asking after you when I saw her in town and she sends her kind wishes.

I hope this letter finds you well,

Your Mama

Lady Cora Durham finished reading her letter and carefully folded it. She took a firm grip of the breakfast tray in front of her and lifted it off to one side, careful not to spill her cup of tea. She got out of her beautifully carved poster bed and walked over to her vanity table. She stopped before the mirror and looked over herself, lost in thought before pulling open her bottom draw to retrieve an ornate jewellery box. She unclicked it and opened it to reveal a small pile of letters, all from her mother and added the latest addition before carefully closing it and replacing it in the draw. Cora was so very fond of that jewellery box for it had been a wedding present from her late mother-in-law, the Duchess of Furringham just before she tragically passed away. Cora had been very fond of her during her courtship with her son and in honour of her memory she had opted to use the jewellery box for her own mother's letters instead.

Cora pulled herself away from her vanity and walked back over to the bed to ring the bell. She finished her cup of tea as she waited for her ladies maid to arrive. Today was the day that she and Lord John were to travel from Furringham Palace to London and she dared not be late downstairs.

"Which house has been opened for our arrival?" Cora asked her husband who was sitting quietly opposite her as the carriage trundled along the Devon country road.

"Brougham House," he replied shortly. John Durham was a tall man of 6 foot 3 and did not like riding in carriages at all due to the lack of leg room but alas, propriety demanded him to with Cora travelling as well.

"I would've thought that it would have been Durham House," Cora tried again.

"My father will occupy Durham House in London but I also have this other house that I purchased when we became engaged." John shifted in his seat and fiddled with his travelling jacket buttons. "I decided to take you there for it is more secluded." Cora did not like the sound of that. What did John mean by that? This was, after all, merely an inconvenient business trip in the middle of winter. Cora leaned back in her seat and stared out the window at the snow covered Devon hills and bare woodlands that they were passing. It was going to be a long day of travelling.

John and Cora had been in London for three days and since their arrival she had hardly seen or spoken to him. It was very late when she heard the clip clop of his horses' hooves down the street and his banging on the front door. Cora returned her attention to her book with a mind to finish the chapter and then go to sleep. Just as she was marking the page she was up to, John burst into her room absolutely reeking of alcohol and very red under the collar.

"Good evening Lord Durham," Cora said, shocked at his appearance. His jet black hair was mattered and sweaty, his eyes were bloodshot and his attire was dishevelled. Cora quickly recovered her composure, "Did you have a productive day?"

"Oh yes, very damn productive for some it was!" he slurred. "The damn bastard got me good he did. My enterprise is completely ruined. The fool will pay for it though, don't you worry." John's tone was rougher than gravel grating under the wheels of a carriage.

"John what are you talking about? I do not understand."

"No of course you wouldn't because you are American, a pesticide to the aristocracy." John ripped off his clothes forcefully and quickly. Before Cora even had time to process his words he was on top of her, forcing her down under him very roughly and pinning her to her bed.

"Ouch, you are hurting me. Ahhh! Please, be gentle," Cora pleaded as fear descended on her. John took no notice and forced her legs apart. Cora cried out again and began to struggle but he grabbed her wrists and lifted her arms above her head, holding on firmly and using his weight to stop her movements.

"That bugger won't stop me from having a productive day. I WILL HAVE IT!" he growled and thrust into her forcefully. The impact caused Cora to yell loudly as she lay trapped beneath him. Pain shot out in all directions through her body as he assaulted her. Cora gasped for air and began to cry as he pushed harder and faster, his grip on her arms digging into her skin and drawing blood. Cora had never known such overwhelming pain as her tears rolled freely down her cheeks. The smell of alcohol was making her lightheaded and before long she passed out under him. John took no notice.

"Where is John?" Lord Furringham asked Cora as he paced in the main hall of Furringham Palace. He paced in front of the grandfather clock, purchased by the 4th Duke of Furringham.

"I'm not sure Papa. It isn't like him to be late as I'm sure he would want to be rested before the Wakefield Ball tomorrow night. It always marks the start of the season I am told." Cora looked down, secretly glad that her father-in-law would be coming to London with them this time given the hell of their trip four months ago. Cora had wondered if she would ever survive the fortnight but she had and she had also gotten very good at concealing the bruises and her limp from the servants. She looked up and turned around at the sound of quick footsteps approaching from the front door.

"Why are you two not coming out?" John demanded.

"Excuse me Sir but we were waiting for you," Lord Furringham responded sharply. "Neither of us were aware that you had already gone out."

"I do apologise father," John replied and bowed his head slightly. Cora always loved seeing him being put in place by his father as she was now sure that he was the only living man he respected. "Shall we go?" John hinted and offered his arm to Cora who reluctantly took it and allowed herself to be lead out to the carriage.

Cora felt herself being shaken awake by John. "Wake up madam, wake up," he said irritably.

"John be gentle with her and let her get her bearings," Lord Furringham ordered him. John let go of Cora's shoulders as she realised that they were pulled up outside Durham house. "And you are quite sure that you two would prefer to reside at Brougham House for the season?" he asked.

"Quite sure father, you have your own affairs to preoccupy you and we wouldn't want to get in your way." Cora froze as she realised what this really meant. Lord Furringham had no idea about the way his son was treating her and nor did anyone else. Cora immediately figured out that by going to Brougham House, she would be in isolation when they were both there and the thought sickened her to her core. She knew that a husband had certain rights and that he was always careful to not have a go at her when there were servants around. She just wished desperately that she had chosen to marry a man who had cared about her as well as her money even if he didn't love her. Thinking back to her debut season last year she knew she had been young and foolish. There had been signs but she had allowed herself to be pressed on with the marriage anyway, hoping that she might gain some sort of care and affection.

Lord Furringham made his goodbyes and stepped out of the carriage as his luggage was unloaded. The last suitcase had barely changed hands before John was yelling "Drive on!" Cora turned away from him as a solitary tear ran down her cheek. She wiped it away and took a deep breath. Perhaps all the balls and other events of the season would allow her some breathing space from him. She had to hope because that was all she had.

Kensington Row was crowded with carriages, horses and people coming and going from the grand Wakefield House at number 23. Inside the wonderfully lit ballroom with its Roman marble pillars, portraits of the Royal Family, previous Wakefield Earl's and some famous generals, Lady Cora was having the time of her life. She stood in the middle of a group of high society women, happily regaling them with stories from her life in American. As she was only one of a very select few American buccaneers married into the aristocracy, all the ladies were enchanted by her stories from another land they were unfamiliar with and listened intently. Many of them were single and the young bachelors in the room were most put out as time after time a request for a dance was denied by them in favour of Cora's stories.

Cora was relishing the interest in her homeland and was just about to start on a tale about first meeting J.J Astor in New York when John came up to her and insisted that she cease her talks about America. Cora was very put out but hid her disappointment and hitched a smile to her face, encouraging the other young ladies to enjoy some dancing. John gave her a steely look before seeing an acquaintance behind her and walking over to join him leaving Cora standing alone with a heavy weight in the pit of her stomach.

Cora was in her nightgown and had already dismissed her ladies maid as she fiddled with her diamond encased emerald earrings. She leaned forward into the mirror, concentrating hard as she finally gripped the clasp of the left one. She had not noticed John slipping quietly into her room until he suddenly filled the mirror behind her. Cora jumped and pulled her earlobe as the earring slipped free. She looked up at him in the mirror apprehensively.

"What the hell did you think you were doing tonight?" he started furiously. "Were you planning to talk about American foolishness all night long? Where is your diplomacy?"

"I am sorry if I caused any offence but they all seemed to be enjoying it. Even Lady Wakefield stopped to listen at one point," Cora began.

"And then rightfully hurried away," John finished. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. Cora's arm muscles protested and she knew that she would have some bruising to explain to Charlotte when she got dressed in the morning. "You should know better by now," John continued harshly as he slapped her across the face. Cora's jaw stung as she struggled to keep the tears welling up under control. "I cannot believe after all this time that you could still be so stupid. You are a blemish on my families' honour!" he said coldly.

"Then why did you marry me?" Cora retorted in a high pitched voice.

"For your money you silly girl and in hindsight, it wasn't worth it. I should've chosen a wealthy English girl from a noble family. At least they know how to conduct themselves in society." John's face was now almost level with hers as he looked down his nose at her. Cora hiccupped as she lost control and started to sob. "Stop that!" Cora tried but found she couldn't for she was unwilling. She felt John's big hands on her shoulders as he began to shake her like a rag doll, "Stop this at once!" he roared.

Cora didn't stop and sobbed even more unreservedly that before. John lost his patience completely. "Never mind. Now to business." Cora found herself being bundled to her bed and had her breath knocked out of her completely as he pushed her back onto it. Her body in shock, she offered no resistance to his groping hands.

John finally slipped out of her and left the room quietly in the early hours of the morning leaving Cora in bed trembling. She felt broken, worthless and exhausted. And to think that she had been so happy talking about her home a few hours ago. The price had been high and she longed to get on a ship in the Thames that would take her back to her mother. In pain, Cora Durham cried herself to sleep.

A/N I know this is a harsh reality Cora is now facing but let me assure you that things will get better. A massive thanks must go to Tallulah James for the orginal concept and for allowing me to use it :D