The rest of the day and then dinner had been spent pleasantly together. It wasn't as the previous day had been, Cora nuzzling on Robert's shoulder or coy smiles passed between one another across the table, but it had been comfortable and an air of expectation had dissipated. Cora found herself worrying less and less about what Robert was thinking of her, or feeling for her, and she could sense Robert was relaxing around her as well. So, at dinner when offered more wine, Cora politely declined, not needing any supplement to ease her nerves as she and Robert talked across the table. It was mostly just trivial conversation, discussing mutual acquaintances and remaining plans for their journey together. Though however trivial the conversation, it was also an important one. Cora needed to know that they could do this: be with each other without any further false pretenses. And as dinner slowly transitioned from the main course to a selection of sweets from a dessert cart, Cora felt that perhaps, although unloved, she could be content in this marriage. Robert was right, after all; the main reason she had married him was for position, which he had given her. And although there was no denying that she loved him, she pushed it from her mind, deciding that friendship and contentment should be the first prizes won.

After dinner, Robert escorted Cora back up to her room, just as he had the night before, only without her stumbling up the stairs. As they reached her room he smiled down at her.

"Good night, Cora. Sleep well."

She thanked him for the well wishes and left him at her threshold as she closed the door quietly behind her. Emma had dressed her for bed and that was where she rested now, reading a book she had found on one of the shelves back at Downton. She wasn't enjoying the book, as it was rather an arduous read. Cora glazed over some of the terminology that she wasn't familiar with, rubbed a corner where paper met cover between her thumb and forefinger, and she stumbled her way through it. Having had plenty of time to read on this trip, she had somehow made it to the middle of the book, but without knowing what it was about.

As she turned the page of her book, unenthusiastically anticipating what the author had in store next, she heard a small knock at her door. Emma had only left moments ago, and Cora assumed it was her maid again, to lay out what she'd wear tomorrow. So she called a quick, "come in," and continued to read.

A second later there was another soft knock.

Cora slowly looked up from the page of the book, very gradually realizing at the second knock that perhaps this was not her maid after all. She slipped out of bed, tied her dressing gown around her, and padded very quietly toward the door.

"Yes? Who is it?" she whispered through the wood, her hand gripping the cool doorknob.

"It's me, Robert," came the answer, as hushed as the question.

Cora's eyes opened a little wider and she looked around her room, unsure of what to do next.

"May I come in?" he whispered through the door.

Cora unlocked the hotel room door and opened it slightly to let Robert pass through. She closed the door behind him and turned the key to lock it back.

He stood in her room, clad in pajamas and dressing gown. He seemed to be looking at everything in her room except for her.

"I'm glad to see you've been assigned a nice room. I did request that."

Cora loosened her grip on the knob behind her back and stood a little straighter and more away from the door. She laughed inwardly at Robert's awkward attempt at small talk, as he had been in her room only the night before, albeit briefly. Cora nodded in response, though, and pulled her dressing gown tighter around her slender form.

"I trust the bed is comfortable," Robert continued peering at her unmade bed, the book lying cover up in the center of it.

Cora blushed childishly at his mention of her bed, both from the expectancy of why he might be in her room and from the lasting embarrassment from last night. When he didn't hear a response, Robert looked over at her and seemed to realize the hidden double meaning that Cora had somehow contrived.

Robert blushed in return. "I only meant…"

Cora walked toward him and shook her head. She chuckled a little, standing in front of him now.

She heard Robert take a short breath and he nodded slightly, furrowing his brow. He stood silently for a moment longer.

"Is there something you wanted, Robert?" she murmured across the distance between them.

She thought she knew, really, why Robert was here. Why shouldn't he be here? It was their honeymoon, after all, and they'd only been together once in the week that they'd been married. The day's events lent themselves easily to what might now happen. The argument they had had, the explanation of their unusual behaviors, and then the remainder of a pleasant day they had shared comfortably in one another's presence seemed to point to a night shared between them.

"I thought I would bed you tonight."

Cora's breath caught in her chest, and unable to hide her expression of slight shock at his choice of words, Robert grimaced.

"I meant, thought I would share a bed with you tonight…"

She smiled at his beet-red face. Robert sighed a little, "I don't seem to be very good at this."

Cora laughed uncomfortably and yet with complete understanding. "Well," she remarked, "if it helps to make you feel any better, I haven't a clue what it's supposed to be like…save for our wedding night," she added softly.

Robert exhaled, softly shaking his head. "Neither have I." He turned from her and sought a chair near them, slumping down in it.

Cora was confused. Hadn't all young men of his age and position been with a woman? Her countenance must have given her away, because Robert made a small noise in his throat. Cora's eyes flitted down to his and she attempted to say something, but didn't. She only moved her mouth a little instead.

"No. It's alright," he stated in a tone that sounded quite like finality. He rose from the chair. "Good night. I am sorry to bother you."

Cora reached out and touched his arm as he passed her.

Robert looked around the room and then at his wife, her sparkling eyes searching his own, with a lost expression in them.

"I'm sure you want me to go, now that I've made a fool of myself."

"No, of course not." Cora felt the shape of his muscle beneath the silk of his dressing gown. She slid her fingers slowly from his sleeve and tilted her head a little to the side. "You know that I don't. And I don't think you're a fool."

Robert smiled at her and Cora's heart grew ten times inside her chest.

"I'm glad of that," he muttered and they stood silent.

Drawing courage from Robert's presence, Cora was the first to break the silence. "Now what?" her voice was very quiet, but she couldn't mask the joy she felt within her now. It was a queer joy, as she felt very anxious at physically being with him again. She remembered the slight sting she felt a few nights ago. However, as anxious as she was, she prayed that this marriage wouldn't only be the business deal he had made it in his mind to be. She wanted him to visit her, pain or no, so that perhaps they could grow together as partners. She wanted him to visit her without only one intention – to conceive a son and heir. And here, tonight in her room, she felt the beginning of the partnership manifesting.

Robert stepped closer to her and raised his hand to her cheek, cupping her impossibly youthful face in his palm and threading his fingers in her dark brunette hair. He ran his thumb along the soft skin of her cheek, and Cora leaned into his hand, closing her eyes at his touch. Her heart softly burned within her chest.

She sensed him drawing closer to her, closer and closer until his lips pressed against her own. At contact, the overwhelming sensation she felt last night built within her. However, without the boldness of intoxication, she felt intimidated at the tingling tonight, and hesitantly broke their kiss, bringing her fingers up to her lips and casting her eyes away from him.

He moved his hand away from her cheek and grasped her waist, very gently pulling her against his body. With her body pressed against his, the tingling began again, and she closed her eyes, feeling lusciously warm.

His lips resumed their place against her own, but this time the kiss felt wetter and softer, as if by his touch every inch of her body was somehow now hypersensitive. She parted her lips slightly and tasted his mouth, salty and a slight hint of whisky on his breath. She brought her lips together around his, wanting more of the taste. At her response, Robert pulled her harder against him until her feet were nearly off of the ground and deepened their kiss, tasting her mouth and lips harder and more fervently than she had ventured to do. Every touch felt intensified and she could no longer ignore the tingling, nor where she felt it the strongest. It frightened her, but it a completely delicious way.

She slightly pushed away from him and looked up into his eyes, catching her breath. He still held her tightly to him, his expression as he searched her eyes was dark and alluring and although having little experience with this look, she could sense his desire to have her. Oh, more tingles.

"Cora?" he breathed roughly.

She couldn't talk, only nod furiously in his arms.

"May I see you?"

Cora furrowed her brows, confused at his whispered question, "What? What do you mean?" She was still trying to catch her breath. Why did she feel so breathless?

Unwrapping one arm from around her body, he very slowly began to move away her dressing gown from her chest, revealing the thin nightgown she wore underneath.

Understanding his meaning now, Cora felt her face grow hot. She nodded again, this time barely moving her head to make the motion.

He began kissing her again, more tenderly this time, moving his hands along her dressing gown, untying the silky knot, pushing the fabric off of her shoulders, and soon it was pooled around her feet.

He smiled against her lips and Cora's heart leapt. Oh, how she wanted to make him happy.

He paused their kissing to look down at her nightgown. He began to bunch up the fabric at her hips, her hemline rising against her legs, then her waist, and soon she helped him pull it over her head, her hair falling back down after the soft cotton dress was tugged off. There she stood, completely bare in the light-filled room, standing in front of her husband. She quickened her breathing, feeling more alive, and shy, than she'd ever felt, and tried to decipher the meaning behind Robert's silence.

After staring for a moment, Robert reached out a hand to touch her shoulder, feeling her skin with the backs of two fingers. He caressed her slowly and Cora felt goose bumps in the wake of his touch. He traveled slowly across her shoulder to her chest, and then paused, swallowing. With his thumb, he then gently felt the swell of her breast and Cora drew a sharp intake of breath, feeling immense pleasure in his ministrations.

Robert moved his hand away and looked at his wife. Then, like a mad man, desperately tore off his own clothing before her and then yanked her to his naked form, kissing her passionately, pulling her hair away from her face and holding her waist tightly against him. Cora felt him, hard, against her hips and she began to breathe more quickly as he kissed her. The anxiousness of any pain or stinging had completely evaporated, all that remained was longing as she cupped his face in her hands.

Similar to the night before, they tumbled back onto her bed, him crashing on top of her and kissing her neck. His hand found her book behind her back and he threw it across the room, then returned his hand to her breast and began to stroke and gently massage it. His hand then crept downward, between their bodies, until it touched the source of Cora's tingling. Cora opened her eyes at this and an unsolicited moan escaped her.

Robert, too moaned against her neck. He whispered her name against her ear, adding a small description of the way she felt, and said she was ready.

The sound of her name, hungry in his throat set her aflame. Cora arched her back, wanting him so badly it began to hurt. At this signal, Robert, without any warning or hesitation, moved inside of her, making a sound of pleasure as she felt him join their bodies together.

It happened so smoothly that it shocked Cora, and she stayed still and couldn't breathe for a moment. However, after gathering her senses, she began to move against him, unsure at first, but then with growing purpose.

They moved together, Robert's hands never ceasing to touch her body or kiss her neck, until, like the first time, he grew rigid above her and then exhaled, dropping his head onto her shoulder.

Unlike the first time, however, as Cora touched his hair behind his ear he did not flinch, nor gather up his belongings and escape her room. He rested there, atop of her, for some time, his breathing becoming more and more regular in her ear. Then, after regaining strength, he rolled off of her and beside her, his arms above his head. Cora, having cooled down moments before, reached down for the sheets to cover herself, feeling slightly exposed once again.

They didn't speak, just lied there beside one another both awake. Robert stared up at the ceiling and Cora snuck glances at him as she pulled the sheets up closer and closer, until they were nearly at her chin. She thought it a strange juxtaposition of feelings, being so bashful with him now that they had just been so intimate with one another.

"Thank you," Robert ventured, still staring up.

Cora nodded beside him.

Robert turned his head to look at her for a moment and hummed. "I suppose that's an odd thing for a husband to say to his wife."

Cora raised her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders. "Yes, but I suppose we're an odd husband and wife."

Robert laughed heartily and looked back up at the ceiling. "Yes, yes. I suppose that we are."

His laugh surprised Cora and she smiled to herself, loosening the clutch she had on her sheets.

Robert turned back to look at her, this time his expression more serious, "I didn't hurt you, I hope."

Cora shook her head no. She felt soreness, not only a little on the outside, but this time inside of her as well, but strangely didn't mind it. "No, I'm not hurt."

Robert nodded and continued a little quieter. "I was told I would hurt you and that you may bleed that first night. It was quite an intimidating act to perform."

Cora nodded slightly, looking away from him. "Was it?"

"Mm. But it was expected. Actions are always easier to perform when they're expected of you."

"I guess for most," she responded quietly.

Robert sighed, looking at her intently for a moment, and then turned his head up again. They remained quiet until Cora adjusted her position and very quietly cleared her throat.

"Robert, may I ask you something personal?"

He brought his attention to her, bringing his arms down beside his body and nodding. "Yes, you may. What is it?"

"Was…was I your first as well?" Cora regretted the question as soon as it had left her lips.

"No. Not really."

"Oh," she whispered, the sheets coming up to her lips and her eyelids lowering. In the quiet that followed, Cora feared what he could be thinking of. She wanted it to be of her.

Robert moved a little, drawing her attention. "But, yet, in so many more ways, you are." He said softly, and very thoughtfully.

At his words, she brought her eyes back up to his and they locked for a moment. An all too familiar lump formed in her throat and she swallowed it, exhaling a deep breath.

"Now, I'll leave you to rest."

She watched him dress himself quickly and leave her room, giving her a little smile before he left.

"Sleep well, dear Cora."

She smiled back at him and heard the doorknob click closed.

She slipped back on her nightgown from the floor, picked up her book that lay beside it, and crawled back into her bed, turning down the lamps before she rested against the pillows.

She lay there, on her side, peering into the darkness. Tonight she didn't feel that emptiness as he left her room. In fact, she felt a fullness. She thought that she had become his that first night, as they consummated their marriage. Tonight, though she realized she wasn't yet his. She felt a smile creep onto her lips and she sunk a tad lower into her bed. One day Robert Crawley would fall in love with her. One day she would become his. She expected it of him.