The nip of the chill night air finally drove them to dress once more and ramble hand in hand back to their shelter. Neither could stop smiling, and when they arrived at the barn, Robert pressed a kiss to Cora's cheek and had her wait in the doorway while he relit the candles. Folding the blanket neatly and refilling their wine glasses before putting the bottle to the side, he handed her a glass and closed the door before he stood next to her and twisted a lock of her hair around his fingers.

"Cora," he murmured close to her ear. "Would you be so kind as to try on your new night dress? I want to make sure it fits, you see." Robert grinned at her.

Taking a long sip of wine, Cora smirked. "I'm not so sure that's the reason."

"Oh, but, darling, it is." He nodded seriously, wiping the grin off his face.

"Well, I'll try it on, as you say, if you do something for me."

Robert nuzzled against her hair. "I'll do anything for you, Cora."

Slipping her free arm around his neck, she whispered, "Might you let me see you in your shirtsleeves again? Like you were earlier today? I liked that very much." She closed her eyes as his fingers threaded into her hair while he inhaled its fragrance.

"Your wish is ever my command, my love." Pulling away, he smiled at her and set his wine glass down on the corner of one of the horse stalls, then began to unbutton his jacket and step out of his shoes.

Cora went to the stack of gifts and ran a finger over the embossed leather ticket cover before lifting the lid of the box containing the night dress and plucking it out. Taking this over to their makeshift bed, Cora kept her back to him as she shrugged out of her dress and into the silky blue garment. She turned and approached Robert, who looked down at his waistcoat buttons.

When she stood in front of him, he raised his head, tugging the waistcoat down his shoulders. He gasped, his movements frozen as he gazed at her in the cornflower blue night dress that made her eyes appear even more luminous and their color even more striking than usual. Realizing that she'd captured his attention, she slowly twirled around.

"So? Does it fit?"

Robert blinked a few times, swallowing and shaking himself, a silly grin on his face. "It most certainly does fit." Allowing the waistcoat to drop to the floor, he unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves almost to his elbow. Then, unable to stop himself, he crossed the short distance still between them and thrust his hands into her hair, crushing his mouth to hers.

Cora inhaled sharply, taken aback by the suddenness of his movements. But, settling into the kiss, she ran her fingers lightly over his shirtfront, sighing happily.

Soon his lips traveled from her mouth, across her cheek, and began nibbling on her earlobe. "Cora?" he breathed.

"Yes, darling?" She tilted her head to the side as his kisses trailed beneath her ear and over her the delicate jut of her jaw.

"Dance with me," he whispered.

Cora chuckled softly. "Robert, we don't have any music."

He pulled away enough to smile down at her, caressing her face lovingly. "So I'll hum. Or sing. Or you will. I just want to dance with you a while, my sweetheart – to hold you close to me and look into your eyes by candlelight."

Smiling back, close to tears at the tenderness in his voice, she replied, "Robert, we don't need to dance for you to do that."

"I know, Cora. But – you love to dance. And it's your birthday, and I wanted us to do things you love. I simply happen to love holding you close and watching your eyes light up when we dance, too."

Blushing deeply, Cora plucked distractedly at the buttons on his shirt. "We've done so many things I love today. And one important thing – several times."

Robert grinned, recognizing the expression on her face. He brushed her hair back from her shoulders and chuckled. "I do believe my lady wife just thought something quite naughty."

Raising her eyes to his face, her lips contorted into smirk. "I think perhaps this day has been one where your 'lady wife' has had a perpetual stream of naughty thoughts."

"Well, you won't hear me complain." He grinned, but then his face grew serious, and he cupped her cheek once again. "However, I still want to dance in the candlelight with my beautiful sweetheart. One of the first things we ever did together. When I claimed all your waltzes."

Cora's smirk transformed into a warm smile. "How could I forget? You were so charmingly uncomfortable in front of me." She leaned up to whisper in his ear, "Yes, darling. Dance with me."

The way his eyes – his whole face – brightened as he moved his arm to encircle her waist told her that this was one thing he'd planned for her birthday that he would have been greatly saddened to give up completely.

As he clasped her hand in his, she asked, "When did you become such a romantic, Robert?"

"Am I?" He looked at her bemusedly.

Cora moved her hand from his shoulder and gestured around the barn. "What would you call all this?" She smiled. "And this?" She indicated their stance, ready to dance to hummed tunes.

He shrugged slightly. "I don't know. I suppose you bring it out in me. My greatest wish, always, is to make you happy, Cora. And especially today."

"Robert, I am happy." She brushed her hand over the stubble on his cheek, then placed it back on his shoulder. "Now dance with me?"

Pressing a kiss to her forehead, Robert began humming and guiding her around the wooden barn floor. It made Cora giggle at first, but when he drew her closer and sang whispered words into her ear, she closed her eyes and lost herself completely in the moment, in his embrace. Both lost track of time, and couldn't have told how long they danced together, sometimes while his cheek rested upon her temple, sometimes gazing at one another.

Eventually, Robert's arms wrapped around her waist, his hands coming to rest most naturally upon the small of her back, and Cora slid her arms down, emulating him. She lay her head upon his chest as they swayed, not really dancing anymore, simply holding one another close instead. Robert bent his head down, his cheek on her hair. Cora could tell he was getting tired. As she thought over their day, she smiled. It was unsurprising that he would be tired. And he hadn't taken a nap like she had.

"Robert," she murmured, bringing one hand up to his chest and running her fingers gently along it.

"Hmmm?" he replied sleepily.

"I think it's about time we got ready for bed." She brought their swaying motion to a halt and started unbuttoning the rest of his shirt buttons with one hand.

She felt Robert nod a bit against her head. "Yes, darling."

Cora chuckled softly. "You're going to have to help me a little here."

Robert lifted his head up and looked down at her with a weary smile, shrugging out of his braces. He touched the wide strap of her night dress. "You were right. It does feel nice."

Shaking her head and grinning, Cora prompted him to step out of the trousers that she'd unfastened.

"You're not going to suggest I wear my night clothes are you?" He slid his shirt off and let it fall to the floor to join his trousers.

Cora shook her head again. "No, darling." She observed how his eyes drooped. "Come lie down, though. I'll put out the candles while you get comfortable." Taking him by the hand, she led him to their nest of blankets, patting his behind through his undergarments once they got there. It was a testament to his fatigue that he merely grinned at her and sat down, reclining back upon his elbows to watch her move about the barn, carefully blowing out the candles.

When only the soft glow of the lantern remained, Cora crept up next to him. "Kiss me goodnight, my love."

Weaving his fingers through her hair, Robert gazed at her. "Goodnight, sweetheart. Happy birthday." He kissed her tenderly. Then she turned in his arms, and he gathered her up against him, nestling his head into the back of her shoulder.

Cora put her arms over his as he gently stroked a thumb across her side through the blue fabric. Very little time passed before his thumb stilled and his breathing became deep and even, ruffling her hair lightly. Cora smiled to herself, allowing her body to relax utterly within the circle of his embrace and thinking what a perfect day it had been, despite their being stranded – or perhaps because they had been. With a sigh of deepest contentment, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"Tom, do you think they're alright?" Edith fidgeted upon the front passenger's seat, keeping an eye out for any sign of her parents.

"I'm sure they're fine," Tom replied, with more confidence than he felt. He had been so certain that Robert had a handle on driving, and his sister-in-law had confirmed it. But what if something had happened to them?

They, along with Mary and Matthew, had decided the time had arrived to send out a search party. Having telephoned Aunt Rosamund's cottage for a second time that day, right before luncheon, and having gotten no response any of the times they had rung the day before, they'd grown worried. Robert had said they would telephone when they arrived. Now, forgetting to do so that first night was understandable. Missing them at some point over the next day might certainly happen. But for none of their telephone calls to be answered? Something had gone wrong.

"Perhaps they simply ran out of petrol. Aunt Rosamund's cottage is on the outside of nowhere; it would be difficult to find somewhere to refill it." Edith's voice had risen in pitch. But she and Tom knew the motor car had not run out of petrol; both of them had checked to be sure it was full before Robert and Cora left.

However, Tom, in an effort to reassure her, glanced at her and said, "Yes, that's a possibility."

They drove on for a while in silence, not wanting to speculate about what might have happened. After they'd been on the road for a couple of hours, Edith gave a bounce and pointed. "Tom! Isn't that our motor car? There, on the right?"

Peering at the vehicle through the windshield, he nodded. "I believe you're right, Edith." He pulled in neatly behind the other motor car and set the break.

Edith scrambled out the passenger's side door and rushed to look in the windows. "They aren't inside." She scanned the countryside around them, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight. "I don't see them anywhere, Tom. Where could they have gone? What if something happened?" A note of alarm arose in her voice.

Tom had circled the motor car and now knelt in front of the front left tire. "Well, I know why they had to stop." He looked up at Edith and pointed at the tire. "It's flat."

"But, Tom, isn't there a spare right there?" She waved a hand to where it was mounted on the car.

Tilting his head, Tom gave her a questioning glance. "Edith, did you teach your father how to change a tire?"

Comprehension registered upon Edith's face. "No, of course not. I didn't think he'd have to know."

"Nor did I." He muttered under his breath, then stood and gazed around, as she had done.

"Tom, were they close enough to the cottage to walk there?" Edith grasped at anything she could.

He shook his head. "No. It's at least another hour's drive from here. And if they'd gotten there, we'd have been able to reach them," he pointed out. "Besides, don't you remember those terrible storms that we had yesterday and the day before? If they went through here as well, your parents wouldn't have walked in that. They would have wanted to take shelter."

"Oh, Tom. Where could they be?" She appeared close to tears and put her crossed arms on a window of the stranded motor car, burying her head against them.

"Edith, please, stay calm." Turning again to see what might be around, he did a double take as a sheep walked up to them. "Er – we have a visitor, I see."

The sheep cocked her head at Tom, stopping a couple of feet away.

"What?" Edith asked, lifting her head and skipping back a step in fright. "Tom, why isn't it in its fence?" she whispered loudly.

Chuckling, Tom carefully approached the animal and patted its head. She seemed to like this, as she closed her eyes. "How should I know, Edith? Anyway, she won't hurt you."

Edith eyed the sheep askance, but didn't move back any farther. "Well, alright, but if it comes near me, I'm getting back into the motor."

Tom rolled his eyes. Then, still petting the sheep, he glanced over their surroundings. Spotting the barn, he lifted his other hand to point at it. "I think our best bet is that barn. They might have taken shelter there; it's much less cramped than the motor car. It rained off and on all morning at Downton, and judging by the grass, it probably did here as well. That's probably where they are." He fixed an encouraging look upon Edith, smiling a little.

She smiled in return. "No, I can't see them staying cooped up in the motor car. Nor can I see them going off into the woods." She indicated the stand of trees that was a little distance behind her.

"Look, how about you stay here, in case they simply went for a walk now that the weather is clear, and they come back. I'll go investigate the barn." Tom gave the sheep a final pat and watched as it ambled back in the direction from whence it came. He shrugged and turned his face again to his sister-in-law.

Edith nodded. She slid into the passenger's seat once more, her eyes following him as he made his way toward the structure through the knee-high grass. Then she sat back on the seat and waited.

Robert and Cora slept very late that morning. The feel of Cora stretching against him woke Robert finally, and he smiled, running a hand along the blue silk clinging to her side and pressing soft kisses to the nape of her neck. "Good morning, darling," he murmured against her skin.

Rolling over so she could see him, she grinned. "Yes, it is a good morning already." She slid an arm around his neck and drew him closer, placing a light kiss to his lips.

"So," he said, nuzzling his bristly cheek against her temple and holding her comfortably against him, "do you think we'll be rescued today?" He chuckled.

"Do we still have food? Wine?" Cora inquired.

"Yes," he replied, moving a hand up to stroke her hair.

Cora pulled back to look at him. "Then I'm not sure I'm all that concerned with being rescued today."

Robert threw his head back in a deep, exultant laugh. "You do realize that we may not be able to have the same sort of day today that we did yesterday?" Despite this, he leaned forward and began nibbling her earlobe.

"Mmmm…. Might we at least begin it that way?" Her fingers glided over his bare chest, prompting a low groan from him when her thumbs lingered upon his nipples.

He whispered in her ear, "We also have some unfinished business from yesterday." Robert's lips and tongue caressed the sensitive area below her ear and down along her throat.

"What's that, darling?" she breathed.

But Robert had already given himself up to the important business at hand: making his wife sigh and purr and writhe against him. Cora had the delicate night dress pulled over her head and discarded within minutes as he concentrated his efforts upon her breasts, kneading the soft skin and teasing the stiff peaks first with fingers, then tongue.

Cora tilted her head back and, in a breathy voice, attempted to get his attention. "Robert," she whimpered. When he didn't answer, she twined her fingers into his hair and, both gently and insistently, lifted his head until his eyes met hers. "Do you remember that new thing I taught you last week?"

Robert grinned from ear to ear. "From your books?"

Her eyes glinting a darker blue with desire, she nodded. She placed her mouth to his ear. "Can we do that again?" she murmured coyly.

"My God, yes," he said, his voice husky.

Cora's eyes trailed down to the front of his undershorts, and she smirked. Even her suggestion caused his arousal to harden further. She snaked one of her hands down to fondle him through the fabric, and he closed his eyes, breathing heavily at her attentions. Soon, he had to pull away from her to get rid of the offending bit of clothing, and she sat up to do likewise with her own undergarment.

Sitting down again, Robert turned toward her and cupped her face, kissing her intensely. His other hand strayed down to her inner thigh, grazing over it and then between her thighs, making her gasp. Stroking her with more intention, he groaned as she wrapped her own fingers around him, the flat of her palm moving over the underside with just enough pressure to keep him moaning into her mouth as they kissed.

"Cora," he murmured, beginning to squirm now, "might we…?"

Nodding at him – all she was capable of doing while his fingers still spiraled inside her – Cora shifted herself, bending one of her legs a little to create a space. Robert withdrew his fingers from her and swung his legs carefully up into their nest of blankets, sliding one of his thighs under the space she'd made for it, resting his other leg lightly atop her other one. Thus entwined, sitting up with their legs scissored together, they worked to bring themselves closer to one another, maneuvering until they joined completely. Chests pressed snugly against each other, for a moment or two they simply clung to one another, kissing, Cora deliberately contracting around him, teasing him.

Feeling his heart thudding against her own, Cora broke off the kiss and gazed at him, caressing his scruffy cheek. Holding her eyes with his, Robert placed his hands on her hips, then waited until her hands had followed suit upon his. Being one of their more complicated undertakings, the position Cora had introduced required a great deal of finesse – and teamwork. Fortunately, the couple had had years of practice. And, as they knew from their previous experience, this particular undertaking reaped abundant rewards.

Furthermore, Robert enjoyed the slow burn that came with locking eyes with his wife and moving with her in an intricate sensual dance. And that's what this had them do. After a hesitant start – recalling what had worked best the last time – they established a steady, deliberate, mutually satisfying rhythm, one which had Cora shuddering in no time at all. Robert pressed his forehead against hers, still gazing into her eyes as she trilled and gasped, grinding herself against him at their joining to increase her pleasure.

Soon, Cora initiated their motions once more, and it wasn't long until they'd reached their silently agreed upon cadence. Robert slid his hands down beneath her buttocks, lifting her slightly, which allowed them even more shared delight. Cora bit down upon her lip, faint grunts escaping her throat as she closed her eyes tightly now, with both effort and ecstasy. Seeing her like this simply made Robert's eyes glaze over even more, and he shut his own eyes as he endeavored to increase their tempo.

His success at this drove her wild, and she contracted around him so strongly that he couldn't hold on any longer. With lusty cry of bliss, he pressed her powerfully to himself, rocking the pair of them slightly to and fro as he wrapped his legs around her, securing her against him. Panting, he slipped his arms around her back and pulled her into a tight embrace. Cora emulated him, resting her head down upon his shoulder as he did the same, her fingers tracing tenderly over the now relaxed muscles of his back, her legs crossed behind him.

Once they'd sank back to earth together, Robert lifted his head and brought a hand around to put under Cora's chin, tilting her face up to his. "Magnificent," was all he could think to say before he covered her mouth with his and kissed her both tenderly and deeply.

"Mmmmm," she hummed. When he'd ended the kiss, she said, "I agree. However," she began with a slight grimace, "this way of sitting is becoming uncomfortable, darling." She leaned forward to nip at his earlobe. "And I'm hungry."

Chuckling, Robert replied, "Then we should get up and have some… breakfast? Luncheon? I honestly don't know what time of day it is anymore."

"Does it matter?" she asked with a smirk, disentangling her limbs from his.

"I suppose not," he said, grinning and giving her a gentle kiss before standing and passing her undergarment and night dress to her. Assuming his own undershorts, he walked over and began rummaging around in their hampers for food.

Cora went over to him and put a hand on his back. "So, are we dining this informally, or shall we dress?"

Moving to spread the blanket for them once more, he shook his head. "We still have that unfinished business, sweetheart." He winked at her and sat, indicating that she should do the same, and drawing one of the hampers to them.

"Well, I can't quite think what you mean, darling, but I won't object to the view in the meantime." She winked back, taking the bread and cheese he offered her.

The two ate silently, much as they had the evening before, exchanging loving glances and mischievous grins. And once they'd eaten their fill, Robert put down his empty glass and had Cora stand so he could clear everything away. Then he approached her and wrapped his arms around her, snaking his hands down to fondle her bottom.

"Now," he said, "we might get to that little something that didn't happen yesterday."

Cora laughed, enjoying the Cheshire cat grin that wreathed his lips. "I can't imagine what you mean."

Bending his head close to hers, Robert whispered in her ear, "Your birthday spankings, my darling." He punctuated the statement with a smart smack to her rear.

Letting out a little yelp, Cora giggled and hopped backward out of his embrace, to his surprise. "You'll have to catch me first." She turned slightly, poised to run.

As Robert started forward, she shrieked and darted here and there, her husband following in her wake. Each time he would catch her up, he'd encircle her waist with one arm and swat her behind a time or two before she wriggled free again, squawking and giggling happily.

Finally, she stood facing him from a little distance, her face flushed and her chest heaving. She grinned at him, ready to scurry away if necessary. "So, have you given me all my spankings yet?"

Robert smirked and shrugged dramatically. "I don't know. I lost count. It's such a large number, you know."

"Why, Robert Crawley! Are you saying I'm old?" She attempted to glare at him, her hands upon her hips, but she recognized that he was only teasing, and their game had her utterly amused. "I think I ought to spank you now, you naughty man!" She lunged forward to put her words into action.

Bounding away from her with a chuckle, Robert found himself thrilled over how their game of cat and mouse had reversed and relished her laughter and shrieks of delight. Nearly tripping over one of the hampers, he slowed down enough for Cora to catch him and slap him on the rear through his undershorts. Feeling overheated and a bit breathless – from their activities, but also from seeing her pink cheeks and her breasts straining against the delicate blue material of her night dress – he captured her lips with his and skimmed his hands over her sides and down to her hips, keeping her firmly in place where she would have continued their game. Because, suddenly, he wasn't in the mood for games anymore.

Cora felt a renewed craving in his actions and responded in kind, throwing her arms around his neck and standing up on her toes, which enabled her to deepen the kiss. When he slid his hands down to lift her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing her whole body into his. Guttural noises and loud sighs escaped them both as Robert stood there, kneading his wife's bottom, Cora's hands threading through his hair, kissing one another breathless.

And then – the door opened.

Neither noticed, intent as they were upon what they were doing, until they heard a sharp intake of breath. Breaking the kiss, they turned their heads toward the noise, both freezing in place and going bright red at having someone find them so scantily clad and in the middle of such intimate activity.

Especially since that someone was their son-in-law, who stood there, wide-eyed, his hand upon the door latch, having gone nearly as red as they had. "I – I didn't realize," he gasped out, "that I might need to knock first. If you'll pardon me, I'll be down at the road." Whereupon Tom turned away and closed the door.

For almost a full minute after he'd departed, Robert and Cora stared at one another, speechless, neither sure whether to be embarrassed or not. Finally, Cora's face broke into a grin, and she began to laugh. Robert, figuring if she wasn't mortified at being found by their son-in-law, then he wouldn't be either, was only a beat behind her, laughing with her until they ran out of breath. Her fingers brushed through his hair lazily as they gazed at each other.

"So," he said in a low voice, "shall I put you down now?"

Looking down into his face, she locked her fingers together behind his head. "Not on your life, Robert Crawley." She tilted her head down to kiss him briefly, then said, "Tom will wait."

With that, Robert tightened his hold on her and crushed his mouth to hers once more.

Edith straightened when she beheld Tom approach the motor. Slipping out, she went to meet him on the other side of the road. "So? Were they there?" She glanced behind him, as if they would magically appear.

"Oh yes, they're there." He chuckled.

"Well, why didn't they come with you?" A panicked expression crossed her countenance. "Are they hurt?"

His chuckle morphed into a laugh. "Not at all. They're simply, well, they'll be a while. Perhaps we should change this tire whilst we wait on them." He pointed to the flat tire.

Edith drew her brows together. "They'll be a while? I don't understand."

Tom shook his head and started toward the motor cars, grinning. He saw no reason to tell Edith what he'd seen or why he surmised they might not want to emerge from their hideaway right away. "They hauled quite a lot of things with them into that barn. They need time to gather them together. Really, we should work on this tire, so we'll be ready when they get here." He began whistling as he hunted around in the boot for the tool kit kept there.

Still baffled, Edith shrugged and went to help him. "But, Tom, they are alright?"

He couldn't stop himself from chuckling again. "Edith, I assure you, they're as right as rain. And probably more so."

"What –" Edith stopped herself, as she'd begun to get a hint of something from Tom's enigmatically mirthful expression. "You know, I think I'll just leave it there."

"Probably best," he said, extricating the tool kit. "Now, let's get that tire changed."

The tire had been changed and Tom and Edith had opened one of the hampers still in the boot in order to take some refreshment after their arduous task before they heard Robert and Cora's laughter from a little distance away. Lifting a hand to shield her eyes from the afternoon sun, Edith watched them meander toward the road, each laden with multiple items.

Jumping up from where they sat on the grass near the road, Edith waved her arms. "Mama, Papa!" She hastened toward them, Tom soon upon her heels.

"Edith, darling!" her mama exclaimed. Her bright smile reassured her daughter that the two were unharmed.

Reaching them, Edith kissed them each on the cheek. "I'd hug you both, but you seem to be quite weighed down."

"There're a few more things still in the barn, if you and Tom might be so kind as to retrieve them?" Robert grinned at his daughter before glancing at his son-in-law, his grin widening.

"We'll get them, Robert," Tom said, beckoning Edith to go with him.

After fitting the things they'd brought back with them into the boot, Robert glanced about to make sure Tom and Edith weren't within view just yet, then stole a kiss from his wife.

"Robert," she intoned softly, "I had a marvelous time, darling. And I'm so looking forward to planning our trip."

"So am I, my love." Kissing her gently once more, he caressed her face, then pulled away reluctantly, hearing Edith and Tom's approach.

Once they'd gotten everything packed away, Tom addressed his father-in-law. "So, will you be driving the motor on to the cottage?"

Exchanging a look with Cora, Robert cleared his throat. "We were meant to go back home today anyway, and I don't want to leave the estate for too long. Besides, after this experience, I never want to drive again. Tom and Edith, might you take the wheels instead?"

Cora chuckled and slipped her hand in his. As he helped her into the back seat of the motor Tom was meant to drive, she bent her head to whisper softly, "It didn't turn out so badly, my dear."

Robert grinned at her. "No, but it might have. Trust me, darling, I mean to forget I ever learned to drive." He slid into the motor next to her, closing the door behind him before taking her hand again.

As Tom started the engine, Cora murmured to her husband. "That doesn't mean we can't steal away into the garage every so often and take a ride in the backseat, does it?"

Chuckling merrily, Robert twined their fingers together. "It most certainly doesn't. I think I'd enjoy that, in fact." Suppressing the urge to pull her closer, fully cognizant of Tom in the front seat, he surreptitiously waggled his eyebrows at her instead, causing her to laugh.

"Incorrigible," Cora whispered, shaking her head with a smile.

"Yes, and aren't you happy for it?" Robert brought her hand to his lips, kissing it.

She met his eyes with a tender look. "Absolutely, my love. Absolutely."

"…while I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me"