This story is based on the assumption that Robert and Cora got married on February 16th, 1890, which is what the first episode of Season 5 suggest. I know that originally they were supposed to have gotten married in either 1888 or 1889, but the 1890 date is the one that fits this story best.
Please let me know what you think!
Thank you!
Kat
February 1890
He feels like throwing up. He is scared. Scared of what he is about to do. In less than 24 hours he will get married. He will get married to a woman he hardly knows, a woman from a different country. He is not sure whether he made the right decision. He decided to save the estate just as his father had asked but sometimes he wonders whether he isn't sacrificing too much. What if that American turns out to not be able to fulfill her new role? She does not know 'the ways of the English', she is often too straight forward, but at least she seems nice enough.
"Robert? May I come in?"
"Of course." He has been waiting for his sister to come to him, she will have some sort of last minute advice that will be absolutely ridiculous, but he would have been disappointed if Rosamund had not come to see him the night before his wedding.
"Don't look as if you were walking into your grave."
"That is how I feel. I am tying myself to a woman I hardly know. I am tying myself to her for the rest of my life." Rosamund smiles at him a little.
"I don't think you will regret it." Rosamund for some reason has taken quite a liking to Cora, although he supposes that is because Cora is about to save their childhood home, a home his sister loves at least as much he does.
"She is a perfect stranger."
"Yes," Rosamund says and then then looks at him quite seriously. "She may be a perfect stranger Robert, but if you give her and yourself a chance, she may prove to be just perfect."
He shakes his head at his sister and then says "Good night, Rosamund."
"Good night to you too," she replies, gives him a kiss on the cheek and then leaves his room.