A/N- So ive always wondered what it would have been like if Cora had not fallen in love with Robert from the off, and if this would have meant her mother could have persuaded her to marry someone else. I've wanted to post this for a while, so here it is. Hope you enjoy.
Cora Levinson sat in her room thinking about the past few weeks, about the decision she had to make. She had come to England to get married, and she needed to get married for a title. She had always thought that she would have a fairytale courtship and a fairytale wedding, and she would marry her fairytale prince. But when her mother had sat her down and said that they were going to England so she could become an aristocrat, Cora knew that all of her dreams of fairytales and princes would not come true. They were for childhood stories, and as her mother had told her- not for real life. So when she boarded the ocean liner for England, she put her hopes and dreams to the back of her mind and tried to focus on the title she would have. But she was naive, and subconsciously she had still expected that she would find her prince, just this time, an English prince. But she hadn't been that lucky. She hadn't fallen desperately in love with any of her suitors. She had suitors, and they seemed to be nice enough, but she wasn't in love with any of them, not really. And now she was faced with the decisions of what to do, of who to marry.
She moved from her bed and went to sit on her window sill and gazed out of the window. It was a beautiful day, which in Cora's opinion was rare in England. Her thoughts wandered to the last time it had been this nice of a day. That day she had spent some time with Robert Crawley. He was the future Earl of Grantham; he had a title which was what Cora wanted. But so did her other suitors, Edward Lawson was a future Duke, and his estate was bigger than Robert Crawley's. Those two gentlemen were the ones with the most prospects, and who she had to decide between, she had to decide which one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She was sure they were both going to propose to her, in fact she was positive, and she now had to decide who she would say yes to.
They both seemed pleasant; admittedly Robert Crawley was more attractive and kinder than Edward Lawson. Robert Crawley had soft brown curls and striking blue eyes, as opposed to Edward Lawson's plainer looks. But she couldn't base a marriage around looks, no matter how charming his smile was. Cora shook her head to try and focus on the task ahead of her- her marriage. Yes Edward Lawson's estate was bigger and his title grander and it was no secret her mother wanted her to marry him for this reason, but Robert Crawley seemed nicer. He asked questions, and he seemed genuinely interested in her and her opinions. But was that enough? A few months ago she would have jumped at the chance to marry someone like him, but now it was different- she was different. Her mother, and what her mother wanted had changed her and she had influenced her moral judgement. She no longer looked at marriage as a way to spend her life with someone, but as an opportunity and a life choice. The voice in her head echoed the words her mother had often spoke to her over the season, words her mother often called 'the words of reason'. Cora had often doubted if her mother's outlook on marriage was the right one, but now she was thinking whether it was the right one, whether she should marry Edward Lawson simply for a better title and better connections.
Cora's musings were interrupted when Martha Levinson came into her room. "Cora?" She said, looking round, and after spotting her on the window sill she went over and sat on the chair near her. "I've been looking for you."
"I was here." Cora shrugged.
"Yes, I can see that now." Martha replied sarcastically. "Anyway, what are you doing up here?"
"Thinking." Cora sighed, turning to face her mother.
"What about?"
"What do you think I've been thinking about?" Cora snapped.
"Your marriage." Martha sighed. Her daughter had been going over this for over a week, when she had been sure the two men would propose. Martha of course wanted the best for her daughter, and that meant marrying the gentleman with the best title, oldest family, and the one with the best connections and prospects, and that meant marrying Edward Lawson. She knew that her daughter found Robert Crawley more attractive, and thought he was kinder, but that didn't matter. Edward Lawson was nice enough, he may not ask as many questions, but he was fairly pleasant, and that was enough for marriage. So over the past week, Martha had tried to persuade Cora, and she was hoping that it had started to work.
"Yes my marriage. Or rather, about the groom." Cora turned away from her mother and returned to gaze out of her window. She knew who her mother wanted her to say yes to, and in a way that was weighting her decision too. She worried that if she married Robert Crawley her mother would never forgive her, and would always see her as someone who ruined her prospects. "I'm so confused." She sighed.
"Why are you confused? From my point of view this is one of the easiest decisions you will ever make. One suitor may be more attractive and may be slightly more inquisitive, but the other will be a Duke- a Duke Cora." Martha watched as her words circulated in her daughters thoughts. "Don't you want that Cora, you, a Duchess?"
"It would be nice, but-"
"Nice!" Martha interrupted. "Nice? Cora it would be more than nice, it would be the most successful outcome imaginable."
"That may be true, but what about Robert Crawley? He would make me a Countess, and a year ago I didn't know the difference between a Countess and a Duchess." Cora reminded her mother. Back in America she had had no idea what the difference was between titles, in her mind they were all part of the aristocracy and that was all that mattered.
"But you know the difference now Cora. Don't forget that. Cora you've changed."
"Don't remind me." Cora huffed, standing up and walking to the other side of the room. She started massaging her temples; all the thoughts and decisions were giving her a headache. "I just cannot help thinking that I haven't changed for the better- that my moral values have lessened."
"Cora, it is not bad to want what's best for you." Martha told her. "It just makes you stronger and more independent."
"But we are talking about my life mother, my future. We are talking about who I will spend the rest of my life with." Cora spun on her heels so she was directly facing Martha.
"I am well aware of that Cora. But we are not just talking about your future are we?" Martha stared straight into her daughters eyes, knowing full well that this tactic would work.
"What do you mean? Of course we are talking about my future." Cora said, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Your children Cora. You need to think about your children's futures." Martha had knew this would work, Cora had always wanted children and reminding her that she needed to provide what was best for them would definitely sway her decision. She was reminding her that it was her duty to marry the best, simply because one day it would be her children's.
"My children." Cora repeated. Her mother was right; whatever she decided now would affect her children, not only was she deciding her future, she was deciding theirs. And it was her duty to provide the best for any children that she would have.
"Yes Cora, your children. Marrying a duke would mean that your children would inherit that title. Don't you want that?"
"Of course I want that, but what difference is their between a Countess title and a Duchess title?" Cora's voice had become shaky; her resolution had become even more shrouded. Her mother's words and ideas had sunk in and had become to change her mind, and had begun to make her decision for her.
"Don't try and tell yourself that Cora, because we both know you don't believe it." Martha was right, Cora didn't believe that. She hadn't been in England long, but even she had seen what difference a title could make. "It is your duty to marry Edward Lawson Cora, not only for yourself, but for me, your father, your brother, and most importantly, your future children." That was it. And Martha knew it. Martha knew that she had changed her daughters mind; simply by the look on her face.
Cora looked at her mother, the look of absolute determination in her eyes. Cora's worst fear was marrying the wrong man; she didn't want to marry merely for a title, or merely for charm and looks. But Martha's words bore into her, and Cora couldn't help but think that if she married Edward Lawson she wouldn't be marrying the wrong man, far from it; she would be securing her future and her future children's future. "Alright mother," Cora said slowly, "I will marry Edward Lawson."
"Excellent," Martha clapped her hands together like a young child, "you will not regret it Cora." She went over to kiss her daughter on the cheek, and then left the room beaming, feeling accomplished. As Cora watched her mother go she sincerely hoped that she was right. She hoped that Edward Lawson was not the wrong man, and that she would not regret saying no to Robert Crawley.
-xxx-
Robert sat in his room turning over the engagement ring he would offer her; the family heirloom that he would offer to Cora Levinson, with the hope that it would be a symbol of how much he cared for her. Because he did care for her, very much. Perhaps more than deemed appropriate at this point. He remembers the first time he saw her as if it were yesterday; she had been wearing a dark purple dress which had highlighted her pale complexion. She had looked over at him and smiled a smile that he has been thinking of ever since. He had watched her that night, and all throughout the season. He had watch her grow more confident in her surroundings, he had seen her capture the hearts of all those around her- including his. She had completely captured his heart; he thought about her all the time. She made him feel something he hadn't thought was possible, and he liked it.
Most importantly, she was different. Yes she was American, but she was different in another ways. She had opinions, and she wasn't afraid to convey those opinions. When he had called on her, he had taken her for a walk and for some reason they had started to discuss politics. He had originally thought that it would be a boring topic for them to discuss, but she had completely surprised him when she started talking about her thoughts on the current political campaign. She was quite liberal and her thoughts had completely opposed his but she didn't seem to care. Unlike other girls she didn't cower and change her opinions to suit his; and he liked that about her.
His mother may not agree that she is the best option, she favoured Catherine Walker. But she was plain and ordinary compared to Cora Levinson. She agreed with him on everything, and although she would probably make a good countess, he knew she would not make a good wife. He had heard rumours about her, rumours he could never tell his mother. But whether the rumours were true or not, he knew that she wouldn't make a good wife, not for him. No one could, except her. She had the money they needed to get Downton out of the hole it was in, and for that reason his parents should be thrilled.
He looked down at the ring and he couldn't help but think of it on her finger, her delicate and perfect finger. Everything about her was perfect, and he knew that she was the right woman, for him.
A/N- I'll try and update as soon as possible, as this is going to be a long story. Please let me know what you think, thank you!
