Illuminations
He watches her sleep, almost afraid to touch her in-case she is a mirage. How is it possible that such a pure, ethereal woman is lying beside him? The sunlight illuminates Cora, her features, her beautiful smile. How anyone could not fall in love with her at the first moment but, then he had been that fool hadn't he? The one too caught in propriety and manners, entails and duty to see her, to see that Cora was completely, utterly perfect. He strokes her cheek so tenderly and she sighs, shifting her body so that they are entwined with each other, a grin forming on those mischievous lips as she opens those crystalline eyes.
"Hmm. You were watching me sleep again weren't you Viscount Downton?" Cora teases, giggling when she feels him capture her lips in a long, searing embrace. These past few weeks, she had felt something change within him, he was more attentive, loving, keen to kiss and be affectionate whenever possible. At first, it had scared her, what if he just saw it as an extension of their duty? But, the way he had begun to look at her, the tenderness of his every action, it had to be real.
"And you my darling were feigning sleep." Robert grins, knowing he is right, he knows her now, heart and soul.
"You kissed my cheek and I stirred." Cora chuckles, batting his chest lightly. "I'd hardly call it feigning sleep."
"So, I should not have kissed you?"
"Oh, you should always kiss me like that." Cora purrs, moving her fingers through Robert's curly brown locks making him smile before she loosely wraps her arms around his neck. "Always?" Robert asks alluringly. "Yes. And stay with me." Cora instructs lovingly. "Always." Robert replies with no trace of hesitation joining their lips in a short peck. Cora feels her heart begin to race as the last wish falls from her. "And..." She begins, trembling, but he places her hand on his heart and beams. "I do, I will love you for forever and always Cora." Robert sighs wholeheartedly. She feels the tears trickle down her cheeks but, finds herself without a care. "Oh Robert." Cora sobs with joy. "I never thought- are you certain?"
Robert kisses her forehead slowly wiping away her tears with the backs of his thumbs. "Oh, my dearest, I am so truly sorry it's taken me so long to realise it, but I assure you my love."
"Say it again." Cora interrupts, transfixed by the phrase.
"As I said I'm truly sorry- "Robert begins not taking the hint. "No, you sweet man." Cora stops him. "You called me your love. Please Robert, please say it again."
"Oh Cora. My love." he says with all his heart, then he feels her kisses scattering over his face as they roll together like two perfectly fitting souls. The uncertainty, the doubt that they have both felt during their short marriage all falls away.
A month later, he holds her close as they watch the night sky erupt with an array of colours and noise.
"Oh Robert. It's beautiful. Thank you."
"It's our new beginning darling." Robert says adoringly as a Catherine wheel explodes into purple, pinks and reds before dying away to be replaced by little explosions of red silver and blue, so she can be reminded of home.
"It is. Our illuminations."
"Yes, my darling. Our illuminations."
For adrygrantham. I wanted to incorporate your idea of how they got to where they are with the idea of their new life and love being like fireworks in the sky. I hope you all enjoyed.
