Thirty-four years since the day they got married. Thirty-three since they fell in love. Not just love, mad love, obsessive love, that magical rush which laid the foundation of what came after, thirty four years of intimacy and commitment.
On the 16th of February 1924, Robert and Cora celebrated their anniversary.
Robert didn't pay much attention to their special day. He even forgot when Cora mentioned, Tony Gillingham visiting which made Cora a bit nervous. Is he bored of her already? Her secret fears crept through her mind. She decided to spice up her relationship. She asked Baxter to get her most special dress ready. Baxter knowing exactly what she meant, smiled and moved on with her task.
Cora wore a silk, medium blue, sparkly dress, the colour that matched her occean blue eyes perfectly, she paid more attention to herself but was disappointed when Robert only entered the room to say they were getting late. She felt her heart quench a little when he didn't even pay a little interest at her hour long effort.
'He doesn't want you anymore', a voice inside Cora, whispered. She walked fastly towards the door to spare Robert from seeing her upset.
'...I give you, my Cora. The best companion in the world', Robert made a very loving and a noble toast for his wife of three decades. She blushed a little and felt flattered. Her heart skipped a beat when he looked at her with that gorgeous smile from the other side of the table. But she couldn't be completely sure, he was a Lord afterall, making satisfying speeches was his job.
After changing, Cora felt very disappointed, neglected and unwanted. She looked in the mirror with no makeup on her face.
'I'm quite alright', she spoke to herself in the empty room. She patted her chin to feel her double chin, then she moved forward to see the wrinkles under her eyes.
'I have changed', she sighed.
'No wonder he doesn't want me anymore...but, look at Lady Victoria, she's my age and looks the twice and even weighes the twice. And Lady Catherine, she has about three chins. I look quite alright compared to them. Don't I?' she let out a nervous laugh, satisfying her fears.
Robert entered the room, dressed in his silk robe and found Cora talking to herself in the mirror.
'Sweetheart, what are you doing?, Robert asked curiously.
Cora jumped at his voice, embarrassed at being caught in action.
'Umm..oh, I was just..talki-..oh never mind, I was just being silly', Cora replied.
'Anyways, are you still upset about Sarah Bunting?', she continued, changing the topic.
'Oh, just forget her, I'm not in the mood to talk about her. I rather spend the night talking to ', Robert joked.
Cora laughed and rose up from her seat to move towards her bed.
'Oh, of course, I'm sure she'd love to chat with you all night, telling you about her single life'.
Robert laughed, 'But where are you going?', he stopped her way to the bed.
'Nowhere. Just to the land of fluff, I've got a bit of a headache'
'Oh let me fix that', Robert wrapped his arms around her waist, tightening it, making Cora jump in excitement. He kissed her forehead in the most sweetest manner, making Cora's white skin turn pink.
'How is it now?', Robert asked grinning.
'Oh, perfect. Just so perfect!', Cora wrapped her arms around his neck, so glad to find her fears washing away.
'Do you have any other aches, milady?', Robert smirked.
'Umm yes, since you've asked, I'm having a little trouble on my lips, can you help me with that?', Cora played along.
Robert pulled her closer, making Cora's face turn from pink to red with each passing second. Robert kissed her lips for several seconds only to see Cora completely blushing and having a constant grin around her face.
'Did that help?' Robert questioned nuzzling her nose.
'Magically!.. And here I thought..', Cora stopped as soon as the words came out of her mouth.
'You thought what?'
'Oh never mind, darling'
'No, tell me', Robert all but begged.
Cora looked into his eyes and sighed.
'I just thought, you got bored of me'
'What? Nonsense! Why would you think that?'
Cora felt embarrassed of her silly thoughts but continued anyway.
'I just felt that way. You were least excited for the anniversary and then you didn't say anything the whole day, I thought you were over all the romance' Cora replied, truthfully.
Robert laughed at her reply.
'That's because I was very busy darling. It has nothing to do with you. Where do you even come up with these things?'
'That's called being s women', Cora stated a fact. 'We have to worry about such things, we can't help it'
Robert cupped her face into his hands, 'I would never ever be bored of you. Not for a single moment. I meant what I said earlier. You are the best companion anyone could ever have. I am so lucky to have you, to have the most perfect women as my wife. You own my heart, Cora. You always bring out the best in me. To be very honest, I'm not sure I'd be anything without you. You taught me how to love, how to enjoy life, the little, very insignificant moments. You placed a soul in me, my heart beats because of you and it's yours, all yours. I would never be bored of you and the reason I was quite all evening was because I was waiting to be alone with my beautiful wife so I can tell her how madly I love her', Robert poured out his whole heart.
Cora couldn't help the overwhelming state she was in as tears started rolling down her face, only to meet her dimples, which were glued in a constant angle because she couldn't control her grin. She leaned in to kiss him, she held his face this time and kissed him passionately, desperate to show him how she felt. She didn't have the words to describe how she felt. They pulled back for air then joined lips once again.
After backing away, Cora looked into his eyes and spoke, ' Oh darling, thank you, thank you so much for saying this. You have no idea how much it meant to me. I love you too, I love you with every fibre of my being and I am the lucky one, to have such a man as my husband. I love you, I love you Robert! '
Robert smiled at her and rotated his face to meet the hand on his cheek. He kissed her hand several times before meeting her lips again.
When the pulled back, Robert took her hand and slid in a heart shaped diamond ring on her finger.
Cora gasped looking at it.
'Happy Anniversary, my love', Robert congratulated her.
'Robert this is magnificent!'
'Not more than you, my darling'
'How do I thank you for this?'
Cora asked innocently.
Robert smirked and replied 'I have an idea'
Cora understanding the "idea", blushed. Robert took her into her arms and made his way to the bed.
They spent all night showing each other what the other meant to them.
All the fears vanished. Their love was infinite. Nothing could have altered that, they were sure of that.
They slept soundly in each others arms. Life was good.