Let People Talk
Author's Note: I have always thought that 'let people talk' would be a frequent thought of both Robert and Cora, with their love not being the norm for the aristocracy.
"Robert," Cora said when he appeared in the doorway between his dressing room and their bedroom. "Honey, tonight is probably going to spark a lot of rumours in London. We weren't the most appropriate people tonight."
"Cora, when have we ever cared about the rumours?" he asked, untying his dressing gown. "Honestly, people talk and do little else, we can't very well stop loving each other, can we?"
"No, and I don't want us too, but when we were younger, it was alright for us to show our affection and now that we're older, people expect us to ignore each other and such. I don't want to do that, but I'm sick of being a topic of conversation. Why should our love be seen as wrong?" she asked. "Poorer people can have feelings, but we can't? It's just wrong."
"Cora, I agree, but the aristocracy gossips and I find it horrid that they set all these rules for married couples. We are married, we should be allowed to decide how we live," he said, removing his dressing gown. "Do you want me to stay tonight?"
"Or course I do," she replied, smiling at him and patting the bed gently. "I hate the stupid rules of the upper class. It's as if we're not allowed to be happy. We're rich, and that's happiness enough. But the money never mattered to me. In my mind, sometimes I think it would be better if we were poor. We'd be able to be in love and just be blissfully happy, not having to live with the burden of our money, and titles and society. Would you stay with me, happily, if those were our circumstances?"
"Of course I would Cora, I would leave all this luxury behind, if I knew it would make you happy. My happiness is linked to yours. The aristocracy can be quite snobbish and they need to stop pretending that everyone should live by their norms," he said. "You know I would stay with you no matter what. I decided that when I fell in love with you."
"Oh, Robert, you know, the way oyu love me now makes me greatful for the firs year of our marriage, when I wasn't in your heart as I am now," she said, as he sta down on the bed, taking her hand and trailing kisses up both her hand and arm. "I wouldmuch rather that we had a bumpy start and then all this happiness than you being madly in love with me in the beginning and hating me now."
"I could never hate you Cora, and our first year of marriage was not my finest time. I was stupid and I knew oyu deserved better and finally I realized that I was all you wanted and it took a bit of time, but I came to understand how happy it made me that you loved me, and I fell in love with you," he said, leaning across the bed to kiss her softly. "I don't care what people say Cora, as long as you're with me and you're happy, that's all that matters to me. The only words that truly matter to me, are in fact yours."
"Oh, Robert, you are so good to me," she whispered against his lips. "What would I do without you?"
"I don't know Cora," he replied. "Just let people talk, don't listen to them and their hate, listen to me and the love I am whispering into your ear."
"Forever and for always my love. We can't stop gossip and hate, but our love will conquer all," she said, kissing him softly and pulling him on top of her as he shut off the light.