AN: This is a sequel to one of my other stories: 'To Watch a Future Unfurl' and one of my own characters from it does return, aside from the main ones that is, as well as some references made to that story throughout this one, so if you haven't read it, it may be a good idea to do so.

Secondly, credit where it's due, the title is obviously not my work at all but Julian Fellowes', so I take no credit for it. I used Martha's quote because it fits this story; Robert and Cora's story bears no resemblance to the marriages before them, and because it's the follow on from Violet's quote, the title of the prequel.

The first couple of chapters are a little antsy and a little slow, but it lifts and the story picks up pace. As with this story's prequel, this is my take on the events following Robert and Cora's marriage, and I know that other people have written, or have ideas about what they think happens and I will take no offense if people prefer others/their own version of events. Each chapter is set in the month following the previous one, except one exception but I will highlight that at the time, starting at four months after the wedding for this chapter. I will give each chapter a title showing what month it is, and how many months since their wedding, which I made in March 1889. Enjoy!


Four months had gone by since her marriage to Robert, and Cora sat alone in her bedroom, breakfast tray over her lap, staring blankly at the food before her, tears pricking in her eyes.

She promised her mother she wouldn't complain, that she'd be content with friendship between her and Robert, she promised she would be content without love. And she was, she thought, but she was not content without friendship. Robert didn't so much as wish her a good morning anymore, at least he'd done that in the first two months of their marriage. They didn't go out on walks together, or talk and laugh together as they had done during their courtship. It seemed to her as if now she was legally his wife he had no reason to flirt with her and make her laugh. At Downton it was clear that his loyalties laid with his family. He never defended her to his mother, who as she had predicted projected her sharp tongue upon her at every possible moment to her own pure enjoyment and Cora's dread. All her grievances against her new life came together on the night they "did their duty." She absolutely dreaded Robert's weekly, timetabled, visit to her room. On honeymoon she had enjoyed the intimacy, but not now. Not only was it uncomfortable and getting less and less enjoyable, but the planning that went into it always made her squirm. Every Monday morning he would come to her and they would sit and compare their schedules until he had come to a decision as to which day they'd be less tired and could "do their duty." Cora cared little for it anymore, she was only hoping a child would result from it sooner rather than later, if only to stop his mother's wrath and to have somebody in her life that loved her.

Loved her.

She'd always disliked her mother, but the longer she spent away from her the more she craved her, at least her mother loved her in her own way. Nobody at Downton cared the slightest about how she was coping, let alone loved her. She craved her father even more. She had so much in common with him, and he'd understood her. Tears silently slip down her cheeks at thoughts of the loving family and happy times she has left behind in America. Never to return.

It's not that she regrets her marriage, she still loves Robert, very deeply but the lack of time he spends with her makes her wonder if he ever wants a marriage that's more than a business deal. Had he been bought up so strictly into the world of the English aristocracy that he's unchangeable, forever stuck being a man that is unable to show any feeling, even when alone with the people that know him best.

She had hoped that after four months of marriage her mother would have been proved correct and Robert would have started to show signs that he was developing feelings for her, but no, it appeared he was doing the opposite, distancing himself from her. If anything she felt that any hint of friendship he had shown towards her during their Season and courtship had evaporated, probably due to his mother's constant reminders of her shortcomings.

Her mother-in-law expected nothing less than a child born before the year was out and made Cora's lady's maid tell her when "Lady Cora has her monthlies." It was humiliating when she'd go downstairs feeling slightly nauseous anyway only to be greeted by: "So yet another month has passed and still no child" this morning, she sighs, will be no different, her maid had given her a coy look when she'd spotted the blood on the sheets. Patrick was always quick to jump to Cora's defence, unfortunately the damage was already done, another puncture through her heart. Her accent and her preference to coffee in the mornings were Lady Grantham's other biggest points against Cora and never would Robert come to her defence, despite the fact he had once told her that he liked her accent. Cora would often see his father give Robert meaningful looks when his wife berated her, as if willing his son to defend her, as correctly speaking it was Robert's place to do so, not his.

Cora's only true ally within the house was Rosamund. She walked with Cora daily and told her stories of Robert as a little boy, it was through his sister that Cora learned most about the man she had married. She found out what books he liked, what subjects he had enjoyed at school and those he hadn't, his favourite walks and preferred areas of the gardens. She even heard about the adventures the two young Crawley's had got up to as children, and she hoped against hope that her children would enjoy Downton as much. Rosamund often tried to convince Cora that Robert did care for her, 'but you know men they have a funny way of showing it.' At first Cora had believed her, but as the days went by and the hope began to fade visibly in Cora's face, Rosamund stopped talking about Robert and instead turned her attentions to trying to train Cora to ignore her new mother-in-law and not take her comments to heart. She knew in the long run that Cora had to build up a resistance to her remarks.

Rosamund's friendship was something Cora knew had to come to an end. Rosamund was engaged to Mr Painswick with whom she was hopelessly in love, her mother's disagreement to the match was argued over every day and Violet had a habit of blaming Cora.

"Miss Levinson is a bad influence on you Rosamund dear, don't let her tell you what to do, her American opinions have no consequence in your choice of husband." That summed up Cora's married life almost as well as her and Robert's weekly couplings. Her opinions were unwanted, her devotion to her husband disregarded.

Cora began to distance herself even further from her in-laws. Even Rosamund, for the soul reason of trying to make the only person who appreciated her have an easy time convincing her mother of her choice of husband. She remains in her bedroom as long as possible, as she was doing now, or roam the gardens for as long as possible, before entering any room in which she is likely to be sneered at.

The thing that annoys her most is she is sure that Robert has it in his heart to love and cherish her, Rosamund certainly thinks so, and yet he avoids her more than his mother does. What has she down to upset him? The question plaques her thoughts constantly. Is she not good enough in the bedroom? Is she too forward during their couplings? These seem unlikely as he always seems pleased with her, and mumbles about how beautiful she is. Was it because he agreed with his mother that she would not make a good Countess? Was his heart engaged elsewhere? Did he not wish to share her company anymore? She doesn't know, and she's beginning to feel less and less like she wants to find out as every day passes by.

Cora traipses down the stairs, only to be greeted by the expected wrath of her mother-in-law. To make matters worse Robert is sat with his mother and she knows how he dislikes medical details, let alone female ones.

"Still no child your maid has informed me. You know it shouldn't be too difficult. I suppose there is probably something wrong with you, not surprising really, given your nationality." Cora turns on her heels, tears already streaming down her face. Not only is she upset at being insulted but Robert had once again left her stranded, not bothering to come to her defence.

If she'd stayed a moment longer though she would have heard him stand in her defence and follow her out of the library. But she didn't, instead she ran to the gardens and sought refuge by the shimmering lake. The only place she feels at ease.