Cora made herself comfortable in the first class compartment and waited for her husband to join her. She waved at her daughters and blew them kisses before pulling her hatpin out and removing her hat, placing it onto the seat next to her. She looked towards the door to their carriage, waiting expectantly for her husband. When he didn't appear after a few minutes she sighed and stood, making her way out of the compartment and along to the carriage door.

"Robert! You are holding up the whole train. Please come along!" She shook her head at her husband who was crouched down in front of Isis, stroking her ears and kissing the top of her head, Isis lapping up all of the attention. He looked up at his wife and smiled. "I'm just making sure Tom knows about her routine, Cora." He looked up at Tom and once again went over everything. "Don't let her get lazy. She'll sit under my desk all day if you don't make her go out with you." As he said this Robert stood up and looked down at his faithful companion. "I will miss you, girl." He turned and shook Tom's hand before giving Mary, Edith, George and Sybbie each a kiss on the cheek.

"Papa, get on the train otherwise you will miss your boat." Mary smiled at her Papa and urged him onto the train, her Mama smiling with thanks at their eldest daughter. Robert climbed into the carriage and shut the door behind him, ushering his wife back to their compartment. When they were settled and the porter had blown the whistle indicating they were leaving, both Robert and Cora waved to their family, Cora blowing more kisses at them as the train pulled out of Downton station and started to pick up speed. Robert relaxed back into his seat and smiled at his wife.

"We're on our way, darling." Cora smiled back. "I still can't believe we're going, Robert. To think we'll be spending our anniversary in Paris again, after thirty five years. I'm so excited." Robert took off his hat and placed it next to him before standing to take off his coat. He smiled down at her as he placed his coat on the seat. "I hope you're not disappointed then." He sat back down and made himself comfortable before looking out of the window at the passing Yorkshire countryside. Cora looked over at him and sighed. "How could I ever be disappointed, Robert, I get to spend my anniversary alone with you in the city of love."

At this she grinned across at him and picked up her hat, patting the seat next to her. "Please come and sit next to me?" He turned and smiled. "Of course, Cora. I'd love to."

He stood and took a step across the compartment before seating himself right next to her, taking her hat from her hand and throwing it across onto his seat. He took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing the back of it before settling back and sighing happily.

"I am looking forward to some time alone I must admit. Having grandchildren is wonderful but they do tire me out." "You are a wonderful grandpa, Robert." Cora smiled up at him as she said this. "Although I think sometimes you have to be reminded that you are not twenty five any more and they are not our children. You really don't have to try to do everything with them that you did with the girls. They do have their own parents."

Robert nodded and looked out of the window. "But they only have one parent. I just feel like we should make up for their loss, Cora, especially with George. He needs a father figure in his life." "And you do it wonderfully, my darling. But you can relinquish some of the responsibility to others. George already worships the ground you walk on and he is only two years old." Robert smiled at her words and looked at his wife. "He is already so bright, Cora. He can be anything he wants to be. I just know it. Instead he will have the weight of Downton on his shoulders. I feel such guilt about it all."

Cora turned to face her husband and cupped his cheeks. "Now you listen to me, Robert Crawley. You are the best thing that estate has. Without you it would have crumbled thirty years ago. You have fought through very tough times and it is still flourishing. I am very proud of you and you should be too. George, when the time comes, will take the reins of one of the biggest, wealthiest estates in England, and with your guidance will keep it that way. Now, no more talk of Downton, let us concentrate on the next two weeks of our lives and nothing else."

With that she leaned forward and pressed a warm kiss to his lips before letting go of his face. Robert, his heart beating faster, sighed and took one of her hands. "I couldn't have done any of it without you, Cora. Thank you, my love." He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it again before settling them both back in the seat. He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed them at the ankles. Feeling completely relaxed, he held her hand in his lap and closed his eyes.

"Don't think you're going to sleep on me, Robert. We have three more hours on this train. I need you to entertain me." Robert fluttered his eyes open and grinned at her. "And how does milady want me to entertain her?" Cora grinned at him and moved her mouth close to his ear. "Well." She whispered. "I thought you might like to….." Cora nibbled at his earlobe a little, knowing it was his undoing. When she knew he was suitably undone, she whispered again. "Read to me?" She giggled before sitting up straight and grinning at him. Robert turned his head and returned her grin. "I hope you don't plan on teasing me like that the whole of our trip?" He raised an eyebrow in question and waited for her response. "You'll just have to wait and see."

She winked at him before pulling her legs up onto the seat and resting herself against him. "Please read to me, Robert. Your voice always calms me." Robert looked at her, his heart full of love and smiled. "I don't have a book on me but I could try to remember something."

He looked out of the window and thought of what his wife would like to hear. He grinned to himself when the perfect words came into his head. Taking a deep breath and holding her hand once more, he began.

"First time he kissed me, he but only kissed the fingers of this hand wherewith I write. And ever since, it grew more clean and white,
slow to world-greetings, quick with its oh, list, when the angels speak."

Cora smiled warmly at him and squeezed his hand." You always know just what to say, Robert." He smiled back at her and continued.

"A ring of amethyst I could not wear here, plainer to my sight,
than that first kiss. The second passed in height. The first and sought the forehead and half missed, half falling on the hair. O beyond meed! That was the chrism of love, which love's own crown. With sanctifying sweetness, did precede. The third upon my lips was folded down In perfect, purple state, since when, indeed, I have been proud and said, 'My love, my own'."

Cora sighed contentedly and looked out of the window. "You know how I adore Browning." Robert watched her for a while, their silence an easy one.

"Not nearly as much as I adore you, Cora." She turned and looked at him. "I love you, Robert. More now than ever before." With that she rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Robert lifted his hand and stroked her cheek before kissing the top of her head. "And I love you, my darling. With every beat of my heart."

With that he closed his eyes and dreamed of the things to come in the next two weeks.