A/N- Thanks for the reviews guys And thanks to tivamcabby5 for this suggestion
1889
Rosamund
Rosamund wasn't under the illusion that marriage was perfect. In the aristocracy it was hard for a marriage to be anywhere near perfect. She had watched her brother marry for money; he had given up a life with the woman he loved so that Downton could be saved. She didn't think she could do that, sacrifice a life of happiness for one of duty.
It wasn't that she didn't like Cora, she liked her very much. She was pleasant, kind and she treated everyone with respect, even her mother-in-law which she knew could be different. And she really seemed to care about her brother, you could tell by the way she looked at him; she would gaze at him at dinner and her face lit up every time he walked into the room. At the start of their marriage Rosamund had presumed it was girlish infatuation, but as she watched her, she realised that it wasn't just infatuation it was love. She had felt for Cora when she realised it, as she knew that her brother had married her for money.
It was around eleven months into their marriage when she really noticed a change. Her mother had planned a grand dinner with around fifteen guests. Robert thought it was rather tedious, and all throughout the evening he seemed to be playing a secret game with his wife. He kept exchanging glances with her and he kept smiling in a way that no one really understood, except her, who loved the attention. Rosamund found the whole exchange rather fascinating and was rather curious as to what the whole thing was about. So when the ladies went through into the drawing room she grabbed Cora on her own and pulled her onto the chairs in the corner. "What is it Rosamund?" Cora asked, rather confused as to why her sister-in-law had insisted on pulling her into a solitary corner.
"Nothing, I'm just a little curious as to what you and Robert were doing a luncheon." She said innocently, but as she saw a blush creep up Cora's neck she realised that there may be something more to the little 'game'. "Well?" She asked with raised eyebrows.
"It was nothing, honestly." Cora shook her head, trying to disguise the blush she was sure stained her cheeks. The last thing she wanted was Rosamund to know why her and Robert had been well, preoccupied at dinner. Robert had been complaining about the dinner all day, not in front of his mother of course, and the only way Cora could get him to stop complaining was to give him a kiss before they had come down. This in turn prompted him to continually glance at Cora with a mischievous glint in his eye all throughout dinner. She had thought that no one had noticed but Rosamund obviously had.
"So you're really not going to tell me?" Rosamund said with raised eyebrows.
"There's nothing to tell." Cora shrugged.
"Fine, I will have to find out from Robert." She concluded a determined look in her eye. She was not one for being told no.
"If you insist Rosamund." Cora smiled standing and going to speak with a group of ladies situated on the far side of the room. Rosamund busied herself talking to her mother and the ladies Cora had joined as she waited for Robert to enter the room. When he finally did he caught her eye and smiled briefly before going straight to his wife who was near the window. She wanted to interrupt but she found that their 'game' had continued, so instead she sat back and watched as they giggled and whispered in each other's ear. As she watched her brother smile and laugh with his wife she thought how happy he looked, he'd never looked so happy. His smile was wide and bright and his eyes always remained on her, even when she wasn't looking at him. As Rosamund watched she realised that her brother looked as his wife had often done. His eyes were filled with admiration, and love? Could that really be love she saw? If she didn't know her brothers situation she would be sure that the man in front of her was madly in love with the woman beside her.
As the night went on Rosamund became preoccupied with idle chit chat but it wasn't until about an hour later she realised that neither her brother nor his wife were in the room. Excusing herself she decided to go and look for them. As she exited the drawing room she walked into the hallway. She looked around and heard hushed whispers in the far corner, she walked over and saw Robert and Cora backed into the wall, their heads close and fingers interlocked. She walked a little further forward so she could hear what was being said, perhaps it would give her some clue about their little game.
"I'm sorry my dear, I had to get out f there, the idle chatter was beginning to frustrate me." Robert whispered.
"It's fine Robert." She replied in a soft tone. "I must admit it was rather hard keeping a straight face earlier." At her husband's furrowed brows she continued. "Rosamund started asking questions about our 'game' at dinner." So this was going to be resolved Rosamund thought.
"Oh and what did you say?"
"That there was nothing to go on, but I don't think she believed me." Cora giggled. "So be prepared to be interrogated later on."
"Well what am I meant to say, that my beautiful wife was driving me crazy." He chuckled. "Because that would be the truth." Robert places his hand under Cora's chin and titlted her head so that her eyes were directly in his line of vision. "I'm sorry Cora." He whispered. Rosamund saw the hurt that appeared in his eyes and she knew that this was nothing about their little game, and that she shouldn't bear witness to his apology, but for some reason she couldn't bear to leave.
"What for?"
"For not realising what was in front of me the whole time. I should have realised it sooner, and i'm sorry that I didn't, my love." He whispered, moving his head so that it was rested against hers. Rosamund didn't think she had ever seen something so heartfelt and emotional; this was more moving than their wedding day, when they had declared their vows. It was different, she thought, because this time his words held something that had been absent before; love. Rosamund was sure of it.
"There's nothing to apologise for Robert. You know it now, and that's enough for me." She gazed into his eyes for countless moments before any of the three in the room moved. Robert was too captivated in his wife's gaze to move, and Rosamund was too captivated with the scene before her. She had thought that their game had been something mischievous but she had not expected to fine this, something so heartfelt and moving, something so filled with love.
"I love you Cora." Robert whispered, finally moving.
"And I love you." She replied, before leaning in and capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. Rosamund knew she couldn't watch any longer, in case she was seen, but also she felt as if she was already intruding on a private moment. So instead she went back into the drawing room and joined her mother. Marriage may not be perfect and it may have its ups and downs, but if Rosamund ended up with a marriage that turned out similar to her brothers she would be happy, because there's may not have started with love, but she knew that it had gradually turned into passionate, heartfelt and true love.
A/N- So i'm not entirely sure when Rosamund got married for the purpose of this fic im saying she got married after
