A/N: Thank you all who have been following and reviewing. Your comments have been wonderful! This fic is almost at its conclusion. I think probably an epilogue after this chapter.
Newport is mostly a deserted town when they arrive, most of the grand families that neighbor the house having left for New York. It is Robert's first time in New England so late in the year and he is in awe of the contrasting colors around them as the reds and golds of the treelined streets splash against the blues of the sky and surrounding ocean. They get into the habit of sleeping in late and breakfasting in bed, then strolling Bellevue Avenue in the crisp fall sun. Luncheon is served al fresco on the veranda, the sound of the ocean at the edge of the property providing them with background music. Dinner is either had in the expansive dining room or in one of the restaurants in town still open to the locals. Nights are spent making love and talking through the events that have plagued them the last month.
Despite Cora's fears that she no longer is tethered to the person she believed herself to be, Robert can see that being in her family's home agrees with her in a way that Downton never can. Here they are just 'Sir' and 'Ma'am' to the servants who cannot be bothered to educate themselves about the intricacies of foreign titles. While she is ever the picture of elegance and grace at Downton, Robert knows that Cora's more natural inclination is to be more relaxed and less rule bound than their aristocratic lives dictate.
Robert sits across from Cora in the dimly lit dining room. The few other patrons of the restaurant scattered around them in far off tables give the illusion that they have the establishment to themselves. He watches, mesmerized, as Cora delicately cuts into her lobster, brings the fork up to her mouth and then closes her eyes, a small sound of appreciation escaping her throat. Robert smiles and shakes his head in response and when she looks at him, it is with a guilty grin of her own.
"How I've missed New England seafood." Cora states.
"Apparently." Robert replies. "I'd have it sent in by the boxful just to see that kind of reaction across the table every night."
Cora continues to enjoy the contents of her dish and Robert forgets his own steak, taking too much pleasure in watching her. They have only been in America for a handful of days but already he feels the weights of grief and worry lifting off of his shoulders. Assessing his wife, he has seen the transformation in her as well. Some of the color is returned to her face and the shadows are dulled under her eyes, which look at him with a little more of her old mirth. She's quicker to throw her head back in laughter or break into a smile. Robert feels his own moods so closely entwined to hers that he cannot help but feel a silly happiness at her continued improvement.
Robert's thoughts are interrupted when Cora dabs at her mouth with her napkin and sighs contentedly. "It's criminal to leave any of this behind but I couldn't eat another bite."
Leaning over with his own linen, Robert presses it to the corner where her lips meet. "You missed a spot." He indicates. His hand lingers a beat longer than needed and Cora lowers her eyes, coyly. Robert rests his napkin on the table and covers her hand with his.
"I think we should ask for the check and save coffee and dessert for when we arrive back at the house." Cora states, her voice low.
I think that's a marvelous idea." Robert affirms, his mind already imagining what he wants to do to her.
Cora grabs a fur blanket off of the library sofa and motions for him to take the tray of coffee and small cakes. Walking quietly to the back of the house, he follows her out into the yard. The moon is almost full, illuminating a path across the lawn and splashing the ocean crests with sparkles of light. Cora spreads the blanket on the floor of the gazebo at the edge of the property and sits, looking up at him expectantly. The night is unseasonably warm but still, the ocean kicks up a breeze and Robert fusses, taking off his jacket and draping it over her bare shoulders. Cora cocks her head to the side, her lips turning up into an indulgent smirk.
Picking up a confection, Cora surprises him by bringing it to his lips rather than her own. He takes her offered treat, purposely letting his upper lip graze her fingertip before pulling back and chewing. Robert feels his pulse quicken as she licks her fingers, removing frosting that has clung to them. Picking up her cup, Cora takes a slow sip, holding his eyes with her own over the rim.
"I went snooping in my mother's room this afternoon while you napped." Cora says quietly before daintily biting into a chocolate covered strawberry. Robert can barely process her words as he stares at her mouth and the berry stains left there.
"Oh?" He questions, embarrassed that his voice breaks on the word as his pants become more uncomfortable.
Cora snorts gently, knowing exactly what his tone indicates but she continues. "I found some interesting things in a box tucked away in her closet." Her eyes grow serious and Robert sits straighter, willing himself to focus on what she is saying.
"Among other things, there was my aunt Lily's and Martha's diaries." Cora's expression is unreadable as she speaks.
"And did you read them?" Robert asks, concern wiping away the last smudges of desire.
"I did." Cora takes his hand and plays with his wedding ring, focusing her gaze on their joint fingers. "Lily apparently wanted to go to college so Isadore sent her to Vassar, in New York. Their parents were dead so he had taken responsibility for her. She fell madly in love with a professor who was kind and handsome. One night they let things progress out of hand and she was in trouble."
Robert strokes her cheek and she looks up at him. He is relieved that she looks so calm as she continues. "She never told him her predicament. She didn't want to jeopardize his career. She withdrew from college and went back to Cincinnati, told Martha and Isadore. They were newly married and offered to take...me. Isadore bought her a house on the outskirts of the city and nine months later he and Martha took me home."
"Did you ever meet her?" Roberts asks quietly.
Cora looks off in the distance as though looking at a memory. "Yes, we used to take trips to see her and she would come to the house for holidays. I always felt sorry for her. My maiden aunt, all alone in the country. She had this shroud of sadness around her. She wrote poetry and kept to herself mostly. Some of it was actually quite good, but very morose."
Cora shrugs and takes another strawberry, and again offers it to Robert. He accepts the sweet and then takes her hand in his, holding onto it.
"It sounds as if she passed down some of her gifts to our daughters. Sybil's need to make something of herself. And Edith's passion for writing."
Cora smiles at his words, her eyes watering slightly. "Of course, those pale in comparison to what she passed onto her own daughter."
"And what might that be?" Cora's voice wavers.
"Immeasurable courage." Robert whispers, leaning in and pressing his forehead to hers. She closes her eyes and sighs.
After a few moments of remaining that way, in silence, Robert asks. "Are you alright?"
Cora sits back, a tentative smile on her lips. "Yes, I think. Thirty years ago you became my family and then you gave me all I could ever want out of this life. What came before is merely prologue."
Robert pulls Cora into his arms and kisses her gently at first until they both become demanding in their need to feel united. He is continually amazed by the woman in his arms, and once again he thanks God that she's his.