"A long and happy life together. Just we two."
As the words left her mouth, Robert was instantly transported back thirty-six years.
They had walked slowly together along the path, side by side, careful not to touch each other. It was forbidden and their chaperone was keeping a close eye on them no matter how far she trailed behind.
They soon reached their destination: a tiny secret garden covered in ivy and hidden on the grounds of Downton. Robert had discovered it as a young boy and often retreated there when he needed to clear his head. They remained silent as Robert unlatched the door, opened it, and let her step inside first. He followed soon thereafter and watched as Cora turned every which way, her eyes going wide in awe, and as a smile spread across her face.
Flowers sprung up from the ground and vines twisted around the trees. Butterflies fluttered about and birds swam in the air. He watched her a moment longer before he cleared his throat.
"Oh, it's lovely! So beautiful!" Cora turned to face him then. Her cheeks were flushed slightly red and her eyes were the brightest blue he'd ever seen.
Robert chuckled a bit. "I'm glad you like it! It's my favorite place to visit! Sometimes I come here to read or escape one of Mama's ghastly teas."
She laughed that sweet laugh of hers and Robert swallowed hard.
"They're not that bad!" she said.
"Just wait until you regularly have to sit through them!" he started and then caught himself. "I mean, that is until you have to go back home…to America."
They stared silently at each other for a moment. Robert felt his heart begin to beat rapidly in his chest and he noticed that her cheeks had grown a deeper shade of red.
The question was on the tip of his tongue as it had been for the past couple of weeks now. She knew it was going to happen. They'd danced around the subject a few times, but he had yet to work up the courage to ask it. However, today was that day. She would be returning home soon. It was now or never. He couldn't let her slip through his fingers. Robert felt his stomach drop at the thought.
Downton needed her, but he realized he--he needed her too! Oh, how he needed her! He wasn't in love with her, but he was rather fond of her. He thought her strikingly pretty. She was intelligent and could carry on a conversation unlike any of the other dreadfully dull girls his mother had insisted he dine and dance with month after month. They often spoke about literature and history, but the way she spoke about art, with her eyes sparkling, made him feel something he'd never felt before.
Most of all she was kind. Kind and selfless. And Robert thought he couldn't get any luckier than that. If he was meant to spend the rest of his life with someone, he wanted her to be his companion. To be his wife.
Robert removed his hat and smoothed down his hair with his hand. He cleared his throat again. "Miss Lev-"
"Cora. Please!" she said.
He nodded and dropped his eyes. "Cora." He took a moment and then raised his eyes to meet hers once more. "Do you like it here?"
She chuckled lightly. "Yes. I've only just said..."
"No, I mean…Do you like it at Downton?"
Cora stared at him and then nodded. "Yes. Yes, I do."
A smile played on his lips. "And--and do you…do you think you could make a life here? With me?"
Robert saw as tears came to her eyes and then watched as she quickly turned away. He'd yet to see her cry. He knew from Mama that women did not cry in front of men. It went against propriety.
He tentatively took a step closer to her and reached out, finding that he desperately wanted to touch her. To comfort her.
Robert's hand slowly fell down to his side. "I--I didn't mean to upset you! It's just…you see...I'm not ready for you to go back to America! Not yet. And I very much want to make a life here with you. If--if you'll have me."
She released a long breath. "I..."
Robert backed away slowly. "I--I'm sorry if I've overstepped. It wasn't my intention to upset you. I apologize."
He shook his head, trying to figure out where he'd gone wrong. He thought that was what she wanted. They had spoken about it more than once.
"No," she finally said in a quiet voice.
Robert's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
Cora turned towards him. "I mean, I'm not upset. Not in that way."
"Oh!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you think otherwise!" She sighed. "I do like it here, Lord Downton!"
"You can call me Robert," he said.
"Robert…" she said and he saw her nod. God! The way she said his name...it made him feel things! He wanted to hear her say his name forever.
Robert moved to sit on a bench that sat under a nearby tree and he watched as she came to join him. They were silent again and out of the corner of his eye, he saw her place her hands in her lap. Robert noticed then that their legs were only inches apart.
"I've imagined a life here at Downton since the first day I arrived!"
He turned to face her. "Do you really think you could be happy here?" Robert saw her eyes fill with tears again and he offered her a handkerchief.
She sniffed and took it from him. "I do, Robert. I really do!"
"Well then..." he stood and knelt down on one knee as he took hold of her gloved hands. "Cora, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you do me the honor of sharing a life with me?"
Cora let out a tearful laugh and nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
As Robert pulled a small box from his coat pocket, Cora removed a glove from her left hand.
He took the ring out and slipped it on her finger. Robert stood then, bringing her up from the bench with him, and brought her hands to his lips for a kiss.
"Lord Downton," Mrs. Bartlett, their chaperone, called from outside the garden door. "It's almost time for tea! Lady Grantham will be wondering where you are!"
"Yes, we'll be there in a minute!" he called back. "We'd better go before Mama sends the servants out to look for us."
Cora chuckled. "Quite right."
Robert held her hand and squeezed it gently, as he led her out of the garden. "And I do believe we have some news to share!"
He saw her face light up and heard her say, "Indeed we do!"
As they walked back to Downton, Robert realized he felt happier than he had in a long time. Downton was to be saved! By Cora! And her money, of course. But he needn't remind her. She was well aware of the agreement their fathers had signed. Robert remembered she had told him that she would be more than willing to save his childhood home if it meant making him happy.
But now, he mused, he was not the only one who would be happy. Papa would be happy. Rosamund would be happy. And Mama...well, Mama would have to swallow the news and accept it! For Robert found himself imagining a long and happy life with her. With Cora. A life filled with children, and grandchildren, and--and quite possibly even love!
Robert shook himself from his thoughts and turned to look at her. They were in the presence of Mrs. Bartlett again so they no longer held hands. But Cora followed him dutifully, and he could see as she occasionally glanced at her ring. She would turn her hand to the left and right, and would smile as it glimmered in the light. Her happiness radiated from her and it brought a smile to his face.
Yes, he thought, he could be happy with her by his side. For the rest of his life.
Robert pulled himself from the memory of that day and then suddenly, his life--their life--started flashing before him.
The joy they had shared. That day in the garden when he had proposed. Their wedding and their honeymoon to France. The day he finally admitted he was in love with her. The birth of their daughters. The trip to Egypt he had surprised her with for their twentieth wedding anniversary. When Matthew saved Downton. Their daughter's weddings and the births of their grandchildren.
And the sorrow. When they lost both of their fathers within a few months of each other. The first time Robert had left his family during the African War; for more time than he had imagined. The sinking of the Titanic--the loss of James and Patrick. The loss of their son in 1914 and then the First World War. Losing Sybil and not but a year later, Matthew too. The countless times they had nearly lost Downton. And even when he had almost lost his own life.
"And why not?" he replied. "We never know what's coming of course, but I'd say we have a good chance!"
As Cora took his hand, Robert mused that they'd had quite a happy life together indeed!