Chapter 7
Cora – October 1889, shortly before leaving on her tour of Europe
There are only three more day until she and her parents will leave for Paris and she expects Robert to propose every day now. To make the announcement he actually needs to ask her. She knows of course that they will get married, all the documents concerning her dowry have already been signed. But Robert still hasn't officially asked her. She is sure that he wants to marry her. Some of his reasons might be wrong, many of his reasons are right.
They have become more comfortable over the course of the last six weeks. She and her parents were invited to Downton Abbey for a week and she enjoyed seeing her future home. It is a beautiful house and Robert seemed to feel a little more himself every day. He showed her around the estate. Rosamund who was staying as well usually acted as their chaperone but she never really cared about them. She often went another way once they were out of sight of the house.
Robert told her about his childhood then and she told him about hers. They talked about other things as well, sometimes about their own future, sometimes about current affairs, sometimes about literature. And sometimes they gossiped about the neighbors.
She had taken to holding onto his arms on their walks and maybe that was she enjoyed them the most. The closeness she felt to Robert.
"Lord Downton to see you," the butler announces and she looks at her mother imploringly. For once she leaves the room, but not without saying to Robert "I'll leave you two alone so you can finally ask her."
"Don't mind my mother," she says. "She'll be going back to America in March. Then we can be by ourselves."
"Oh no," Robert says. "We'll be sharing a house with my parents."
"A very big house," she says. Robert seems very unsure about what to do next.
"Robert," she says and he looks at her.
"Cora, I know I still haven't really asked you and,"
She moves closer to him and puts a finger on his lips.
"Robert, before you say anything about your brother and your estate and my money, think about what you are saying. If we want to have a proper marriage, then let's start it in a proper way. Without feeling guilty about your dead brother or your bankrupt family."
Robert stares at her. "What? We know we are getting married. The contracts have all been signed. All you have to do is to say yes."
She laughs a little laugh.
"That is true. But I won't say it unless you me properly. Down on one knee and everything."
He shakes his head in an exasperated manner but still gives her a smirk that she knows is at the very least full of affection.
He then gets down on one knee, fumbles in his pocket and then takes her hand.
"Miss Cora Levinson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" She has to laugh a little at this. It is a joyful laugh. "Of course I will," she says, and Robert gets up and kisses her on the lips. "I am very glad and I hope you like the ring."
"It is beautiful," she says when she looks at it on her hand. It is a simple and elegant princess cut. Exactly what she likes.
.
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Robert – Downton Abbey August 1891
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"Are you glad to be home?" he asks Cora and she nods.
"Yes, very glad. I like London very much but with such a small baby it was just too much." He nods.
"We could have left Mary here," he says. Cora laughs.
"No darling, we couldn't have. I couldn't have been separated from her for three months and you would not have liked that either."
"You are right," he says and smiles when the nanny walks in, carrying their little girl. Mary was born in March that year and Cora said that she would either bring Mary with her to London or not go at all. He told her that she could bring Mary and in fact he told his parents that both Cora and he would stay at Downton. He would not have liked leaving Mary for such a long time but much less did he want to be separated from Cora. The first few months of their marriage might still have been a little awkward. He wasn't sure how he felt about her. He liked her very much, he had a crush on her but he was afraid that was all. Until one evening after enjoying what he still refers to "their duty" and Cora calls "terrific fun" Cora looked at him, smiled and said "You know that I love you don't you? I love you body and soul."
He didn't know what to say for a moment. And then he had to laugh because in that moment her realized that actually knew what to answer.
"I thought you might. And I just realized I love you too."
Cora had then grabbed him and pulled her down with him. What neither one of them had been aware of that time was that Mary already existed. When they found out four weeks later it brought both of them a happiness and completeness they had never felt before.
He has always been aware of the fact that his first child might not be a boy and when the doctor told him that he was the father of a healthy little girl, all he could think was that he had a daughter. A daughter to cherish and to love and to be doted on.
He doesn't know whether there will ever be a son but even if he won't have a son, he is sure that he could not have a better life.
AN: This is the end of this story. As I mentioned before, I have an alternative version of this story in the works. It is almost finished. But I am not sure whether I will post it. There has been quite a slump in reviews and I am not sure whether it is worth the work. I enjoy writing, of course (!), but it is rather difficult for me to find the time, as was obvious with me late post last week.
Anyway, have a great day everyone!