It was a beautiful morning for this time of the year; The crisp February air was softened by the golden sunlight in which Downton Abbey bathed. Nevertheless, Robert Crawley pulled his coat closer around him to shield from the wind as he walked back home. It was silent still, though the earl of Grantham knew his servant hall would already be bustling with activities at this time, the only sounds were birdsongs, Robert's own footsteps on the gravel, and the sound of his heavy breathing - he was not getting any younger and his stamina was certainly not improving with the years.
In his hands, he held a small bouquet with handpicked flowers. The tips of his ears flushed redder even than the ear had already turned them when he pictured the look his mother would give him now if she were still alive. Violet Crawley would have thought it a foolish gesture, she would undoubtedly have remarked that florists exist or she'd have told him a woman preferred diamonds over handpicked flowers. Cora, however, Robert knew, would appreciate the gesture and find it romantic. And though Robert had also bought her a beautiful necklace, he knew it was the little bouquet she'd cherish: it was the American sentimentalist in her. He smiled; Already picturing her smile as he skipped up the stairs back to their - Cora's - room. He'd do anything for Cora's smile.
Baxter came down the hallway at the exact moment Robert arrived at the door to Cora's room. "Good morning milord." She curtsied politely, perfectly balancing the tray she held. Robert noticed with an amused smile that his wife's lady's maid still brought her orange juice for breakfast.
"Good morning Baxter." He greeted her kindly.
As always, Baxter exuded a sort of serene energy, which Robert thought had become even more obvious now that she was happily married to Molesely. Robert did not know why she continued working for them, but he was grateful because Cora loved Baxter's companionship. "I was about to wake her ladyship." She smiled lightly.
"No need," Robert said, carefully taking over the tray holding Cora's breakfast. "I will wake her today."
"Alright my lord." Baxter said. She eyed the bouquet Robert was holding, but before Robert could get embarrassed or self conscious about it, she said "Those are really nice my lord. Shall I take a vase with me when I come back to dress her ladyship?"
Robert nodded with a relieved smile, "Thank you Baxter, that would be nice." Baxter replied only with a curt nod, then disappeared back down the hallway. Once she was gone, Robert gently pushed open the door to his wife's bedroom.
Cora was still sleeping soundly and Robert's heart sung at the peaceful image. Cora had always been a deep sleeper; only when something had been wrong with any of their daughters she woke easily. Robert had always found that awe striking, but also a little unnerving.
He put down the tray on her vanity first, then sat down on the bedside, gently taking hold of her hand. The touch of his cold hand was rousing her, she huffed slightly and stirred rubbing her eyes with her free hand before she turned towards him, her eyes fluttering open. "Happy anniversary my darling." He bent down to kiss her, a kiss which she happily - but sloppily - returned. When he broke their kiss, she held him close to her, his forehead touching hers. "Happy anniversary Robert." He felt so blissfully whole like this, holding her close, even after all these years Cora could make him feel like they were the only two people in the world. After a few minutes, Cora let him go and she sat up against the headboard. Robert took the opportunity to get her breakfast tray and his flowers.
"I got you flowers." He said, gesturing to the humble bouquet of the few flowers which grew in their garden at this time of the year: crocuses and snowdrops. "I also got you another present, but I thought you'd like these." He quickly added.
Cora's face lit up with delight and she smiled widely at him as she picked up the bouquet to take in its scent. "Oh Robert, I love them!" She exclaimed. "I'll ask Baxter to dry these for me in a few days so I can keep them." Robert beamed. This was the reaction he'd hoped for.
Cora held out her hand to beckon him to return to her side and Robert complied happily, taking her hand as he sat down beside her. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Cora sipping her orange juice and nibbling at her breakfast. Then, Cora put her tray on the bedside table and smiled again. "Do you want your present?" Robert pulled her in for a kiss and mumbled against her lips "Being married to you is enough of a present." Cora chuckled and kissed his cheek as she joked, "Who's getting American now?" She quirked her eyebrow. Robert chuckled, recalling all the times that he, his mother, sister and Mary had remarked to Cora that her Americanness was showing. Yet here he was, behaving quite uncharacteristically for a stoic English lord.
Cora reached for the drawer of her bedside table. "Well, whether or not I am enough of a present, I am giving you your actual present." She sobered a little, "though I must say it's not quite as romantic as your bouquet." Robert shook his head, "I am sure it is perfect," he smiled, "and I haven't even given you your real gift yet." He took the perfectly wrapped, small box from Cora's hands and opened it carefully. Inside, he found the snuff box that he'd tried buying on an auction a few months back. He was astonished. "Cora how did you get this?"
Cora smiled, "It turns out I happened to know the wife of the man who bought this. She is one of my childhood friends, so I wrote a letter to her and then another to my mother, asking them both to persuade him to sell it to me and you know my mother is very stubborn." She looked a little smug as she said, "Needless to say it worked." Robert carefully put down the snuff box before cupping Cora's face with both his hands. "What did I ever do to deserve you?" Before she could reply he kissed her.
They cuddled up in bed together for a little longer; Cora finished her breakfast while Robert sat next to her, their legs intertwined. When she was done, Cora once again put her tray away. "We should get out of this room." She chuckled as Robert made a face, and kissed him briefly. "I'll ring for Baxter. But Robert, let's not join the family yet." She caressed his jaw, "they can have us at dinner tonight, but I wish to have you for myself today."
Robert nodded, "Alright," he smiled, "Perhaps we could take a long walk together. I'll ask Mrs Patmore if it's possible to prepare a picnic for our luncheon. Nothing too special."
Cora scrunched up her nose. "Won't she be cross that we are only asking her now?" Robert shrugged.
"I guess I will have to deal with her anger."
They spent the day together, wandering around the beautiful place they were privileged enough to call home. When they got hungry, they settled under an oak tree in a beautiful field, looking out over the beautiful landscape, huddling close together for warmth. They held hands as they walked back, both smiling ear to ear. Cora stopped Robert with a tug before they could come into the house's view. "Thank you for today." she smiled at her husband, her nose slightly reddened because of the cold. Robert found himself smiling at the sight of her, his love for her all encompassing; Cora was his whole world. "I love you." He said, and Cora kissed him. "I love you." She replied, her eyes full of adoration.
"I love you more now than I did 39 years ago." Robert smiled, "I love you more every day."
Cora cupped his face, caressing it lovingly. "I love you more every day too." She said, then teasingly added, "more than I did 40 years ago when we got married." She kissed him a final time before tugging him along towards the house. "Come on now, we can't be late for our own anniversary party."
Later, after Robert had given Cora her actual anniversary gift - a beautiful diamond necklace - and they had gotten dressed for dinner, they joined the family in the dining room, smiling at everyone's well wishes and congratulations. Rose had come from the U.S.A. to celebrate with them, and she and Mary admiringly looked at Cora's new necklace. Before long, it was time for Cora's speech. She tapped her knife against her champagne flute to get everyone's attention.
"Thank you all for having come here tonight to celebrate mine and lord Grantham's anniversary." Cora smiled at everyone around the table, "We are both very happy to have you." She now turned her full attention to Robert.
"As you all know, forty years ago, Robert and I got married, here in Downton. I could not know back then what our life would look like: I did not know what hardships we'd have to face, nor what beautiful moments we'd have together, but I knew that I was willing to spend my entire life with Robert." She smiled brightly at Robert as she continued, "Now, here we are, forty years later, we have braved many storms together and have come out stronger, and have built a life together with three beautiful children. And I find that every day, I am still thrilled to be married to Robert. Robert, my heart, my soulmate, I love you, and I thank God every day that I am lucky enough to be married to you."
She raised her glass before sitting down, barely registering the applause of the other guests as she and Robert smiled at each other from across the table; No one mattered but each other.
AN: I wrote this quickly in honour of Cobert day, I hope you guys enjoyed it, I would love it if you'd leave a like and comment if you did. I also published this on my Ao3 (daisyfvllers)