Words of Cobert Love
I don't own Downton Abbey
I probably shouldn't be starting another multi-chapter story, but I'm longing for something that is focused solely on Cobert. And I love these one-shot series that show different ways Cobert love each other. I'm going to try to concentrate on ways they said it in canon, because ways they've said it "off canon" has been done so many times already.
"Have you been happy? Really, have I made you happy?" Robert asked seriously as he gazed at his wife in the dim light of the bedroom. He had done his best to make Cora happy over the years with words of encouragement after Mama criticized her, gifts of jewelry and perfume which she seemed to adore, easy companionship in the library, and most of all, indulging her constant desire for physical affection.
But how could any of those things truly fix the dishonorable reason he married her? Cora was worth so much more than a dowery, even one as large as hers was. She was sweet, loyal, and kind. She also had a wonderful calming influence on him. And Cora was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. The soft light of her bedroom only added to the beauty of her dark hair and pale skin.
He stroked her cheek, knowing how much she appreciated the gesture. Besides her smooth skin was always pleasant to his touch.
"Ever since you fell in love with me, which I recall correctly, was about a year after we were married," Cora said with a chuckle. She reached for his hand and squeezed it tightly, pulling him closer to her.
Robert's heart swelled even more, marveling at his wife's ability to forgive. Even to the point of laughing at his mistake. "Not a year, Cora," he said, almost into her ear. "Not nearly as long as that." His wife was so easy to love, he couldn't honestly remember a time when he didn't adore her. And he knew for a fact that his foolish inability to understand his own emotions had cost them both months of unhappiness in the first year.
"But it wouldn't have happened for Mary," he said, moving his face back out so he could see Cora's fully sitting on the bed. She truly was lovely.
"Why not?"
"Because I am so much nicer than the Duke of Crowborough," Robert said, feeling comfortable enough to laugh as well. He flopped against his pillow.
"I'll be the judge of that," Cora said with a another one of her sweet laughs. Then she turned out the light. "Just don't think I'm going to let it rest, Robert," she said seriously as she rested her head on her own pillow. "I haven't given up by any means." Of course, she was still determined to break the entail. As Mary's mother, she considered that her most important duty.
Robert sighed, wishing he didn't have to choose between Mary and Downton. "I must do what my conscience tells me." He also longed to explain how tight that entail was, but naturally Mama wouldn't hear it.
"So must I," his wife said, calmly but sounding a lot more determined than she normally did. "And I don't want you to think I'll let it rest." Perhaps Cora wouldn't either.
He blew out the candle and laid in the darkness, a part of him wishing he and Cora weren't on opposite sides of this issue. But then, his Cora had a wonderful gift for understanding everyone, even those with whom she disagreed.
She didn't yell at him for not choosing Mary, nor ban him from her room because Robert had not chosen to fight the entail. He watched her drift off to sleep with a smile on his face. Even in the dark, his Cora looked so calm and beautiful as she slumbered. She looked…happy. As happy as she claimed, just to be with him.
As happy as he was to have her in his life. He hoped he never had to lose his wife. No matter the horrid reason he'd married her, Robert could never do without Cora.
I have no idea how often I will be updating this.
