In the March of the following year Cora walked on her father's arm down the aisle, in the finest of dresses, to the waiting Robert. Her mind was not entirely at rest. She dreaded her parents departure in a few days time, leaving her mother-in-law free-reign to insult her. She was also somewhat nervous about her wedding night. Not only had Robert been very distant since she'd come to live at Downton but her mother's supposed assurances hadn't helped. But, she conceded, she was marrying the man she loved, what more could she want? His love, his loyalty against his mother, her subconscious probes but she doesn't listen, instead she lets the wonderful smile enlightening Robert's face fill her conscious thoughts.

"Will I do?" She hears herself ask her groom.

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever beheld, of course you'll do."

"But will I make a good enough Countess? I'm sure your mother would love you to jilt me."

"It's not my mother's life, it's mine. And I want you in my life Cora."

In years to come Robert would look back on his wedding day and sigh with regret. Regret for not making the wedding night more special for Cora and regret for not realising that her parents departure would leave her isolated and easy prey for his mother. At the time he'd just marvelled in how stunning she looked and the surprise that such a beautiful woman would want to marry him.

It was even more years before Robert ever looked back on the day with the same smile that had sparkled that day. The time did come however, when his eldest granddaughter, Sybbie at about ten years old and now aware of the reasons for her grandparents marriage, asked him: "When was the first time you said something to Grandma that wasn't just to flatter her? When was the first time you really meant what you said?" His answer had been almost immediate, "at our wedding." He realised at that moment that he had loved Cora then. When he'd said he'd wanted her in his life he'd meant it. That had come from his heart.

Unfortunately, love is unpredictable and almost self-destructive, his heart would make their life difficult for them before it made it easy.

Love however, conquers all. Eventually.

AN: Thank you all for staying with me through this story, it means a great deal. This epilogue is short, mainly to leave me wiggle room in the future if I ever decide to write a story for their wedding and honeymoon, which is likely. The sequel will be out later this week, so I hope you will read that. Each chapter depicts a moment from every month from four months after their wedding to the day Robert declares his love. Thank you all again for your reviews, favourites, and follows for this story, they total the most ive had for any of my stories in all categories.