Chapter Eight

AN: the characters do not belong to me. Thank you a million times over to my gracious beta Granthamfan, without whom I never could have written this or any modern AU. This is the last chapter of the story, so I hope you enjoy it!

Robert and Carson stared at her.

"I can write about George, Annabelle, and the rest of their family," Cora explained. "There are so many colorful characters in the diaries I've read," she continued. "Surely reading their stories would entice more visitors. I've never gotten to use my writing in a professional capacity, but I'd love to try." She stopped to observe the reaction her words would elicit from the men.

Roberts face lit up, enthused in a way that Cora didn't expect.

"I think it's a brilliant idea," he said with a grin. "I'd forgotten how fascinating the journals were since I hadn't seen them since I was a little boy. Even then, I didn't read them all as you have."

"Translating the journals into a book would be an excellent idea, milady," Carson chimed in.

Cora's cheeks felt hot whenever she was addressed in such a way. She had not been a countess long and the idea of titles still struck her as antiquated. No one born in the twentieth century expected to become a countess, she reasoned. It wasn't Annabelle Vinson Crawley's world. Part of her was sad that it wasn't. Instead of letting herself get lost in thought, she turned her attention back to her plan.

"If I've enjoyed learning about the family with all this research, and I'm certain others will, too." She blushed for a different reason. "Of course, I have the extra incentive to love the history around here because it's become my own through you, Robert. But it is quite the story." She took his hand in hers, pleased when he did not appear to be uncomfortable with a public gesture of affection in front of Carson.

"Do you need any other material brought down from the attic?" Carson glanced upward toward the treasure trove of the history of the Abbey.

"No, I don't think so," Cora replied. "But thank you for your offer. I'll let you know when I do. I'm just so pleased that both of you like the idea of books. No one prizes the legacy of this place like the two of you."

"Or as much as you, my lovely Cora." Robert beamed. "I know your books will be just the thing we need here. Moreover, you and I can get into the spirit of the place, since we're living here now."

Cora felt more enthused about the idea of living at the Abbey every time she thought about it. At first it had seemed odd, but she glad quite gotten used to the idea the longer she explored the castle and fell more in love with it.

Over the coming months, Cora pored over the journals, family records and photographs in order to start writing her first book in what would become a series of histories on the Crawley family. Robert was right; the visitors came in droves after they were released, and the Abbey became an even more famous venue for weddings and other events.

A year later, Cora and Robert renewed their vows at the village church and enjoyed a huge reception in what had become their home. Even Violet was less feisty as she observed the way the couple had turned what had once been a financial burden into a thriving business that rejected the thousands of tourist cliches, but truly celebrated the legacy of the historical Crawley family.

Cora's very favorite piece of decor, however, was not an antique or an heirloom. It was the plaque that Robert had brought home from his trip when he had declared his love for her. It sat proudly on an easel on the mantle in their bedroom, in order to be the first thing the couple saw every morning and the last thing they saw every night. Because they had developed a real and true love between them, their lives were long and happy at the Abbey, which once again became home for every generation of their family.

Robert and Cora had four daughters and a son, named after some of the previous Crawleys and people dear to them. Their eldest daughter was Mary, named after George and Annabelle's first daughter. Then came Edith, Sybil, Annabelle and Matthew William.

Robert had insisted they name their youngest son and heir to the title after two young men who had lived at the Abbey in the World War I era. Matthew was George's cousin and heir who married his eldest daughter, but died tragically in a car accident on the day his son was born. The middle name of William was in honor of a brave young man who had been a footman at the Abbey in the World War I era, going off to the trenches and returning with a fatal injury. Cora had written about his deathbed marriage to Daisy, a young woman who would eventually become head cook. Through her children and grandchildren, Cora saw history come alive at the Abbey once again. And it had all started with a declaration of love in the most unexpected way.

The End

Thank you for taking the journey into my first modern AU and being so kind with your reviews and follows! I hope you like the way the story brings Robert and Cora back to the past, in a manner of speaking, as they forge their way into the future. Thank you again. CC