A/n: I own nothing, etc, etc. I started reading Downton stories after season 4 ended and I was left wanted more! I ship both Carson/Hughes and Richard/Isobel but this is a Richobel story. Thank you for all that have submitted stories to this site, I have enjoyed many. If you leave a review I will make sure I return the favor! If you are a reader and not a writer, your thoughts are greatly appreciated as well. FYI – I have no Beta and I am not a writer so please excuse the errors.
Prologue
Isobel sat at her dressing table staring at her reflection trying to discern how she got herself into this convoluted situation. She had to try on each dress that she was packing in her trunk to ensure that it covered the almost faded love bite at the base of her neck. The trunk was being packed for a trip to London as Isobel was to be Lord Merton's guest at the wedding celebration of his son. The love bite was left by a gentleman that was not Lord Merton, hence the need to keep it well hidden.
She unbutton her blouse to take a closer look at the faded evidence of her momentary lapse in judgment, at least that is what she was referring to the incident, because she could not come to grips with the fact that she had a night of unbridled passion with the one person in Downton that she considered the dearest of friends.
Her behavior was inexcusable. She knew he had feelings for her but she couldn't return those sentiments. She had the highest respect for him and treasured the time they spent together but the one thing she vowed after the death of her husband twenty years hence, was to stay true to his memory. There was no room left in her heart for romantic love. Now, because of her actions, she would most likely lose the only other person in Downton, besides her grandson, that made it home. Well, she supposed, it is what she deserved after sleeping with Dr. Richard Clarkson.