Isobel Crawley had planned entire day for reading the latest medical journal that she had been meaning to catch up on. She had given Mrs. Bird and the maid a day off, and the house was even quieter than usual. Which was why when she heard a knock at the door, she was both startled and unaware of who could be calling. She got up and went to the door, opening it to see the smiling face of Dr. Clarkson on her doorstep.
"I do hope I'm not disturbing you." He blurted out.
"You really should get out of the habit of apologizing before even greeting someone" She commented dryly, a small smile creeping across her face.
"My apolog- I mean, Good Morning, Mrs. Crawley."
"Good Morning, Dr. Clarkson." Isobel matched his almost too formal greeting "And to what do I owe the great pleasure of seeing you this afternoon?"
"Well, there's this little shop in Ripon that serves America dishes, and they just stated making this drink called a milkshake. I was simply wondering if-" He paused, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand and looking away from her "You would care to go with me to try it. I know it may not be the most exciting thing and American food is not necessarily known for its taste-"
"I would love to go!"
"Well if it wouldn't be too much of an imposition, I was going to go today seeing as it will be my only day off for a while. I should have asked you earlier but whenever I dropped by you were always out or…entertaining"
The pause made her look at him more carefully and she could see so much hurt in his eyes when he said that last word. She knew immediately that it was not the fact that she had visitors; it was who she was visiting with. It was the unspoken question lingering in the air, the enormous elephant in the room which she didn't want to confront.
"I'm so sorry about that, Richard. Will you forgive an old friend for not seeing you?"
The use of his first name brought Richard out his train of somber thoughts of his favorite nurse with any other man but himself.
"You've done nothing wrong, Isobel" He whispered, eyes showing the earnestness of the comment. "But that doesn't really matter, what matters is if you still wish to come or not, even with the short notice."
She knew that she shouldn't. Lord Merton was practically courting her, and had been for almost a month now. And not just that, she knew that the doctor was in love with her. She declined his proposal and she absolutely could not lead him on. But she shook her head yes, and with a beaming smile, got her overcoat and followed him to his car.
The ride over to Ripon was filled with small talk and a bit of banter related to her newest political stand. If there was one thing that Isobel knew, it was that she and Richard were very good at being friends. That was one of the reasons she had stopped his proposal, because she could not see how they could be anything but.
They almost passed by the store, it was such a tiny one that the two buildings beside it nearly swallowed it whole. American cuisine was not a favorite in Yorkshire; however, the few who did must have supplied a big enough clientele to support the small shop.
"This is quite…charming"
"Don't lie, Mrs. Crawley, it doesn't suit you."
Although the comment was a bit forward, she couldn't help but be flattered by his high opinion of her.
"So what is this milkshake that we are supposed to be getting?"
"You'll see!"
Richard led her to a table and pulled out her chair for her. He went up and stood in line, and Isobel couldn't help but realize the similarities between this and the day at the fair. She felt so terribly after that day, especially after realizing that although his proposal was less than romantic, he really did sincerely have feelings for her. Her thoughts wandered and she began thinking about what would have happened if she had said yes to the proposal. The engagement would have ended, she thought as she sat there, after Matthew, because if she had just been marrying him for companionship, which would have been the reason if she said yes, she would never be able to find in Richard the love that she needed. But seeing him look at her today made her question even that.
She was brought out of her ruminations by a soft thud of a glass on the table. He was back with the drinks and she looked at them in awe. There, in a frosted glass, was a chocolate mixture that looked almost like ice cream topped with whipped cream and a cherry
"What is in it?"
"It's milk, ice cream, and, I believe some sort of chocolate syrup. It's an odd mixture, but I've heard good things about them."
She dared a sip and was instantly pleased.
"This is delicious!"
"Yes, I quite agree, though completely unhealthy."
She chuckled, that was quite like the doctor, always thinking of health.
He cleared his throat, and there was an awkward pause. The similarities between this conversation and the one at the fair were uncanny, and she could tell that he could see this too as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"I hear it used to be made with whiskey."
"Oh dear, I don't believe that Lady Grantham would not approve of me caterwauling with you drinking things made of whiskey."
"It is a good thing that it isn't then."
The conversation turned to their earlier discussion in the car, but Isobel noticed something different about the way that her friend was speaking. He would take every opportunity to shower her with compliments or tease her, it was quite unlike him, and she was beginning to think that perhaps his drink may have something other than milk and cream in it when he suddenly reached across the table for her hand.
"Isobel, your friendship means the world to me" He said, hesitantly patting her hand with his.
She was just about to respond with a kind remark before he began again
"I know this may be silly but when I come by and you're with him or I see you walk with him, I just can't help feeling this horrid sense of despair. I'm not asking you to stop seeing him, I couldn't. But I had to say that for the record"
"Dr. Clarkson, really, I-"
"Please don't be formal with me. Not after what I'm trying to... I've realized that there can only have two outcomes. Either I can convince you that I am worthy enough of your love, or you can convince me that we are better off friends. But heavens, Isobel, you can't expect me to…to give up without trying. I'm a rational man, and I know that to get a proper result there should be many tests, not just one…hasty judgment call"
"Good gracious, you're just as bad as Mary's men." Isobel laughed, trying to play down the intensity of the moment.
"Well, then so, be it, but I love you Isobel Crawley, and I am not going to let you be whisked away by some other man without at least showing you.." He stared at her. "And what do you have to lose?"
"I'd like to go home now"
Richard didn't even protest as he led her back to the car.
The ride home was a silent one, and even as she got out he didn't make a sound. He had crossed a line, and there was no way he was going to ever get back to the other side.
But instead of walking to her home, Isobel turned on her heels, and instead of closing his car door, she leaned over the seat a bit.
"Good luck." She chirped, and as she turned away, she could feel him staring at her in shock.
And here she had wondered how Mary was willing to let two men court her.