Title: Desperate Times, Desperate Measures.

Rating: T

Spoiler: The story takes place after season 4, episode 8, and it's my version of the Christmas Special based on some pictures that I've seen.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to Julian Fellowes and ITV.

Chapter 1

"I guess that concludes our meeting then," said Violet looking between Isobel to her right, and Dr. Clarkson who sat across from them.

Richard nodded in affirmation. "I do believe it does, Your Ladyship."

"Well, in that case, Dr. Clarkson, Mrs. Crawley and I should leave."

As Violet stood up so did Richard and Isobel.

"I'll see you to the door."

Richard moved passed Violet and went to open the door in his office, while Isobel took a few steps towards the door.

"Are you free for luncheon, Isobel?"

Isobel turned back towards Violet and shook her head. "I'm afraid not. Lord Merton called yesterday, and asked if he could stop by."

At the mention of Lord Merton's name, Richard hung his head in defeat. Standing with her back to him Isobel didn't notice anything. However, Violet had noticed the change in Richard.

"Lord Merton you say? Why is he stopping by?" Violet asked while still keeping an eye on Richard, but also looking directly at Isobel.

"He's in Yorkshire visiting various friends in the area, so he said he'd take the opportunity to stop by."

"That's nice I suppose," she said as she walked towards the door, and Isobel doing the same. "Well, nice of him to take the time to visit you."

Isobel merely shrugged as they both passed Richard walking out the door, with him following them out. "I suppose I'm one out of many, he's visiting while here."

Violet took a quick look over her shoulder, so that she could still keep an eye on Richard's facial expression. Although he smiled politely, he still looked defeated. Violet turned her attention back to Isobel.

"I haven't heard from Robert that Lord Merton planned on visiting him, while he was in Yorkshire. Or Mary for that matter. Have you?"

"No, I haven't. As I said, I only heard from Lord Merton yesterday that he was in Yorkshire. It has been a while since last I heard from him."

"I see, I see. But still it's rather odd, isn't it, that he should come and see you now?" Violet asked. "We'll all see him in London soon, when we go for the season. He's bound to be there for some of the parties."

"Yes, he said that he would be. He's probably just stopping by to make further arrangements in that regard," she said with a shrug.

"Yes, I suppose that is a possibility." Richard moved passed both of them to open the door for them. As he held the door open to allow them to step through and leave the hospital, Violet purposely stopped on the inside of the hospital. She turned slightly, so that she could look at Isobel, but also at Richard standing behind Isobel's back. "The two of you have been spending an awful lot of time together these many months."

Isobel narrowed her eyes slightly at Violet. "You don't approve?" she asked with her voice slightly raised in a challenging tone.

Violet held up a hand. "No need for that tone, my Dear. I was simply making an observation."

"More like sticking your nose in, where it doesn't belong," Isobel replied with a slight huff.

"So now I can't comment on a simple observation without you taking offense? How are we ever to have a conversation?"

Isobel rolled her eyes at Violet's comment. "Fine! If you must know, I enjoy Lord Merton's company, and he seems to enjoy mine. Does that answer satisfy your curiosity?"

Violet took a quick glance behind Isobel, and caught Richard's dejected look. To her he looked worse than he'd done a minute ago, and how he'd looked in his office before that. Looking back at Isobel, she gave her a slight nod.

"More than you know." Isobel was about to open her mouth to give a rebuttal, but Violet didn't give her the chance. "And now I think we really ought to be leaving." She took a few steps forward, so that she was face to face with Richard. "Good day, Dr. Clarkson."

Richard smiled in kind and gave a polite nod. "Good day, Your Ladyship. I doubt I shall see you before you depart for London for the season."

"No, I don't expect you will."

"In that case, I wish you a pleasant stay in London."

"With Mrs. Levinson around I doubt it will be all that pleasant," she said as she stepped outside.

Richard bit back a grin at her remark having heard his fair share of stories about Mrs. Levinson.

"I'll stop by the hospital before we leave. I want to look in on Beth one more time," Isobel said giving him a big wide smile.

Richard looked back at Isobel and smiled lovingly at her, before softly saying, "She'll be glad of your visit. She's enjoyed them very much so far."

Isobel chuckled lightly at that. "I think it's my stories, she enjoys more than my visits."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," he replied as softly as before.

She merely shrugged at that but smiled softly. "Good day, Dr. Clarkson."

"Good day, Mrs. Crawley."

Although having stood a few feet away from them, Violet had still heard the difference in Richard's tone with her, and the one he'd used when talking to Isobel. He'd been polite and kind with her, but his voice had change to a much softer tone, when he'd addressed Isobel.

"Hmm interesting," Violet mumbled to herself.

"What's interesting?"

Violet blinked a few times not realizing that Isobel had heard her. But when she looked at her, she just gave a short smile.

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

TBC