Author's Note: Again, this is super short, but chapter three will be posted soon. I hope.
Chapter Two
Isobel and Dr. Clarkson left the hospital that day hand-in-hand, intending to pay a visit to the Dowager Countess who had always seen exactly how perfect the two of them were for each other. Isobel knocked on the door and the pair were led to the drawing room by Spratt where they stood before the Dowager.
"Cousin Violet. I certainly hope that you'll be pleased about this," Isobel started. "You see, Lord Merton and I are no longer engaged. And in his place, I will be marrying Dr. Clarkson."
Violet stared at the pair in wonder. Gad her plan really worked, or were the two friends merely pulling her leg? She prayed it was the former, rather than the latter, since she had no doubt that Dr Clarkson would make her much happier than Dickie Merton ever could. Just because she would not be living her last years in happiness with Igor Kuragin, didn't have to mean that Isobel should spend her last year's being unhappy. After all, Isobel likely had more years left than she did. Isobel had also had less years of happiness with Reginald than Violet had with Patrick.
"Lady Grantham," Dr Clarkson said, pulling her from her thoughts. "Are you pleased that Mrs. Crawley will soon become Mrs. Clarkson?"
"I do confess I am surprised," violet remarked. "Who broke off the engagement to Lord Merton?"
"He did," Isobel replied. "He said he couldn't stand to see me unhappy because of his sons, and he told me that Dr Clarkson could make me happy and I have no doubt that he will."
"I am pleased for both of you," Violet said. "When will you announce it to the family?"
"I was thinking that perhaps I would bring him to dinner tomorrow night and tell everyone then," she replied. "Rose and the Sinderby's will be there as well. But they are family as well, so I don't mind them hearing the news."
"I suppose they are family, but so is Mrs. Levinson," Violet replied nervously.
"I don't think that the Sinderbys are quite as bad as you think Mrs. Levinson is," Isobel remarked. "But Dr Clarkson and I must be off now, we're having dinner together tonight. I'll see you tomorrow Cousin Violet."
"Yes, come to tea tomorrow. Both of you," Violet said, ringing her bell so Spratt would see the pair put. Once they were gone, Spratt returned to the drawing room to see a satisfied smile on the face of the dowager countess. "Oh Spratt. Today was a good day, it brought another victory."
Spratt smiled and left again, knowing how much happier Lady Grantham would be now that Mrs. Crawley and Dr Clarkson were to be married.