Isobel did indeed find a sundial for her garden she and Lord Merton had scoured the shops. The first nursery they visited was too expensive and didn't have what Isobel was looking for. When Merton had asked he suggested they try the small antique shops. It turns out he knew his antiques and he was right. It was on their third shop where Isobel found not only a stone sundial but also some small stone figurines. She had been sorely tempted to purchase a larger figure but decided the three smaller ones would accent the sundial better. The shop owner offered to have them delivered to which Isobel agreed she couldn't imagine lugging them through London! In gratitude to Lord Merton Isobel then offered tea, instead of a fine restaurant they went to small teahouse. While their interests differed they still found common ground to meet at. As she nibbled on a blueberry scone she asked Lord Merton about how he had come to know antiquities. Tomorrow would be Rose's Ball and then she could go home she couldn't wait.

Richard hadn't slept thoughts of Isobel and his lonely bed had kept him awake in the end he had gone back to the hospital. The night staff were surprised to see him. For the past few months he had only come back to the hospital if he were needed. The staff saw this and gave him a wide berth. The hospital always had something to do and he was glad of this fact. Come the morning he was tired yet completed his shift. He stitched up a wound and diagnosed mumps in a child all while Isobel was out with Lord Merton.

Around four in the afternoon he found himself yawning. His nurses formed a union and banished him to his cottage. He went willingly into exile, his curtains of his cottage were still open and his home was bathed in a warm orange glow. He shed his clothes on his way to bed, wadding them up in his hand and tossing them into the corner. With the warmer weather he had taken to wearing his wrist watch so there was no worry about damaging his pocket watch. Clad in his watch and shorts he got into bed, not caring to draw the curtains. His head hit the pillow and he fell asleep.

Everyone staying at the house in London were out. The theatre for the Levinson's and some of the Crawley's even some of the servants were out. Isobel had stayed behind, she didn't want to go to the theatre and she sure didn't want to play cards. The telephone seemed to be singing a siren's song. Begging her to pick it up, she walked by the half moon table three times before she snagged the device. She calmly asked the operator to put her through. The connections were made, now she just had to wait.

Richard heard the ringing in his cottage. Lord Grantham had installed a telephone installed during the War. At that time the device had been useful as of this moment it was an annoyance. Blearily he rose from the bed clad in only his shorts as he padded towards the phone

"'ello" he murmured his voice thick with sleep.

On the other end Isobel sighed, just hearing his voice made her feel warm. Her head turned towards a clock, had he been sleeping?

"I hope I didn't wake you" She said quietly.

The fog quickly left his brain, "Isobel is that you!" he rasped in awe.

He could hear her giggle through the phone, "Yes it's me. I had to hear your voice."

Richard felt as if he had had a strong cup of coffee. Just hearing her voice knowing that she had been thinking of him!

"How is London?" He asked desperate to know.

"I bought a sundial today, for the garden and some figurines." She told him with an excited voice.

"Did you, describe them to me." He rasped.

She began telling him about the sundial and her hesitation about the figurines. Oh how Merton he had escorted her and how he was turning out to be a good friend and she hadn't smacked him yet. She still wanted to know if she had woken him, "Did I wake you?"

He knew he couldn't lie to her, "Yes, you see I didn't sleep at all last night."

"Why? Was there a call out?" She asked her mind rapidly putting together scenarios.

He smirked, "No, I was thinking of you."

Isobel blushed, "What were you thinking?"

Richard shifted his weight from one foot to the other, "I came home and stood in the doorway looking at the bed thinking of the last time you and I were in it." He sighed, "It made me miss you so I went back to the hospital and worked."

Isobel laughed but it wasn't a pleasant sort of laugh, "I miss you too! I can just imagine you in your blue striped pajamas talking to me."

Richard looked down at his bare chest and laughed.

"What?" Isobel demanded.

"When I came home I didn't bother with pajamas. Just tossed my suit in the corner and went to bed."

Isobel turned towards the wall her mind filling with images and hissed, "So you have nothing on?"

He laughed again, "I have on my watch...and my shorts."

She groaned, "I want to come home!"

"What would you do?" He asked richly.

Her cheeks were burning yet he deserved an answer, "I would touch you. I would place my palms on your chest and feel your heart. I would kiss you."

"Where? Where would you kiss me?" Was his rasp.

"lips, neck, body...wherever I could reach." She answered.

Richard had never engaged in anything like this! His telephone conversations were curt and perfunctory. "I would kiss you too. I love the sound of your sighs. I want to feel your legs around me! God, Isobel I want you now!"

"I want you too! Soon my love, I'll be home soon!"

"I love you." he declared.

"I love you too!" She acknowledged before they both disconnected from the phone.