We Will Be Happy, Chapter IV

When Isobel made her announcement, she and the Doctor were met with gasps, clapping and many at the table congratulating the couple. After a moment, Robert tapped on his glass lightly to get everyone's attention. Once everyone at the table turned to face him, he stood up and began to speak.

"After seeing the interactions between my cousin Isobel and our village doctor over the years she resided in the village, I would like to say that I am extremely happy that the two of you intend to marry. Everyone, please join me in raising a glass to Mrs Isobel Crawley and Dr Richard Clarkson in honour of their impending nuptials," he realised his glass and everyone at the table followed suit, taking a drink.

Isobel turned to look at Richard with a smile on her face. She couldn't be happier that her family, the people she had come to love over her years at Downton, were happily accepting her choice to marry the village doctor.

When dinner was finished, the ladies retired to the drawing room, the gentlemen remaining in the dining room. Robert offered Richard a cigar, which the doctor took.

"So," Robert began. "Exactly how did you come to propose to my cousin?"

"Well, she has always fascinated me, since I first met her. When the family was at Duneagle while Lady Mary was expecting Master George, Mrs Crawley and I went to the fair in Thirsk. I almost proposed to her there, but I decided against it when she suggested that she's prefer to keep us just as friends. Then she came to visit meand informed me that Lord Merton had broken off their engagement and suggested to her that she see me, said that we may be happier together," he explained to the gentlemen in the room.

"That was quick," Lord Sinderby commented. "Then again, I suppose I'm not one to talk. I knew Rachel for 4 years before I proposed to her, loved her as long as I had known her. I was scared the entire time we were courting that her father might make her court someone else who would be more likely to propose to her."

Robert chuckled. "Well, I was terrified asking Cora's father for permission, since both her parents knew I was marrying her to save the estate. She was head over heels in love with me and in the beginning all I felt was guilt because I didn't love her."

"Things change as you get older though, don't they?" Daniel asked. "No asking permission, no worrying about flocks of other potential suitors her parents may like more."

"I never had to experience that, and I'm quite thankful for that now. I didn't think it would be that difficult for a Lord with an estate to find a bride," Richard commented.

"I wasn't a Lord when I was courting Rachel, I was a banker, still am a banker, and I certainly didn't have an estate," Daniel remarked.

"And during the season there are so many Lords with estates. Ones with higher titles, more money," Robert said. "But I do believe Lord Merton was correct."

"About what?" Richard asked.

"You and Isobel. I'm sure you'll make her very happy Dr Clarkson," Robert said.

"There's nothing like a woman who will keep you on your toes, one that knows you better than you know yourself," Daniel said.

"She's done that since the first day that we met," Richard said with a smile and a small chuckle.

In the drawing room, the ladies were all sitting around Isobel asking questions about the proposal and whether they had planned anything yet. Isobel laughed at the eagerness of the group, it was as though they had been waiting for her and Dr Clarkson to get engaged. It certainly hadn't been like this for her when Dickie proposed.

"It was strange how quickly everything happened," Isobel explained. "Dickie, I mean Lord Merton, breaks it off between us and suggests that we could both be happier with others. He even said Dr Clarkson's name in our conversation. Somehow I think he knew that Richard wanted to be more than friends with me. I've known Richard for over 10 years and I've never had any reason to think that he's in love with me.

"Anyways, I went to the hospital on the off chance that Dickie was right, and sure enough, he was. I felt bad about it when Dickie broke it off, but he and I are still friends and I wish him all the happiness in the world."

"That certainly was all very quick, wasn't it?" Rachel asked.

"It was, but I feel like Richard was waiting for me to somehow assure him that I felt more than just friendship for him."

"How romantic," Edith commented.

"I'm just glad you all approve," Isobel said, smiling brightly.

"How could we not?" Mary asked. "He's a part of Downton just as much as the family and servants are. He delivered my son, helped deliver little Sybbie, took care of mama when she had the Spanish Flu, and he's taken care of everyone in this household for over 20 years now. Ad I know that if Mathew was here and still with us, he would approve just as much as the rest of us do, maybe even more. Dr Clarkson has always been there for us when we've needed him, and while he can't make things turn out the way we want every time, he's part of the family."

"Well said Mary," Cora chimed. "So, since you haven't mentioned them, I don't suppose you've made any plans yet."

"Well, we've only just gotten engaged, so nothing has been set yet," Isobel replied. "I don't want to get married too quickly, but i don't want to wait too long either."

"So in a few months then?" Rachel asked, a hint of suggestion in her tone. "Daniel and I were engaged for about 5 and a half months before we wed."

"Robert proposed at the end of July and we married the following February," Cora said. "But that engagement was longer because mama wanted to make sure I was ready, in her opinion, to be a Viscountess."

"And at my hands, you were Cora," Violet reminded her. "You needed time to adjust."

"And she was also hoping that Robert would find a rich English girl and change his mind about me." Violet shook her head lightly, even though she knew it was true, but after all these years, she had learned that happiness was the most important thing in a marriage. Robert and Cora were happy, Mary and Matthew had been happy, as Rosamund and Marmaduke had been. Isobel and Richard would be happy as well. She even hoped that one day Edith would find someone that would truly make her happy like the rest of her family was. Even Sybil, who had eloped with the chauffeur had been happy before she had died giving Violet her first great-granddaughter. Even she had been happy with her husband, no many how many periods of hardship they had seen.

Finally, the gentlemen joined the ladies in the drawing room and everyone moved to speak to other people. Richard joined Isobel on the settee and ran his fingers over her hand.

"I was thinking," Isobel said, Richard bringing his eyes to hers. "What if we got married in 3 months?"

"A winter wedding?" Richard asked.

"Cora and Robert married in February," Isobel said. "And they have a strong bond, one that I feel you and I should have."

"Well, that sounds wonderful to me. How about 27 February as the date? I don't think that coincides with anything else," he suggested.

"That sounds perfect," she replied. "Shall we tell the family now or later?"

"WE can do it now, then we won't think about changing it, will we?" he asked. "We won't move it forward or back if we properly set it now."

"That sounds like an idea," she said, raising her hands and clapping them lightly, getting the attention of everyone in the room. "Dr Clarkson and I have decided that we will get married on 27 February, and you are, of course, all invited. The wedding will be at the church in the village."

After this announcement, the drawing room began buzzing wiht the excitement of wedding guests making plans for gifts or what they might wear.

Eventually, everyone began to leave Downton for the night. After receiving more congratulatory remarks, Richard and Isobel left with Violet. Once they were in the car on the way to the village, Violet smiled at the couple who were sat side by side.

"I'm pleased to hear that you've set the date," Violet said. "I'm very much looking forward to the wedding.

"Thank you for your support Lady Grantham," Richard replied. "It means a lot to Isobel and I."

"Yes, it does," Isobel agreed.

"Well, I'd rather you married Dr Clarkson, a man you have quite a bit in common with, than marry Lord Merton, a nice man, but someone that you don't share as much with," Violet said.

Isobel smiled at her cousin. "Well, I'm glad that everyone is as supportive as you are."

"Well, why wouldn't they be? Most of us have seen the chemistry between the two of you since the beginning," Violet said, looking at the pair with a very knowing expression on her face.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Isobel said, turning her head to look out the window.

"Nor do I," Richard replied, putting his hand on top of Isobel's on the seat. Violet smiled lightly at the pair and waited to be dropped off at the Dower house.

Once Violet left the car, leaving the newly engaged couple alone, they faced one another.

"I love you Isobel," Richard said quietly, bringing his hand up to touch her face gently.

"I love you too Richard," Isobel responded, leaning towards him and sealing her love for him with a kiss.

Once they broke apart, Richard took Isobel's hand in his and for the rest of the drive, they sat in a comfortable silence.

END OF CHAPTER IV