- And the rest of the family?- Isobel asked sitting comfortably on the couch. Cora shrugged her shoulders taking a cup of tea into her hands.
- Tom and Mary are outside, managing the property. I believe that they are now at the Grinsons farm and Edith is in London again.- she answered and looked at the door that opened in that exact moment.
- Doctor Clakson.- she smiled inviting him inside the room. – Isobel has told me everything about Barrow yet, but I want to ask you if there is anything we could do to help even more, anyway.-
- There will be no need, mylady.- Richard answered with polite smile and explained: – Barrow is a young man with good health and his injuries are healing very well. I think that in 2 weeks time he will be allright and able to serve again.-
- I am glad to hear it.- Cora nodded. – May I offer you a cup of tea?- she asked glancing at the teapot. Isobel eyed him with questioing look as well. Richard, anyway, looked at the tower clock standing in the corner at first and then nodded. – I can afford one cup.- he smiled and seated himself on the couch, next to Isobel. Afterwards, Cora surprisingly took the teapot and poured another cup of tea shocking Carson and her guests as well. She handed it to the doctor and with smile asked:
- I have heard that you are going to London for several days.-
- Yes. We are attending medical confference.- Richard nodded and sipped from the tea.
- I am glad that Isobel is going with you.- she eyed her for a moment and then him as well. – It is sometimes needful, to change the surrounding and free yourself from the dayly routine, isn´t it?-
- Of course.- Richard agreed. – But I don´t know if Isobel mentioned that she had been invited recieving formal invitation as well.-
- Really?- Cora exclaimed surprised and stared at Isobel, whose cheeks turned little bit red.
- Maybe I have forgotten to mention it before.- she admitted shrugging her shoulders. Richard grinned for a second when she gave him another look. Cora continued in questioning both of them in fact.
- I don´t understand that.- she started. – I have thought that only medical doctors are invited for similar confferences and they can invite someone as a companion, like in your case.- that really confused her. She assumed that this was the sign that they are not just friends, which was pretty obvious for everyone around, except for Robert, of course.
- Believe me Cora,- Isobel smiled, - I have been taken aback as well.- Richard grinned again remembering that day and all the crazy events that made it unforgettable. – But in fact, Richard is responsible for this surprise.- she looked at him and then focused on Cora soon afterwards.
- I am lost completely now.- Cora admitted truthfully frowning little bit. - Is there any possibility to explain it little bit more?-
- Some time ago,- Isobel nodded.- Richard had sent several thematic articles to the redaction office of medical journal as he had been asked and they published two of them, one was mine.- she explained but Richard had the feeling that it needed to be clarified little bit more and continued.
- That article was a huge success that impressed the whole redaction and according to my decent opinion, they wanted to get to know the author personally and invited you, Isobel, for the medical confference.-
- That´s fantastic.- Cora said pleased. – I don´t understand why haven´t you told us about this before.-
- I didn´t think you would be interested.- Isobel admitted.
The conversation was going on in more pleasant and released atmosphere. Cora questioned them, wanting to know more about the article content Isobel had written and later on, she listened with interest, Isobel´s description of Richard´s article. He was finally forced by these two curious women to reveal something more about his research in past. Some of the witty stories he mentioned were new to Isobel as well. They had to laugh from time to time and Cora eyed Isobel with relief and satisfaction that she smiled again. Not even the looks of admiration that Richard was paying Isobel escaped her eyes and that satisfied her even more.
Richard was informing Cora about the hospital condition when a knock interrupted them.
- I am sorry to interrupt.- said the nanny opening the door with kids after seeing that the room is occupied by adults. But Cora smiled.
- There´s no need to, Tinker. You can leave the kinds here and take a break for a while.-
Little Sybie grinned puckishly and run directly to her grandmother when hearing approval not seeing people on the couch .
- I take George.- said Isobel reaching for the little boy with big blue eyes. Sybie seated herself on the knees of Cora and only then she noticed Isobel with George in her arms sitting next to Richard.
- Richie!- she exclaimed surprised and pleased at the same time, climbing from the knees of her grandmother again and reaching him.
- Sybie.- he said and looked at Cora if she approves, but she was already grinning like Isobel that sat next to him. George was smiling as well eying his cousin and idol sitting almost next to him.
- I have heard rumours, that you are healing here again. Is it right?- the little miss asked Richard with sparkle in her eyes.
- That´s right.- he nodded. Sybie kneeled down in order to look higher, put her little hand on Richard´s arm to stabilize herself and with serious look continued: - I wanted to help you, like the last time. Why didn´t you call me?- Cora had to laugh which earned her a look of reproach from her grandaughter. Richard looked serious as well. – I have called for you, but you were outside, on walk.- he explained. – Isobel had to help me instead.-
- That´s true, sweetie.- said Cora trying to hide her smile and Isobel nodded as well.
- Alright Richie, but the next time, wait for me! I might have found new cure for baccilli.-
- Really?- he played with her not looking that shocked as Cora, that hadn´t heard her grandaughter to speak like that before. She didn´t listen to their next talk, though, because Carson interrupted her with notice.
- Yes! I have tried it on George.- the little girl continued and caught George´s attention again. Cora stood up and announced them: - Will you excuse me for a moment? An urgent call.- she explained and left. Richard gazed at the girl again, little bit worried as well as Isobel that directly asked.
- What have you tried, Sybie?- And Sybie started to explain again but this time climbed onto Richard´s knees so she could demonstrate everything on her little patient.
- Few days ago, George started to cry and children cry when their tummy hurts, don´t they Richie?- she addressed him but didn´t wait for an answer. – Tummy hurts only if full of bacilli and that´s why I´ve decided to help him, as there was no nanny. I gave him one cookie. So big and then he stopped.- she smiled at her cousin. – And then I did this.- she demonstrated and tickled George, who laughed happily. – George is very good patient.- she added. Richard and Isobel sighed with relief.
- Such method of cure sounds very interesting, doesn´t it, Richie?- Isobel observed with witty smile this time and looked at the children that started to play.
- You are having great fun, am I right?- he noted.
- Indeed, you are.- she nodded and Richard shook his head but smiled- she looked gorgeous when smiling. – That shortcut is just perfect for you.-
- I see. But I am curious why didn´t Sybie create any shortcut of your name. There would be so many possibilities, I am sure.- this time was the joyful sparkle in his ocean-blue eyes. Sybie, when hearing her name, turned to face Richard again.
- Have you said anything, Richie?- she asked and Isobel, seeing his look, only widened her eyes.
- Yes.- his look was provocative now and directed to the woman sitting next to him. – I was only curious if you created any shortcut for,-
- Richard!- Isobel addressed him but he continued not paying her attention with triumphal face expression.
- for George.- he added.
- Of course.- Sybie added and looked at George calling him by the name she gave him: - Bunnie!- George´s attention sharpenned and he stopped to play with Isobel´s necklace.
- Sybie!- came out of his lips markedly but still somehow jabbering.
- That´s his first word!- Isobel exclaimed surprised. – Have you heard it as well?- she asked Richard for certainity.
- I did.- he nodded
- Has he ever called you like that before, Sybie?- Isobel asked and the little girl grinned with nod.
- He always says my name when I call him like that.- she explained as if it was the most common thing.
- Bunnie!- addressed him Isobel this time and George answered. – Sybie!- pointing at her.
- I told you so.- Sybie added. George started to reach his hands for Sybie. - I think that this little boy wants to join me and Richie.-
- Oh.- Isobel observed the obvious as well. – Would you mind?- she asked Richard kowing it was useless.
- No. Anyway, I have no choice, have I?- he asked the girl on his knees that shook her head puckishly again and managed to take George from Isobel´s hands as well. – I have become a comfortable settee for children as it seems.- he grinned and tickled the little princess.
- Richie.- she exclaimed and started to tickle him as well. George joined her in a minute. Richard had to smile even though he wasn´t ticklish and Isobel did the same. Sybie finnally stood up to reach higher and embraced Richard around the neck, which shocked him in fact. George, always repeating everything after his great idol Sybie, tried to stood up grabbing Richard´s hem of shirt. This sudden movement caught Isobel´s attention and she moved her hand on the small of his back to stabilize him in the same moment as Richard. Together, with untypical smiles on their lips, they helped George to stand up so he could embrace Richard as well. George whooped happily so everybody had to laugh.
- Isn´t he funny?- Sybie asked giving look to the two adults that still stabilized her cousin with their fingers almost entangled. They nodded breaking their well-knowing looks and Sybie started telling them another stories. Only Richard listened carefully though. Isobel stared at Richard, who really seemed to be concentrated when listening to Sybil´s explanations. George meanwhile played with his bowtie. It was wonderful look. At Sybie so pleased that someone gave her full attention, at George who looked exactly like Matthew at his age, at Richard who seemed so natural with the kids obviously enjoying every word or movement they did. He stroked her hand again, that lied under his one on George´s back and she smiled because now she felt that their relationship was really becoming something more than just a friendship.
- You know, - she started all at once, - you look like an undeniable grandfather now.-
- Do I?- he reacted with smile but looked at one of the kids instead.
- Really.- she nodded, - you are paying them even more attention than me right now.- George started babbling again and so they looked at him awaiting that he will say something again, but he only babbled waving with Richard´s bowtie, which he managed to untie somehow. Richard glanced Isobel once more carressing the back of her hand. She returned him the look but they were interrupted by Cora that returned. Richard slowly released Isobel´s hand.
- I hope, that they hadn´t exhausted you completely.- she marked when seeing the four of them on couch.
- No. Not at all- Richard smiled back. – I am only surprised that they still seem to have enough energy.-
I hope you enjoyed this ´shorter´ chapter :D I always missed similar scenes in the show where we would see Isobel with her grandson...and I absolutely love little Sybil...next chapter will concern finally the conferrence...