I'm still out of breath but I must ask, "Are you all right?"
She too is in a similar state but nods in the affirmative.
Using a knee and elbow I roll us onto our sides, the comforter slides down to pool at our waists. I can't seem to stop touching her afraid that she will disappear and I'll wake up in my bed alone. I twist a lock of her hair around my finger careful not to pull it too tight. We have become lovers, I feel a tad guilty of reneging on my promise to myself of not to make love to her last night but then my mind reasons that I made that promise for last night and we have made love on a new day.
Her fingers toy with my chest again and I'm struck by how right this. The light outside is still changing and soon it is time to leave this haven we have created.
We bathe and change separately so we can actually get to the hospital on time. There is a noticeable mark on my neck which my shirt collar does not adequately cover and I find I don't care. I finish the knot on my tie and turn to leave the room. Isobel is dressed in Navy Blue, while the color is a darker hue, to me it is if she is wearing bright red I hated the sight of her in black. The chain I gave her last night is visible just at the back of her neck. I want her again.
I must have made some noise for she cocks her head to side, "What is it?"
I decide on the truth, "I was just thinking I want to take you back to bed."
She blushes and ducks her head, a shy Isobel, will wonders never cease?
As I lock up the house I notice the fingers on her left hand are moving, no doubt her hand is feeling the absence of her wedding band. We begin walking towards the hospital, I only just remember that I have left my bicycle there and I groan. Before she can ask I tell her, "I left my bicycle at the hospital...have no clue what state it is in."
"That's a thought, a bicycle. Matthew had one I can borrow I'm sure he-
She stops mid stride and mid thought and I can see her emotions warring inside her. The tears are beginning to pool in her eyes and with the emotional ups and downs these past weeks she doesn't have the reserve to pull herself together and a breakdown here in public view would be devastating. The hospital is close but not close enough. The Grantham Arms Pub is in view and I know Jonathan will be awake. I pull Isobel along and her tears spill over just as we reach the door. I lean on it and it opens the bell tinkling above us. Jonathan is behind the bar his back is to us "If you can't read the sign on the door we're closed" he turns and sees me depositing Isobel in a chair. "Oh Dr. Clarkson, I didn't know it was you. Can I help?"
I dig into my pocket and slap a half crown on the table, "Brandy, please."
I pull up another chair and sit beside Isobel slinging an arm around her drawing her close to me. Jonathan reappears with a glass. Isobel tries to hold it but her hand is shaking so I cover her hand with my own and press the glass to her lips. She takes a sip but it's not enough, "Come on lass a bit more."
She obliges and soon the trembling stops. She sniffles and I give her my handkerchief. It breaks my heart when she wipes her eyes, her lower lip trembling in a praiseworthy attempt to control her tears.
"Sorry" she murmurs.
"For what?" I ask genuinely confused.
"I shouldn't cry." Is her statement as her eyes fill again.
I pull her closer to me and drop a kiss in her hair, "You lost your child, you weep all you want."
Eventually the tears stop and Jonathan is more than willing to let her go back to the lavatory to right herself. Millie, Jonathan's wife comes over to collect the glass. Her eyes dart to money I've left on the table. "Don't you be worrying over this brandy doctor. You tell Mrs. Crawley it's on the house."
I place the half crown back into my pocket, "That's very kind of you, I will tell her."
Millie smiles at me a little sadly, "It's good you're looking after her, Old Lady Grantham said you would be."
My confusion must show for Millie continues, "We saw her the other day and wanted to pay our respects and ask if there summat we could do. Perhaps look in on Mrs. Crawley. She said that you were looking after her and that would be the best thing."
I digest this new information, I had assumed that it was only Lord Grantham who was on our side. I think back to our meeting yesterday.
"Yes, Cora and Mama heard from a villager that you had nice walk."
"And?"
"That's it. Look I know that cousin Isobel is staying with you. Cora wanted me to speak to you and I just have."
I mentally kick myself for not having picked up on it. Lady Cora was the one with problem not the Dowager Countess or Lord Grantham. I scoff at this, I would have thought it would have been the other way round especially after what had transpired with Sybil. Thinking of Sybil has me aching for Isobel. When she reappears she graces me with a smile.
"Ready to go?" I say augmenting my words by pointing at the door.
She draws a breath in through her nose and she seems to grow a few inches, "Yes, I think I am."
