Author's note: Thank you for your support. Enjoy the next chapter! I hope the ending is not too disturbing.

Chapter 10

Two days later, Isobel Crawley was in a hurry as she went to the Dower House. She had been working late in the local hospital and had only the shortest time for freshen herself up and putting on more appropriate clothes. Instead of her hospital clothes she was now wearing an evening gown. Violet had sent her a letter this morning asking her to come to dinner. She informed her that a friend of her would come together with his children. Again, the Dowager had been very mysterious. It was very unusual of her to send an invitation for dinner the same day the meeting was supposed to be held. Isobel did not know what to think of it. Was she supposed to be a mediocre addition to the Dowager's dinner party?

At the Dower House, Spratt opened the door and led Isobel to Violet's sitting room.

"Mrs Crawley", the butler announced.

"Hello, my dear," the Dowager Countess of Grantham in a very cheerful tone, I'm glad you were able to come to our little dinner." She smiled.

Isobel thanked for the invitation and looked around for Violet's other guests. Then, she had to inhale deeply. Lord Merton and his two sons were standing near the mantelpiece! Isobel could not believe it. They were the people Violet had been referring to in her letter. Was Violet that cruel to her? Isobel looked furiously at Violet. Her cousin gave her an apologetic look.

Dickie had seen the alarming change in Isobel's state. Her face had turned from bright red to ashen and her body was shaken so that she had to lean heavily on a chair.

He now approached her, looking at her in confusion. He put his right hand lightly on her left arm. She did not seem to notice it.

"What is the matter with you, Isobel?" he said so quietly that only she could hear him.

"What are you and your sons doing here?" she asked. "If I had known, I would not have come!"

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying you did not know they were coming too?

"No", she hissed, "Violet did not tell me who exactly was coming. I did not even know you were coming!"

Dickie was about to say something to Violet, when Larry Grey opened his mouth for the first time after Isobel's arrival.

"Could someone please explain what is going on here? I feel as if we are all part of a very bad comedy."

"For once I agree with Larry Grey", Isobel said coldly and turned to Violet. She was very angry. She waited for her cousin to explain the situation. Violet understood the silent hint.

"Well, since we are all grown up people, I thought we have a little meeting on neutral ground to discuss certain things."

Isobel opened her mouth to say something when Spratt came in to announce that dinner was ready. Dickie held out his arm to lead Isobel to the dining room.

"I am so very sorry my dear", Lord Merton said. "I had no idea you did not know."

"It's not your fault. This seems to be Violet latest scheme."

Dinner was an awkward affair. Violet's plan did not work very well. Interestingly, both the Grey brothers were, at least for their standards, rather polite. However, the atmosphere was tense and Lord Merton's attempts to converse failed. Isobel was still angry with Violet and contributed only monosyllabic to the conversation. She was just picking at her food on her plate and felt nauseous. Larry watched her carefully. There was the ghost of a malicious grin on his face. It was over with his politeness.

He then, finally, opened his mouth to address Violet: "Lady Grantham, would you please enlighten us all what certain things you would like us to discuss?

"I assume you are aware what exactly I mean, since you are a clever man, Mr. Grey?" was the reply. "There is only one thing I would like to discuss." She looked at him darkly. He was not impressed.

"I wouldn't know what should have changed. Do you expect my brother and me to have changed our minds from one day to the next concerning Mrs. Crawley? Why should we?"

Suddenly, there came a strange noise from the other side of the table. It was Lord Merton who seemed to breathe stertorously. The cutlery felt out of his hands. His face turned blue as he desperately rasped for air. It was in vain. Everybody, except Isobel, sat there in shock, completely helpless. She cried "Call an ambulance immediately!" and hurried towards Dickie.

Author's note: Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. I update as soon as possible.