Author's note: Thank you so much for your kind reviews! They made me very happy. Sorry for the delay.
Chapter 11
Isobel was now at Dickie's side. All of her attempts to get Lord Merton's throat free had failed. Time was precious and it was running out. Dickie's face grew darker.
"Would someone please help me to lay Lord Merton on his back?" Isobel asked. Her voice was still calm but inside her head there was chaos. Immediately, a footman came to her help and together they put Lord Merton on the floor. It remained only one method to save Dickie's life. It was highly risky and dangerous and very difficult. However, she had to do it. Otherwise he would die.
Therefore, Isobel did not hesitate for one moment. She undid his tie with quick fingers and opened his collar so that his throat was free. Then, she took a very sharp knife from the dinner table, cleaned it in the water carafe and dried it off with a napkin. All this was done in mere seconds. Isobel ordered the footman to seize Lord Merton and kneeled down next to her former fiancé. She felt the gap between the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage. Isobel whispered "Trust me!" to Dickie. Then, she inhaled deeply and pushed the knife in the gap. Someone gasped.
"Woman! What are you doing?!" Larry shouted, "Are you insane?" He was about to push Isobel away from his father when his brother Timothy intervened and detained him. "Stop it, you fool! She's trying to save father's life."
Lord Merton convulsed and his blood spurted on his shirt and Isobel's gloves and her evening gown. Then, on could hear a wheezing. Dickie could breathe again. Isobel sighed with relieve. Tears of relief were running down her cheeks.
Isobel had to turn the knife in the wound to keep it open so that Dickie could breathe regularly.
"Thank God!" she could hear Violet say.
Only minutes later, Doctor Clarkson and the ambulance corps arrived. Violet informed them of what had happened.
Isobel kneeled still next to Lord Merton. Her right hand held still the knife in the wound, her left hand rested on his shoulder. She did not care for etiquette. It was neither the time nor the moment for such things.
The ambulance corps lifted Lord Merton and put him on the stretcher. Dr Clarkson turned to Isobel. She stood there with shaking legs and had to lean heavily on a chair.
"I've performed a coniotomy", she informed him. "Otherwise, he would have died."
"You are right." Dr Clarkson said. "You have done an amazing job, Mrs Crawley. Only very few have the knowledge to perform such ambulatory surgery. Well done!" he added, clearly impressed.
She shrugged here shoulders. She was extremely exhausted but she would not rest before Dickie was safe.
Dr Clarkson spoke to the other dinner guests and praised Isobel's actions. She did not listen, she felt sick. When the doctor had finished his little speech, Isobel said to him: "I would like to accompany his Lordship to the hospital, if possible. I want to know that he has arrived there safely."
"As you wish, Mrs Crawley," the doctor said. He said his goodbye to the others and followed the ambulance corps.
Isobel turned to the Dowager "If you would excuse me, Violet. I cannot stay any longer; I have to take my leave."
"You have my sympathy." Violet answered. She seemed shaken too.
Isobel bid Lord Merton's sons a short goodbye and left the room. When she was about to get into the ambulance car someone called out for her. It was Timothy Grey.
"Mrs Crawley, wait a moment, please. I wanted to thank you for saving father's life. If it weren't for you…" He could not say the words. "I am so very grateful."
"It was the least I could do, I am a nurse." Isobel told him. "But thank you for your kind words." Who would have thought of that?
"Goodbye."
Finally, Isobel got into the car and they drove fast to Downton Hospital.
Author's note: Thanks for reading. It would be nice if you left a review. Hopefully, I'll have the time to update soon.