Sorry for the delay on this one but my thesis has been getting in the way and the lack of reviews has me thinking folks are losing interest in this story :(
Richard sighed to calm himself down before the view around him got the better of him and he let out a chuckle before breathing through the pain long his back the laugh had provoked. But it was really quite ironic...His family demanded he be discharged as soon as possible, reassuring Douglas that Isobel was moving in as well and that she would be his nurse. Douglas and Richard had been reluctant for different reasons. Richard did not want to be a burden, Douglas did not want to leave his friend out of his sight but May glared at him, Isobel hounded him before both giving him what Richard called the 'doe eyed' look. Isobel pulled it with him too, damn thing worked all the bloody time. Women...
So this is how he ended up in his present predicament. Isobel moved in before he did in the ground floor bedroom and since his was upstairs he ended up taking hers. She had only said she'd take his room for the sake of propriety and respect for May and Tim but they all knew she slept beside him on the big bed...her hand on his chest, his hand playing with her long hair as his nose took in the scent - God he loved it.
But Isobel was a girly girl. He always noticed that, she was practical - but girly. Even her practical shirts had some sort of pattern or flowers on it (never mind the beauty she preened herself into when they had dinner at the abbey)and her hair was always beautiful no matter how practical the style was. And her hats - Isobel was a hat girl. He looked around him, inspecting the rainbow row of hats in their boxes, almost everyone of them reminded him of a moment he spent with her. The red one she wore when he first met her, the blue and cream one she wore when he proposed, the black one she wore while mourning the grey one with a burgundy ribbon she like to wear around the village and the navy blue she used when she worked for him as a nurse. Even when she knew very well she would have to take it off, especially while working...Isobel Crawley never went out without a hat.
His eyes wondered down to another row of heeled Mary-Janes also in different colours, she had such small feet it was almost comical when considering the tornado that was the woman they carried. But she truly was small, average height and dainty hands, her frame fit right into his when they made love. It made him appreciate her vulnerability physically as well as emotionally, everyone around her expected her to be a tower of strength in all places at all times but Isobel was a human being too. She hurt, cried, suffered, coped and that made her understand people she dealt with coming from all walks of life and he loved her for it. Thank God she came along to help him deal with this, he realised he did not exactly welcome her with open arms but the stubborn lady that she was, would not take no for an answer.
He looked at the fresh toast and tea she laid on his tray and smiled at the fact that she remembered exactly how he liked his tea from their days as colleagues. He missed that, their banter, arguments, discussions about the latest medical journals. He started to nibble as he knew he would have to face the Crawley wrath - besides, the toast was good and his appetite has slowly started to restore itself. Plus the rewards were amazing, Isobel gave him a long, deep kiss after dinner the previous evening. He closed his eyes and could still feel her small hands running through his hair, her soft lips against his and her tongue -
His memory was interrupted by the object of his fantasies storming to the door and sitting on the bed, trying to catch her breath.
"What's wrong, darling? Did you run back here?" he asked asked as he offered her a sip of his tea which she took humming in contentment as the hot liquid ran down her throat.
"Yes, Richard you will never guess who May and I met while shopping...Mary and Cora."
At this Richard bristled "What? Why are they here? Did you tell them -"
"No! Of course not! May and I were just getting some bolts of silk after getting your medicine and they were there. We went to have tea with them...I introduced May as a friend I met here in Edinburgh which they thankfully bought - but than they asked me about you..."
Her soft hand was on the soft, freshly shaven skin of his cheek as she drew closer to him placing the other hand flat on his chest "I would never betray your trust, Richard...ever. I jeopardized our relationship once - I'll never do it again." she finished in hushed tones before putting her lips to his. "They asked me how you were, hoping to breach the subject but I just said you were fine and left it at that. Apparently, Mary is visiting her friend and they are heading further up to Inverness but I guarantee cousin Violet won't hide behind propriety and will suss it out one way or another - and they will tell her, probably as we speak."
Richard looked at her and sighed, resting his hands on her delicate waist "Isobel what are you not telling me?" she was not meeting his eye and her furrowed brow betrayed her discomfort.
'Darn he knows me too well...' thought the brunette "Cousin Violet knows I'm here. She sent me to find you - only to find you and bring you back!" she reassured when she felt him pull away "What happened between us was totally unexpected I was only going to appeal to the doctor in you because the whole village loves you and you're incredibly missed - they won't accept your replacement, they just want you and who can blame them... But now, after knowing what happened to you and after we finally accepted each other as soul mates, I could stay here - indeed anywhere with you till the end of my days." she finished, her eyes were filled with tears as she became afraid to lose all she had found in Scotland.
Richard looked into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity wiping her tears with his fingers "Isobel, don't cry, you know I cannot bear it. So you're a secret spy now, huh?" he smiled lovingly at her "Not to mention my soul mate!"
Isobel buried her nose in his neck, relieved at he did not misunderstand her agreement with Violet but she'd meant it. He was her family now and she would stay with him wherever he came to rest. She feigned deep thought "Yes and I have to tell you there are both quite demanding jobs. I suppose I would need to let one of them go." His index finger lifted her delicate chin up for her to look at his sea blue eyes looking earnestly into her big brown ones.
"It had better not be the latter my darling girl, as I'm never letting you go now." he whispered, as she rubbed her nose against his.
"Thanks good to know ." she said before resting her small hands on his broad shoulders and pressing her lips to his.
"Yes, Cora? Can you hear me?" shrieked Violet Crawley down the telephone before exhaling breath through her nose in irritation and looking at her son who was sitting on the sofa trying to keep his amusement at bay. She gave him the deathly glare she prided herself on being famous for which prompted him to leave the room.
"Yes I think Isobel rather resents the fact that I sent backup, she's not stupid Cora she knows. I just received a telegram telling me as such and she also says she needs more time. Did you see the doctor at all?...Strange...but I'm afraid all this peace and quiet is getting rather boring. I love my son but he takes so much after his father, I almost slept in my soup yesterday evening. Edith went out with Marigold, he's lost without you and the girls and Isobel is not there to get a rise out of now so I'm ready for you all to come back. Also Spratt tells me Moseley has been looking rather forlorn and it my have to do with the fact that you took Baxter with you. Yes I know she's your ladies made but even Denker hinted that something is going on between those two...my staff are such a handful- so hurry back down here and save me from all this insanity." finished the matriarch with a classic purse of the lips.
So what do you think? Cannot wait until they start releasing indoor bts photos - need a richobel dose here!
