Chapter 20
The following day they returned to Yorkshire by the morning train. When they finally pulled into York station they were taken straight to Downton.
"I'm very grateful for what you did, Dr Clarkson," Tom said, "I don't want his money but I am glad he can't ruin anyone else's life. I know him going to prison can't bring Sybil or those other women back but it is no less than he deserved."
"It wasn't easy Tom. He showed no emotion whatsoever, even when he was taken away. It took every bit of self control I had not to lay him out cold,"
"That is exactly what I would have done and got myself into trouble; although he isn't worth the energy,"
OO
After dinner Robert invited Clarkson to join him in the library,"
"Very well Lord Grantham but then we must leave because Isobel needs to rest,"
"Matthew told me what happened; will she be alright?"
"She's already much better on account of the iron tonic, Lord Grantham; you didn't see her three days ago"
"No I didn't. I am glad you married her. I almost envy your happiness,"
"She is everything to me, Lord Grantham. She comforted me when I needed it and reliving that night was far from pleasant but the fact that he has got what he deserved is reward enough,"
Robert put his hand on Richard's shoulder.
"I should like to apologise to you, dear man. We did not consider your feelings or opinions that night, at least I did not, and because of that my daughter died. She might still be here had I sent him away and listened to you and I have to live with that for the rest of my life but I am truly sorry. No man likes to have his professional integrity or pride insulted."
"We didn't know his track record then Lord Grantham," Richard replied, "Nothing can bring Lady Sybil or those other women back but hopefully he now has time to reflect on his actions and hopefully prison will teach him a harsh lesson in humility but I accept your apology,"
"Look after cousin Isobel,"
"Oh I will do that until my last breath; she and I need to go away for a few days as it will help get her back to full strength and I could use some time away,"
OO
"Dr Clarkson," Edith said when he had come out of the library, "Anthony has a bit of pain in his bad arm; could you take a look?"
"Of course,"
Anthony and Richard went into the library.
"There is actually nothing wrong," Anthony admitted, "it's just an excuse so I can get home and have my lovely wife to myself."
"I can't argue with that," Richard said, "Isobel needs to rest,"
OO
Edith nestled close to her husband in the back of the car.
"There is nothing at all wrong with my arm," he murmured seductively in her ear, "I just thought it would be jolly nice to spend a whole evening and night in bed naked with my beautiful wife,"
"I thought as much," Edith whispered, "I was going to have an imaginary headache if that hadn't worked," she held his good hand, "Oh Anthony darling I have this irresistible urge to undress my gorgeous husband and let him seduce me,"
"Your wish is my command Lady Strallan," he winked at her.
OO
Two days later Richard and Isobel went to Scarborough for a much deserved break.
They checked into a small guest house and went for a walk on the beach. Isobel was feeling so much better and fiercely proud of her husband for bringing Tapsell to justice.
It was a warm evening as they walked along hand in hand. They had left their shoes behind a rock and were barefoot at the water's edge as the waves lapped gently about their ankles. The sun was setting and the water sparkled red and gold in the dying rays of the sun.
Richard pulled Isobel into his arms and kissed her passionately; exploring her mouth and throat. She melted into his embrace and gently stroked his back.
It was a beautiful moment and neither spoilt it with words. They just stood there, holding each other. Isobel looked into her husband's eyes and gently trailed her fingertips down his cheek
They turned and walked back to their guesthouse stopping in a pub en route. Isobel drank white wine, Richard had whisky, and they held hands tightly across the wooden table.
"I love you Dr Clarkson," she whispered, "and I am going to show you just how much I appreciate you tonight,"
"I look forward to it Mrs Clarkson," he whispered back and Isobel felt a shiver run down her back as she always did when he called her by her married name. She could not hide just how alive and content she felt being alone with the man she loved without the usual distractions. He was handsome and everything she wanted.
He studied her. God she was beautiful to him; his Isobel was so alive and made him so happy. Her support and faith in him had never wavered. He had never dreamt that terrible morning, when he had sought understanding and comfort, that her love would provide him with sanctuary and make him rethink his life and reassess his priorities for the better. The enquiry had brought justice and the desired result; no one was shedding tears for Tapsell's incarceration but Richard Clarkson still maintained that the best and only good thing to come from Sybil's death was he and Isobel finding each other. He knew that he would love her until his dying breath and he looked forward to every day beside her.
"Darling Isobel," he murmured, "you are everything to me and I love you more than I can ever say. I admire you for your courage and compassion; your support and belief in me is second to none. How did I ever get to be so fortunate at my time of life?"
Tears filled her eyes.
"Oh Richard darling, you mean everything to me too. You have taken such good care of me that I feel strong as an ox now and just knowing I can turn to you gives me total peace," she stroked his hand, "You have had a tough time of it but I hope I give you peace too,"
"Oh Isobel, you are more than a source of peace you are my sanctuary,"
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
He leaned across and whispered, "Right now I want to take my loving beautiful wife home, undress her and make love to her all night long,"
"I like the sound of that," she murmured.
OO
Edith and Anthony were making love. Her arms were around his neck as she pushed up hard and fast against his passionate thrust.
"Oh Edith," he moaned as he released his sticky seminal fluid inside her.
She lay still in the crook of his good arm and looked into those blue eyes that made her melt inside. She was bitterly disappointed because she had just had another monthly visit.
He comforted her as she sobbed.
"It will happen my love," he whispered, "We will just have to try a bit harder and there will be absolutely no hardship in that,"
"I know," she sighed.
OO
Richard pulled Isobel into his arms as soon as the door was shut and they scrambled to undress each other; stopping to kiss and caress. His mouth caressed her breasts as his tongue swirled around her erect nipples and she shivered violently. They collapsed on the bed a naked tangle of limbs, hands and mouths caressing ardently. He pleasured her sex; sending waves of pleasure washing over her as she began to shake violently.
"Oh Richard," she moaned. His mouth continued to caress her into a total frenzy and made every nerve ending in her body tingle and ache for him even as she felt him trembling. He had a way of taking her to the brink, making her absolutely crave him before he took her for a fast ride over the apex of desire. He excited her.
"Richard," she begged her voice hoarse with ardent desire, "I need you inside me now before I explode."
He moved back up her body and slipped inside her with long steady strokes which caressed her into a deliciously erotic heaven. She closed her eyes to heighten the sensation as her arms went around his neck and drew his head down for a passionate kiss as her hands roamed his back and shoulders.
"Oh Isobel," he moaned softly. They were slicked with sweat but still far from sated. Finally half an hour or so later he gasped her name as he released his stickiness inside her body and moments later her body responded.
He lay on top of her for a moment to recover his breath; thinking that if he died at that moment he would die happy.
He pulled her close to him and she rested her head on his chest.
"Oh darling Richard," she murmured, "I love you so much,"
"I love you too Isobel," he murmured back, "more than you can ever know,"
OO
Four months later
.Edith knelt on the bathroom floor sweating and shaking. She had just been sick for the fourth morning in a row and she was hopeful.
Anthony crouched beside her and put his good arm around her. She swallowed hating the taste of the bile. She melted against him feeling fragile like she was made of glass.
"I'm sorry to have woken you again my darling," she said.
"It's alright Edith darling; please don't ever apologise,"
"Do I dare to hope this month?"
"I dare to hope my sweet lovely Lady Strallan," he crooned softly tangling his fingers in her coppery hair. "We will call Dr Clarkson later but I want you to rest today,"
"I won't argue with you about that; I'm exhausted," she whispered.
He helped her to her feet and led her back to bed where he poured her a glass of water to take the nasty taste away.
"Get some sleep my love," he said, "When you wake up I will be right here beside you,"
"Thank you my love," she whispered.
OO
Anthony waited outside the room while Clarkson examined his wife.
"You're definitely pregnant, Lady Strallan," he smiled, "Almost four months so you will start to show soon,"
Edith smiled.
"You're in the best possible hands; Sir Anthony will take care of you as will I when your time comes,"
"You are the only doctor I want," Edith said.
Clarkson came out of the room.
"Lady Strallan is definitely pregnant, Sir Anthony. She will begin to show soon,"
"That's wonderful," Anthony gasped.
"I will look after her, don't worry."
"I know you will; if it was not for you and Isobel we would not be together to celebrate this happy moment,"
He went into the room and Edith threw her arms around him.
"Oh Anthony, at long last it's happened. You can't know how proud I am to be carrying your heir,"
"Oh my precious darling, I am so pleased," he kissed her.
OO
The next few months passed; As her time drew near Edith spent her days reading previously unknown literary gems from Anthony's library and taking short brisk walks around the Locksley estate which felt more like home to her than Downton ever had because here her opinion was listened to and she was appreciated and valued. Anthony's servants loved her and everyone was excited at the impending arrival of an heir for their beloved master.
Robert, Cora, Violet and Tom were at Locksley for supper. Mathew had had to take care of some personal business back in Manchester and had taken Mary with him as she wanted to see where he had come from.
They were in the library after dinner, drinking coffee, when Edith felt a sharp twinge. She tried to ignore it but then another came and she was distinctly aware of something wet running down her legs.
"Anthony," she gripped his arm, "The baby is coming,"
"It's a week early," he turned pale and he rang for the butler.
"Oakley, please telephone Dr Clarkson and tell him Lady Strallan is in labour,"
"Very good Sir Anthony,"
Cora and Violet helped Edith upstairs to her room which she had never slept in until now
"It will be alright," Tom said.
"I really hope so," Anthony was pale and his forehead was beaded with perspiration. "I won't relax until I know it's over, not after the last time when I lost them both,"
Anthony was pacing and Robert put a hand on his shoulder.
"It will be alright dear chap,"
"I really hope so Lord Grantham,"
Richard and Isobel arrived moments later and Anthony excused himself to show them upstairs. Violet came back down with him but Cora stayed to help.
"It will be alright Anthony,"
"I am sure it will, Lady Grantham, but after what happened with the first Lady Strallan I really will not relax until it's over,"
Tom pressed a glass of whisky into Anthony's hand.
"Thank you Tom, have one yourself too,"
OO
As the night wore on Cora and Isobel took turns to wipe Edith's face with a damp cloth. Thankfully there was no apparent distress on the part of either Edith or the baby. Richard gave her a little morphine because she was in pain but other than that he kept encouraging her.
"She will be alright won't she Dr Clarkson?" Cora's bottom lip trembled and Isobel put an arm around her shoulders knowing she was thinking about Sybil.
"It will be fine Lady Grantham," he said,
He glanced down between Edith's legs.
"I can see the head," he announced, "I want you to push now Lady Strallan, push as hard as you can."
Edith made a supreme effort for she was tired.
"Come on, once more,"
Edith pushed and the baby shot out followed by a gush of sticky embryonic fluid. Richard clamped and cut the cord and passed the baby to Isobel who cleaned him up and wrapped him in a shawl.
"You have a son, Lady Strallan," he said, "Congratulations."
Isobel placed the baby at his mother's breast where he fed hungrily.
"I need to see Anthony," Edith said, "I know he will be tormented because of what happened to Maud."
"I'll go and fetch him," Richard said.
"I want you and Isobel to be godparents," Edith said, "if it weren't for you we would never have got back together,"
"I would be honoured, Lady Strallan,"
OO
"You have a son, Sir Anthony," Clarkson said entering the room, "He is fine and Lady Strallan is tired but elated. There were no problems at all."
Anthony almost ran upstairs and lingered on the threshold.
Edith looked at him.
"Come and meet your son," she said.
"Congratulations," Cora said as she and Isobel left the room.
Anthony sat on the bed and Edith placed the baby in the crook of his good arm. Anthony's eyes filled with tears.
"He's beautiful," he gasped.
"I know," Anthony kissed them both, "Hello Anthony Richard Strallan,"
"That's nice," Edith said, "He has been good to us,"
OO
Isobel and Richard returned to Crawley House just before dawn broke.
Richard put his arms around Isobel.
"Tonight was a very special moment for me," he breathed, "Lord Grantham has a grandson and the mother survived. I feel totally vindicated, Isobel and to think we will be godparents. That is the closest I will get to fatherhood. I wish to god I had met you years ago,"
"I think Anthony was relieved,"
"I'm not surprised. He went through hell with the late Lady Strallan and the baby didn't make it either but he will be a good father."
Isobel kissed him.
"Richard darling, I am just so glad to be your wife because you make me feel so alive; I love you so much and will do until my last breath."
"I'm privileged to love you Isobel and I truly am yours until my last breath too."
"Let's get some rest now," she murmured, "I just want to hold you for what's left of the night."
"That my darling sounds like a good plan,"
He took her hand and they went upstairs to their room knowing that whatever storms came they would weather them together. When they had uttered the words until death us do part they had meant them with every fibre of their being.
A/N: Thanks for reading to the end. I thought it was about time someone wrote a story where Tapsell got his just desserts and let's hope he will learn a lesson in humility while in prison. But most of all the pleasure in writing is the exploration of character relationships and exploring the love and devotion between them.
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