I must say that this was a very difficult chapter to write...I was never quite satisfied with it! I hope that this end result is something you all enjoy!
Saturday evening
"It was so kind of you to invite us," Cora said, kissing Lord Merton on the cheek.
"It's been too long since we've all been together," Dickie replied with a smile, shaking Robert's hand.
"Cora tells me that Timothy will be here this weekend. Has he been staying often…helping with the estate?" Robert asked.
"He has been splitting his time between here and London. I'm not sure he's quite ready to give up his life of diplomacy," Dickie answered with a chuckle. "Though I think he might be keen to settle down soon…his lady friend, Elizabeth, will be here tonight. I do believe she's reining him in, so to speak."
"Splendid!" Cora grinned. "I'm sure Isobel appreciates having another woman in the house."
"Indeed," Dickie said, turning his attention to the youngster tapping him on the leg. "And can this be Master George? Goodness, I think you've grown five inches since I saw you last!"
Mary laughed lightly as Dickie easily picked up her young son, looked him over and then set him back down.
"After inspection, I think I'm right," Dickie said firmly, earning him a giggle from the little boy.
"You might be," Mary said, leaning over to kiss Dickie on the cheek. "Nanny has told me he will need all new clothes for the Season."
She took George's hand and flashed a dazzling smile to her young boy.
"Where is Grandmamma?" George asked, turning back to look up at Dickie. Mary's breath caught, not knowing how Isobel was feeling or if she would even be down to tea this afternoon.
"She was just getting ready to see you. You might find her in the drawing room."
"Might we go see her, Mama?"
"I daresay we'd best. Would you like to lead the way?" Mary asked.
The little boy's head bobbed up and down as he pulled Mary in the right direction, calling for Granny and Donk to follow.
Robert's eyes rolled as he followed his laughing wife and daughter towards the drawing room.
"I am amazed that Robert has not put his foot down when it comes to that ridiculous name."
"Ah, Violet. Now why would he want to disappoint his only grandson?" Dickie asked, kissing Violet on the cheek as the Dowager Countess stepped in to the front hall. "Is Edith not coming?"
"She took Marigold to London. Rosamund wanted to take them shopping or something of the sort," Violet said with a wave of her hand.
"Pity…though I'm sure Marigold will enjoy the city."
"With the way Edith spoils the child, she might never want to return to Yorkshire," Violet commented quietly.
Dickie led her in to the drawing room where George was already up on Isobel's lap. Seeing them enter, she pointed to a train that was set up for George to play with. The little boy slid off of his grandmother's lap and hurried over to the table, allowing Isobel to stand and greet Violet.
"It is good to see you," she said, giving her cousin with a kiss on the cheek.
"And you," Violet answered sincerely. She kept her voice low, however; it would not do for the rest of the family to know how much she appreciated and missed Isobel's friendship. The pair sat down with Cora and Mary while Robert and Dickie began a discussion on crop rotation.
"Have you found a Housekeeper yet?" Cora asked. "I worried about accepting your offer to stay the entire weekend if the issue wasn't settled. We can be quite a handful!"
"Yes, thankfully she arrived last week," Isobel replied. "I was beginning to think poor Mead might leave us if we didn't find anyone soon."
"Nothing is worse than having to find another Housekeeper….except perhaps finding a good lady's maid," Violet commented dryly.
"I must say we were very lucky that Mrs. Hughes was already working at Downton when she was promoted. I don't wish to think what we will do when she and Carson retire," Cora said, looking over to Mary knowingly.
"I've already told you that Anna is spoken for," Mary said, sitting a bit taller and looking away from her mother's piercing gaze. "And should she and Bates ever wish to start a family, it would be difficult for her to run all of Downton at the same time."
"A family?" Violet asked in shock. "Will you keep her on if she does?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?"
"How do you expect her to keep up with a baby in arms?" Violet countered.
"I suppose she and Bates will work out a schedule for someone to watch the child while they are working," Mary replied.
Violet scoffed. "Highly unlikely. You will regret keeping her on."
"Granny, you like Anna!"
"Perhaps but that does not mean she should continue to be a lady's maid. There are reasons that servants should not be married."
"Would you have gone against Carson marrying Mrs. Hughes?" Isobel asked.
Violet shot a glare over at her. "Of course not!"
"What is the difference?" Mary questioned.
"I daresay they are both well past the age of starting a family," Violet replied, her lips pursing together.
"What is all this talk about starting a family?" Robert asked as he and Dickie came over to join the ladies.
"Granny thinks it unwise to keep Anna on if she and Bates start a family," Mary answered with a sigh.
"Come now, Mama. Anna and Bates have been through enough that I think a child would do them both a bit of good."
"It might do them good….but it will not help Anna's work ethic," Violet countered.
Mary rolled her eyes and looked over to check on George. It was not worth arguing with her Grandmother…she would save that fight for when and if the time came that a baby Bates was on the way.
The door opened and Mead announced Timothy and Elizabeth.
"Ah, wonderful! Timothy, you've met everyone but Elizabeth has not had the chance to meet the Crawley family," Dickie said.
He introduced Elizabeth to the family before motioning for the pair to join them. Elizabeth kissed Isobel on the cheek before taking a seat next to her.
"How are you feeling?" she whispered in Isobel's ear while the rest of the family was saying hello to Timothy.
"A bit better, thank you dear," Isobel answered, smiling and patting Elizabeth's hand. "Thank you for coming."
"We are happy to be here. Timothy promised to be on his best behavior," the girl replied.
"I do hope so," Isobel said with a small laugh.
"Grandmamma, when will you come to Downton again?" George asked, making his way over from his train to climb up on Isobel's lap once again.
Mary sat forward quickly, attempting to stop George.
"George, dear, we mustn't climb on Grandmamma," Mary warned, but the little boy had already snuggled up against Isobel.
"That's all right," Isobel said. "I do love to have Master George close when I can. Soon you will be too big to sit on Grandmamma's lap."
Mary sat back a bit, but caught Isobel's eye, silently questioning her on the matter. Isobel winked at her daughter-in-law and smiled. Mary sighed in relief and sat back. George was a growing boy and with Isobel's health, Mary feared he might easily hurt her. Luckily, it seemed that Isobel was feeling well and enjoyed having George near.
Cora looked over at her daughter and then back to Isobel. She had seen the small exchange and wondered what was going on. She chose not to ask Mary now, but she would make it a point to corner her daughter later.
The door opened and Mead entered, nodding at Lord Merton. Dickie cleared his throat and stood, asking for the room's attention.
"It seems you are all here in time for a bit of a surprise. Timothy and Elizabeth are aware, but we thought this would be a nice occasion to introduce the rest of the family to our little charge," he said, motioning towards the door.
Mead opened the door wider, and Nanny Roberts entered carrying Lily. Cora and Mary both gasped in surprise while Robert took the opportunity to stand next to Dickie.
"What on Earth? Is that a baby?"
Isobel helped George move on to the couch and then turned to take Lily in her arms from Nanny Roberts.
"This is Lillian," Isobel said softly, holding the girl down a bit as George was now grasping her arm in curiosity. "You may call her Lily if you like."
"She's small, Grandmamma," George said, his face crinkling in confusion. "Why is she so little?"
"She is only a few months old, George, but soon she will be able to run and play with you" Dickie explained. Turning to the rest of the family, he said, "Isobel and I have been taking care of her for a few weeks…and will continue to do so until a home is found for her."
"Goodness, this is a surprise!" Cora exclaimed, though her face lit up as she came over to look down at the tiny bundle in Isobel's arms. "How on Earth did she come to be here?"
"I'm afraid the orphanage is already overflowing with children. And there was no nurse available to take special care of Lily…she was quite undernourished when she arrived," Isobel answered, her eyes never leaving the little girl.
"But quite the eater now," Elizabeth said with a smile.
"Would you like to hold her?" Isobel asked, looking up at Cora. She could see that the woman was itching to have the little girl in her arms. Elizabeth stood and offered her seat to Cora.
"Oh, she is so light," Cora breathed once Lily was placed in her arms.
Mary looked over to Violet and saw she was not the only one in the room with reservations about Dickie and Isobel taking on an infant. Violet's lips were pressed in to a thin line, both hands gripping the top of her cane. Mary caught her eye and Violet silently raised an eyebrow, challenging Mary to say something before she did.
Mary did not want to upset either her godfather or mother-in-law, but with Isobel's health, she did not think it wise for her to take such an interest in this little girl. Mary knew Isobel well enough to realize every day the baby spent at Cavenham Park was one step closer to her never leaving the estate.
"And is the orphanage searching for a suitable home?" Mary asked, hoping to announce her reservations subtly.
"Mrs. Ingle has been reaching out, but I'm afraid there are no families willing to take on an infant that needs this amount of care," Isobel explained, smiling as the baby cooed at Cora.
"What is wrong with the child?" Robert asked, turning to Dickie.
"Dr. Clarkson feels she is much better now, but he feared she could become ill with infection or something of that sort when she first came to us. Unfortunately, she was not cared for properly when she was first born, so she requires a bit more attention than most," Dickie answered.
"And what if no home is found within the next few months? Are you just supposed to take on this child as your own?" Mary asked sharply. An awkward silence suddenly fell over the room, no one knowing how to respond to Lady Mary.
"Mary, they are doing the orphanage a favor," Cora said, hoping to make amends for her daughter's harsh tone. "And how could anyone not take in this little beauty?"
She smiled down at the little girl once more, brushing a finger down her cheek.
"But why should you be burdened with a baby…especially if there proves to be complications with her health in the future?" Violet asked.
Isobel's eyes narrowed as she looked over at the Dowager. "Forgive me, but if memory serves, you were in favor of Edith taking in Marigold, were you not?"
"Not at first," Violet replied curtly.
"But would you wish the little girl to be taken away now…after Edith has given so much of her time and love to her?"
"Edith may have had her own children should Mr. Gregson not have met such an early demise. She is the proper age…it makes far more sense for her to have a child."
Dickie sucked in his breath and stood straight, understanding exactly what the Dowager Countess was implying. Robert recognized this and moved to intervene.
"Really, Mama…" Robert began, only to be cut off by Isobel's voice.
"So you are saying that Dickie and I should not care for Lily because of our age?"
Violet met Isobel's harsh glare with one of her own. "What point is there in having to find another home for her when you are both gone?"
"Mama!" Cora exclaimed, causing the baby to begin fussing.
Isobel's mind was reeling…never had she been so stunned and angry at the same time. Violet's reaction was upsetting, but not surprising. But Mary….Mary surprised Isobel. She would have hoped Mary would see it was best to have the baby cared for privately, rather than forgotten in an orphanage full of children. Apparently, Mary and her Grandmother were not so different in their old-fashioned opinions.
"Perhaps we should allow Mrs. Ingle more time to find a family before discussing anything permanent," Timothy said, hoping to calm the tension in the room. He looked to Elizabeth for some help, but her eyes were focused on Isobel.
Elizabeth had seen Isobel tense alongside Cora and noticed that George also recognized the change in his Grandmamma. The little boy had now snuggled in to his grandmother's side, holding tightly to her arm. Elizabeth assumed he did not like the raised voices of his family or the angry look crossing Isobel and Cora's faces. She did not either….nor did she think it best for Isobel to get so upset. Stress was something Dr. Clarkson suggested be kept to a minimum.
"Yes…I agree it would be best to give a bit more time," Robert said slowly, catching his mother's eye. She turned her head away, recognizing Robert's warning look, telling her to keep her opinions to herself. How he reminded her of his father in that moment…she did not appreciate being silenced by the former Lord Grantham and she detested it even more so from her son.
The baby began to openly cry, causing Isobel to break from her stunned silence. She turned to Cora who willingly offered the girl back to her. Cora could see how upset Isobel was and felt the woman had every right to be. While it was not on every occasion that she agreed with cousin Isobel…in this instance, she would support Isobel's decision to keep the baby if it came to it. Marigold brought such happiness to Edith…and if that was what Lily brought to Dickie and Isobel, then Cora made up her mind she would help them fight for it.
Isobel easily calmed Lily down after a few moments. George continued to hold fast to her arm but began to peek over to catch a glimpse of the little girl.
"Might I hold her, Grandmamma?"
"George, I don't think…" Mary began, only to be interrupted, surprisingly, by Cora.
"I think that's a splendid idea, George! Wouldn't you say, Isobel?"
Isobel smiled appreciatively to Cora and then turned back to George. "Indeed. Why not sit back against those pillows?"
George did as he was instructed and held out both arms. The women chuckled at his eagerness.
"Really, I think it best…"
"Mary, I'd like to show you the grounds while Timothy is here," Dickie said, coming over to take her arm and move her away from the others. "Timothy, Robert, why not come along and we can discuss how Cavenham Park might benefit from some of the renovations you've put in place at Downton."
"But I…"
"Yes, lets," Robert agreed. "Timothy?"
Timothy held his hand out towards the door. "Ladies first."
Mary looked back towards George who was now holding the baby with Isobel and Elizabeth's help. Robert took hold of her elbow and gently pulled her towards the door. Relenting, she led the way in to the hall, followed by Timothy and Robert.
"We won't be long. Do enjoy yourselves," Dickie called to the ladies.
Cora smiled and nodded her appreciation to him. "We will."
Dickie returned the smile and winked at Isobel who had now turned to see him leave. She mouthed thank you as he turned and walked out the door.
Dickie hoped he could make Mary understand the baby was more help than harm, even if he and Isobel were up in years. Because every moment they spent with Lily was one moment less spent worrying about Isobel's condition. And they needed as many of those moments as they could get.