Elsie walks up and down the platform, patiently waiting for the train to Ripon. Her eyes are travelling over the other passengers, when she suddenly thinks that she has spotted Isobel standing on the other end of the platform but before she can reassure herself, the train arrives and Isobel disappears in the crowd of people who are getting off the train. But Elsie is sure that it was her because she would always recognise Isobel. Everywhere.

"What an utter waste of time and money," Isobel mumbles to herself when she leaves the theatre. "The actor would never get another engagement if I would run the theatre." Isobel decides that she needs a cup of tea and a piece of cake to get over this disappointment. She walks to the cafe on the corner. Isobel looks around for an empty table and spots Elsie sitting in the corner, looking out of the window. Isobel hesitates for second and lets her eyes rest for a moment on Elsie´s profile. She always thought that Elsie has a certain charisma she can´t name. Isobel shakes her head, irritated by this sudden thought and walks to Elsie´s table.
"Mrs Hughes," Isobel says, "what a nice surprise."
Elsie looks up. "Oh,Mrs Crawley. I thought it was you standing on the platform."
"May I," Isobel asks and points at the empty chair.
"Yes, please. "
Isobel gives the waitress a sign and orders a cup of tea and a slice of cake. "What brings you to Ripon, Mrs Hughes?" Isobel asks when the waitress left again.
"It´s my day off and from time to time I like to visit the big city," Elsie chuckles and takes a sip from her cup. She can´t help but notice how good Isobel looks in her light blue dress with the matching hat. "And you, if I may ask, Mrs Crawley? "
"I was actually visiting the matinée at the Ripon Theatre but it was a real disappointment this time. In fact, I left earlier. The whole production was very dilettantish and I would rather not say what I think of the leading actor," Isobel rolls her eyes and takes another bite. Elsie is watching her with an amused smile. Studying the fine lines around her eyes. Lines that show that Isobel isn´t a woman who hides her feelings. Elsie likes it, that Isobel doesn´t hide behind a cold and tidy facade like most women of her standing do.
"May I ask, if you have heard from Ethel, Mrs Crawley? We haven´t spoken since and I hope that you are no longer cross with me, that Lady Grantham and I interfered," Elsie wants to know, suddenly realising that it´s important for her what Isobel thinks of her.
"Dear Mrs Hughes, I have never been cross with you," Isobel starts but stops when she sees Elsie´s arched eyebrow. " Good, I admit that I was a bit upset in the beginning but now I know that you and Lady Grantham meant well and that I was just too pride to admit that at the time because I didn´t want Lady Grantham to win again, if you want to put it like that. But to answer your question, I have heard from Ethel. I recently received a letter from her. She seems to be happy, although you can read between the lines that she is missing Downton. But I guess she is willing to pay that price," Isobel sighs.
"I´m glad to hear that. Not only that she has finally found some peace but also that you are no longer angry with me, Mrs Crawley," Elsie smiles over the rim of her cup.
Both women stay for a while at the cafe before they take the train back to Downton. Isobel insisted on changing Elsie´s ticket into a ticket for the first class. Elsie wanted to protest but Isobel didn´t give her much of a chance. And Elsie has to admit that she is enjoying the comfort of the first class and Isobel´s company.

It is raining when their train arrives at Downton station.
"Oh no, it is pouring by now," Isobel says when they leave the station. "Did you bring an umbrella, Mrs Hughes? "
"No, I didn´t and it won´t stop raining for quite a while by the look of the sky. I will be soaking wet before I get home. "
"You can´t walk home in this rain. You will catch a cold or even worse. Why don´t you come with me, Mrs Hughes? I can´t promise that we won´t get wet but it is definitely closer. What do you say, Mrs Hughes? "
Elsie knows that Isobel is right but the thought of her being at her house as a guest makes her suddenly feel uncomfortable . She doesn´t know why because she has been there before and had tea with Isobel when they were dealing with Ethel. "I don´t know. Maybe I wait here for another half an hour and then walk up to the house. "
" But you said yourself that it won´t clear off soon and I would feel comfortable by the thought of you standing here while I sit in the warmth of my salon, " Isobel says and looks at Elsie with an encouraging look. Finally Elsie agrees and both women hurry to Isobel´s house.
"The rain was heavier than I thought. Maybe you were right and we should have wait for a moment, Mrs Hughes," Isobel says when they stand in her hall with wet dresses.
Molesley helps both of them out of their coats.
"We should get out of our wet clothes as soon as possible," Isobel suggests on her way upstairs, Elsie is following her. "Come with me, I can give you one of my robes and then we will have a nice warm cup of tea."

20 Minutes later.

Elsie is coming downstairs, wearing one of Isobel´s robes which makes her a bit uneasy. The door to the salon is ajar and Elsie can see Isobel standing in front of the window, playing absent- minded with her necklace. Thunder can be heard in the distance. Elsie´s hand rests on the door handle. Her eyes wander over Isobel´s delicate profile down to her neck, following the curl that has fallen down. Isobel has changed into a long skirt with a matching white blouse that caress her figure. Elsie has always admired Isobel´s posture that shows so much confidence and pride. Her eyes linger a bit longer on Isobel´s small back than they actually should. "Stop it, Elsie, stop it," she admonishes herself and enters the room.
Isobel knows very well that Elsie is watching her but she doesn´t want her to know. To Isobel´s surprise is she enjoying the feeling to be looked at like this. She knows what kind of effect she has on other women. A shiver runs down her body when she imagines how Elsie´s eyes are travelling down her back. Isobel wonders where this sudden feeling of excitement comes from but she hears a noise at the door before she can examine this feeling any further and turns around.
"There you are. And the robe seems to fit," she says, giving Elsie an approving look.
"Yes, thank you, Mrs Crawley, but I feel a bit uncomfortable I have to admit," Elsie says, closing the door behind her.
"Nonsense, I could hardly let you walk home in your wet dress, Mrs Hughes. And I can assure you that pneumonia is not as funny as it might sound."
"But I really shouldn´t be here and wasting your time not to mention wearing your clothes."
"Well, the other option would have been that you walk around in your undergarment and wearing my robe is the least embarrassing solution for this problem. And you are not wasting my time. I can say for myself that I´m very glad meeting you today, Mrs Hughes. I really enjoyed your company," Isobel says and smiles at Elsie.
"So did I. I usually have to go on my own but today was really a nice change, Mrs Crawley," Elsie replies and her eyes fall again on Isobel´s loose strand of hair. "Your hair has come loose."
"Oh, I´m sorry but I didn´t check the mirror after I´ve changed. "
"Please, let me help you," Elsie says hasty, too hasty when Isobel is about to raise her arms.
Isobel turns around, facing the window again. Elsie steps a bit closer. Isobel can feel how her clothes are brushing against her back. Elsie takes Isobel´s hair gently in her hand. Goose bumps are running down Isobel´s back when Elsie´s cold fingers accidently touch her neck. This doesn´t go unnoticed by Elsie and she looks at Isobel´s reflection in the window. She can see that Isobel has closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips. Elsie´s fingers start to tremble but she finally manages to pin Isobel´s hair.
"Everything is back where it belongs, Mrs Crawley," Elsie says and steps back.
"Isobel," Isobel whispers.
"I beg your pardon, Mrs Crawley?"
Isobel turns around. "It´s Isobel. Please call me Isobel," placing her hand on Elsie´s arm.
"I... Mrs Crawley... I can´t. It´s not... ," Elsie stutters.
"It´s not appropriate, you mean?"
Elsie nods.
"Well, we don´t know each other that good, but you must have noticed by know that I don´t really care about what is appropriate and what is not. The whole affair with Ethel must have proved that. So please, do me the favour. Just when we are alone of course, I don´t want you to have any trouble because of me but I consider you as a friend and it would be nice to hear my name again without the addition of cousin. Here I´m either Cousin Isobel or Mrs Crawley but never Isobel like I used to be."
"I don´t know," Elsie feels uneasy. How often has she called her Isobel in her mind when she was thinking of her. She looks down at her arm where Isobel is still touching her and back into Isobel´s eyes that are waiting for an answer. "I think that would be alright. As long as no one finds out."
"Wonderful," Isobel squeezes Elsie´s arm a bit," and may I ask for your first name? We know each other for such a long time and I still don´t know your first name."
"I´m used to it. Sometimes I am scared that I will forget my own name because hardly anyone is using it," Elsie says with a bitter tone in her voice, looking out of the window. "It´s Elsie, Mrs... Isobel. My name is Elsie," she says and placing her hand on Isobel´s.
"Elsie," Isobel whispers and at this very moment their eyes meet. They stand like this for a moment. Eyes locked, hands touching each other, hearts beating faster.
Both women flinch when they hear a knock on the door, stepping away from each other like children who have been caught in the act.
"Come in," Isobel says, clearing her throat.
Molesley opens the door. "The tea, Mrs Crawley."
"Oh,good. We can use a hot cup of tea. Please, put the tray on the sideboard. I´ll do the rest. And Molesley, please get Mrs Hughes dress from the bathroom, dry it somehow and put it into the guestroom."
"Yes, Mrs Crawley," Molesley says and leaves the room again.
"Please, Elsie, take a seat," Isobel pours the tea into two cups and hands one to Elsie. Elsie´s fingers slightly brush Isobel´s hand when she takes the cup from her. Causing another shiver. "Stop it, Isobel, stop it." This time it´s Isobel who has a to admonish herself and sits down next to Elsie on the settee.
"This is a very nice gramophone you have," Elsie says and takes a sip fom her cup. Desperately trying to a find a topic and reason for not looking at Isobel.
"Reginald, my late husband, gave it to me. I do like to listen to music occasionally. Mainly opera. How about you? Do you like music?"
"Yes,I do. I have a gramophone of my own not that big and expensive of course. I don´t use it as often as I should, but once in a while when I find a quiet moment, I like to listen to it. I like opera, too. Don´t laugh at me but I also like the music the young gentleman,Lady Rose´s friend, recently played at the house. Jazz it´s called I believe."
"You should have seen Lady Grantham´s face when she saw Lady Rose´s surprise," Isobel grins into her cup. " It´s quite different from what I hear but it was nice to see the young people enjoying themselves."
What follows is an hour of lighthearted conversation and secret glances. Elsie can´t help herself but every time when Isobel takes a sip from her cup she feels how her temperature is rising, she has to force herself to look away but her eyes always wander back to Isobel´s lips when they touch the rim of the tea cup, when her tongue licks the tea from her lips.

Little does Elsie know that Isobel has troubles of her own. Her eyes automatically travel down to Elsie´s hands. Isobel can´t forget the moment when Elsie´s hand touched hers. She thought that her hands are rough and cold but no, her skin is smooth and warm. Somehow delicate. Both women have to force themselves to listen to the other one. They don´t want their distraction to be noticed by the other one.

The tea stands long forgotten on the table when both women walk upstairs.