"Goodness, Granny, what has you so riled up this afternoon?" Mary asked, one eyebrow rising in curiosity.
"I haven't the faintest notion what you are referring to?" Violet answered, her lips pressing together tightly as she looked away from Mary.
Mary and Cora shared a smile before Mary turned back to face her Grandmother. "You've been fidgeting since arriving. There must be something on your mind."
"Why would anything be on my mind? The only thing that could possibly cause me concern is how to deal with Denker and Spratt!"
"Are they still at odds?" Cora asked, taking a sip of her tea.
"Constantly. There is not a day goes by that one does not harp about the other…you would think they had been married for thirty years!"
Mary and Cora laughed softly as Robert entered the library.
"What is so funny?" he asked, pouring himself a cup of tea.
"Granny was just telling us how Denker and Spratt act like quite the married couple," Mary replied.
Robert turned quickly. "Surely they're not?"
"Of course they're not," Cora answered, rolling her eyes.
"Thank goodness! Wouldn't that be an ordeal?" Robert replied, coming to sit beside Violet on the settee. "Where is Isobel? I thought she was coming with you to visit the children?"
"She was…but another invitation came for her this afternoon," Violet answered, setting her tea cup aside and standing. "And now, I must be off."
"You only just arrived, Mama. Do stay…the children would still like to see you even if Isobel is not here," Cora said.
"I'm not so sure," Violet replied under her breath. Heaven knew she was not comfortable around small children. And they could sense it…or so she believed.
"Come now, Granny. They will be disappointed if you don't at least say hello. And besides, you must tell us what has Isobel off somewhere else," Mary said, one of the only family members who knew how to challenge to the Dowager.
"It is not my story to tell, Mary," Violet replied, forcing a smile.
"Goodness, that's quite opaque, Mama," Robert responded. "She's not in any trouble, is she?"
"Of course not!" Violet responded.
"Then where has she gone? She hardly ever misses a visit with George," Mary answered matter-of-factly.
Violet acquiesced and took her seat once more. "If you must know, she has gone to Cavenham."
"Cavenham? To visit Dickie Merton?" Robert asked, sitting forward.
Violet nodded, her face dropping a bit in sadness. "I'm afraid it may not turn out well."
"Hasn't Dickie gotten rid of Larry? That should please Isobel," Mary said.
"He has…he told me that himself," Robert answered.
"Oh I do hope it will work out in the end for them," Cora said quietly. "Dickie was simply crushed by that dreadful dinner. And then Isobel turning him down…"
"Who could blame her?" Mary spoke loudly, her eyes quickly darkening. "Who would want to be in a family with the likes of Larry Grey?"
"Mary…" Cora warned, though she could not help feeling the same way herself.
"But Mama, Isobel seemed so keen on marrying Dickie before all of that nonsense. What would prevent her from marrying him now?" Robert asked.
Violet sat for a moment in silence, not wanting to give away Isobel's secret. Though Isobel had never told Violet her real feelings on the subject, the Dowager Countess was clever. Clever enough that Isobel's silence had actually given Violet Crawley the truth.
"I'm afraid it's quite complicated."
"You must understand...I so appreciate your efforts…and your honesty," Isobel said at long last.
The few moments of silence that had passed were painful, and it was all Lord Merton could do to keep his wits about him.
"But Dickie…I'm not sure it's as easy as all that," she answered, finally daring to look up and meet his eyes. He was confused by her response, and she could see he wanted to question her further.
"I would be glad to meet Timothy again, and I do hope that it would turn out well in the end. He seems like a very nice young man. And I cannot blame him for wanting to preserve his mother's memory…I only hope that Matthew would have done the same for me."
With that, she turned and walked around him, stepping towards the windows. He stayed put, hoping to give her the distance she seemed to need just now.
"You are a dear man, Dickie, and I do not wish to hurt you. But after all that's happened, I'm just not sure marrying would be for the best."
"But…"
She turned back to him and cut him short. "Dickie, Larry is still your son, and I fear it is my fault that he is not welcome in this home any longer. This home he grew up in…it's my doing that it's been taken from him."
Stepping forward, Dickie quickly protested. "Not at all….Isobel, if only you knew what horrid things Larry has done, you would realize this is for the best. I should be thanking you for it."
The lines at the corners of her eyes creased in confusion. With a small smile, he explained, "You gave me the courage to finally stand up and be the father I should have been years ago. I know it was never your intention for Larry to be out of the family…perhaps one day he will return…but only if he acts responsibly and charitably."
Forgetting herself for a moment, she smiled up at him. "Thank you for that."
"I mean it…every word," he answered, his eyes staring directly in to hers.
How she wanted to believe it could be true…that she could be happy with Dickie. She wanted that exciting journey they had dreamed of a few months before…but her logical mind simply would not stop whirling.
"So tell me…honestly…" he continued, "am I wrong in thinking there is something else. Something more that worries you?"
How could he see through her? How could he know? She had always done so well at keeping her emotions in check, her feelings hidden…how on Earth could this man whom she had not seen in three months read her like a book?
"Isobel?" he questioned, worried as her eyes drifted away from him, staring off in to the distance.
Snapping back to the moment, her eyes met his once more. "Dickie, I'm sorry…I can't."
"Can't? But… please…tell me what more I can do!," he pleaded with her. He moved towards her, but she turned quickly, crossing her arms across her and bowing her head.
Deep breaths…out…in…out…in…she told herself. She would not break…would not crumble…she could hold fast….