Some answers and a little bit more mystery for you! Thank you for the reviews….as always, I am humbled!
Early May, 1925
"Your garden is starting to bloom. It looks lovely," Isobel commented, surveying the greenery behind the Dower House.
Violet sighed, stopping their walk to lift up a bud. "I suppose…though I'm not sure it will be able to match last year's beauty."
"Why ever not?" Isobel asked, knowing full well the Dowager Countess supplied her gardener with more than enough laborers and funds to create a masterpiece of horticulture.
"Oh, some boy working with Dobbs has come up with a hybrid of sorts. He has influenced the man to place it right under the bay window! Surely it would be best to attempt something new where it can be hidden should it turn out wrong."
"Perhaps they feel it will be a success. Or maybe it needs the light under the bay window. There aren't many tree branches hanging overhead."
Violet sighed and pushed forward, a frown still on her lips. "To think my prized location's appearance will be a mystery is unnerving."
"A bit of mystery in one's life adds excitement," Isobel replied with a grin, looking off as Violet cast a harsh glare her way.
"Must you always think so optimistically?"
"It does make one's days a bit brighter when there is so much going on that is sad in this world."
"I do not care about the rest of the world…simply my garden," Violet replied, heavily sitting down on the bench they had come to.
Isobel could not help but be inwardly amused to see the Dowager rattled. Though friends, she did always hate that Violet seemed to have the upper hand.
"Enough about flowers. Tell me about the wedding….have you chosen a date?" Violet asked as Isobel sat beside her.
"Not yet. Dickie wanted to discuss it with the staff…to see when they felt it might best suit their schedules."
"Should their opinions matter?" Violet was appalled at the idea of coordinating schedules with one's servants, especially if that servant was being paid!
"I know you do not agree, but I think it best that I do all I can to ease the transition of their having another Lady Merton come in to their home."
"My dear, you have far more to learn than I'd imagined if you are worrying over the views of a servant."
"I do not expect you to understand…" Isobel replied with a sigh.
"Good…because it is simply ridiculous. What next? Am I to come to tea with your lady's maid? Or are you to get rid of her altogether?"
Isobel looked back to Violet, her lips thinly pressed together. "No, but not everything you do in your household is how things will be done at Cavenham Park?"
"And is Lord Merton keen on your notions?"
"We have discussed them at length," Isobel answered in defense, "and Dickie is glad to hear my opinions before making his final decision."
Violet scoffed and looked away. "Well, at least you give him that."
"If you think my becoming a Baroness will alter my ego in some way, you are entirely wrong," Isobel said firmly. "I am happy to learn and entertain new ideas….but I will not conform who I am simply to adhere to society's notion of who Lady Merton should be."
Violet's eyebrows rose and a grin graced her lips. "My…that is the tone you should utilize when communicating with your new staff."
Isobel huffed and clenched her hands together in her lap. Violet's eyes softened, wishing she had not sounded so harsh. It wouldn't help her get the information she needed if Isobel's defenses had already risen.
"I suppose your household will not run as mine does…Heaven knows I do not always agree with how Cora runs Downton," Violet admonished, hoping to placate Isobel.
Isobel seemed to relax a bit, and Violet chose to move forward with the ultimate task she needed to complete.
"Come now, I do wish to know how things are going with Timothy."
Isobel smiled slightly. "A bit better, I think. He seems to be coming around to the idea of his father remarrying."
"And he has not spoken of Larry again?"
"No…no one speaks of Larry," Isobel replied. Though she still felt somewhat guilty over Larry being removed from the family as heir, she knew it was best. And Dickie seemed quite happy having Timothy beside him in the running of the estate.
"Thank Heaven for that," Violet replied quietly. "I suppose it is comfort knowing that if one child goes down the wrong path, there is another to take on the challenge."
"I would hope that is not the only reason to have a second child."
"Mm…perhaps. But, unfortunately, one does need to consider these things," Violet replied, observing Isobel's reaction closely.
"I can't think it would ever enter my mind," Isobel replied, matching Violet's eye for eye. "I do hope that is not the only reason Rosamund was born."
Violet scoffed. "Of course not! Besides, she was a girl….it would not have mattered one way or the other if Robert had gone the wrong way. The estate would have passed to a male cousin. So there you have it."
"And you were not disappointed when she was born female?" Isobel asked in challenge.
Violet pursed her lips. "While Lord Grantham may have been, I was happy enough to know that my jewelry would be worn by our flesh and blood, rather than some ghastly second cousin's wife."
Isobel suppressed a smile, looking down at her hands to hide her joy over putting Violet back in her place.
"Do tell me….why is it you never had any other children?" Violet asked, making sure to choose her words carefully. "You adore them…always spoiling George and Marigold. I wonder why you never surrounded yourself with six of your own."
It was subtle, but Violet caught the twinge in Isobel's cheek, knowing the woman was clenching her jaw.
"I do not spoil them," Isobel countered.
Violet supposed she was deflecting the true conversation, so she pressed on. "Nanny thinks differently. She told Lady Mary that George preferred you best because you always brought him a treat."
"She did not say that," Isobel answered, her voice quiet and calm. But inside, she was reeling. I'm warning you, she said silently, her eyes narrowing to glare at Violet. If one thing was for sure, no one should contradict how she treated her grandson….not even the Dowager Countess.
Violet understood the silent message, but rallied…knowing scandal was far most costly than upsetting Isobel Crawley's afternoon.
"If you'd had one or two more children, you'd be penniless for all you buy George. I cannot imagine if you had grandchildren spread throughout the county to buy treats for!" Violet answered with a chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood.
Isobel's eyes blinked quickly, tears welling and her stomach dropping. She stood and crossed her arms, turning away from the Dowager. How dare she! To speak of having children as though it were so simple…
Violet waited a moment, not sure how Isobel would react if she forced another opinion on her. Cautiously, she stood and placed both hands on her walking stick, hoping to steady herself against Isobel's certain retaliation.
"My dear, I only wish to warn you. If you give them too much when they are young, they will expect…"
Isobel spun around, her eyes fierce with anger. Violet took a step back, not expecting to see such fiery passion from the normally contained Isobel. The woman's fingers were digging in to each arm, her jaw set and her lips pressed together to suppress the emotions within. Violet had not expected this…she had expected a snide remark, perhaps a tearful confession…but never this.
The silence unnerved the Dowager so much that she acquiesced, not wanting to break Isobel more than she already seemed. "I apologize, Isobel. Perhaps my opinions on the matter are unfounded. Do sit…."
But Isobel remained upright, her body fixed in place. The only signs she was still coherent was that of her chest rising up and down and her eyes blinking rapidly. Violet became concerned, chancing a step in Isobel's direction.
"Isobel…"
"You see," Isobel slowly began with a soft and controlled tone, "I want George to know how wonderful his father was. It is for that reason I give him a bit more attention…I fear he will never know what a brilliant man Matthew became…if I'm not there to tell him."
"Of course," Violet replied cautiously.
"It isn't as though we did not want other children," she continued, passing Violet to stare at the nearest rose bush, "Dr. Crawley hoped for a house full, and Matthew desperately longed for a play mate. But…I suppose what we want and what God allows are not always equal, are they?"
Isobel turned to stare directly in to Violet's eyes. The pain and hurt were evident to the shocked Dowager Countess. Isobel knew it unfair to speak such serious words and not tell the full story. But she had kept silent for many years, and now…well, now it seemed words escaped her when suddenly confronted with the painful past.
"Oh, Isobel," Violet said softly, her eyes closing in understanding. If only she had known before, she never would have pressed Isobel on a delicate matter such as this. "My dear, I am sorry."
Isobel waved a hand as she looked back towards the rose bush. "No matter..."
She fingered a bud just beginning to bloom between her fingers, forcing a smile as she turned back to Violet.
"I think this one's a day away, don't you?"