AND Finally :)

It was almost two in the morning before Dickie saw Isobel again. The doctor had left a few hours before, telling them to call with any change in young Harry. Isobel had insisted that she was able to sit up with the boy, not wanting the rest of the household to lose any sleep. Dickie was amazed at her motivation and energy…something he had lost as he grew older, he supposed.

Looking around the dark hallway, he made sure no one was lurking about before he entered the suite. He wanted to be sure Mrs. Crane did not see him. While he had no scandalous activity in mind, he hated to think what she might imagine and spread amongst the staff. He opened the door quietly and smiled when he saw Isobel reading in a chair beside the boy's bed, her arm stretched out to hold Harry's hand. He shut the door quietly and turned, finding she had looked up at the boy, thinking the click of the door was a movement from him.

Dickie felt triumphant in his effort to surprise her, wanting to enjoy a few moments alone before the rest of the house woke. He walked up behind her and gently draped a blanket over her shoulders. Instantly, she sat up straight and turned, her eyes wide with concern until she saw who the perpetrator was.

"Dickie," she whispered, her lips turning upward in a smile, "what on Earth are doing up at this hour?"

"Coming to see how Harry is faring…and to see you," he admitted, pulling a chair alongside of hers and sitting down. "Has he woken at all?"

She shook her head sadly, turning back to look at the boy who seemed so small in the grand, king-sized bed. "No…but he hasn't spiked a fever which is encouraging."

"But the doctor feels he will come out of this, doesn't he?" Dickie asked.

"Yes…but he is not sure how long it may take. There may be other internal injuries we cannot see. If his brain has swollen, it could take quite a while for the pressure to go down."

"What if it doesn't?" he asked, curious about the medical predicament Harry faced. But, he was also well aware of the effect it would have on his household to lose a member so young.

Isobel sighed, closing her book and setting it aside. "There is an operation that could be performed to try and relieve the pressure. Though, it is very dangerous and not always successful."

Dickie hated to see the lines around her eyes crease with worry. Reaching over, he caught her hand and squeezed it gently. She looked back to him, a bit surprised.

"He will be all right. He has been through quite a lot in his young life…I imagine he is stronger than most."

She nodded, looking down at their hands now settled on his knee. "I'm sure you're right," she answered quietly. "I do hope so anyway."

She looked back to the boy and sighed. "I only wish there were more I could do for him…but until he wakes, I'm afraid we cannot know whether he is in pain or not."

Looking back to Dickie, she allowed a small smile. "I'm sorry…all of this talk is only putting a damper on the situation. I am sure Harry will be back with us soon…and we must think positively."

Dickie chuckled, reaching over to cup her cheek with his free hand. "How lucky I am to have you."

She blushed, allowing her cheek to rest on his palm as the stress and worry of the day suddenly made her very tired. His thumb brushed along her cheekbone as he moved a bit closer, knowing he should not take advantage…but desperately wanting to.

"Isobel…"

Though he longed to shake his aristocratic upbringing, he realized it was only with her permission that he could…

She closed her eyes to help settle her nerves, not having been this close to a man in over twenty years. Dickie had always been a true gentleman, never pressing her for any intimate contact she did not initiate. The only time had been when he kissed her on the cheek earlier in the evening…and it had been on Isobel's mind ever since.

She opened her eyes again to see him drawing near, his gaze never breaking from hers.

"Isobel…might I….?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

His smile showed his appreciation, and he gently moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her neck. Slowly, with a bit of hesitation, he closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers.

Her fingers instinctively squeezed his while her free hand reached up to hold on to his arm. His heart warmed at her acceptance of him, and he drew her face closer, his lips cautiously exploring hers.

Isobel gripped his arm, beginning to feel light-headed with the influx of emotions coursing through her body. She couldn't seem to breathe…Lord Merton had certainly surprised her with his passionate affection! She had to break away, leaning her forehead against his shoulder to collect her breath for she feared fainting in front of him.

He kissed her hair softly and rubbed his hand up and down her back, hoping to calm her nerves and his own rapid heartbeat.

"I do love you," he whispered in her ear before she pulled away from him slightly and looked up to catch his eyes.

"And I love you," she answered softly. Her cheeks flushed red as she looked away, a bit embarrassed being so open with her emotions. He pulled her hands up and kissed the back of both.

"You've made me happier than anyone ever could, Isobel," he said softly, leaning forward to capture her lips once more.

She sighed in contentment and pulled her hands free to wrap around his neck. With a slight tremor, he put his hands on her waist, having never known such feelings could exist. A fleeting thought passed through his mind to deepen their kiss but it was interrupted by a small voice.

"Mummy? Daddy?"

The couple broke instantly, their breaths coming in short and quick as their eyes turned back to the bed. Harry's hand was reaching out, grasping at only air. Isobel quickly stood, taking the boy's outstretched hand in hers and gently rubbing a hand down his cheek.

"It's all right, Harry," she said softly. She continued speaking quietly to calm him, and Dickie came to stand beside her.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked.

"Would you have someone go fetch the doctor? He will want to evaluate him now he's awake."

"Of course…I won't be a moment," he replied, squeezing her arm gently before hurrying out the door.

"Mummy?" Harry continued calling for his mother. Isobel's heart broke knowing she could not give the boy what he most wanted. She sat on the bed beside him and gently rubbed his hand between both of her own.

"There, there….shh….it's all right," she soothed. The boy calmed after a few moments, but his eyes remained closed. His little fingers wrapped tightly around hers.

"Mummy…where are you?"

"Harry…can you open your eyes for me?" Isobel asked softly, reaching over to brush the hair off of his forehead. Harry's eyes fluttered a few times before opening in to slits, his free hand quickly covered his face. Isobel reached over and turned out the bedside lamp.

"Better?"

The hand moved away from his eyes as Harry looked over to her. "Mummy?"

"Harry, I'm Mrs. Crawley. I'm here to take care of you. Do you remember what happened?"

"No," he said quietly, his grip on her hand tightening even more. "Where are Mummy and Daddy?"

Isobel sighed and reached over to take his other hand. "Harry, dear….they're not here. You're at Cavenham Park. Do you remember Cavenham? Where Lord Merton and his family live?"

Harry looked away, deep in thought. It took a few moments but his eyes moved back to hers. "I don't remember Lord Merton."

Isobel smiled warmly. "That's all right, not to worry. The doctor will be here soon…I'm afraid you've taken quite a fall."

"I did?" The boy looked down towards his feet, his eyes widening as he saw how large of a bed he was in. "Where am I?"

"In one of the bedrooms at Cavenham….Lord Merton and Mr. Harrington wanted to make you as comfortable as possible."

"Mr. Harrington?"

Isobel's eyes lit up as she saw Harry turn his eyes away again. Perhaps he remembered something?

"Mr. Harrington…he is a nice man," Harry said simply, smiling a bit before his face twisted with pain. Isobel stood, dropping his hands and moving a pillow over to rest beside his damaged ribs. She did the same on his other side before taking a cloth and dipping it in some cool water. As she lightly dabbed his face and neck, the boy calmed and fell back asleep.

She finished her task and then sat beside him again, taking one of his hands and rubbing small circles over his knuckles. It was the only thing she knew would help keep him in a peaceful slumber.

"He's on his way," Dickie whispered, coming close to the bed. Isobel turned, a bit startled, almost forgetting that she'd sent him for the doctor.

"Thank Heaven. He just fell back asleep…but he is in quite a lot of pain and does not remember much at all. I'm sure it will right itself with time but hopefully Dr. Frederick can make him more comfortable," she said quietly.

Dickie stepped close to her side and reached over to take her free hand. "And having you care for him will surely get him back on his feet in no time at all."

"Let us hope so," she answered quietly, her eyes still focused on Harry. Leaning down, Dickie cautiously kissed her temple. Isobel's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly relaxed under his tender touch. She slowly turned her head and found she was eye to eye with him.

"If you keep this up, I might never be able to go home…" she whispered. He chuckled softly before leaning in to place a sweet kiss on her lips.

"That, my dear, is the plan."