While Clarkson was a healer by profession he was also a man and upon hearing the news that the pig who had attacked Isobel had been stabbed he felt his lip twitch in a grin. As much as he wanted to pummel the man himself somehow it was more fitting that a woman had inflicted the harm. His father had instilled him a great respect for women and that a true man treated them with reverence. If any man touched a woman in violence he was an animal and should be treated as such.
He wouldn't tell Isobel, he would let Ethel or another one of the women tell her about her attacker. As they crossed over the threshold and came out into the open they noted the light was beginning to fade around them. Isobel began walking back the way they came and he followed. Beside her Isobel heard Richard exhale before he ran his hands through his hair again, a quick glance let her know it was not for character but because of frustration. This day had been one of the most draining he had had in awhile. Thrusting his hand into his pocket he felt the cigarette packet he had put there earlier. Pulling it from his pocket the dim light allowed him to see there was one fag left, shrugging he withdrew it from the packet and placed it between his lips before retrieving the matches from his other pocket. He stopped and so did Isobel she watched as he struck the match and cupped the flame in his hands. His face was illuminated briefly before he inhaled the flame through the cigarette to bring it to life.
"I didn't know you smoked." Isobel said as she advanced up the street keeping her face forward.
Richard was just behind her, she heard his voice float to her, "I don't, had the odd one growing up. I'm sure you know how lads can be. Some of the Canadian soldiers we treated during the war brought in cigarettes. I gave them to patients as incentives for starting or continuing therapy, some made it into the motor." He shrugged, "Might as well get rid of them now."
They would be nearing the area where the prostitutes loitered and he slowed his gait, if she was going to continue to work here he wasn't going to jeopardize that for her. Isobel walked quickly through the streets wanting to traverse the walkway as quickly as she could. In her dreams the mouthless and eyeless women would emerge from their berths so she could see them. At this moment she was awake and if she were to conquer her fear she had to go through. Richard coughed behind her and the sound made her smile.
Steeling herself she stepped into her nightmare, as she walked through she could hear the women calling to Richard. The whispers didn't invoke fear instead it enraged her. The exit loomed and both of them stepped through. In this tale Orpheus and Eurydice had made it through the underworld together. She found she was not untouched by her journey and carried a slight tremble which she endeavored to hide from him. Her thoughts turned to Ethel, that woman was going to give up her son. Whether it was to the Bryant's or some other situation such as her death by the hands of a client or disesase she was going to lose her child. Losing anything didn't sit well with Isobel.
Slowing her pace she waited for him to come alongside her. She surprised herself by reaching out and taking the cigarette from him. It was his turn to watch in awe as she took a drag from it. She exhaled and he watched the smoke curl around her. Her right hand extended towards him giving him back the cigarette. The fingers of his left hand brushed against her as he took hold of the cigarette.
They were nearing the car and Richard's curiosity won out, "Why did you do that?" He asked gesturing to the cigarette.
She stopped and turned to him shrugging, "Same taste."
His face showed puzzlement, had she smoked when younger? His puzzlement quickly turned to shock and then to anticipation as she moved closer to him. She felt no fear and she wanted to touch him for her own pleasure. He had a moment to flick the cigarette aside and both watched the ember fly across the dark before fading. She turned back to face him bringing her palms up to rest on his chest while his left hand went cup her cheek before she pressed her lips to his. Since he wasn't wearing a hat there was no awkward bumping of brims. Her mouth opened beneath his and he found she tasted like an ashtray which made him thankful that she had done what she did for he must taste the same. The kiss didn't last long since they were out in the open. Mutually they pulled away and he opened the door to the car and she got in. He started the engine, switched on the lights and the began the drive back to Downton.
Not far into the journey Isobel fell asleep, keeping the wheel in one hand he reached out and grabbed his suit jacket with the other to drape it over her. Fractured bones he could set, a laceration he could stitch, he was adept at mending a broken body. Mending a life was different, the fact that Isobel did this on a daily basis made him realize that he had seriously underestimated her.
A/N: My thanks to all who have reviewed thus far.