Isobel's hand was Dr. Clarkson's primary concern, he also needed to get her out and away from those around her. In the state she was in he was liable to have more patients! Knowing that the hand couldn't wait he bypassed all the others and headed for the servant's hall. Mrs. Hughes saw them and ushered them to her sitting room. He calmly opened his bag and methodically began retrieving the items he needed. First he began by using tweezers to extricate the shards he could see, he was thankful that sherry had been in the glass disinfecting the wounds would be a moot point. Then he employed a magnifying glass to examine her hand in case there were more shards hiding beneath the surface that he couldn't see.
Isobel was muttering and Richard could only make out snippets. She would mutter then shake her head. When her flesh was free of glass and bandaged he offered his own hand palm up and her uninjured hand took it eagerly.
Her eyes held a mixture of anger and disbelief, "I just.." She blew out a breath, her bandaged hand rose as if to accentuate the fact that there were no words for what she wanted to express. It took a moment for her thoughts to coalesce into something understandable. "All of them, well not all Sybil was quiet and Tom was trying to be diplomatic...The rest were so willing at dinner to practically die for something that didn't really matter. In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter! I doubt God will care what religion that child is baptized in. Yet, there they were, lobbing points, being shouty, interrupt-y nearly jabbing fingers. Devil may care! Being tough, tough, tough."
Her eyes met his and he saw that they were glassy with unshed tears, "Now when faced with real problem, something tangible. Like the fact a woman might starve to death without employment- Where is the passion? It was just wailing of 'oh that will look bad on me!' Then all they could do was stand there like the dummies you put clothes on to display in a shop front window."
She then gave Richard a look that made his heart melt, she then ran her good hand down his face. "But you, you came in and looked as if there was a fire!"
Leaning forward she kissed him, "Oh please take me home, and not to that monstrosity of Crawley House. Take me home, I want to go home."
Ever since that day at the Police Station he knew he would take her wherever she wished. If she felt that she could no longer stay here he would leave with her. He couldn't be without her, he gently kissed her back before leaning his forehead against hers. "Let's go home."
If anyone saw them leave by the servants entrance it was not reported. Richard got Isobel situated in the car and drove to his cottage-their home. Once inside they went straight to the bedroom and faced one another. Richard couldn't resist and had to taste her lips. Happily Isobel's uninjured hand came to anchor in his hair and keep him close. Her injury made undressing a tad awkward. Nevertheless, their clothes were shed slowly. When Isobel muttered a curse Richard grinned before aiding her in unbuttoning her blouse. Once bared to one another they arranged themselves in bed. Isobel resting her head on his shoulder while his hand glided up and down her bare back. The phantom pain that had plagued Isobel was gone, and she moaned in contentment. Richard buried his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply, his sheets had been a poor substitution to this.
Isobel turned her face into Richard's skin and place hot kisses against it before pillowing her head once more. "Please don't send me away again, I understand why you did before but please...not again."
"Never again, I swear it." He said in truth, he'd rather cut off his own arm than be without her. She believed it, sighing in relief.
Tonight would not be a night they made love, tonight was for their skin to touch each others and soothe the hurt caused in their absence. Each touch brought with it relaxation and for the first time in a week they fell into restful sleep.
Matthew, Mary, Lord Grantham and Lady Cora slept fitfully that night. All the tossing and turning had Lord Grantham retreating to his dressing room. However, since he rarely slept in here the bed was a foreign territory and he found sleep elusive. In the morning Mrs. Hughes found she had been summoned by Lord and Lady Grantham and she was nervous. Lady Cora was the one to address her, "Mrs. Hughes, I remember that you were involved with the Bryant's and the housemaid Ethel Parks? What developments have happened since then that you know of?"
Slowly Mrs. Hughes began telling them of Ethel's choice to keep her child after the disastrous luncheon. Cora listened intently for she had been quite unaware of things due to her incapacitation with the Spanish Flu. Mrs. Hughes then told them all of Ethel's fall into prostitution, the women's shelter, and eventual relinquishment of her son into the hands of his grandparents with the help of Mrs. Crawley.
Matthew then spoke, "All right I understand that, what I don't understand is Mother's loyalty. This fierce devotion."
Mary stroked her husband's arm, "Darling your Mother is devoted to many things this is one of the things that makes her who she is."
Matthew shook his head, "We're missing something."
Elsie swallowed hard, "When Mrs. Crawley saw Ethel in York she followed her, she was then attacked by the man Ethel was with. Ethel alerted the Police and minded your mother...even gave a statement to the Police. That is why."