In London Isobel was beginning to rethink her decision. While she had had a somewhat luxurious upbringing as a Nurse she was used to cramped and shared quarters. However the one thing she couldn't bear was whinging! Currently her family were perfecting the performance art! The house was still fairly large, while it wasn't Downton Abbey it was still ample, yet everyone was bickering over space. So much so that Isobel decided to leave the house and go for a walk. She engaged in window shopping as it had been deemed however, everything she looked at reminded her of Richard. She went from shop and tried determinably not to think of Richard which made her miss him more. Things got worse as she decided to abandon window shopping and just walk. Each gentlemen that she saw in the distance had her thinking that perhaps that it was Richard and he had somehow escaped Downton to be with her. She stopped and shook her head, she knew all too well the responsibilities that he had. She welcomed the pang of loneliness she felt for him for it only sharpened her desire to get back to him.
She turned around and made her way back to her temporary dwelling. Upon her return she saw why she had left! People seemed to streaming in and out, a tidal swell of bodies and carried by the slight breeze and open windows the sound of screeching and wailing from the Crawley women. Isobel rolled her eyes a habit she had picked up from Richard, should she turn back around?
"Mrs. Crawley?" A voice asked.
She whirled towards the voice and saw the tall Lord Merton. She was surprised to see him and the surprise must have been evident for he stammered, "I, I was hoping I might catch you."
"Well it seems luck is on your side" Isobel said politely.
Merton gestured to the flow of bodies, "Chaotic"
"Oh, yes! I went for a walk to escape only to come back and find it hasn't even ended." Isobel said with a frustrated wave.
"I was going to go to a nearby restaurant for some tea, would you care to join me?"
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him no but she remembered Richard's words. She would be loath to go back inside with the bickering Crawley girls, tea sounded like heaven right about now and there was no reason why she and Lord Merton couldn't be friends.
The restaurant Lord Merton chose was fairly upscale but then again he was a Lord and this was London. There was more glass in one of the chandeliers dangling above their table than on all of the shelves in the Grantham Arms. It was surprisingly easy to talk with Lord Merton they chatted easily over tea. Merton was careful to avoid the topic of his children not wanting to repeat his earlier blunder. They spoke of politics of all things and Isobel found the time passing pleasantly. So much time passed that they decided to order dinner. As Isobel looked at the menu she knew exactly what she wanted. When the waiter came back she confidently ordered Onion Soup.
In Downton Doctor Clarkson was signing off his last chart. It was late afternoon and with no other patients he could leave early. He gathered his things and made his way back to his cottage.
The weather was pleasant and he found himself opening the curtains to let the setting sun bathe his cottage in its light. His dinner was simple a makeshift ploughman's, he probably could have gotten a decent meal at the pub but he felt like staying in. After he had eaten he found himself drifting from room to room. In the kitchen he could see in his mind's eye Isobel and himself washing dishes. In the small sitting room he could picture them by the fire when it was cold. He finally padded to the bedroom and he leaned against the doorframe thinking of the last time they were together.
The night before she had left for London she had stayed with him here. No pillows had been squashed into this face that time!
Her kisses and touches seemed forlorn and he wondered for a second if he had hurt her. When her grip increased and she dug her nails into his shoulder he realized that she was holding back. Their first encounter she had been a tad shy but so had he. At their age they had been reserved in shedding clothes. With time they had become uninhibited. Isobel had learned that Richard was extremely vocal in bed something Reginald had never been. Richard would moan, snarl, grunt, sigh and even give voice to what he was feeling! Isobel for the most part was quiet save for the odd sigh. However, Richard had discovered that she was physical. One more than once occasion he had to wear a higher collared shirt for she had sunk her teeth into his neck and shoulder. His back had been decorated by her nails and his hair had been gathered into her fists. All of these things he welcomed. However, she wasn't doing them tonight.
"Let go" He rasped as he circled his hips a move that never failed to drive her mad.
"Not yet, I want…" her sentence trailed off as his movement caused her to moan in pleasure and her eyes fall shut.
Richard understood, she wanted to have this encounter last. Since they had become lovers they really spent more than a day apart. Her trip to London would be longest that they would be apart. He had to fight to stay in the moment as well, her moans had him wanting to piston into her willing body and fly apart.
His hand trailed down her thigh to anchor under her knee and pull her leg higher onto his hip. The new angle had Isobel's eyes snapping open. Her hands found purchase in his hair and pulled his head down closer to her. Before her lips claimed his he whispered, "There's my Isobel!"
She kissed his lips frantically, her grip had tightened on his hair and Richard was losing himself in the feel of her body. Her hand left his hair and her hands gripped his arms he pulled her knee up half an inch more. Her nails bit into his flesh and he jammed his mouth over hers to swallow her cries.
The doorjamb was digging into his shoulder and he welcomed the ache. God, how he missed her!