I thank you all so much for your kindness. :)

Chapter 7

Isobel sat quietly by herself staring blankly out into space, not taking in the party scene before her at all.

"Can I join you?"

Isobel looked up a little startled not having heard Mary approaching. But she quickly smiled warmly at her.

"Yes, of course, my Dear."

"Are you alright, Isobel?" Mary asked as she sat down. "You looked as if you were in a world of your own."

"Oh I'm alright. I suppose all of these parties are just wearing me out a little," she replied with a shrug. "Not to mention the city."

"You sound as if you miss Downton."

"I do rather," she said and then chuckled. "It's funny actually. I used to enjoy living in the city, when I lived in Manchester, because that's all I knew really. But I've become rather fond of the quiet village life, and I find myself preferring the small country life to that of a big city."

"Well that's very good to hear," replied Mary warmly.

They both turned towards the dance floor at the sound of Rose's laughter ringing out. Mary groaned a little while Isobel let out a chuckle.

"It seems like someone's enjoying, what the city has to offer."

"Yes," Mary said sighing. "A little too much at times, it seems. She's certainly not lacking potential suitors."

"Well, she's young and a very pretty girl at that. It's only natural that she should attract a lot attention."

"Yes, I suppose. But I do wish she'd go about it a bit more quietly."

"Oh, I'm sure she will in time," Isobel remarked and stayed silent for a few moments after that. "What about your suitors?" she then asked tentatively. When Mary looked at her a little surprised, she quickly added kindly, "I'm not prying. I'm merely asking since they all seem to be here so much." Worried that she'd said the wrong thing, she quickly said, "I'm sorry if I've offended you."

Mary smiled at her. "You haven't, Isobel. And you have a right to ask."

"No, I don't. Your life is your business."

She reached out for Isobel's hand and gave it a squeeze. "You have as much of a right to ask as everyone else in the family," she said and then felt Isobel squeezing her hand in return before both letting go. "And everyone else is asking," she said rolling her eyes in the process.

Isobel chuckled at that. "And what is your response to that?"

"The same answer as I give to Lord Gillingham and Mr. Blake. Which is that I'm still not ready." Then adding more quietly she said, "I'm still not over Matthew, and I won't be for a long time yet."

"You do realize," Isobel said gently, "that Matthew would not want you to be alone. It's alright to still grieve and miss your husband, but in the end you shouldn't let it stop you from falling in love again."

"I know, but I thank you for saying it." They smiled warmly at each other. "But sometimes I don't know, if I'll ever marry again. Sometimes I don't think I want to."

"You may feel like that now, but you're still very young. Perhaps you just need a bit of time, before you allow yourself to be swept away by a suitor."

"You make it sound so romantic."

"There's no reason why it couldn't be."

"But you never married again," Mary said carefully.

Isobel responded with a warm smile showing Mary she wasn't offended. "No, but I was much older than you are now, when Reginald died. Matthew was already a young adult then," she said before more quietly adding, "And besides, I didn't have any suitors wanting to marry me let alone wanting to court me." There was a bit of a long pause after that. "So you see," she then said a little cheerfully a few moments later. "I didn't have a choice."

Mary smiled kindly and then ventured on a little slowly.

"And n.."

"Oh that dreadful woman!" Both Isobel and Mary jumped a little in their seats at hearing Violet's outburst right behind them. "I can't believe her nerve!"

As Violet came to stand before them, Mary and Isobel exchanged knowing glances, and slightly rolled their eyes in the process. They then both bit back their grins, right before they turned to look at Violet.

"What did Grandmama do this time, Granny?"

"It's not what she did, it's what she said!"

"Then what did she say that has you so hot and bothered?" Isobel asked.

"Oh it doesn't bear repeating!" Violet answered more than a little angry. "But I'm not going anywhere near that woman for the rest of the evening!"

Isobel and Mary exchanged glances again trying very hard not to laugh, which thankfully went unnoticed by Violet as she looked behind them to make sure, Martha didn't follow her.

"Well, in that case you're welcome to sit with Isobel and me."

"But there doesn't seem to be an empty chair about."

They all looked around the room, but when neither of them could spot a chair Isobel stood up.

"You can have my seat," she offered.

"I hope you don't intend to just stand there then," Violet replied as she went to take the seat Isobel had just vacated.

Isobel rolled her eyes behind Violet's back in response. Only Mary noticed and she had a hard time keeping the grin off her face.

"No, I'm not. But I've been sitting by myself for far too long that I feel, I should join the others. And as you know," she added a little cheerfully, "I don't mind Mrs. Levinson."

"Yes," Violet grumbled a little, "I know all too well."

Isobel didn't hide her eye roll from Violet this time. "Then I shall go and enjoy her company, and talk to you both later."

Isobel and Mary exchanged smiles before Isobel left.

"Honestly, sometimes I don't know which of the two is worse," Violet grumbled a little, causing Mary to take a long calming breath.

"Well, I like both of them."

"Naturally, you would!"

"But I like you too, Granny," she added smiling warmly at Violet.

Violet returned the smile padding her arm affectionately. "That's nice to hear, my Dear." Violet took a look out on the dance floor, and then looked back at Mary. "So, what did you and Isobel talk about?" she asked a little nonchalantly.

"Oh nothing really. She's just a bit tired from attending all these parties."

"It is rather a lot to take in, when one is not used to them," she agreed.

"Good thing she has a quiet day to look forward to in two days, when she goes to luncheon with Lord Merton," she said as she looked out on the dance floor to keep an eye on Rose.

"Not good for everyone," Violet remarked quietly.

"What was that, Granny?" Mary said turning her attention back towards Violet. "I didn't quite get that."

"I said that it would be good for everyone," she lied smiling.

"And here I thought that you preferred Isobel's company to Grandmama's," she said grinning a little.

"Only sometimes," she replied a little defensively.

"Well, it should prove to be a good day for you as well, then. Not only won't you be dealing with Isobel, but you also won't have to endure Grandmama or Uncle Harold on your own, as we'll all be going to Aunt Rosamund's for luncheon. That should make you happy," Mary said smiling.

"I would be much happier, if Isobel would join us for luncheon," she said quietly and to Mary it sounded almost a little sadly. But before she could ask Violet anymore about it, they both turned their attention to the dance floor as Rose's laughter once again rang out. "Oh good heavens! She's making a spectacle of herself! Not to mention the entire family!"

"Should I go talk to her?"

"You can try, but I don't know what good it will do. I've tried talking to her several times, but it seems to have had very little effect!"

"I'll go talk to her," Mary said and left Violet to wonder, if she was the only reasonable person left in the world.

TBC