Richard was puzzled when a formal invitation to luncheon arrived through his post slot. He considered ignoring it until he realized that Isobel would be attending. He would gladly swallow his pride and be belittled by Spratt if it meant being with Isobel.

Spratt, he found himself grinning at the thought. Isobel had told him of the scuttlebut surrounding him and Denker. His behaviour could very well be caused by the abrasive actions of the new ladies' maid. For a moment he wondered if Merton would be there, this fear was quickly pushed aside for he knew that Isobel was his. Lord Merton had been able to retract the announcement of the engagement.

Hours after the unveiling he had gone to her and found her to be a mixture of joy and grief. He had held her as she haltingly to him of the visit from Merton. As she spoke about Matthew she unknowingly gripped his shirt tighter to her. Richard just listened to her, his hands gently tracing patterns on her back to soothe her. Matthew, his name still sparked an intense reaction in both of them.

In his minds eye he could remember every detail of Matthew's broken body.

There was nothing he could to save him, as he had been carried into the hospital Matthew's body had hung limply. The only thing he could do was clean him up before he was seen by family. He had closed those blue eyes first before taking a clean cloth and removing the blood and other grime from his face. He could have let one of the nurses do it but he didn't. Isobel had gently rejected his marriage proposal yet had gracefully given him an out. He owed it to her to prepare Matthew, so her last image of her son could be a somewhat good one.

When her grip relaxed he was transported back to the present. He gently pushed her away from him to gain the necessary distance so he could kiss her. At his touch she hummed in contentment. Would they marry he didn't know. There were rules in Downton and he didn't have the time or the patience to deal the semantics of it all, long ago he knew his position was that of a pawn. If Isobel didn't want marriage he wasn't going to push.

When the day of the luncheon came Richard fiddled nervously with his necktie, another gift from Isobel. Even before he entered the drawing room of the Dowager Countess he could hear the chatter from inside. Smoothing down his tie once more he squared his shoulders before going inside.

Isobel was near the unlit hearth while Violet was sitting in a chair. Other guests were milling about. It was great surprise that he found a filled cup of coffee being thrust at him. Luckily for him he was able to grab the cup and angle his body so none of the liquid could spill on him. He took a sip to lower the volume in the cup lest he make a mess. A voice called to him, it was the Dowager.

"Doctor, so glad you could come." She said with looked like a smile.

All those weeks ago, when she figuratively ambushed him in his office to plead with him to intervene. He knew damn well that the Dowager feared a loss of position. However, he also knew that she and Isobel were great friends, the incident with bronchitis sprang to mind, since then they had regularly played cards with one the thought of the potential loss as Isobel as a friend frightened her more than becoming number 2 in Downton.

As Richard took another sip of coffee he wondered if anyone knew that he and Isobel were lovers? He decided that he didn't care and moved towards hearth. Isobel flashed him a dazzling smile as he stood beside her. It wasn't long before Lord Merton arrived. The conversation level in the drawing room dropped dramatically before Isobel cheerfully invited him over.

Richard smiled at this, trust Isobel to make it all better. She wasn't publicly spurning Merton, there was no outburst to report. Merton then began to cross the room to join them. Offering and olive branch himself Richard asked if Lord Merton had read any of the medical journals which had been published that month. This seemed to be right question for the two fell into conversation. The door to the drawing room opened again revealing Lady Shackleton. Isobel moved from the hearth to intercept the woman.

Isobel noted that the woman's eyes held a tinge of panic as she approached.

"Good afternoon Lady Shackleton." Isobel said warmly.

"Mrs. Crawley, good afternoon." Lady Shackleton answered back somewhat woodenly.

Isobel had prepared herself for this awkwardness. Just how were people around her supposed to act? Not long ago she had been announced as the betrothed to Lord Merton and now she wasn't. Yet here they all were in a public setting. Isobel watched as Lady Shackleton was given a cup of coffee which she played with. Isobel made a motion with her hand a soon the two women moved towards the hearth.

The two men stopped speaking at their approach. Lord Merton greeted Lady Shackleton and the two exchanged pleasantries. It didn't take long for them to engage in conversation. Isobel and Richard stood with them as they all spoke of neutral topics. In the end they all had agreed to meet for dinner at a new restaurant. That night as Isobel dozed in the intoxicating warmth of Richard's body she hoped that perhaps that something would arise between Lady Shackleton and her friend Lord Merton. Life was too short to be unhappy and alone. Lady Shackleton wasn't too off-putting and her title would have Larry and Tim placated. As Richard's hand glided down her spine she snuggled closer to man beneath her, her man. Life was definitely too short to be without this. Warm skin, blazing kisses, soft moans and the smell of juniper soon became her world. As she was pulled close and rolled beneath the man she loved she had no regrets.