To be honest, the five months had flown by and had Isobel not told him of her illness, he might never have guessed. They had been so busy with planning the wedding; closing up Crawley House and moving Isobel's thing to Cavenham Place; bidding farewell to Larry; attending parties, dinners and the like to introduce Isobel to his many friends….he wasn't sure how she'd kept up with it all and not fell ill!
But she was as strong as ever, never showing any weakness except when he caught her in a quiet moment. And though Dr. Clarkson had warned she should not overexert herself, he grinned remembering how she'd roll her eyes and say she was not going to be confined to bed for goodness sake.
Their wedding day had been one of the happiest he'd ever known, and each day since had only proved their marriage was the right decision. While she was still independent, she allowed Dickie to accompany her to her appointments with Dr. Clarkson. Dickie saw Richard Clarkson as a confidante, someone he knew he could trust to keep Isobel's health quiet from the Crawley family. No one had questioned her on her choice to only work at the Outpatient Clinic if there was a desperate need for volunteers. Much to Isobel's relief, Mary had readily agreed it would be good for Isobel to take some time away from the clinic and worry about settling in as 'Lady Merton.'
Dickie knew that there may come a time when Isobel would no longer be able to keep her health from Mary. The young woman had always been extremely observant, an attribute Dickie admired. But for now, things had been moving along at a stable pace…a pace that he hoped would continue for a long time to come.
As he looked across the small circle he stood in, he caught the eye of Violet Crawley. She had caught him staring across the field, smiling upon seeing Isobel laugh over something young George whispered in her ear. The Dowager, uncharacteristically, offered him a small smile, nodding her approval to Lord Merton and raising her champagne glass slightly. He mimicked her action before they both took a sip, each grateful to see Isobel Crawley happy and enjoying her grandson.
"Isobel tells me that you are planning on taking a trip to London for a few days," Mary said, turning to face Dickie. "Is this for business or pleasure?"
"Business, I'm afraid," Dickie replied with a sigh. "Larry has left some issues unresolved before traipsing away to America. He has asked our lawyers that I sign a few papers on his behalf."
"How inconvenient," Violet responded with a scoff. "Should they not send them to him in America? He must learn responsibility some time."
Dickie nodded in agreement. "Quite right, but unfortunately, it seems there is a time constraint associated…and we all know how long it takes for things to come back from America."
Mary and Violet both rolled their eyes in the same fashion, so much alike that Dickie had to suppress laughing at the similarity between grandmother and granddaughter.
"Granddad! Granddad!"
Four year old George came running to their small circle, quite out of breath and grasping for Dickie's hand.
"George, you mustn't shout so," Mary chided, placing a firm hand on George's shoulder to stop his advance straight in to Dickie's side.
"But Mama…"
"Now, now, where is Nanny? I think it time for you to have you afternoon rest, hm? And we should gather Marigold," Mary said, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of the children's nanny.
"But Mama!"
"George, we have agreed you are to have your nap every afternoon, haven't we?"
The little boy's bottom lip stuck out and his head dropped. Mary, though outwardly stern, felt a small twinge of compassion in her heart for the small boy. Bending down, she pressed a kiss to the top of the boy's head.
"You can see Granddad and Grandmamma in the library after. They are staying for dinner tonight, all right?" she asked, offering her son a small smile.
George looked up at Mary, tears replacing the normal sparkle in his blue eyes. "But they won't, Mama! They won't be here!"
Dickie smiled and placed his hand on George's shoulder and patting it gently. "Not to worry, my boy. Of course we will be!"
"But Donk said Grandmamma is sick and needs Dr. Clarkson…so she can't stay if she needs Dr. Clarkson, can she?"
Mary's mouth opened slightly in surprise as she quickly looked up at her godfather. But Dickie's eyes had darted over to where he had last seen Isobel. He couldn't seem to find her in the crowd of people standing and mingling with each other.
"George, what do you mean?" Violet asked, stepping forward to look down at the little boy.
Where is she…? His mind was racing, thinking through all Dr. Clarkson had warned could happen and what he could do once he found her.
It seemed like hours before Dickie caught sight of Cora and Edith hurrying over to where Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes stood. Looking beyond the women, his eyes locked with those of Lord Grantham.
The grim look across Robert Crawley's face was all Dickie needed to spring in to action. He hurried through the crowd of people towards where Robert stood. Mary had picked up George and hurried after her godfather while Violet had chosen a different, shorter path toward Cora and Edith.
Please let her be all right, he prayed with each step he took. He hurried around the last group of people standing in his way, his momentum so much that he almost crashed right in to Robert. Robert put two steadying hands on Dickie's upper arms, looking his friend directly in the eye.
"Cora and Edith have gone to have Carson ring for Dr. Clarkson," Robert relayed quickly. "Isobel was chatting with Cora and then seemed to get very dizzy. Her breathing is labored….has she been ill?"
Dickie pushed past him to Isobel seated in a white wicker chair. He heard Mary speaking with Robert, but his focus was solely on that of his extremely pale wife.
"Isobel…what is it?" he asked quietly, stooping down in front of her. He winced as both knees cracked, but quickly forgot his own pain when he saw how difficult it was for her to breathe.
She tried to speak but was struggling so for air that no words came out. One hand was pressed against her chest, the other now wrapped tightly around his.
"Shh, shh….it's all right. We'll get Dr. Clarkson and everything will be fine," he reassured her.
"Dickie…perhaps we best get her inside," Robert said, putting a steady hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Are you sure, Papa?" Mary said, staring down with worry at her mother-in-law. "I'm not sure she should move in such a condition."
"But is it safe to leave her here?" Robert asked, looking between Mary and Dickie.
Before Dickie could reply, he heard quick footsteps behind him.
"Carson has gone to ring for Dr. Clarkson and Mrs. Hughes will make up a room," Cora rattled off, her own breath a bit shaky after hurrying across the large yard twice.
Dickie turned to acknowledge Cora and saw she was not alone. Thomas and Andy stood behind her and Edith, surrounding Lord and Lady Merton so they would have a bit of privacy from the large crowd of people gathered at Downton.
"We were deciding whether or not we should take Isobel inside now or wait for Dr. Clarkson," Robert said, his eyes never leaving Isobel as she struggled to breathe normally.
"If I may, milord," Thomas said softly, "It would be best to get Lady Merton out of the elements….away from the crowds before she gets any worse."
"I agree, Papa," Edith said, her eyes wide with worry, "Thomas was in the Medical Corps. I think it best we listen to his direction until Dr. Clarkson arrives."
Robert nodded to the group before looking to Dickie. "Dickie, what do you think?"
Dickie took a moment to catch Isobel's eyes, looking to her for some sense of direction. But they were closed in exhaustion; her outstretched hand had now balled in to a fist in the middle of her chest.
"Quickly…we must go quickly," Dickie said, standing straight and turning to the group. "Thomas, if you and Andy would be so kind as to walk in front and behind, I believe Lord Grantham and I can support Lady Merton up to the house. We should not attract any attention if we go around the crowd instead of through it."
Both servants nodded. Thomas stepped around Cora and Edith, motioning for Andy to follow suit. The Under Butler stood beside Lord Grantham, ready to help if he could. Lady Merton had always been kind to him when he worked at the hospital, and having been under her direction during the war, he felt it was his duty to see her through this ordeal…whatever it may be.
"We will go as slowly as you need, darling," Dickie whispered, placing one arm around her shoulders and the other hand on her left arm. Andy held the back of the chair firmly while Robert leaned down to take Isobel's right hand.
"You tell us when you think you can stand, Isobel," Robert said, casting a worried look to his wife and daughters. Isobel's hand was cold and clammy in his, and his intuition told him this was a heart attack.
Isobel's eyes opened slowly, her eyes searching for Dickie.
"I'm right here," he reassured her, causing her eyes to dart across and meet his. "Ready?"
She nodded, knowing she would be unable to form any coherent response with her chest throbbing as it was. Dickie nodded to Robert and the two men all but lifted Isobel out of the chair, her body rigid as a searing pain shot from her chest down her arm.
Her lips pressed together to suppress a groan but then quickly opened as she felt the need to gasp for air.
"Papa! Hurry!" Mary cried, her hand pressing George's head in to her neck to shield him from seeing his beloved Grandmamma in such a state.
"Cora, mingle with the guests until the doctor arrives," Robert instructed as he and Dickie guided Isobel towards the house. Andy and Thomas were keen in using height to their advantage, staying only a few steps in front of and behind Isobel to hide her from any wandering eyes.
They were only steps from the entrance to the library when Dickie felt Isobel's full weight against him.
"Isobel?"
He stopped, forcing Robert and Andy to as well. Thomas turned just as Isobel began to fall. He reached forward to steady Isobel's shoulders while Dickie dropped his own arm around her waist. Her eyes were shut, the only sound being the wheezing breath coming across her lips.
"She'll never make it up the steps," Robert said, looking across to Dickie.
Dickie cast his own fears aside and gently scooped Isobel in to his arms, readjusting his hold on her so that her head fell to his shoulder. Looking to Thomas, he nodded.
"Lead the way."
Thomas quickly opened the doors and instructed Andy to run ahead and find Mrs. Hughes. It was unusual for the Under Butler not to be confident…but in this moment, he knew that he may not be able to save Lady Merton from what fate seemed to be revealing.