Here's chapter 2. I'm going to leave this here and will hide in safe place. But before I run for my life, I want to thank you for your kind reviews! Be so kind and thank my beta for making this less bad than it could have been ;-)

Chapter 2

Could we see when and where we are to meet again, we would be more tender when we bid our friends goodbye ~ Ouida

3 months later

London

Isobel sat her dressing table and was utterly displeased with her appearance. Her complexion was pale and the dark spots underneath her eyes spoke volumes of the countless sleepless nights she had endured over the last couple of weeks.

She didn't know why she had come to London in the first place. She should have told Cousin Violet to go to hell every time she had told her to join the family for the season. In the end Isobel had given in, because the idea of staying back in Downton on her own wasn't exactly agreeing with her either. Since Tom Branson had left for America and Edith practically lived in London Downton was a lonely place in the summer when the rest of the family was in London. So she had joined them, but she was afraid with her ill mood she wasn't a particularly good guest for Cora and the others. And each time she got a glimpse of a newspaper her mood took a turn for the worse.

She had hoped Dickie Merton would stick to his habits and stay away from London for the summer. Usually he only went there when he was needed in Parliament, to avoid the social gatherings. Well, usually... This summer Lord Merton had obviously decided to go against his usual habits. Isobel grimaced at her own reflection and turned away. She picked up the newspaper and reread the small abstract for what had to be the twentieth time today, because she still couldn't believe what her eyes were seeing.

Baron Merton engaged to the Honourable Elizabeth Grant?

As reported earlier this month the upcoming engagement between the widowed Peer and [the orphaned]daughter of Lord Binningham is not just a rumour. The couple has been seen together in London on several occasions and as we learned from a reliable source it is only a matter of days, before the liaison will be made public.

Isobel stared the paper and threw it into the rubbish bin. So much for his undying love, she thought bitterly.

Someone knocked at her door and she was glad for the interruption. "Come in!" She had hoped for Cora or Mary to show up, but her hopes were destroyed when the Dowager Countess entered her bedroom. Violet had a habit of driving her mad these days and she wasn't up for another round of endless banter.

"Are you ready?" Violet asked.

"Yes, I think I am," Isobel replied and rolled up her glove.

To Isobel's annoyance Violet closed the door behind her and leaned onto her can. It was a pose that promised a lecture or unsolicited advice - both things Isobel could easily do without.

"My dear...," Violet started, but Isobel raised her hand.

"Don't start."

"You don't even know what I wanted to say," Violet complained offended.

"Well, I know I don't want to hear it."

"But you should – unless you want to make a fool of yourself. If that is your wish feel free to send me out."

Isobel didn't reply. As always the old bat's remark had caught her attention.

"Robert's just told me that Lord Merton will be here this evening and he thinks we should warn you about it."

Isobel's jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon."

"As it is... he couldn't avoid inviting him and hoped Lord Merton... would decline the invitation – which he usually does... Just not today."

Isobel swallowed and busied herself again with her other glove. "Well then. I think I can avoid him."

When Violet remained uncharacteristically silent, Isobel looked up again. "What is it?"

"He won't come alone," Violet said. "He'll bring this blonde piece with him. The one they wrote about in the paper."

For a moment Isobel's first instinct was to pack up her things and leave, but then she realized that she would really make a fool of herself. Isobel straightened her back and shrugged, as if the motion could help to get rid of the painful prospect of seeing Dickie with another woman.

"I must say you take it better than I expected," Violet said after a minute of silence. "But then, why should it be a problem for you? After all, you broke off the whole thing months ago." Violet smiled sheepishly, but Isobel ignored her.

"Thank you for telling me, but you're right. It won't bother me. We're all adults after all."

"That is true," Violet agreed. "I'm not so sure about Miss Grant though... she looks rather young, don't you agree?"

Isobel had never had the wish to get drunk, nor had she ever failed to stay sober, but this evening she felt rather tempted to do so. Maybe the alcohol would help her numb her emotions. Seeing Dickie again after all those weeks was even worse than she had expected and she found that rather hard to conceal.

To her surprise and endless regret Dickie was in the best of spirits this evening. He had greeted her like an old friend, had complimented her on her looks and introduced her enthusiastically to his companion. A beautiful young woman with blonde hair and a radiant smile.

"Isobel, may I present the Honourable Elizabeth Grant?"

"Mrs Crawley," Elizabeth said warmly. "Dickie's told me so much about you. I'm glad we finally meet!"

"That's nice of him," Isobel replied with a smile that felt frozen and actually hurt her facial muscles.

"Well, he's a kind man. We should really get to know each other." Isobel tried to find a hint of sarcasm or something malicious in the younger woman, but she was in for a disappointment. There was nothing vicious or false about Elizabeth Grant. On the contrary, there was nothing in the woman's face that implicated such a thing, and that was something Isobel found more disturbing than she cared to admit.

"So what do you make of her?" Violet asked curiously, when she and Isobel retreated into the library after dinner.

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Violet huffed in utter frustration. "What kind of person is she?"

Isobel shrugged, "She seems nice. Very nice..."

"So, do you think she's sincere?"

"She gives that impression," Isobel admitted. "And even if not, it's none of my business."

Violet exhaled. "Do you actually think a young girl of her age has fallen for someone who could be her grandfather?"

"Perhaps she has... he seems quite smitten with her anyway."

"Every man is smitten when a young woman throws herself at him," Violet countered lively. "And when that is the case, the man is barely thinking with his brain."

Isobel shook her head in disgust. "Please, Cousin Violet, it's Dickie's life, not mine. Besides, what if she makes him happy? I mean, really happy?"

Violet scoffed, "Do you actually think his sons will be happy to have a stepmother younger than them?"

"That is not my problem. But perhaps Miss Grant will have more energy to fight them than I had."

Violet sighed exhaustedly, "I thought I would never have to say this, but I miss the fighter in you. Be careful or you'll start boring people to death with your cowardice."

Clearly miffed by this, Isobel snapped. "I'm not a coward. I'm just tired."

"I can see that. I wonder what Matthew would say, if he saw you now."

Isobel's head jerked around. Her eyes suddenly sparkled dangerously, which was perhaps just the reaction Violet had been aiming to provoke. "Don't mention my son!"

"But it seems I have to. You once told him he had to fight for his love. Why don't you do the same?"

"Matthew was young and no one who's young deserves to be unhappy. I'm old and I had my share of happiness. That's the difference. If you'll excuse me now, I think I'm done for today."

Isobel rose and waltzed out of the room, while Violet remained in her chair and curled her lips into a knowing smile. Then she suddenly noticed a growing noise and angry voices coming out of the hallway.

When she entered the hallway Isobel was greeted by loud voices and a scuffle. Perplexed she stopped dead in her movements and tried to realize what was happening right in front of her eyes. Barrow and Molseley were pushing a shouting, visibly drunk man through the assembled dinner guests. To her shock Isobel instantly recognized the man and she had to catch her breath when he started shouting again.

"Don't you think I'll ever forget what you did to me!" Larry Grey yelled over his shoulder and straight into Barrow's face. "Everybody in London will know how you used me to get close to my father!"

"Be silent, Larry!"

Isobel watched Dickie Merton storming forward. "The Crawleys, Miss Grant, and I are expecting your apology until tomorrow at lunch time. Your entrance here was most shameful and disgusting."

Larry tore himself loose from Barrow and Molseley. "I disgust you? You disgust me!" he cried at his father. "She was my fiancé. I loved her and two weeks after I introduced her to you, she calls it all off, because of you! If someone should be ashamed, it's you and her."

For several moments Larry and his father simply stared at each other in utter silence, then the sound of high heels disrupted the tension filled air.

"You should go now, Larry," Elizabeth Grant said coldly. "I think you've made your point quite clear."

Larry looked disgustedly at her and there was just one word that his lips formed, "Whore." And much louder he added, "You'll regret this. One day you'll crawl back to me!"

"I won't and if I should ever change my mind, I'd rather open my veins," Elizabeth replied calmly and Isobel had not the slightest doubt that the young woman meant every word.

"Barrow, Molseley, I think you can escort Mr Grey out!" Robert Crawley ordered with all the dignity he could muster.

"Yes, My Lord!" Barrow and Moseley said in unison and did their best to push the ranting figure out of everyone's sight and reach.

"Sometimes I wonder why he's always ruining our dinner parties," Robert said angrily to Cora and then he turned around to face the stunned crowd. "Please, Ladies and Gentleman, let's go back inside. This was a fascinating interruption, but the sherry is waiting!"

"That's it for me."

Isobel startled when she heard Violet's voice behind her. "I've had my share of excitement for one evening. I'm going upstairs."

Isobel just nodded and watched Violet as she slowly left and passed Lord Merton and Elizabeth Grant on her way to the staircase. He nodded politely at Violet, but a second later his eyes searched the room until he had found Isobel. He established eye contact with her and the way he looked at her caused her to shiver. For a second she feared he would come over to her, but he didn't and then the moment had passed. The connection was broken as quickly as it had formed, as he turned his head into Elizabeth's direction and spoke to her.

Emotionally too exhausted to join the party again, Isobel decided to call it a night as well – certain, she wouldn't be able to sleep a wink.

~~tbc~~