Second chapter

The next day when Isobel was at home reading a book, the doorbell rang suddenly.

She opened the door.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am." a deliver boy said. "This is for you", he gave her a huge bunch. "And this is for you too." He handed her an envelope. She thanked him and paid him.

It was a huge bunch of flowers and so very lovely. She tended to the flowers and said her on the table in her living room. Soon, the room was filled with the scent of the flowers. She opened the envelope. She recognized the handwriting immediately. Of course he had written.

"Dear Isobel,

Since I imagined that you would need some space after this dinner, I had not call on you yesterday,

I send you these flowers as an apology and I truly hope you will forgive me. I am so very sorry about Larry's and Tim's behaviour.

I would be so glad if you would allow me to see you again soon.

Hopefully you are feeling better.

I send you all my love,

Dickie"

She was glad he had written to her. She looked at the flowers and smiled sadly. They were really beautiful. What was she going to do? Surely, send him her answer. But what should she write to him? She could not think about the lines.

Sometime later she had made up her mind and rang the abbey for a driver.

At Lord Merton's estate, the butler led Isobel to the library.

"His lordship's in there, ma'am. His son is with him."

She hoped it was Tim, who seemed more reasonable than his older brother. Of course she was unlucky. She could hear Larry shouting.

"How could you want to marry her!? She to replace our dear mother. A commoner! I cannot believe it."

"How dear you speak to me in such an impertinent way!" shouted Merton angrily. " And whom I wish to marry is nothing of your concern! I am only astonished that you are not able to allow me some happiness after I've been unhappy my whole life."

"I do not believe you that you were never happy with our mother! She was always kind to Tim and me and loved us very much."

"If you must know" replied Lord Merton "I had only two happy days with your mother and those were the days when you and your brother were born"

Isobel and the butler had now approached the library. The latter cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, milord. You have a visitor, Mrs. Crawley."

Larry turned around and gave Isobel a nasty look. "I'm going, father. Good-day." and left the library, only to turn around at the door and he said angrily "I leave you alone with your charming company."

Merton sighed "I wish you would grow-up, Larry." But it was not sure if Larry had heard what his father had said to him.

Dickie approached Isobel and took both of her hands in his. "I am so very glad you came. How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you. I am not sure what to do about it, though."

"Take your time, my dear."

They looked at each other and Isobel smiled slightly. It felt so good to be in his company. If only he had sympathetic sons. The sharp memory of Matthew came to her mind. It still hurt.

"What is it, my love? Is something the matter?"

"I was only thinking of my son." Isobel said quietly.

"I wish I would have had a chance to get to know him better."

"I'm sure he would have liked you very much."

"Would he not have been sad that you wanted to marry me?" Why was he speaking of their marriage in the past tense?

"I don't think so. He would have seen that I am very happy to be with you." she said with a slight smile on her lips.

"I'm so glad that you can still say this, Isobel. It means so much to me."

They remained silent for a while, each of them lost in thoughts.

Then, Lord Merton said "Would you like to come to the theatre with me tomorrow evening? The play Minna von Barnhelm by Lessing."

"That would be lovely. I'm very fond of Lessing. Thank you for the invitation."