By The Actions That Bind Us
Summary: What would have happened if Mr. Hale insisted that John and Margaret marry due to the events that transpired during the riot? Margaret is very upset but goes along with it for propriety's sake, swearing to never love John. Mrs. Thornton makes her displeasure known and is determined to make Margaret's life a misery. John is secretly ecstatic about the marriage but once he sees how downtrodden Margaret has become living with his mother and sister, he is determined to make her happy and love him as much as he loves her.
A/N First Chapter of any fanfic I have ever created! Don't be a hater ;D
Note, this story takes place right before the riot at Marlborough Mills.
Cheers,
iamShareel
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Chapter 1
Margaret's POV
I remember the day of the riot at Marlborough Mills very clearly. I was wearing my favourite shall, a white muslin with small embroidered roses that mamma made me when we lived back in Helstone. The air felt very damp like Mother Nature was on the verge of opening the skies to pour down and wash away the street's grime. The sky was a collection of varying shades of grey overcast and streets seemed particularly dusty and empty of the usually throng of mothers and children going about their daily chores. I remember worrying about my shall, afraid that it would become dirty – how silly that all seems now after the events that transpired after that fateful day.
Milton seemed unusually quiet, the air hummed with an underlying sense that something big was about to transpire. I had just dropped off a letter to the postbox for my brother, Frederick, who was secretly living in Cadiz due to the mutiny. I know I shouldn't have, father would have forbade me if he knew beforehand but I knew in my heart that mother was so very ill. He could not deny her this one last wish. She would take comfort in seeing Fred one last time and I would do anything to try and bring her comfort in these last few months, possibly weeks of her life. In fact, it was with her comfort in mind that lead me to Marlborough Mills that day and sealed my fate in becoming Mrs. John Thornton…
As I walked the quiet streets up towards Marlborough Mills, my thoughts began to wonder towards my brother. It had been so many years since I have last seen him, looking so handsome in his naval uniform, leaving Helstone with a glimmer of hope in his eye that he too could one day become Captain of a fine ship. Who would have thought that would be the last time he would be there, or rather, that we as a complete family would be there. Oh how I missed Helstone and the velvety cramoisy roses, the colour of sunshine along the hedge row. How the country air was always sweet smelling and the sun seemed to always be shining. Our parochial house was so light and airy, not like our house now in Milton, which always seemed to be dim and perpetually dusty.
I do hope Fred comes to see mamma, she would be so cheered, it may bring her around.
"Is it you ma'am?" The porter asked as I approached the gates, I had hardly known that I was already at the Thornton's place, being so lost in my own thoughts. The porter slowly widened the entrance to the mill just large enough for me to squeeze in.
"The folk are all coming up here I reckon?" he asked.
"I'm not sure, the streets are quite empty. Whom are you expecting?"
Instead of answering my question, the porter hastily pushed the gate shut and bolted it behind me.
"I have come to see Mrs. Thornton and Miss. Thornton are they in?" I asked the porter. Thinking the way he was acting was quite strange.
"Aye ma'am, you know the way." The porter replied.
Walking through the work yard I happened to look up at the workhouse windows, expecting to find it empty, only to see a multitude of faces peering down at me with a number of emotions upon their features – some fright, some anger, some confusion; unnerved I hurried to the house and knocked on the door.
Jane – the upper-servant opened the door and announced me.
"Oh! Miss. Hale, how do you do today?" Miss. Thornton asked me while she walked into the parlor with her gowns swooshing behind her.
"Very well, thank you. Is your mother in? I came today to ask a favour I'm afraid." I simpered.
"Oh yes, she shall be back soon! Mamma and John went to the workhouse to calm down the Irish! Mamma is seeing to their food and John is talking some sense to the men." Miss. Thornton informed, adamantly fanning herself and nodding in concession.
"I was actually coming over to inquire about that water mattress you were - " I was telling Miss. Thornton but was startled by a loud banging and shouts coming from outside by the mill gates.
In mere seconds the house was in an uproar, Mrs. Thornton and Mr. Thornton rushed back into the house and the servants all ran to their quarters in fright.
I jumped up from my seat and hurried over to the window to see what the all the commotion was about, while Miss. Thornton let a high pitch squeal then started to spout off some gibberish about how the mob would break down the doors and murder us all!
I vaguely heard Mrs. Thornton talking sternly to Miss. Thornton trying to instill some sense into her when I felt – rather then saw – Mr. Thornton stand next to me at the window.
"Miss. Hale, I am sorry you have visited us at this unfortunate moment, I fear you may be involved in whatever risk we have to bear. Keep up your courage for a few more minutes, the soldiers should be here soon." He told me in his low timbre, not looking at me but towards the gate that was shaking due to the furious movements the rioters were making.
We stood there, waiting for the soldiers to arrive, periodically looking up to the window where the poor Irishmen and women were locked away in the factory.
I heard more then saw the foundation of the gate give way, within seconds the gate had opened wide and the wild stream of rioters shot through running towards the factory doors! My heart dropped! Those poor Irishmen!
"By heavens! They are headed for the mill doors!" Mr. Thornton ground out, for the first time that day I was the worry upon his face, but he remained where he stood. He turned to me then, "Miss. Hale, please go with my mother upstairs. The threat is greater then I had imagined."
"I am not frightened! Mr. Thornton, go down there and confront these men! You should have the courage to stand up to those men and save your poor Irishmen!" I challenged.
His eyes flashed to mine with intense anger. "Of course, it's not them they want, it's me. Miss. Hale, would you come down to the doors with me and bolt the door behind me? My mother and sister will need the protection." With that he turned on his heel and walked brusquely down the stairs towards the front door.
I was about to follow him when something out the window caught my eye. A group of men were picking up rocks – one of them was Boucher. I ran quickly after him, not wanting him to be hurt due to my opinions.
"Mr. Thornton, take care!" I called out, he had already stepped outside.
He stood tall, with his legs apart and his arms crossed, stone faced. He did not say a word as the mob berated him. I was afraid of what the crowd might do from what I had seen just a moment ago, without thinking I rushed out in front of Mr. Thornton and addressed the throng myself.
"Go! Go in peace! The soldiers are coming!" I shouted above the angry yells. A young man in the crowd spoke up "Will you send the Irish away?" he cried.
With a sneer Mr. Thornton shouted "Never!" The mob saw red and began to get even more agitated. I stated to feel desperate – a sense of foreboding came upon me - "Do not use violence, he is one man and you are many." I cried out, for fear that they would resort to violent behavior instead of the shouting.
"Miss. Hale, go inside! It is too dangerous!" Mr. Thornton addressed me, looking worried not for his safety but only for my own. A brilliant thought, or so I thought at the time, came to me at that moment. Turning towards him, I placed myself between him and the rioters – shielding him with my body. He looked perplexed at first, when I wrapped my arms around his neck bringing myself closer to him then I had ever been to any man besides father he had a look of shock upon his features.
"They will not harm a woman!" I cried.
"Go inside! Or I will carry you in!" He shouted as he started to turn towards the door.
Both of us being so caught up in our tiff, failed to notice that one of the rioters whipped a stone, catching me in my right temple. The blow knocked me to the ground.
The last thing I saw was Mr. Thornton almost in tears as he knelt down beside me, softly touching my hair asking if I could rest on the step for a moment. I didn't respond as I slipped into darkness.
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A/N: Like? Hate? Keep going?? Let me know!
Cheers,
iamShareel