"Never Doubt I Love"

Author's Note: This is my first North & South fanfiction and I'm a little nervous! I owe MANY thanks to Mere24 for her feedback, input, tweaking, and for the original inspiration that is her delicious ginger biscuits. You should go and read her story "The Sum of All Wisdom" right now. It's fantastic.

Disclaimer: These characters belong to Elizabeth Gaskell. If they belonged to me… well, the things I would do to John Thornton shouldn't be mentioned in public.

Chapter One

"Doubt that the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move his aides, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love."

Hamlet – Act 2, Scene 2

Returning home after another tedious dinner party, John Thornton was looking forward to a leisurely brandy before taking himself to bed. The dinner had been another gathering of his fellow mill owners, this time discussing recovery after the strike. After a certain point, John had just tuned out the nattering around him and nodded occasionally.

He was passing by Outwood Station when he heard something odd.

"Hale!"

The name of his tutor and of his temptress would always catch his attention. His head whipped around only to see some ruffian pushing aside Miss Hale to accost the young man she was with. It was he that was being referred to as "Hale," rather than the woman John was used to attaching to that name. But that was for another time.

Just the sight of this scoundrel laying a hand on Miss Hale made Thornton see red. He ran forward to make his displeasure known when Margaret's companion gave a shove and tipped the tormenter down the stairs. John followed down the stairs, possibly to ensure the man left and maybe to make sure he left with a limp. He hauled the disheveled rake to his feet and got in his face, despite the reek of alcohol on the reprobate's breath. "I believe you laid a hand on Miss Hale." His grip tightened. "If you ever do so again, I shall make certain you regret it."

Leonards, for that was his name, scoffed. "She deserved whatever she got for hiding that fugitive of a brother from the police! 'Sides, she's only a preacher's daughter."

All the color left Leonards face then, for he found himself facing the very devil. If the devil wore an impeccably cut suit and had blue eyes that had gone as cold as ice. Thornton's voice, when it came, was lower and even more dangerous than before. "You really shouldn't have said that." A grin broke out on Thornton's face then, which Leonards found even more terrifying than the scowl had been. It was a grin free of humor and promising pain. The pain was delivered via a well-aimed fist into Leonards face. The blood poured from his broken nose almost immediately. Eventually, intelligence has to break through to even the stupidest of men and Leonards beat a hasty retreat.

It was only then that something he'd said clicked in John Thornton's mind. "Brother?"

He returned to the platform and Miss Hale to see the train vanishing in the distance. "Miss Hale, are you all right?"

Margaret turned, stunned. "Oh, yes, Mr. Thornton. I'm fine." She peeked over his shoulder. "Is he-?"

"He's gone." He assured her. Silence stretched between them. "That… man… said that your… companion… is your brother?"

Margaret paled visibly. "Yes. Yes, he is." She had two choices in that moment. She could tell Mr. Thornton the whole scandalous story and trust that he would protect her and her family. Or she could keep the sordid thing secret and possibly alienate him forever. After the kindness he had shown her mother over the last few days, she felt she owed him something and, somehow, the idea of alienating him forever had become distasteful to her. She would trust him.

As she spoke, John Thornton's face stayed implacable. No trace of emotion passed over his features. When she was done telling all, the only thing he said was "I see." He then turned and stepped a few paces away, clearly processing everything he had heard. "And this is the visitor who was at your house the other day?"

"Yes." She spoke to the back of his head. "We were trying to keep his visit quiet, so he wouldn't get caught—"

John held up a hand. "I understand completely, Miss Hale." He turned back to face her again. "You may be assured of my discretion."

She examined her hands. "I never doubted it, sir, but we had no wish to put you in a difficult position as magistrate. I believe that's why my father never spoke of Fred to you before."

Thornton shook his head. That fact hadn't even occurred to him. "Please, Miss Hale, allow me to walk you home. It's quite late."

"Yes, thank you, sir."

They pointed their heads to Crampton and walked quietly, but companionably for a few minutes. Soon, John felt that he needed to express his condolences. "I was very sorry to hear about your mother."

A very quiet "Thank you, sir" met his ears.

"How is your father?"

"As well as can be expected. He's taken it quite hard."

"If there is anything at all you need, you can be sure my mother and I will do all we can to help."

"Be sure I will let you know." A few more silent steps. "You might—"

"Yes?"

Margaret turned to him with a shimmer of hope in her eyes. "If you were to return to your lessons with him, it might do a great deal towards distracting him and helping him back to normality. He does enjoy your company so much."

A genuine smile appeared on John's lips and Margaret was astonished to notice how exceedingly handsome he was. Such a small thing as a smile and it gave him an entirely new face. He spoke, "Of course, I'll be sure to do so as soon as the funeral is over."

She nodded. "He'll be glad." As they approached her front door, she turned to him again. "I want to thank you for your assistance tonight, Mr. Thornton. Getting Frederick out of the country has become a great concern for my father and me. I'll breathe deeply once he's back in Spain again."

"Well, then I wish him a speedy journey. And now I should bid you good night, Miss Hale." And he tipped his hat in farewell.

"Won't you shake my hand, Mr. Thornton?"

He stopped in his tracks and turned back to her. "Gladly, Miss Hale." John took her small hand in his and couldn't help but notice how warm her grasp was. He smiled gently at her and started his walk home with a lighter step and a spark of hope in his heart.

Margaret took herself to bed thinking some of the man she had put on the train, but even more of the man who had escorted her home and just how honorable he was.