A/N: This is based on a theory that I have about Margaret's relationship with John. It's a bit of an amalgamtion of the book and the series, with some mentions of Pride and Prejudice. I apologise if it's awful, I just thought I'd share. Feel free to drop me a line if you wish to discuss my theory further :) Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Downfall
Margaret had always known that Milton would be her downfall, but she had never imagined that it would come in the form of one man.
Mr. Thornton was nothing like the men she had come into contact with in London and at Helston. He was rough where they were refined, stern where they were compassionate.
No, he was nothing like them and she all but despised him for it.
At least she had done, before Frederick; before she had found herself somehow degraded in his eyes.
Suddenly she found that his opinion of her was the one that matter the most, before anyone else's. She found that she had misjudged him, had been too prejudiced to see him for what he truly was: a good, upstanding man.
She found that she had been blinded by her own pride: pride in being the one who was always in control, always so proper, always right.
She had been offended by his manner because for the first time she had come across a personality as strong, if not stronger than her own. For the first time she had found someone to whom she could acknowledge her vulnerabilities without fear of crushing him under their weight.
But she had realised all this too late.
He now no longer cared for her at all and the thought that she had offended such a man…that he should think so ill of her. It brought her to her knees.
She was ashamed to admit that losing both of her parents was nothing to the pain she now felt in her separation from him. Without ever a hope of seeing him again or explaining her conduct; with no hope of apologising.
She should have known that fate would not be so unkind.
Not long after she had resigned herself to her fate she found herself in a position that not only made her a free agent, but one that gave her the means to save him.
But in the end it had not been him that needed saving, but her.
Margaret Thornton was broken from her thoughts by the entrance of her husband; she smiled as he greeted her with a kiss.
Yes, John Thornton had been her downfall, but he had also been her saviour for without him she would never have known herself.