John felt a sense of elation as he realised exactly who the beautiful young woman was that he was holding by both arms. Reluctantly he let her go to straighten his own appearance, in particular to tie his cravat that was still loosely hanging around his neck. Having fallen asleep in a nearby obliging field, he had only woken minutes ago to find that it was already almost 2 o'clock.

In a sun kissed meadow he had dreamt of her. Maybe he was still dreaming. He had just missed a train and was now staring, dazed and speechless at the woman who mattered most to him in the world. As his fingers deftly went to work on his cravat, he silently chastised his lack of focus - what had happened to the highly disciplined and purposeful Master of Marlborough Mills?

It was Margaret who spoke first. 'I am sorry Mr Thornton, for my clumsiness just now. I hope I did not cause you injury?

'No, not at all. I fear I am just as much to blame.' He looked at the train disappearing into the distance. 'But alas my running for the train was to no avail after all.' John smiled, 'It would seem my timing is often out of kilter.' He looked at Margaret's lovely face and noticed the colour draining from her usually-rosy cheeks. 'I hope you are not hurt either, Miss Hale? You look a little pale. Perhaps you should sit down?' John had never felt so full of inner turmoil and yet so happy in his whole life.

Margaret smiled at his concern. 'No, I am just surprised to see you here Mr Thornton. Here in Helstone, I mean.'

Not expecting to have to explain himself, John decided to tell her some of the truth. 'I decided to take a short detour on my way back from a, a business trip,' he stammered. He pointed to a bench on the platform and waited for Margaret to sit before he joined her. 'I wanted to see where my good friend from Helstone had lived his life, and where he raised his two children.'

Margaret, who until this point had been looking down demurely, now raised her eyes to Mr Thornton to question the truth of what she had just heard. 'You know about my brother?'

'Yes. I must confess that Higgins told me a few days ago. He had asked after your health and was surprised that you had not gone to Spain to live with your brother.' John paused, fighting to keep disappointment out of his voice. Looking into her soulful eyes now he pressed her to share her secret. 'Miss Hale, why did you not tell me about him? Was I so untrustworthy that you and your family felt you needed to conceal such a painful truth?'

Margaret could see the hurt on Mr Thornton's face. She needed him to understand that it was her dearest wish to be able to share her burden with him but that she could not risk Frederick's life – even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness.

'You are a magistrate Mr Thornton. I could not have told you without compromising you or risking Frederick.' She looked down at the fingers that were still shaking from this unexpected meeting. 'My wishes were not material in the matter.'

Margaret never ceased to amaze him with her selflessness and disregard for her own happiness. She embodied everything that was good and beautiful in life. Here she sat within reach. The girl that he had scolded and scorned, looking at him now with compassion - and something else that he could not quite discern. He cursed himself for the thoughts that he had. His imaginings that she was sneaking about in the dark with a lover filled him with self-loathing and disgust - that he could believe the worst of such an innocent.

John sat silently, taking in the sight of her. In those moments it occurred to him that he did not know why she was here in Helstone either.

'Miss Hale, may I enquire as to why you have come to Helstone?'

Margaret fidgeted with her dress, smoothing out an invisible crease. 'I am here with Mr Bell. It was a surprise visit, to lift my spirits.' She smiled a half smile.

John could see the pain still behind those eyes. 'Where is Mr Bell?'

'He is at the Lennard Arms, probably having something to eat right about now.' She knew where this line of questioning was heading and felt anxious.

'Miss Hale, excuse my curiosity, I do not want to know more than you wish to tell me, but what were you doing on the platform just now?' John was at a loss as to her sudden appearance. It felt like he had conjured her out of thin air.

'I was looking for you,' was her only answer.

This was not what John was expecting to hear. What did she mean? How did she know he was there? Why would Margaret go to such effort to see him?

'Why?' John searched her face for a clue to her thoughts. It was always her silence that bothered him most. He wanted to know what she was thinking. What she was feeling.

The question was simple enough but Margaret knew the answer was not. With thoughts swimming in her head, she struggled to find the right response. Why did she come? To atone for all the pain? To tell the truth? To seek forgiveness?

Finally she raised her eyes to John, and sounding bolder than she felt said, 'Because I think my future happiness depends on you.'