The small party of visitors returned to the sitting room after dinner. Mr Hale was in the midst of explaining the recent developments in technology in use in the city. He received a very enthusiastic and inquisitive reply from Maxwell but Henry only remarked on the harshness of the industries and the poor brutes that slaved away at those machines; not the pursuit of any civilised men. Margaret had bitten her tongue at his remarks, stopped only by the fact that she was supposed to be listening to Edith regaling her of all the society gossip from London and by the realisation that Henry held almost the same opinion she had not eighteen months ago. This brought to light the change that had occurred in her thinking. She was astounded at how naive and arrogant Henry sounded. She blushed at the memory of her own indignant rebuffs to Mr Thornton's arguments.

All evening she had expected him to call. Her father had seemed to forget that he was calling as he hadn't mentioned it once. Perhaps he had sent him a note and hadn't told her. It was 9 o' clock and too late for his lesson now, she felt and odd pang of disappointment, he called so few times now days she hadn't seen him for almost a week and a half. She schooled her thoughts, it doesn't matter if he comes he wouldn't speak with her; his opinion of her was so low she doubted he would even acknowledge her presence.

The doorbell rang and she instinctively rose from her seat.

"Oh that must be John. I forgot about our lesson, how careless of me." Mr Hale said rising from his chair to greet John. Margaret had realised that she was standing unnecessarily and sat back down. Henry watched her take her seat and then put all her effort into the embroidery lying in her lap, her panicked reaction and evident discomposure worried him, why did this man unsettle her? She was always calm and in control, this tradesman was becoming quite the annoyance.

Dixon entered the sitting room as she announced Mr Thornton. He went forward to greet Mr Hale and was instantly introduced to Henry and Maxwell.

"Ah we have met before Mr Hale." Maxwell said as he shock John's hand.

"It would appear all of Milton has dealings with the illustrious Mr Thornton, Maxwell." Henry retorted grinning at John and slapping his brothers back.

"We met our first night at the hotel. It is good to see you again Mr Thornton." Edith said as she moved to stand next to Maxwell. Mr Thornton extended her his hand as he replied.

"A pleasure to see you again Mrs Lennox." His hand stayed offered as Edith waited for him to retract it; she was at a lost, surely he didn't expect to shake her hand?

John lowered his hand and placed it behind his back. He still held his Masters stature but Margaret could tell that he was awkward. Instantly she was at his side, she hadn't thought about it but she couldn't have him experience any discomfort as a result of her haughty relations.

"It has been a while Mr Thornton, I trust your Mother and sister are well?" She tried her best to sound confident but she could detect the shake in her voice. She held her hand out to him. What if he refused? He would be within his rights. Edith stared at Margaret, she has lost her mind?

After what felt like an eternity to Margaret his face softened and his shoulders relaxed. "They are well Miss Hale thank you." He said taking her hand. He only held it for the briefest time but the feel of her delicate fingers made the hairs stand up on the back of neck. He gently squeezed her hand as he released it. Margaret felt as though her skin was burning. She could feel the deep blush creeping from her face to her entire body.

She dared to meet his gaze, he smiled down to her, he instantly looked younger, the harsh lines of his stern face faded and she saw the blue in his eyes almost sparkle.

"It is good you have arrived John, I was just attempting to explain to Maxwell here the advantages of cotton wheels in your manufacturing sheds."

"Ah well I am sure you were doing an admiral job Mr Hale you know so much of Milton business now days you could pass for a Milton Man,"

"High praise I'm sure!" Henry muttered as he took another sip of his port.

Edith and Margaret sat together again and resumed their previous discussion, well Edith did. Margaret strained to hear the men's discussion but only heard the odd word between Edith's tirades of endless gossip. Maxwell and Mr Thornton seemed to be intently discussing one topic or another, it didn't surprise her, John was never one to shy away from debate and Maxwell was more intelligent than he liked to portray. Her father looked very interested in the debate and acted as mediator or umpire. It did her heart good to see him so engaged, he had lost all interest in academic pursuits after her mother's passing, but he was back to his Oxford glory days among these two intelligent young men.

Henry had placed himself with his back to the men in the arm chair by the fire. His fictitious interest in Mr Hale's copy of the Iliad wavered and he watched Margaret. He observed the way she skilfully answered Edith without actually listening to a word she was saying. He could tell she was preoccupied with the discussion at the far end of the room. She would glance over her shoulder every time Edith stopped talking and sipped her tea.

Henry was weary of this tradesman but he found that although Margaret was greatly preoccupied with his presence he paid her little notice. Mindful of the threat he decided to draw him out a little to gage his and Margaret reaction.

"Edith, have you told Margaret of your great plan?" Henry asked when the two women's conversation lapsed into silence. He knew from Edith's stare that she was not happy with his change in the conversation.

"Henry don't tease us… talk with the other men." Edith dismissed him.

The look in Margaret eye told him she knew that he was alluding to some scheme that Edith had hatched on her behalf. Edith was always attempting to plan some detail of her life; since they were nine years old Margaret had become Edith's play thing; a doll to play with and manipulate in whichever way she pleased. As Margaret grew older she allowed Edith's interference less and less, her mission to match her with Henry had caused the most friction between the pair.

"Henry, what plan do you mean?" Margaret ignored Edith and asked.

Henry noticed that the men had stopped their discussion, Maxwell was grinning wildly at the spectacle that was about to ensue. Thornton's scowl was so deep Henry wondered if he didn't despise Margaret in some way. Perhaps there was nothing to worry about.

"Ignore him Margaret he is teasing us like he used to."

"I would never tease Margaret; she was too clever for me Edith." Henry answered grinning at Margaret. Thornton shifted in his chair taking out his pocket watch once again.

"Come now darling, your little schemes are so endearing, tell Margaret what you have planned."

"Oh no Maxwell; not you too. I can't stand both of you teasing me. You promised to be kind" Edith said to her husband in a tone that issued a warning.

Never one to shy away from a challenge Maxwell walked to the fireplace and poured himself another port.

"Edith, what is it?" Margaret asked.

"Ah now you must tell us Edith. No one can stop Margaret from getting what she sets out for."

Edith laughed, "Well that is true. Even if I had a scheme it wouldn't signal that I would succeed, not with Margaret. Poor mama found that out when she insisted on us taking our dance lessons with the Italian instructors. We were only 10 and Margaret stamped her foot and mama had no chance of success"

"I had no idea you were so forceful my dear." Mr Hale said laughingly.

"It was not as bad as all that papa. Aunt Shaw wished for me stay in London to take my lessons but I was too excited to be going to Helstone for the summer."

"I can understand that." Mr Hale replied averting his gaze with a sad smile across his face.

Margaret could have kicked herself, why did she mention Helstone?

"Edith?" Margaret pressed eager to change the subject and pull her father from his sad thoughts.

"It is nothing really, I was just observing to Henry and Maxwell that because of Aunt Maria's illness you did not come to the Great Exhibition. I thought it might cheer you to visit with us and take in the exhibition. No great scheme." Edith said giving Henry a satisfied smirk.

"That is a good idea my dear. You should go visit with your Aunt; I know you would very much enjoy the exhibition." Mr Hale stated to Margaret.

"No papa I can't leave you here. Would you like to visit the exhibition?"

"No, no London is a young man's city; I would much prefer to stay here. You must go."

"Let us discuss this later father." Margaret said in attempt to stop further discussion.

"I told you Edith, Margaret cannot be cajoled into anything she doesn't wish." Maxwell returned Edith's smirk.

"She is quite a remarkably determined young lady, wouldn't you say Mr Thornton? Do your Northern women have such a strong will?" Henry spoke directly to Thornton. There was a challenge issued in his voice. Mr Thornton's back straightened and his jaw set as he pondered his answer.

"Miss Hale's will and independent mind is not particularly remarkable in the North. Then again we are fiercely independent and proud people, something of a compliment here in Milton."

Margaret couldn't look at him she couldn't bear to see the anger and abhorrence in his eyes that she had seen there ever since that evening at the station.

Henry met John's glower as he replied.

"Surely you are not claiming Margaret as a lady of the Milton?"

"I suppose only Miss Hale can answer where she feels she is a lady of. I would say that Miss Hale has never been reluctant to emerge herself in cities affairs."

"What Milton affairs have been involved in Margaret?" Maxwell asked hoping to relieve the evident tension between the manufacture and his brother.

"Margaret helped many a family in the poorest districts when the workers were on strike, befriending a man who took on another man's six children." Mr Hale spoke for Margaret his pride in her actions clear.

"Nicholas is a good man and he and Mary have been dear friends."

"You are friends with workers?" Edith sounded disgusted.

"What do you think of Margaret befriending your workers Mr Thornton?" Maxwell asked.

"I am the master of the Mill I cannot afford to befriend the men but who they associate with when not in my employ is none of my business, nor would I presume to tell Miss Hale to whom she should befriend but Higgins's is an excellent fire-hand and I respect him a great deal, I see what could make a him a good and loyal friend."

"You astound me Mr Thornton, all I have heard from gentleman in Milton this day is how masters and men are enemies and will never see eye to eye."

"We have our differences and there are many that are so entrenched in their bitterness that peace will be difficult, masters included; but I have hope that in time we my bleed them and ourselves of resentment and work together for the benefit of the masters and men." As he finished his speech he looked to Margaret, he was glad to see that his words had pleased her. He reprimanded himself; he shouldn't desire her good opinion, what did it matter now. The image of her in the handsome stranger's arms flashed before his eyes.

"Well what did aunt Maria think of this odd friend?" Edith asked looking to her uncle accusingly.

"Mama always believed in doing good and she was glad of Nicholas' and Mary's assistance when she was very ill." Margaret replied bluntly.

"I must say Margaret you sound very Northern to me." Maxwell said smiling at her.

"I have changed a great deal the last eighteen months." She looked up to see his eyes boring into her.

"I must go I am afraid. Mother will be worried." John said break her spell over him and standing to leave.

"Oh very well; Thank you John for coming I am sorry we couldn't have our lesson this evening."

"Don't fret I am happy just to visit. It was good meeting you again."

Maxwell stood to shake his hand.

"It was a pleasure Mr Thornton, I wonder if I might take up some of your time while I am in Milton. I am eager to learn more about this industry." Maxwell asked.

"I am at your service Mr Lennox."

"Margaret would you see John out please?" Mr Hale asked as he shock John's hand and signalled to Dixon for more tea.

She left the sitting room stumbling a little on the stairs, painfully aware of how close Mr Thornton was behind her. She fought with herself all the way to the hall way, her heart was calling for her to explain her actions clear her name and end this torment. When they reached the door she stopped before opening the door. He was standing with is hat in his hand waiting for her to open the door he wished to flee as quickly as his feet would carry him.

"Mr Thornton, I spoke with Williams the grosser's assistant today.."

Her words hung between them. He couldn't process her meaning; she was clearly waiting for him to speak.

"I had no idea of the trouble that I caused you when, when".

"When you were extremely indiscreet and lied to cover your actions." He blurted out. He saw the instant sting in his words the moment he interrupted her. She paled and her eyes filled with tears.

He took a deep breathe; she would not make him feel guilty for speaking the truth. He hated that despite days of trying with every bit of his energy he could not bring himself to truly hate her, he still hadn't lost hope that there was some other explanation.

She hid her face from him, she wouldn't contradict him, and if she had an honourable reason he knew she would not hesitate to challenge him. Her silent acceptance of his words hurt.

"I assure you that you have caused me no trouble Miss Hale. Good evening."

AN: longer than I anticipated. Written today in a hurry, I may come back and edit this. Thank you for reading.