Chapter 8: Northbound Train

Monday October 13, 1851

Margaret sat serenely watching London pass by as the train quickly sped out of the metropolis. She was seated beside Miss Thornton, who had been chattering for the past ten minutes about how she planed to nap the whole trip but had yet to make any move to do so. Margaret shared a laughing glance with Mr. Thornton at her antics. She had found when they picked her up that the Lattimers were remaining in town for the whole week, therefore it was only Mr. and Miss Thornton with her in the train car. She was impatient to have her father's blessing, to have their engagement acknowledged, to be married.

A quarter hour later, when Miss Thornton was finally softly snoring, Mr. Thornton reached his hand out to Margaret. She took his hand and moved to join him on the facing bench. "What was that display about?" She asked in a low voice, nodding towards their sleeping companion.

"Fanny cornered me last night with an ultimatum. I had the choice of telling her where we stand, or she would consume her weight in coffee and remain alert for the whole train ride. I suspect that was her way of reminding me that she'd hold her side of the bargain."

"So your sister knows?"

"Yes, does that bother you? You did tell Mrs. Lennox after all."

She saw a touch of anxiety on his brow and quickly answered, "I don't believe either of us had much choice, they both seem very determined. Only, if I had know that Miss Thornton was in on the secret, I would have sat with you from the start."

"Margaret, we were never alone last night, never able to speak freely. I …" his eyes bore into hers. Lowering his voice to a tender intensity of passion he continued, "Margaret Hale, I love you. Will you be my wife?"

Although they had already come to an understanding the previous evening, Margaret was overcome with emotion at hearing the words spoken aloud. She was unable to meet his eyes, but she replied in a soft voice, "yes, Mr. Thornton. I love you and I will marry you."

Mr. Thornton's hand closed around hers where it sat on her lap. She absently caressed his fingers with her thumb. Glancing across the carriage to assure herself that Miss Thornton was indeed asleep, Margaret gave in to the impulse to raise his hand to her lips. His gentle fingers raised her face so that he could look into her eyes. Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers. At first it was just a feather light brush of the lips that sent tingles rushing through her body. Then his other hand cupped her face and the kiss deepened. In both of her previous proposals, Margaret had felt awkward, unprepared, unable to fill the role that they had asked her to fill and somewhat angry that they demanded something of her that she couldn't give. But here, now, with Mr. Thornton, everything just felt right, comfortable, safe.

He pulled back slowly, seeking her eyes. He looked so nervous, and vulnerable – the man who had stood defiantly in front of an angry mob and refused to give in to their demands. It took Margaret a moment to recover her faculties before she smiled up at him. "I love you," she whispered.


The reality of kissing Margaret exceed even his dreams – and kissing Margaret had played a prominent role in his dreams for nearly a year. As he drew back from the kiss, he was struck by the memory of his last disastrous proposal – blasphemy she had called it. And now he had taken liberties with her person. What must she think of him! His anxiety evaporated and he smiled as she reaffirmed her love for him. "This feels like a dream," he whispered, softly stroking her cheek. "I can scarcely believe it's real."

Margaret smiled and nodded toward Fanny, whose snores had increased somewhat in volume as she fell deeper into sleep. "Surely your dreams would not include your sister's dubious chaperonage."

"For a moment I'd quite forgotten her presence." Just then, Fanny made her presence known with a loud snore, sending the two lovers into a fit of laughter.

They settled back into the seat and John draped an arm over her shoulder. He knew that this respite would be brief and once they arrived he would get few chances to touch her until they were married. Married!

"We ought to discuss our plans for when we arrive. I know you are anxious about your mother, and I am anxious to speak to your father, but Fanny complicates things. My mother may be …"

"difficult?" Supplied Margaret helpfully.

"Well, yes. Even more so if Fanny races home and tells her of our engagement before I have a chance to tell her myself. She has never been fond of you."

"No," laughed Margaret nervously, "I can imagine her indignant tones as she says, 'That woman!'"

"She's a formidable woman, and you did break her son's heart not so long ago." He'd said it lightly, but Margaret gave a faint cry of dismay and cupped his cheek.

"I am deeply sorry Mr. Thornton. I blush when I remember how wrongly I spoke to you." Her head again dropped, her eyes drooped and pooled with tears.

"Margaret, you've said more than enough in the last four and twenty hours to make up for any pain you caused me then." He pulled her closer and she laid her head on his shoulder, hiding it even there; and it was too delicious to feel her soft cheek against his, for him to wish to see either deep blushes or loving eyes. He clasped her close. At length he added "though it would help convince me that this is all real if you would call me John."

"John then," the combination of his name on her lips and her warm breath on his neck stirred a riot of feelings in him. "I believe part of me was in love with you even then but I was bitter at the accusations, angry at the world, at the riot, at life in Milton and you stood as a surrogate of Milton for me to vent my anger on."

"Hush love, let us not renew old quarrels," he said as he lightly caressed her arm. "Now, If we ever wish to gain my mother's approval, I think it best if we approach her openly and honestly. If we take a cab from the train station to Marlborough Mills, we can ask it to wait while we talk to my mother then continue on to Crampton. We shall only be delayed by a half hour or so that way."

"I think it a fine idea. Then we shall be together when we inform all of our parents."

John wasn't sure how long he sat in quiet contemplation, but he eventually noticed that Margaret had dozed off. He had never been quite so content as he was with his Margaret sleeping in his embrace. It may not be entirely proper, but he could not bring himself to move her. Before long the rocking of the train car had lulled him to sleep as well.


Fanny awoke with a start, disoriented and groggy. She looked out the window, and after a moment realized that she was on a train, and that train was stopped at a station about halfway to Milton. Looking about the car, she was shocked to see Miss Hale asleep on the seat across from her, nestled into her brother's embrace. How indiscreet! Why, anyone passing on the platform could look in and see them! She was about to wake them when she noticed John's serene face.

Her brother was thirteen years her senior and for as long as she could remember he had worked hard. Of course, she had been told about her father's death, the scandal it raised, and their resulting poverty but all she remembered was a happy, carefree childhood. John and her mother had given her everything she needed, and eventually everything she wanted. She had always been somewhat jealous of the bond her mother and brother shared, always scheming and planning and excluding Fanny as if she didn't understand. As she got older, however, she did understand more than they realized. As a child she realized that John was never around as much as she would like but that there were always other children there for her to play with. Upon reflection as an adult, she realized that John was at work and her playmates were children her mother minded to bring in income.

Fanny had often seen her brother sleeping. He fell asleep in his study often enough while pouring ledgers or some such thing. She had once even commented to her mother about John's talent for looking grave even in his sleep. But now he was calm, smiling faintly, and clasping on to Miss Hale as if she were the most precious object on this earth. As the train jerked to a start again Miss Hale roused just enough to nestle her head further into John's neck, move her hand sweetly on his chest, and give a contented sigh. John rubbed his hand up her arm then pulled her even closer, as if even in his subconscious he was afraid that any movement would take her away from him.

No, thought Fanny, John has led a life of self-denial so that I may lead a life of indulgence. The least I can do is let them sleep. As she rolled her sore neck, she contemplated that Miss Hale at least appeared comfortable. She carefully rolled up her shawl to minimize the creases and used it as a pillow as she lounged over the full length of the seat. Besides, maybe they will return the favor and be just as charitable chaperons to me some day. With this happy thought she fell unceremoniously back to sleep dreaming about a faceless man who would cradle her like a long lost treasure.


Margaret awoke feeling warm and cozy, she sighed and burrowed deeper into her pillow. She was rather alarmed when the pillow sighed back. Her eyes flew open to the sight of a black cravat, white shirt points, and a severe jaw. She jumped and tried to sit up, but the arms around her tightened. She was on the verge of panic when a familiar deep voice, thick with sleep, said: "Margaret, calm down love, you fell asleep." Mr. Thornton. John. She pushed herself off of his chest much more sedately and this time he complied though he kept his arm around her shoulder. John was endearingly rumpled. He appeared to be brushing off the effects of sleep himself and was looking at her wistfully as if he may still be dreaming. Miss Thornton was inelegantly sprawled in the seat across from them, half of the pins in her hair fallen loose.

"I'm sorry I jumped, that was the first time I've woken in a man's arms. I was rather disoriented and startled."

"I should have woken you earlier, but the prospect of holding you while you slept was too tempting to resist. I must have dozed off myself."

"I daresay that was the most comfortable nap I've had on a train."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, you're always welcome in my arms," John said with a self-satisfied smile. Such a smirk could not be left unquestioned.

"If I recall correctly, the last time I had my arms around your neck you shrugged me off and told me to go away."

"You were placing yourself between me and a sea of angry strikers out for my blood, you could have been killed!" John said incredulously.

"As could you, and I was trying to prevent that."

His features softened at that. He took up her hand and asked: "Will you now allow me to thank you for saving my life?"

"I suppose I'll allow it if I must," she replied with a quirk of her lips.

They were gravitating towards each other and another kiss was imminent when Miss Thornton piped up. "The both of you were a pair of fools that day. And you left the doors unbarred when you ran out, they could have come and murdered us all!"

John rolled his eyes. "You were in no danger Fanny." He dropped his arm, sighed, and turned to his sister. "I thought you were napping."

"And so I was until you started quarreling. I even let you sleep on when I woke up."

Margaret had been comfortable with the idea of sleeping in John's arms when it was just the two of them, but she was mortified to know they were observed. "Where are we?" She asked looking out the window, partly out of curiosity but largely to change the topic.

John looked about him. "I'd say about twenty minutes out from Milton."

"Oh dear, we ought to make ourselves presentable." She looked at Miss Thornton's disheveled locks and surmised that hers were in a similar state. "Miss Thornton, would you mind assisting me with my hair? I can assist you with yours. Edith and I used to spend hours experimenting with each other's hair."

Fanny brightened. "Oh! Yes please, Miss Hale," she clapped her hands like an excited child. "You know, I always wanted to have a sister to do such activities with!" She said this with a conspiratorial wink at Margaret. The rest of the ride was passed in girlish giggles as Margaret and Fanny – as she now insisted to be called – repaired each other's hair while John watched contentedly.