Chapter 13
Maria enjoyed volunteering at the hospital. It gave her a sense of purpose and fulfillment. There were other benefits as well, for it was the perfect escape from the elite social gatherings which Maria found nauseating to attend. In addition it provided a welcome escape from her thoughts about Robert. The irony of helping in a hospital in an attempt to distract her thoughts from Robert (who was partaking in a medical placement at London Hospital) was not entirely lost on her either.
True to her resolution, Maria visited Charlie's sick mother every day and did everything in her modest ability to help.
The Matron and Sisters watched on with grim expressions as Maria sat dutifully by the woman's bedside, wiping her feverish brow.
It was on the third day that the fever broke. Maria walked into the hospital and was surprised to see her awake, sitting up on propped pillows. The woman had dark circles under her eyes, looked unwell, but was awake never the less.
Unsure of herself, Maria approached slowly only to be greeted by a jubilant Charlie who bounced off the bed and hugged her to the point where she almost lost her balance.
"Mornin Miss Maria" he chirped looking up at her with hope in his eyes.
"Morning Charlie" Maria replied warmly.
The friendly hug was interrupted by a voice from the bed. "Ya must be the famous Miss Maria Carlyle" the women said with a raspy weak voice.
"I am Maria" Maria turned to face the woman with a shy smile.
"Mi name is Belinda Soltson and this is mi son Charlie Soltson".
Belinda had a rough northern accent. Her voice was raspy presumably because she was sick. However her eyes were bright blue, and her smile was warm and genuine.
It was only while conversing with Belinda that Maria found herself wondering about her circumstances. Had she ever been married? Who was Charlie's father? Why did she engage in a life of debauchery? Maria looked at Belinda's hands and saw no ring. Before she could come to any other conclusions her concentration was broken when Belinda spoke again.
"Come closer. Charlie likes ya. He says ya ave helped a lot".
"Oh it is all part of what I do here" Maria said modestly.
"And what do ya do?" Belinda said with interest.
"I just volunteer here. Truthfully, when I saw young Charlie sitting by your bedside I felt compelled to help you recover. He is quite the charming young lad". Maria looked fondly over to Charlie and he replied with a large toothy grin.
"Ya don't sound like ya from these parts" Belinda stated.
"No I have just moved here. I have lived in both London and Spain".
Belinda tilted her head, as she scrutinised Maria. She noted the fair appearance, the perfectly manicured nails and the nice clothes hidden under the white hospital pinafore.
"That is quite the life. What brings ya to Milton?".
"My mother got married and so we moved here to live with her husband" Maria's tone dropped unintentionally.
"Ya don't sound like ya like him much" Belinda observed.
"He is fine…. He loves my mother" Maria asserted trying to muster some conviction.
"But?"
"But I cannot say I have enjoyed Milton so far. Believe it or not, helping in the hospital has been the one thing I have truly enjoyed'.
Belinda smiled and nodded. "Well Milton ain't no London" Belinda chuckled before she started violently coughing. Maria rushed to her bedside and gave her a handkerchief from her pocket.
"Thank you" Belinda managed to speak in between splutters.
Belinda momentarily looked down at the handkerchief and straight away noticed the familiar symbol.
"Ya ma is the one who married John Thornton of Malborough Mills?" she said unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
Belinda looked up wide eyed studying Maria. She was well groomed, had nice features, wore a lovely blue satin dress hidden by the while pinafore she wore, and had an air of majesty about her. There was no surprise that she was from a prestigious upbringing.
"Yes" Maria replied somewhat awkwardly "Do you know him?".
"Everyone knows of John Thornton in this city" Belinda replied.
"Well I should probably go and see what the Sisters would like me to do" Maria said somewhat awkwardly as she said her goodbyes to Charlie.
"I am truly glad you are awake by the way" Maria said warmly before she disappeared out the door.
After supper that day, Margaret and John sat comfortably side by side in the sitting room on the couch reading. John read the newspaper whilst Margaret read correspondence from her investments. Both now wore glasses for reading as their eyesight had deteriorated with age. Meanwhile Maria, sat at the table with her sketch book, scribbling away with a lead pencil.
Life was perfect. John finally had everything his heart desired. He glanced over at Margaret who was deeply focused on the papers she was reading. He loved that when she was really interested in something she seemed to pout her full lips and bring what she was reading closer to her face despite the glasses she was already wearing.
John winced as he readjusted his seated position for he had strained his back the night before. Married life had been ardent thus far to say the least. Who would have thought their zest for marital relations could be so insatiable. John had lost count of how many times he had brought her to her peak, yet he knew he would never get sick of the noises she made nor the look of her face as she found her pleasure. However if he were honest, as amazing as those moments were when surrounded in heated passion, it was the quiet moments which were his favourite. It was the moments when they lay curled up together in bed, falling asleep together or waking up together that he treasured. He loved the evenings when they sat in companionable silence reading, where he could watch Margaret as much as he liked without her realising it. How had he become so lucky? he mused.
John then looked across at Maria and smiled to himself. She was very much like her mother in many ways, which is probably why he struggled to say the right thing he internally jested. As the girl was as stubborn as she was intelligent. He noted the charitable nature that Maria exhibited recently through her time volunteering at the hospital was reminiscent of when Margaret used to deliver baskets to Crampton during the strike all those years ago. John was not entirely convinced that volunteering at the hospital was an activity that a young lady of her standing should partake in, however he made the decision to remain silent on the matter. She was Margaret's daughter and if Margaret condoned it, who was he to disagree. He, after all, knew it was best to pick his battles with his beloved wife.
John knew that Maria did not think much of him due to the Robert situation. But he desperately wanted them to come together as a family. He wanted to love her as his own and wanted her to be happy in Milton. At minimum. he wished to come to a better understanding with his new daughter and decided that he would try and make more of an effort with her.
"Maria, what are you drawing?" he asked casually.
Maria looked across, slightly irritated she had been interrupted.
"I am just sketching some things I remember from the hospital this last week".
"May I have a look?"
"Of course sir".
Maria brought the book over to John with hesitation and placed it in his lap. He couldn't help but be surprised at her talents.
"You really are rather talented" he commented as he flicked through the book.
"Of course she is John" Margaret interjected proudly from the sidelines.
"Thank you" Maria replied, slightly embarrassed at having someone look at her drawings, for it felt like was like she was baring her very soul.
"I understand that you visited one of my workers in hospital and brought them flowers" John said conversationally.
"Indeed sir. But that was weeks ago. Since then I have been allowed to do many things…".
Maria proceeded to speak of her time at the hospital in depth.
John and Margaret sat attentively and listened to Maria long into the night who enthusiastically recounted how she had taken care of patients with fever and had even been allowed to clean and bandage wounds under supervision.
Margaret and John smiled to each other, hands intertwined. Life was good.