Margaret, with a much lighter heart than at the start of the evening, moved to speak to Mr. Thornton. When she reached his side she stood there dumbstruck for a moment, at a loss for how to begin. Just then dinner was announced.

He offered her his arm to escort her to the dining room saying, "Allow me, Miss Hale." She took his arm and glanced at him with a shy smile before looking back down at her feet.

Figuring she had overheard his exchange with Mr. Lennox but was finding it difficult to introduce the subject, John intervened by asking in a low voice, "How is your family Miss Hale?"

"They are well, of course," she replied slowly with some confusion. "You see my aunt and cousin here," she gestured toward her relatives as they joined the slow procession to the dining room. They were the last ones in line.

Thornton leaned in closer to her and said in a near whisper, "I mean to inquire after your immediate family."

With a small gasp her arm stiffened on his. "My brother is well. How do you know? I so wanted to tell you. What you must have thought of me…" she said, hanging her head.

John slowed his steps to hold them back a little so that none could hear their conversation. "Higgins told me the essentials and I did a little discrete research of my own for the details. I was very glad to find out the truth for I knew you could not be unmaidenly." He said, placing his other hand over hers.

"Oh, but that horrible lie I told! What a blight it is on my soul!" Margaret confessed.

"I have thought long about it. I do not see how you could have done otherwise and maintained a clean conscience. I would have done the same in your shoes," John asserted.

His reassurance meant a great deal to Margaret for his good opinion was highly coveted by her. "I am so sorry about the whole affair. I - I should have told you myself…" she stammered out.

He stopped her before turning into the dining room and said, "No, it is I who should apologize. I made assumptions I had no right to make. I was jealous and only thinking of myself. You were bereaved and beset on all sides. And when you most needed a friend I acted like a great rough fellow, with not a grace or a refinement about me."

"But you were a most worthy friend! You prevented the inquest. I tried to thank you for that but… you let me know your change of heart." She said haltingly, almost under her breath so he may not have heard. She was afraid he still felt that way.

They had now arrived at the table and John helped Margaret to sit. Unfortunately, his seat was quite a distance away from hers. However, it was on the opposite side of the table and they could still see each other.

Margaret looked beautiful in the pomegranate flowers; and if she did lean back in her chair and speak but little, Edith was not annoyed, for the conversation flowed on smoothly without her. Margaret was watching Mr. Thornton's face. For a while he didn't look at her; so she might study him unobserved, and note the changes which even this short time had wrought in him. Then someone said something that amused the entire party and his face flashed out into the old look of intense enjoyment; the merry brightness returned to his eyes, the lips just parted to suggest the brilliant smile of former days; and for an instant, his glance instinctively sought hers, as if he wanted her sympathy. [W]hen their eyes met, his eyes softened and the full brilliant smile appeared as he witnessed Margaret's smile and beautiful blushing face. Their eyes locked for a few moments until Margaret's dropped to her plate in embarrassment. Her smile, however, remained on her lips and she glanced shyly up at him again to see him still looking at her.

Edith noticed this exchange and Margaret's flushed face and recalled her earlier musings. She looked at Henry. He seemed dejected and had been out of sorts all through dinner. She must do something before it was too late.

So their hostess announced, "Well, it seems that it is time for us ladies to remove to the drawing room."

Margaret was a bit surprised at this proclamation as it came earlier than Edith's usual timing.

The men rose to help the ladies out of their chairs and watched them leave the room. John's and Margaret's eyes lingered on each other for a few moments as she walked past.