As Edith stepped back into the house, John offered Margaret his arm and escorted her inside. The first of the evening's guests were beginning to leave.

After paying his respects to Mrs. Lennox, Mr. Colthurst turned to the couple. "Miss Hale," he bowed. Then he turned to Mr. Thornton and offering him his hand he said, "Mr. Thornton, it was a pleasure to meet you and hear about all of the wonderful things you were doing up in Milton. I am sorry that you are no longer able to continue your 'experiments'. I think you may have been on the frontier of new developments in labor relations"

Shaking the MP's hand with his customary firmness, John replied, "I have not given up hope entirely. As a matter of fact I have a good feeling that an investor might turn up very soon. I'll be in London for a few more days for that purpose and I hope that something good may come of it – something very good." He smiled and glanced at Margaret in time to see her blush. Turning back to Colthurst he added, "Either way, if you ever come to Milton, look me up. I would be extremely happy to show you Marlborough Mills and if that is not to be I am certain I can secure you a tour of any of the other mills in the city."

"Thank you very much," said Colthurst, "I will do that." Offering his wife his arm, the elder couple departed.

Succumbing to the late hour, Aunt Shaw decided to retire to her room next. The rest of the guests started to leave as well, until all that remained were Mr. Lennox and Mr. Thornton.

As Mr. Lennox took his departure, Margaret, stepped aside with him. She said, with a blush that she could not repress, and with some hesitation, "Can I speak to you tomorrow? I want your help about-something."

"Certainly," he replied, "I will come at whatever time you name. You cannot give me a greater pleasure than by making me of any use. At eleven? Very well."

His eye brightened with exultation. He thought to himself, 'Maybe she has forgiven me. How she is learning to depend upon me!'

However, much to Henry's dismay, Margaret immediately turned to Mr. Thornton and asked, "Does a meeting here at eleven with my solicitor," she indicated Mr. Lennox, "fit your schedule tomorrow?"

"Yes," he said with a smile, "that will be perfectly fine."

Turning back to Mr. Lennox, she said, "We will see you tomorrow at eleven then. Good evening Mr. Lennox."

As he scowled and grumbled to himself, he made his way to the door. He looked back in time to see Margaret rejoin Mr. Thornton and again take his arm.

Edith and Maxwell then decided to retire for the evening while Margaret saw John to the door. As soon as her cousins had disappeared up the stairs, John gathered Margaret in his arms and kissed her.

They separated, but John still held her in his grasp.

Margaret said, "Why don't you join us for breakfast tomorrow at nine?" then she added with a smirk, "At that early hour it will likely be just you and I."

"I gladly accept your kind invitation," he replied with a wink, "That should fit perfectly with our meeting at eleven. Margaret, I know you are an independent woman capable of making your own decisions, but to show my respect for your family I would like to ask your aunt for permission to marry you."

"She will not give her permission," Margaret replied.

John was taken aback. Was he that loathsome to her aunt? But then he noticed the hint of mischief in Margaret's eyes.

Margaret went on, "As you said yourself, I am an independent woman." She added, looking down and fingering the buttons of his waistcoat, "and of course you know of my stubbornness. I have made it abundantly clear to my aunt that I do not need her permission for anything. Therefore, she will not give it. However, if we both go to her and request her blessing I am certain she will bestow it. I do appreciate your desire to show my family every respect."

"To that end as well," replied John, "I would also like to write to your brother." Then with some mischief himself he added teasingly, "I could use my Magisterial letterhead and seal it with the crown…"

Then swiping at his arm, Margaret stated with wide eyes but a smile on her face, "You will do no such thing!"

"Of course not," he replied seriously, "I would like to write to him though. There is no need for you to provide me with his direction. I will give you my letter unsealed and you may include it your next correspondence."

"That will be fine," she replied, "So I will see you tomorrow at nine?"

"Promptly," he concurred.

Then after a few more moments of delicious silence he donned his hat and coat and left.

….oOo….

After watching John walk down the street until she couldn't see him anymore, Margaret turned and ascended the stairs. Floated up was more like it, she was so happy. She had a broad smile on her face and a dreamy look in her eyes. She had barely made it to the first landing when Edith came rushing out of her room to see her.

"Margaret," she insisted, "what is going on with you and Mr. Thornton!?"

Grabbing Edith by the hand and pulling her into her room, like when they were schoolgirls, she admonished Edith with, "Be quiet! You are going to wake the whole house!"

Edith shut the door and they sat together on Margaret's bed. "Well?" said Edith.

"Well, what?" Margaret replied with her giddy smile still upon her face.

"Answer my question!" Edith persisted, "What is going on between you and Mr. Thornton?"

"If I tell you, you must promise not to scream," said Margaret.

"That alone makes me want to scream," complained Edith, "But I'll be good, I promise, do tell."

"He asked me to marry him, we are engaged!" she announced.

"Oh Margaret!" Edith said and threw her arms around her cousin, "I am so happy for you!" Then as realization dawned on her she began her list of complaints, "Oh, wait, what about poor Henry? He will be so disappointed. And Sholto, he will cry so when you leave. I thought Mr. Thornton had failed, or something… Oh, but you have money so that doesn't matter! Milton is so far away. We'll never see you."

"Edith, calm down," Margaret soothed, "I'm not leaving tomorrow. You'll have plenty of time to get used to the idea and discuss everything. Right now I just want to enjoy this feeling of happiness. I have not felt this happy since… well since the old days in Helstone. I thought that feeling was gone from me forever. Now my future seems clear and bright."

"Yes," agreed Edith, "clear, bright, and blue eyed! Not to mention tall, dark, and handsome!"

The two descended into giggles. Then, in a more serious tone, Edith remembered, "Oh! We will have to start planning the wedding!" Edith then began her litany of wedding requirements.

This sobered Margaret up - a little. All her ideas of a simple wedding will probably never be. Between her aunt and cousin, and her future mother-in-law they were certain to insist on making a grand affair of it. Oh well, as long as she and John were together in the end, that was all that mattered, really.

Finally Margaret stopped Edith from jabbering on about wedding plans and told her, "You must go. I need to get to bed. I invited John for breakfast at nine tomorrow."

"Nine!" complained Edith, "Why, you know I won't be up by then!"

"Exactly," said Margaret, "I intended for John and I to be alone!"

"Oh," said Edith knowingly, "Well, you two have your meeting with Henry later and then you must invite Mr. Thornton to stay for the rest of the day."

"I will," she said as she gently pushed Edith out the door, "And don't say anything to your mother. John and I will talk to her tomorrow. Goodnight Edith." She kissed her cousin on the cheek.

"Alright Margaret," replied Edith, "goodnight."