When John returned to the mill he went straight to his office, wishing to avoid his mother for the time being. He wanted to revel in his newfound bliss for a while before potentially having it marred by his mother's disapproval. Although the explanation of who the gentleman was at Outwood station would go a long way toward improving his mother's ill opinion of Margaret.
He returned to the mill house in time for dinner. His mother informed him that Fanny had been invited to dine with the Latimers that evening so it would just be the two of them. This was welcome news to John. Now he would be able to speak to his mother without Fanny's gossip hungry ears or sharp tongue with which to concern himself.
After they were seated and served and the servants had left the room his mother inquired, "How was your meeting today?"
"Excuse me?" he replied, with a confused expression on his face.
"Well, I guess you only implied you had a meeting today," she explained, "when you told me this morning that you might have good news by this afternoon."
"Ah, yes," he assented, "I do have good news, very good news."
"Oh?" she said with raised eyebrows, her forkful of food hovering midair.
"Yes," he ventured, "Miss Hale and I are courting."
His mother gave him a look of shock laced with wariness. He continued eating as if all were just a matter of course, not wishing to let on his apprehension of her reaction.
"How did this come about?" she asked, setting her fork down. Then, before her son could answer, she remembered and added, "And what about the man at Outwood Station? This timing seems rather unusual John."
His features pinched in concentration, "Mmm, yes, let me see if I can make this understandable."
John first looked around the room making sure none of the servants were there. Then, thinking better of it, he grabbed his plate and glass, and went to sit next to his mother. There he could speak in the lowered tones necessary for the communication he was about to embark upon.
"I'll start at the beginning," said he, "Margaret has a brother."
"A brother!" whispered a stunned Mrs. Thornton, as she was astutely aware of the secrecy his own hushed tones implied, "Why have we not heard about him before?"
Then a memory flashed into Mrs. Thornton's mind from her first meeting with Mrs. Hale. Mrs. Thornton had said, "If you had a son like mine, Mrs. Hale, you would not be embarrassed to sing his praises." At this comment she had witnessed Mrs. Hale's countenance fall dramatically. Now she understood. Mrs. Hale did have a son and for some reason she could not sing his praises.
Mrs. Thornton listened with rapt attention as her son went on to explain the circumstances surrounding Lieutenant Hale's exile, his subsequent clandestine return to be at his mother's side, the unfortunate incident at Outwood Station, and the resulting criminal inquest. He described how he just happened to be present at the Hale's residence yesterday, when the inspector, he himself had dispatched, had come to interrogate Margaret. However, he did not know about it until the inspector left and he found Margaret in a faint on the floor.
John related that upon her revival, Margaret confessed to him all of her troubles and he resolved to help her. During that conversation their true feelings for each other were expressed and they resolved upon a courtship.
"Are you sure," his mother interrupted, "that the girl hasn't just agreed to this situation because you promised to get her out of the trouble she was in?"
John closed his eyes and sighed, he had anticipated this reaction, "I cannot put it into words, mother. I know her feelings are sincere. It is not just wishful thinking. But therein lies the benefit of a courtship. If things don't work out it is considerably easier to break than an engagement. Trust me, though, you will see for yourself. And as you know I am always open to your counsel."
"I suppose I could go visit her in her mourning and I did promise her mother to offer Margaret womanly counsel if she needed it," replied Mrs. Thornton thoughtfully.
"I think she would find that most welcome," replied he, "she is quite alone. Certainly she had her father and her mother's loyal maid but they have their own grief."
He then continued relating how, after receiving the coroner's report this morning, he met with the inspector and was able to close the inquest to everyone's satisfaction.
John shared with his mother the happy result of his errand to Crampton that morning. Finally, he reiterated to her the necessity of keeping their courtship private until Margaret's deep mourning had passed and discussed with her the viability of revealing the current state of affairs to Fanny.
"If we tell her there will be no keeping it secret. However, if we don't tell her, she will be dreadfully upset when she finds out later that we had been courting this whole time without her knowledge. Also, she will likely begin to wonder why I spend so much more time in Crampton and may start even worse rumors herself," John speculated.
"Yes, but you do have an already established excuse for being in Crampton - your lessons - which you may decide to increase," she suggested, "as well as the excuse of comforting your grieving friend. Combine those ready excuses with the fact that your sister rarely cares for your whereabouts and is easily duped and I think you can safely make it three months without raising her speculations."
Following a moment of contemplation he replied, "I agree, mother. We will keep it from Fanny."
"After her three months is up we will have to invite her and her father to dinner and I would offer a standing invitation to Sunday luncheon, but we need not concern ourselves with that now. Do you have any idea when the wedding might take place?" Mrs. Thornton inquired.
"We have just started courting today, Mother," John replied, "and she is still grieving. I doubt we will broach that subject for quite some time."
"Of course, but as you know a wedding will take considerable planning especially one deserving of your standing in Milton society. Please let me know at the first hint of selecting a date so that I may begin preparations. With no mother of the bride I assume most of the planning will fall to me," she speculated.
This, John knew, was just how his mother would like it. "As you wish, Mother," was his response. Then he let out a long breath, not really relishing the thought of the grand affair his mother was sure to contrive.