Notes:

John proposed to Margaret the day after the riot in Milton. Margaret refused him and the couple exchanged harsh words. In John's haste to leave her presence, he left his gloves behind. Margaret kept them and over time, they became very important to her, and ultimately, the gloves helped them find their way back to each other.

The Gloves

Chapter One: Regrets

Margaret's Aunt Shaw had brought her niece back to live with the family in London just three days after her father's death. Margaret had been reluctant to leave Milton primarily because of one man, John Thornton. He was the source of the restlessness her aunt had remarked upon so many times, but Margaret kept her secret longings to herself. Her Aunt Shaw would never understand Margaret's attachment to a tradesman.

Margaret was an heiress now, thanks to the generosity of her godfather, Adam Bell. She had recently received a letter from his solicitor that he had passed away in Argentina. Warmed by the sunny skies and glorious weather, Adam Bell had spent his last days in the country where he had spent his youth. His death marked yet another profound loss in Margaret's life.

Margaret was putting the final touch on some initials she was stitching on a pair exceptionally fine leather gloves. The gloves were a gift of sorts for the man in Milton who often occupied Margaret's thoughts, John Thornton. Margaret thought of his handsome face and his piercing blue eyes. She felt a pang of longing that literally caused her physical pain.

Margaret's life was dull in London. Her family attended endless dinners, teas, and balls during the London social season, and because Margaret had returned to London in mourning, she had not been expected to participate in society. Her year of mourning was at an end, so the pressure to leave her black gowns behind had begun. Margaret missed the life she once had in Milton where she could roam the streets and visit friends of her choosing. No, she was not a part of society there, but she relished the freedom that came with that.

Henry Lennox, Cousin Edith's brother-in-law, spent a great deal of time at the home on Harley Street and it was Edith's hope Henry and Margaret would marry. Certainly, he was a great match for Margaret, only unbeknownst to anyone else, Margaret had given her heart to John Thornton long ago. Margaret doubted that Henry had told Edith and Maxwell that she had refused his offer of marriage just after their wedding. She would never marry Henry, and she had tried to make her feelings clear to him. She may not love him, but she greatly valued his friendship.

Margaret got up and went to her bedside table. She open the drawer and caressed the gloves that Mr. Thornton had left at the house in Crampton the day he proposed to her. She has misunderstood his true purpose for asking for her hand, and she had been cruel in her rejection. After that, there had been a series of misunderstandings between them that had severed any hope she had of ever making things right between them. Her love for him would remain her secret.

Margaret studied the gloves she had so wrongly kept from their original owner for almost eighteen months now. She lifted them up near her face and inhaled John Thornton's scent that still lingered on them, but was much fainter now. They smelled of sandalwood, smoke, and something else Margaret could not identify. She slipped the too large gloves on her hands. Somehow, that simple act seemed intimate. Her bare hands were touching the inside of the gloves that her beloved once wore on his bare hands.

Margaret felt tears roll down her face in her grief. Her family thought she wore black as a sign of mourning for her parents and Adam Bell, but she also secretly grieved the loss of John Thornton's love and her hopes for happiness. How she longed to see him again! If there was only a way to talk with him once more. No, as a lady she could never speak of her feelings for him, but she would give anything just to hear his voice and to gaze upon his face once more. Margaret knew she must move on, but she did not know how when she had no closure with him.

The next morning, Margaret joined her family for breakfast, and she was surprised to see Henry so early in the day.

"Margaret, you are even richer today than yesterday. Mr. Bell made some very shrewd investments, and one of them had paid off handsomely."

Henry paused to give Margaret a moment to process this new information.

"I am sorry to also inform you that you will need to find a new tenant for Marlborough Mills. The mill will close by the end of the week according to the correspondence I received this morning from Milton."

Margaret was distressed.

"The mill has failed? You have heard from Mr. Thornton?"

"Yes, the mill will be closing, and no, Margaret, I have heard from his solicitor. Mr. Thornton will come to London next week to relinquish his lease of the mill and the house."

Margaret nodded, and she became lost in her thoughts.

The family finished eating and everyone went about their day.

"Henry, can you spare a few moments for me?"

"Of course, Margaret. How may I be of service?"

"I wish Mr. Thornton to remain as Master of Marlborough Mills. I want to give him a loan. How much money can I afford to lend him, Henry?"

Henry was appalled, but if that was Margaret's wish, he would arrange the loan.

"You presently have 15000 pounds in the bank collecting very little interest."

"Thank you, Henry. How soon can you have the papers drawn up? Time is of the essence."

"I can have the papers drawn by tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Henry."

Henry took his leave and Margaret went upstairs to pack. She would take Dixon with her, but she would be on the next train to Milton. She would offer the loan to Mr. Thornton, and if he agreed to it, then she would ask Henry to come to Milton to go over the papers with Mr. Thornton.

Margaret asked Dixon to come to her room.

"Dixon, I need you to accompany me to Milton for two or three days. I have business to conduct, and I need to leave right away."

"Miss Margaret, why would you ever return to the place that killed your dear mother?"

"I must, Dixon, and you must go with me. We will visit my mother's grave while we are there. And Dixon, please tell no one else we are going. I will write Aunt Shaw and Edith a note. Go and quickly pack your things because we are leaving in an hour."

Dixon shook her head in disapproval, but she would do as Miss Margaret asked. Mrs. Shaw would not be happy about this turn of events.

Margaret quickly chose a few of her favorite day dresses, her night clothes, and a dinner gown, just in case. Dixon returned from her room and shooed Margaret away as she finished packing Margaret's clothing and toiletries. Dixon carefully wrapped Margaret's silk dinner gown and day gowns in tissue paper to protect them from creases. Dixon added some jewelry to the bag, and the packing was complete.

When Dixon had gone downstairs to fill a basket with fruit and a few jars of water for the trip, Margaret added her gift to Mr. Thornton to her bag. She put the old pair of gloves in her pocket. She did not know how she would give Mr. Thornton the new pair of gloves, but she would figure that out later.

Margaret hastily wrote a note to Aunt Shaw and Edith to explain the sudden trip to Milton. They heard what Henry had to say at breakfast about Marlborough Mills. She knew they would not approve of her trip to Milton, but it was time for Margaret to make her own decisions in life. She was of age and means and she needed to move forward in her life.

Next, she wrote a note to Henry, asking him to be prepared to come to Milton in the next day or so.

Within the hour, Margaret and Dixon were on their way to the station to travel north to Milton. Margaret smiled across at Dixon who was quite grumpy to be making the trip. Dixon patted her hand and closed her eyes to take a nap. The two women had been through so much in this together, and Margaret considered her family.

Grateful for the respite from conversation, Margaret thought about Mr. Thornton. Would he accept her as a friend, or had he truly moved on and forgotten her? Soon enough, she would find out. John's gloves were in her coat pocket, and she rubbed them to settle her nerves.

Four hours later, the train pulled into Outwood Station. Dixon left to find a porter for their luggage and a carriage to take them to the Crown Hotel.

Margaret and Dixon settled into their comfortable rooms. Margaret was anxious to see her friends, the Higgins, so she set off to Princeton on her own. How she had missed the freedom of wandering these streets alone!

Mary opened the door, "Miss Margaret! How wonderful to see you again! Father will be so pleased. He is at the mill working today, but soon the mill will close. It is sad to think the mill will be no more."

Margaret kept the purpose for her visit to Milton to herself. She needed to speak to John first, and she wanted to keep the loan between them private if possible.

Margaret enjoyed the next hour with Mary and the six Boucher children. She had missed them dearly. Plans were made for Margaret to return that evening to see Nicholas.

Margaret strolled through the streets of Milton on her way back to the hotel. She would write a note to Mr. Thornton this afternoon to ask for an appointment tomorrow morning. She stopped in at the mercantile to purchase gifts for the Boucher children.

John Thornton had been to the post office to send letters to his suppliers explaining that he was closing the mill. He caught a glimpse of a woman who looked like Margaret, and he tried to weave his way through the crowd of people on the streets to get a better look. He lost sight of her, but how could it be her? She was in London, so he must have been mistaken.

John felt the familiar pain of loss when he thought of the beautiful woman who owned his heart. He had tried to move on, but there was no other woman for him but Margaret Hale. His mother and sister had pushed him toward a match with Ann Latimer, but while she was lovely, she was a shallow woman. John was not attracted to her, and a match between them was not possible. He had known love, and he would rather live alone than to be married to a woman he did not love or desire.

John collected his thoughts and returned to his office.

Later that afternoon, Williams, John's overseer, knocked on the office door.

"A letter has come for you, Master."

John took it from him. His name was written in a feminine hand. John lifted the letter to his face and his senses were assailed with the scent of lavender and roses. Margaret. Could the letter be from his love?

John opened the letter and read the note.

Mr. Thornton,

I hope this note finds you well. I am saddened to hear of the impending closure of the mill. I am in Milton and would like to invite you for tea in the morning at 10:00. I am staying at the Crown Hotel and would be happy to receive you here, or I can meet you at your office. Please advise your preference.

Yours,

Margaret Hale

John folded the letter and his hand rubbed over the parchment as he tried to get his thoughts under control. He will see his love tomorrow morning. He thought when she had left for London over a year ago, that he would never see her again.

He then realized he had not been mistaken when he thought he saw her this morning. He wrote a quick reply to her note and had a messenger boy deliver it to the hotel.

At the end of the workday, John saw Higgins and told him about Margaret's visit to Milton. Higgins was anxious to hurry home in case the woman he considered a daughter was at his home with Mary and the children.

Before he left for home, Higgins turned to Thornton.

"I hope our lass has been happy in London. I have wondered why she did not go to Spain to live with her brother since he is her closest relative."

"Mr. Hale never told me he had a son. I wonder why he never told me he had a son?"

"It was him who was here during Mrs. Hale's last days. My Mary fetched things for the family. They had to keep it a secret because her brother had some trouble with the navy."

"When the tittle-tattles of Milton gossiped about Miss Margaret, my Mary and I were her only friends. It used to break my heart to see the brave front she put on, but I know it hurt her for people to think badly of her. She would not give up her brother to save her reputation, not our Margaret. She said she loved him too much to do that. When our Margaret gives her heart to someone, she gives everything, whether it be family or friend."

John was stunned. Margaret did not have a lover as he and almost all of Milton had believed.

"He was her brother." John could scarcely believe it. John had been so hurt and jealous when he had seen his beloved in the arms of another man. He was mortified now he had been so unkind to her when she needed a friend more than ever. He had not believed her when she had tried to explain things were not as they appeared.

How ashamed he felt! His own family had judged Margaret harshly, and Margaret had endured the scandal bravely. How she must have suffered!

"Thank you, Higgins, and enjoy your time with Miss Hale when you see her."

Higgins knew how the wind blew when it came to Thornton's feelings for Margaret. The ole bulldog loved Margaret, but things had gone amiss between them. Higgins hoped that someday, the two of them could work past their misunderstandings. Margaret loved John, too. Higgins thought life for the upper class was far too complicated by rules and expectations. Poor folk just spoke their minds, and in Higgins's opinion, it was a far better way to live.

As Higgins made his way through the mill yard, John stood in wonder at the events of the day. Margaret was in Milton, she had invited him to tea, and Higgins had revealed something quite significant about his beloved.

Margaret did indeed return to Princeton that evening. The Higgins home was warm and inviting. The children exclaimed over their gifts, and Margaret, Mary and Higgins enjoyed a lovely visit. It was dark when Margaret left, so Higgins walked her back to the hotel.

After finishing up some paperwork to close the mill, John left his office to join his mother for supper late in the day. His mother always held supper for him, whatever the lateness of the hour.

"Did you have a good day, John? Are you getting the last of the orders ready to ship?

"Yes, Mother. We will be ready to shut our doors on Saturday. I will have our final payroll when the last shift ends. The mill will be no more."

Hannah sensed that John was withholding something from her, but she had learned over the last few years that her intrusive questions were unwelcome. They ate the rest of their dinner in silence, and John did not linger in her company for long after they finished eating.

John asked that hot water be sent up for a bath.

He was anxious to get to his room to process his thoughts. Tomorrow, he would finally see the woman who had haunted his dreams for so long.

John sat in the bath for a long time, until the water cooled. His emotions were running high, and he needed to relax, or he would not be able to rest tonight. He scrubbed his body clean and tried to work through his emotions.

The next morning, John dressed with great care. He shaved closely and wore a dark blue waistcoat and cravat. He wanted to look his best for Margaret. He may be a failed businessman, but he still had his pride. She would not see a broken-down man when she next laid eyes on him.

At breakfast, Hannah asked why he was dressed differently than usual, and he told her he had a meeting this morning. He did not offer more of an explanation, and when she asked who he was meeting with, he told her he would tell her more about the meeting later.

John was a man of two and thirty. He loved his mother, but she was more mother than he needed as a grown man.

His mother hated Margaret and her words of scorn cut John deeply, so he never spoke of matters of the heart to her. John's love for Margaret was held close to his heart, and the only person he felt comfortable speaking about her with was Higgins. He knew Higgins loved Margaret as a daughter, and the two of them spoke of her from time to time.

There was much to do at the mill, but John could not stay focused. Margaret's note was in his breast pocket. He took it out and read it again. He wondered what he would feel when he could cast his eyes upon her beautiful face at last. He felt his heart race in anticipation. Would she remember Milton ways and shake his hand? His fingers tingled at the thought of touching her again.

Mrs. Thornton saw her son as he left his office. It hurt that he did not confide in her anymore since Miss Hale had broken his heart. He could not bear to hear anything said against her, but Hannah could not help but hate Miss Hale. John asked they never speak of her again, so they did not. Hannah was curious who John was meeting with this morning. He rarely dressed up these days since their social occasions were rare occurrences.

Hannah knew that Miss Hale was quite the heiress now. She had inherited a vast fortune from Adam Bell, including the mill and the house they lived in. It seemed unfair to Hannah that Margaret Hale was given so much when John had earned everything he had through hard work. She hoped, with all her heart, to never see that woman again.

John arrived in the lobby of the hotel at the appointed time. Margaret was coming down the stairs and the vision before him took his breath away. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. She wore a rich green day dress, and it was made of the finest quality silk. It clung to her curves, and John felt his attraction to her with an almost blinding force.

Margaret smiled when she spotted him, and John felt his heart leap with joy.

When she was standing only a few feet in front of him, Margaret offered her hand to him to shake. He took her small hand in both of his for a moment.

"Miss Hale, are you well?"

"Yes, Mr. Thornton, I am quite well. It feels good to be home again. I have missed Milton."

She had missed Milton? She considered it home? He was astounded that she could miss a place where she has suffered so much loss.

"Mr. Thornton, I have arranged for us to have a bit of privacy in the tearoom. We will not be alone, but our conversations will not be overheard."

John followed Margaret into the room, then seated her at their table.

She had ordered tea, and when it arrived, she made his cup just as he liked it. It pleased him that she remembered.

Margaret felt nervous in Mr. Thornton's presence. He was devastatingly handsome and looked particularly well today.

John's curiosity got the better of him, so after they both spoke of their families, he asked Margaret why she was in Milton.

"Henry Lennox, my solicitor, and financial advisor informed me yesterday morning that the mill was closing at the end of the week. I wanted to discuss a business proposition with you."

"I am listening, Miss Hale." John's curiosity peaked.

"Mr. Thornton, as you know, Mr. Bell left me his fortune. It is currently earning very little interest at the bank, so I am offering you a loan to keep the mill operating. You can give me a better rate of interest, so you see, it would be beneficial to us both."

John's pride reared its ugly head for a few moments. Margaret was here to rescue him, and for his worker's sake, he needed to take the loan, but it irked him to be brought so low in her eyes. He wished he could refuse, but he would have to accept the loan she offered. He had been unable to secure any other investors to save the mill.

He noted that she was twisting her hands nervously in her lap. She met his eyes, and John could hardly believe what he saw reflected in them. Was it possible that Miss Hale cared for him?

"Miss Hale, I am grateful for the offer. I will need to look over the terms with my solicitor. Do you have the papers with you in Milton?'

"Henry Lennox is drawing them up, and he is in London presently. I can send a letter on the next train to London requesting him to travel to Milton to go over the terms of the loan. Would that suit you?"

After some thought, John said, ``Yes, that will be fine."

John was appreciative of how accommodating Miss Hale was since he could not travel to London at this time. If they loan could be secured in the next few days, the operations of the mill would not have to be interrupted.

Both John and Margaret realized their business was concluded, so they reluctantly made their way to the lobby of the hotel.

John desperately wanted to spend more time with Margaret.

"Miss Hale, would you care to dine at my home tonight?"

Margaret hesitated for a moment. She did not relish spending time with the harsh Mrs. Thornton. However, she did want to spend time with Mr. Thornton, so she accepted his invitation.

John smiled and told her that he would send the carriage for her at 7:00.

Margaret returned to her room and sat down to ponder their conversation. He still felt something for her, and she wondered if he discerned that she cared for him, too.

When he had taken her hand in his, Margaret had to catch her breath. His hands, his beautiful hands, had held hers.