Chapter Three: Coming to Terms
John knew his dear mother would have questions about Miss Hale and her reasons for being in Milton, but he had no answers for her. Not yet anyway because the details of the loan had not been settled. When he arrived home from seeing Miss Hale back to the hotel, he thanked his mother for the nice dinner, kissed her cheek as he always did, and went upstairs to prepare for bed.
John laid in his bed and thought of Margaret. He ran his hand across the empty side of the bed as he often did and wondered what it would be like to hold his love close. She was warm toward him tonight, but Margaret was warm to everyone she cared about. John knew she cared about him as her late father's friend, and he assumed she was offering the loan for the well-being of his workers. She was his landlord, and a wealthy property owner. He was beneath her as a failed tradesman and his heart ached with the truth of it all.
Tomorrow, he would sign the papers for the loan, save his mill, and she would return to London. Henry Lennox would have the privilege of escorting her on the journey. John felt intense pangs of jealousy for the barrister. Even though he knew Margaret had refused Henry as she had refused him, they clearly were on good terms since he was her solicitor. John could not help his irritation when Margaret referred to Henry by his Christian name. Of course, Margaret considered Henry family as his brother was married to Margaret's cousin. Tomorrow, he would see them together, and he was anxious to ascertain the nature of their relationship.
The next morning, John joined his mother for breakfast as usual. He intentionally kept the conversation about mill matters to avoid any personal questions. John had long ago stopped speaking to his mother about personal matters and certainly, he did not want to speak to her about Miss Hale. His mother only wanted to protect him from being hurt again, but she knew nothing of how he had hurt Margaret with his own cruel words and judgment.
Hannah had been a good mother to him when he was young, but now, John felt she needed to allow him to make his own decisions without trying to control him. He did not need her protection. John had learned in his business that you gained nothing if you did not take risks, and even though he did not win Margaret's hand when he offered, he did not regret his love for her. His life was richer, and he felt more human for having loved her. He struggled with his mother's need to be first in his affections. Of course, he loved his mother, but his love for Margaret was the driving force in his life.
The business meeting between Henry and John lasted an hour or so. Margaret did not join them until the end. She wanted Mr. Thornton to negotiate the best arrangement for himself, and she felt it important to allow him his pride in this matter.
Both men stood when Margaret entered the room. Even in her simple cream and pink day dress, she was breathtaking. Henry did not miss the looks exchanged between the woman he loved and Mr. Thornton.
"Margaret, we have just concluded our business. I will need to see Latimer, John's banker, right away to transfer the funds. Can you and Dixon be ready to leave on the first train to London this afternoon?"
"Yes, Henry, we can be ready, and please tell Mr. Latimer that if he ever utters a single word about the loan to anyone, I will move my Milton business to his competitor. This loan is a private matter between me and Mr. Thornton."
Both men had to admire her resolve, and both knew she would do as she said if Latimer revealed that Margaret Hale was the lender who saved Marlborough Mills. The gossips in Milton could be cruel and Margaret wanted to spare John any unnecessary talk.
John noticed that Henry was loath to leave them alone, but if there was any romantic attachment between them, John could not detect it from Margaret. If she loved Henry Lennox, she hid her feelings well.
Lennox left to attend the business at the bank, and Margaret asked John to stay for tea.
After she had served him tea and pleasantries had been exchanged, Margaret drew in a deep breath.
"Mr. Thornton, I have something for you."
Margaret pulled a small package from her bag and handed it over to John.
"Is this a gift, Miss Hale?" John was puzzled. It was not proper for a lady to give an unmarried man a gift.".
"You will understand when you open it." Margaret anxiously watched as Mr. Thornton held up the pair of supple black leather gloves she had purchased for him and personalized with his initials.
"They are beautiful, Miss Hale. The stitching on these gloves is exquisite. Thank you. I will treasure them."
John looked Margaret directly in the eyes, " Miss Hale, why you did this for me?"
Margaret, attempting to lighten the intensity of the moment with a bit of levity, replied, "Mr., Thornton, as a magistrate, I must ask you if there is a statute of limitations for glove theft?"
John was confused, but he answered with a smile, "I do not think there is a specific law on the books for said crime."
Margaret gathered all her courage and began to speak. She took the other pair of gloves out of her bag and held them in her hands.
"The day after the riot, you left these gloves in the drawing room in Crampton. I meant to give them back, but I could not bring myself to do it. You see, these gloves know all the secrets of my heart, so instead of returning them to you, I have replaced them with a new pair."
John's heartbeat quickened. Dare he hope?
"Miss Hale, if those gloves could speak, what would they say?"
"They would say things that are not proper for a lady to admit when a man has said that he is looking to the future and that future did not include her."
John remembered uttering that lie to her the day after he had protected her from the inquest. He had asked her for an explanation, and she said she could not give him one without harming the other person.
"Miss Hale, I lied to you when I told you any foolish passion I felt for you was over. I am unworthy of you, beneath you in society, and I have nothing but love to offer you. I have never stopped loving you, nor I do not think I am capable of it. I asked you to please tell me what secrets those gloves hold."
Margaret met his eyes and began to speak.
"Those gloves have been my constant source of comfort for such a long time now. Whenever the pain of losing Bessy and Mama became unbearable, I would go to my room and put them on. I imagined your hands holding mine. Once I lost your good opinion of me, these gloves were soaked with my tears. When Papa died and I had to return to London with Aunt Shaw, I kept them close by when I would need you to hold me in my loneliness. You see, Mr. Thornton, everyone thinks I am so strong, but quite the opposite is true. These gloves have seen me through so many losses in my life. Without them, I am not sure how I would have managed all that happened over the last few years."
John's heart swelled with love for her. He felt tears running down his cheeks and he could not stop them. He had never dreamed she could care for him as he did her. He regretted how much she had suffered, but she never again would have to imagine his hands holding hers if she would have him. He would hold them for the rest of their lives if she would be his wife.
John got up from his chair and got down on one knee before her. He took her hands in his.
"Margaret, dare I ask you again to be my wife? Can you accept a failed tradesman as your husband? I love you; I have loved you, and I will always love you, Margaret. Will you marry me?"
"Yes, John, I want to be your wife."
John brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. Aware they were in a public place; he could not kiss her as he wished or hold her as he longed to. He did not let go of her hands. He could not bear to.
"When will you marry me, my love?"
"I want to marry soon, John. I must return to London to tell my family. I want only a simple wedding in London. If my aunt is agreeable, would four weeks be too soon?"
John was delighted they were of one mind.
"Tomorrow would not be too soon for me, my dearest. I will come to London this weekend to ask your aunt for your hand. We can set the date then."
"John, you are my heart. I love you so very much."
A clerk from the hotel hovered nearby, nervous to interrupt the moment between the couple. Margaret noticed him and motioned for the young man to come to her. The clerk handed Margaret a message. Henry had concluded their business at the bank, and they would leave for London in the next hour.
Margaret left John for a few minutes to ask Dixon to pack her things and to apprise her of their travel plans.
She quickly returned to her beloved. The couple spent the rest of their brief time together talking about their past and all the hurts and misunderstandings were put behind them. When it came time to part at the train station, John helped her onto the train with his promise to see her Saturday afternoon in London.
That evening, John told his mother his happy news that he had secured a loan for the mill. They would not have to close the mill or move. Hannah asked him who provided the loan, and he told her in confidence. She was to never reveal it to anyone, especially not to his sister. Fanny was a gossip and cared not who it hurt. John told his dear mother that he was to be married to Miss Hale.
Hannah knew that it had long been her son's hope to marry Miss Hale, and apparently, Miss Hale had come to see her son's worth. Living together was going to be difficult, but for her son, she would try to be kind to the woman who would replace her as first in John's affections.
John spent the next few days getting the mill back in full operation. He wrote letters to his suppliers and placed orders. He would have to solicit new orders, but he would soon have his order book full again. He was filled with a new energy. He had a future with Margaret, and with her love, anything was possible.
Saturday, instead of closing the door to his mill, he arrived in London to ask Margaret's aunt for her hand. Captain Lennox, Edith's husband, had sent the carriage for him and he was given the nicest guest room in the house.
Before dinner, Aunt Shaw gave her blessing, albeit reluctantly, and the wedding was set for four weeks from that very evening, Margaret and John would be married at Harley Street.
That evening, a small engagement dinner was held for the happy couple. John could not take his eyes off his Margaret. She wore the same gown as she had worn to the Mill Master's dinner the night before the riot. The mint green of the dress was lovely on Margaret, but it was the expanse of her exposed shoulders and the swooping neckline of the dress that drew John's attention. Edith noted that John was truly besotted, and her cousin seemed to be equally so. They would have to have a talk after Mr. Thornton left to go back to Milton. Margaret had been keeping secrets from her.
After dinner, Edith played the piano for all of them, and the family cajoled Margaret to play as well. She acquiesced, but reluctantly so. Edith sat on the bench with her and turned the pages. Margaret played a beautiful classical piece and John was entranced. Margaret had practiced many long hours when she was in mourning, taking comfort in the soothing melodies she played.
Edith and Margaret played a lively duet to end the evening. Everyone was entertained not only by the music, but how much fun the two cousins were having as they played.
John thought Margaret fit in well in this house. She was so elegant and very beautiful. He hoped the adjustment to living in the mill house would not be too great for her.
Everyone retired for the night, and left Margaret and John alone. Aunt Shaw warned them to keep the door open, but they could spend a few minutes together privately.
Having been denied the privilege of holding her and kissing her when they declared their love for each other, John was ecstatic to at last be able to take his love into arms. She wrapped her arms around him and felt his heartbeat against her cheek.
John gently took her face in his hands and kissed her. He kissed her again and again with increasing passion. John could not get enough of her sweet kisses. He had never kissed a woman before and was lost in the heady sweetness of kissing his love. It was also Margaret's first time to be kissed, and she loved the feel of John's lips on hers.
John whispered in Margaret's ear, "Love, I have missed you so much!"
'Margaret could not speak because she was so overcome with her emotions. Instead, she held him tighter.
A few minutes turned into an hour, and they knew they had pushed the limits of Aunt Shaw's gift of precious time alone.
John escorted his love to her room and gave her a tender kiss before leaving her.
In his own room, John laid awake for hours, reliving the feel of Margaret in his arms and her sweet kisses. In just four weeks, they would share all the intimacies of lovers.
The next day, the family attended church and had lunch together. John and Margaret took a walk in the afternoon, and after tea, John had to leave for London.
Margaret and the Captain went with John to the train station. Maxwell got out to get John's ticket to give the couple a few moments alone.
John could hardly bear the separation, but the next time he came to London, it would be for the wedding. John held Margaret's hands in his, told her how much he loved her, and returned home to Milton for the last time as a single man.