Chapter 04- SOMETHING WAS FOUND, SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
Mrs. Thornton finished writing her letter. It was short as were all the letters she ever wrote. It was to the point, asking Miss Hale if she can come for tea to her place the coming Saturday. It was Tuesday and although Mrs. Thornton would have invited Miss Hale right the next day, she wanted to take time and think about the events of the past few months. Also, Fanny had mentioned that she would visit her again in the week to discuss planning about her first social gathering as Mrs. Watson. Mrs. Thornton knew she would have a tough time listening to Fanny's monotonous and grandiose ideas, hence didn't want Miss Hale to join the idle talk and suffer equally. Plus, she wanted to have a private conversation with her, despite not knowing how she would start warming up towards her, after the dreadful conversation they last had at Crampton.
She neatly folded the letter in an envelope and left to search for Jane, the maid. She thought to ask John to hand over the letter to Mr. Hale or Miss Hale by himself, but dismissed the idea. He had spoken rudely to Miss Hale (not that she doesn't deserve it, but still) and didn't want to push them both into another awkward conversation. Jane will be responsible to see that the letter is delivered, Mrs. Thornton decided.
She left the drawing-room and went upstairs to search for the maid. She wasn't available in the kitchen, so she must be airing the rooms, Mrs. Thornton thought. She reached the first floor as well as the second, but the maid was nowhere to be found. Confused, Mrs. Thornton decided to wait as the girl might have gone to buy groceries.
When she climbed down the stairs to get back to her sitting room, Mrs. Thornton saw Jane tiptoeing into the kitchen section. She looked cautious and careful as if she was going to hide something. Mrs. Thornton was puzzled. She knew that Jane's beau had died under mysterious circumstances near Outwood. She felt sad for the young woman. Jane was a first-level gossiper of Milton. She along with Fanny made a dangerous pair, thick as thieves. But still, she realized that Jane was distraught and hence, told her to take a month's leave to mourn her beau's demise. But the girl was quick to bounce back from her grief and rejected the offer. Sometimes she would go back to her quarters and cry. Mrs. Thornton and John decided to increase her wages to compensate for her aid in running the household despite her grief.
Now when she saw Jane retreating to the kitchen, Mrs. Thornton followed her. She felt a bit odd to follow her maid in her own home. But her insights told her that something was wrong, and follow she did.
Jane was clutching a ragged bag. She quickly opened the bag and took out its contents haphazardly. Without thinking, she threw the items into the kitchen fire! Some of the things she was throwing included a few clothes, letters, and other such stuff.
Mrs. Thornton was stunned but understood that she was probably emptying her fiance's belongings. A girl would have rather sought to keep them safe as her beloved's keepsake but here was a woman who was throwing them all out in the flames. Mrs. Thornton realized that it was not her right to judge the maid even though she was still suspicious.
Just then, a parchment fell carelessly from the bag and settled under the kitchen table. Jane didn't notice it. She continued throwing the items and once done, poked the fire with the stick to assure everything was burnt out to ashes. She closed the bag quickly, exited the kitchen, and went upstairs without any trace of emotions.
Mrs. Thornton was careful to not be seen by the maid. She entered the kitchen. A part of her didn't know what was happening and felt silly. She fetched the parchment that had fallen from under the table. It was quite old. It was torn at the edges, but the owner of the keepsake had made sure to keep it together with glue. She turned to the front side of the parchment to read what was written.
And what she read put her to a great shock. It was the most unexpected and she stood baffled. A minute later, she regained her composure and carefully deposited the paper in a chest in her bedroom.
Mr. Thornton and Higgins walked together to the mill. The people in the streets gazed at both of them as it was a rare sight to see the master walk with a worker, that too, a union leader. Both men walked confidently although silent.
Higgins, tired of the silence, informed him about the order details that he was assigned to that morning. He assured the master that the order would reach the port on time and that the clients would receive it on time. Mr. Thornton hardly registered a word. His eyebrows were furrowed (was it a surprise anymore?) and face under deep contemplation.
"Thornton, ye there?"
"Yes. Was everything in order at the station? The consignment will reach the clients on time, huh?"
Nicholas was annoyed that he had to explain everything right from the beginning.
"Aye, that's what I was talkin' about for the last ten minutes. Your head was here but not ye ears."
"Sorry. I was absentminded".
"Not a surprise".
Mr. Thornton gave a helpless ironic laugh and continued walking briskly. Higgins thought once and twice if it would help to get into the subject, but then gave in.
"Ye thoughts are half the day round the mill, and the other half wandering to a bonny face, I suppose".
Mr. Thornton knew this was going to come. He was an extremely private person yet one cannot keep everything to himself all the time. He wanted to confide his thoughts to someone. All his years, his mother was his constant support and anchor, to whom he informed every decision and functioning of the mill. But now that his thoughts were occupied by a "bonny face" as Nicholas teased, he couldn't talk much with his mother about the woman he loved.
"I am not going to pretend by denying what you said, Higgins."
"I know. I am just a weaver and a foreman, your worker. But still, if you gonna need someone to just talk, know that I am always there for ye".
Mr. Thornton felt silent for a while. It was the first time someone had told this to him except his mother. Well, he never gave his mother the opportunity to say such a thing to him in the first place, for he always talked to her freely about the mill. But with Higgins, it was different. They were once as contrasted as water and fire, but now, they had started to find an equal ground.
The thing was that Mr. Thornton didn't know what exactly to say to the man. Where would he begin? Would he be destroying the Hales' trust if he confided in Higgins? He knew that Miss Hale was close to the Higginses, but still didn't know how to broach the subject.
"Higgins, I understand that Mary helps the Hales in their home. I am close to Mr. Hale but didn't get much of a chance to talk to Miss Hale. How is she doing now? I see that she's somewhat calm but suppressed."
"Aye, she hides her emotions well while helpin' others all the time. My Bess was the happiest during her final days because of her, ye know. Charming li'l woman that she is. Talks sense and makes sure everyone is happy".
Mr. Thornton smiled. He knew that Miss Hale was a lucky charm to anyone who befriended her. Except him, he thought wryly.
Higgins suddenly asked- "Thornton, what's keeping you both apart? Now don' tell me you both ain't feelin' for each other. Ye can fool one or two but not the whole town!"
"Nothing is keeping us apart for we were never together in the first place, Higgins. We will never be. She will never have me".
Mr. Thornton answered dejectedly but with a sternness. But Higgins was not the one to give in so easily.
"I don' know what happened between ye and her, but just know that talkin' frankly will help put everything in place. It seems that both of ye talk honestly to everyone except each other".
"What's the use of talking frankly when I know she is someone else's? She is in love with another, Higgins".
Now it was Higgins' eyebrows which almost shot up to the head before furrowing. He wasn't able to believe what he heard.
"Ye talking about that barrister? A London chap named Lenny something?"
"Mr. Henry Lennox. Yes, a respectable famous barrister of criminal law. Miss Hale's cousin's brother-in-law. But no, that crooked nose of a man ain't the one I am talking about. What made you think of him? How do you know him?"
"Remember my Bess telling me. That barrister fella asked for the lass' hand back in her country house."
Mr. Thornton turned stone and cold. It shouldn't have come as a surprise to him as he was quite jealous of Mr. Lennox when they met in the Great Exhibition.
"Aye, chill. She didn't accept the man. Said she saw him just as a friend and nothing else. Now don't know which man ye talking about, but I wish it is you for her Thornton".
They had reached the mill gates. Mr. Thornton shook hands with Higgins before both parted their ways to complete the tasks of the day. Mr. Thornton registered this newly gained information fresh in his mind as it gave him a little solace. Why would she reject an offer from Henry Lennox who had a good name in the law circles of London? And to be close to her family? So her expectations were surely not wealth, society, or London's extravagant pleasures. But just then, his solace was crushed when the image of the handsome young man embracing Miss Hale sprang like a needle to his mind. She might have fallen in love with this anonymous man even before moving to Milton? Yes, that must be it, he derived.
His resentment filled his inner wit once again as he slumped over the ledgers again.
Margaret reached her home trying hard to control her tears.
She removed her hat and quickly went to her room. Dixon, as usual, didn't notice anything amiss. Her father had not yet returned from the Lyceum Hall. She knew that he was putting in extra hours so as to keep his grief and guilt at bay.
Her thoughts went back to Mr. Thornton. She had become quite annoyed when he "so graciously" offered to escort her. How dare he? One minute he jarred out his hatred towards her, diminishing her as an object which deserved foolishness. The other minute, he came ahead to play the gentleman role.
Margaret started to become confused about him. Not that she doubted her own feelings, she was in love with him, now more so than ever. But why were his feelings oscillating upside down? A part of her told that he only offered to escort because of Higgins. But then she wasn't entirely blind to the way he kept looking at her, just as the way he always did when he came to attend his lessons with her father. That look made her unsettled and fleeting as always, but today it made her angry. And she was irritated that she couldn't stop herself from turning red at the sight of him.
She asked herself if he was mocking her. She controlled herself from thinking about the extent to which he and his mother went ahead to think of her. Definitely, he must be thinking of her as a fallen woman? The thought disturbed her too much. She was aware that the gossip circles of Milton relished the rumor of her having been seen with a man late at night. As much as she was immune to those useless gossipers, she wasn't able to be negligent of what Mr. Thornton was currently thinking.
She realized then that this wouldn't do. She had to inform him of the actual truth of the incident some way or the other. Or at least, tell him that the man was not related to her in the way he thought. Insufferable man! Thought the worst of her but still, she wasn't able to think ill of him.
She wiped her tears and came downstairs to see if any work was to be done. Dixon just then opened the door, and in came her father and Mr. Bell.
Margaret felt a glimmer of glee on seeing her godfather. She knew that he was nothing less of a prankster and a meddler, who hardly understood the "p" of privacy. But then, his presence was always surrounded with an aura of honesty, open conversations, and humor. He was just the right person who could help her father feel better, as well as her.
Mr. Bell came towards Margaret. "How are you, my dear? You look radiant as always."
"Ah, Bell, you don't know how strong she is despite the grief", Mr. Hale said.
"I obviously know. She is the firmest one I have ever seen. Will not cripple under anything. Now my dear, tell me what are you about today? Visited your Princeton friends?"
"Yes, Mr. Bell. I just reached home. One of the Boucher boys took a fall and sprained his ankle. I had gone to help him".
"I see. I came to know that the union leader, pray what's his name… yes, Mr. Higgins is looking after the orphan children of the late Bouchers. That's indeed great of him".
"Yes, Bell. Higgins is a proud fellow just like John. Won't stoop down for anyone and holds fast to his principles, exactly like John", said Mr. Hale, taking an interest in the conversation.
Margaret felt uneasy at the course of the conversation. Was everything to be related to Mr. Thornton? Why can't I live a day without hearing his name? She mused.
Mr. Bell noticed Margaret. Needless to say, he purposely steered the conversation ahead.
"Yes, I daresay Thornton found a tough opponent and worker in Higgins. All thanks to our Margaret dear. Thornton should be grateful to her".
"Why, what does Margaret have to do in this, Bell?"
Before Mr. Bell could answer, Margaret responded quickly to her father's question. "Papa, it was me who suggested that Higgins take up work in Marlborough Mills."
"And while Mr. Thornton turned down the union man for two days, he gave him a place after knowing it was our Margaret who recommended him to get work in Marlborough Mills".
Mr. Hale gasped in surprise while Mr. Bell was happy for having gained his first score with today's conversation. He smiled at his goddaughter.
"Oh… yes, well, he didn't have any idea it was me who had suggested and moreover, Higgins was desperate to get work, as any of the masters wouldn't take him after the strike. I knew your pupil will see reason and Higgins' calibre, papa, and he did".
"That he does, my dear. He got a fine eye for judgment. His analysis hardly goes wrong".
Now it was Margaret's turn to give a sarcastic laugh, which was noted by Mr. Bell. He immediately piped up with a question-
"Why my dear, do you disagree with your father? Isn't Mr. Thornton a fine judge of talent and capacity?"
"That Mr. Bell is known only to him. Or I daresay he is quick to judge, assume, but ignorant enough to think twice about what he judges".
Margaret, then quickly exited the drawing room, having enough of the conversation. She retreated to her room, leaving the two men pondering at what she had just said.
"Now Hale, tell me if you can sense something going on between your pupil and daughter".
This was the second time, Mr. Bell came up with the question. Mr. Hale, as always, was confused.
"Rather not, Bell. Or I must say I don't know. They do have a friendship of sorts. They are civil and formal to each other as compared to previously. Now, that's a good improvement, I believe".
Civil? Now that was far from what Mr. Bell expected. For other lovers, being civil with each other was considered quite normal. But the Thornton and Margaret that he knew weren't supposed to be formal with each other! Civil and respectful, yes. But formal was a word that rather hinted something amiss between the man and the woman.
Mr. Bell knew that it was meaningless to go ahead with the conversation with his negligent friend. For all the scholarly pursuits he was accomplished with, observation wasn't one among them. Or whatever he observed remained within the pages of his Greek and Latin books, and dare not move towards his own daughter and her feelings.
That was when, Mr. Hale himself steered the conversation towards an unexpected person- his own son Frederick.
"Bell, I have something to tell."
"Continue, man. I am all ears".
"Frederick was here during Maria's death."
Mr. Bell was wide-eyed with shock. He knew everything about the Hales' family secret and thought that they were in touch with their mutineer son only via letters.
"Why wasn't I told before? Where is he now? Tell me he got back to Cadiz safe and sound. You do know that this would put him in grave danger, don't you?"
"I know. But Margaret wrote to her brother a month before Maria's demise. It was her last wish. I wasn't told anything about their plan but only after the letter was sent! I was shocked but Margaret said that it would ease Maria's pain. I couldn't help but give in."
"I understand but he is still wanted, always will be. We should be careful. How was he? I do know that he is under a Spanish tradesman's roof. How did he come here and how did he go back? You all must have been under bated breath all the time!"
"Ah, yes, that we were. He was smart enough to come to Milton at midnight, so that he wouldn't be caught. He had to ask a fellow person in the streets the route to Crampton. But that was all. He sneaked in safely and we all were lost in joy! Margaret, Dixon, and I were beyond words while he, my boy, was exactly the same as he was. Full of mirth and wit as he was. He was a great deal of comfort to Maria. Only after his arrival, I was somehow able to wash away some of my guilt for having brought Margaret and her mother to Milton. Then after five days, Maria passed away by midnight. It was Margaret who immediately suggested Fred's removal right then. He argued and said he would stay for the funeral, pretending to be an acquaintance from Helstone, but she didn't let him! That was wise indeed. She went to leave Fred at Outwood station, from where he got to London, and then to Cadiz. We did receive a letter from him saying he's safely reached Cadiz."
Mr. Bell took in his friend's words in deep silence. What mattered to him at the moment was how prudent Margaret had been even at such a dreadfully sorrowful time! For a minute, he thought about her swift action and presence of mind. She took a grave decision which was Mr. Hale's duty to do so. But then, Mr. Bell was well aware of his friend. He was intelligent but fragile. While Margaret was witty as well as strong at the same time.
Anger rushed in his mind when he got to know that Margaret had accompanied her brother at such a late hour to the station! Yes, the entire household was grief-stricken but the womenfolk could have been at home, while he went to leave his son at the station! Or least, he could have accompanied both his son and daughter to the station. Despite living in Milton for almost a year, Hale was still ignorant of what a dangerous town Milton was, especially with its rogues and thieves creeping out at night.
"Bell, I know you don't support a bit of what occurred but for Maria's sake…"
"Hale, don't worry. I do understand. Now, tell me, does Thornton have any idea about your son? Surely, you must have told him something for he would have come to attend his lessons as usual?"
"Oh, no. That is, I didn't get an opportunity to tell as I didn't know when exactly Frederick would come. At first, I thought about telling him because I trust him well. But Margaret stopped me from doing so. She said that we shouldn't put him in an awkward position as he is a magistrate. She said she will take care of it and I left it at that. But then, I do remember him having come for his lessons! It was Margaret who handled him while we all were upstairs with Maria. I forgot to ask her how she managed him. You see, it was only yesterday that he came here for his lessons after that day, if I am right. He hadn't sent a note even explaining the reasons for his absence all these weeks, but I assume it must be something with the mill."
"I see". Mr. Bell sighed and went back to his thoughts while Mr. Hale, to his books. After a while, he left Crampton, bidding goodbye to his goddaughter and friend, promising them he would return tomorrow.
While he was walking towards Clarendon Hotel, Mr. Bell tried to piece together the information that Mr. Hale so casually put out.
First thing was Margaret's opinion on Thornton's sense of judgment. She was clear in her words without any hesitation- "quick to judge, assume but ignorant to think twice". What did she relate that to? And secondly, came Hale's confession. According to him, Thornton came to Crampton when Frederick was present in the home and after several weeks, he only went yesterday. No missive in between to explain his absence. Odd indeed.
And also that conversation they had about a month ago on the street- Thornton, Margaret, Mr. Latimer, and Miss Latimer. Now that his mind went back to that incident, he realized that Thornton and Margaret were taking secret glances at each other. Mr. Latimer was as always making use of the meeting as another chance to boast about weddings; while Margaret shyly extended her hand to Miss Latimer, the woman rather shot a haughty look at Margaret. He also remembered her taking possession of Thornton's arm and swiftly moving away to his mill house beside him. While all Margaret did was walk slowly, but not before she turned behind to have one final look at Thornton.
Was Margaret feeling a tinge of jealousy with regards to Thornton and Miss Latimer? And most importantly, is Thornton courting his banker's daughter? Surely not, Thornton cannot be as imprudent as that, for he could have fallen into the Latimers' clutches long back, even before meeting Margaret. He had more than once seen how the mill master was engrossed and lost in his fantasies whenever he saw Margaret. But still, something was off.
While he kept racking his brain for answers, he knew one thing that he must do: to somehow become aware of what it is that is nagging both the hopeful lovers. And then, pave the way to bring them together. Hale was Margaret's father but still, his ignorance and susceptibility cannot be helped. He was slumped in guilt and grief for having lost his wife. Let him be.
But Margaret has a whole life to live ahead, and so does Thornton. It would only make sense if they lived, together.