I'm sorry this has taken me so long. Between uni and work, life hasn't been giving me much time to write more. I must confess, I was a little discouraged by the review that insinuated that I was writing a 'tale of adultery' so to speak. I don't claim to be a perfect person by any means, but I am a Christian and I would never write something like that. Besides, it would be an insult to the original work to do so. Anyway, now that I've defended myself, I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

xxx

By the time John reached the Hale residence it was well into the afternoon and he feared that he had kept Mrs Lennox waiting too long. Someone accustomed to life in London must after all, need a great deal more entertainment than could be found in Milton.

He thought back to the night before when she had burst into the hallway and nearly knocked them both to the ground. Her cheeks had been flushed and a few tendrils of her brown curls had escaped her updo. She had been, for lack of more fitting words, charmingly wild-looking.

Mr Thornton was no stranger to the wiles of women. Many a young lady had attempted to acquire his interest, but John had rarely paid them any mind. He was always so busy, and they always wanted to draw his attention away from his work. Not a single one of them were as beautiful as the woman he'd met the day previous.

John chided himself as he walked up the steps. Such thoughts about another man's wife could never be a good thing and he would do well to remember it.

He knocked on the door and it was answered almost immediately by Margaret herself. Dressed in a simple blue skirt and a white blouse, she was breathtaking.

'Mr Thornton,' she greeted him with a happy smile that lit up her eyes wonderfully. 'I was just about to go out'.

'Out?' he asked. 'I'm not interrupting'.

'Oh no,' Margaret shook her head, 'I would be grateful for your company. I was just going to locate the nearest grocer so I know where to go tomorrow. Dixon's directions were most difficult to understand and I feared I would get lost'.

Surprised that a lady such as herself would be attending to the grocery shopping, Mr Thornton was at a temporary loss for words as she closed the door and moved to stand beside him.

'I believe there is such an establishment in the next street,' he nodded and led her down the front steps and out into the street.

He observed with amusement the childlike wonder in her eyes as they walked on. Her neck swivelled around so often that he was surprised she hadn't sprained it in her curiosity.

'Goodness,' she murmured as they passed the entrance to one of the poorer side streets.

Having grown up around industry, Mr Thornton did not notice as keenly the various smells associated with Milton. His nose had learnt to ignore those things that outsiders would deem unpleasant.

Margaret carefully took out her handkerchief and put it to her mouth and nose as she moved closer to the entrance.

'Mrs Lennox,' Mr Thornton attempted to draw her attention and she turned to face him with soft, sad eyes.

'Yes?'

'The grocer is this way,' he gestured down the street.

'How many people live like that?' she murmured as they continued down the street.

'You had best not dwell on it,' he replied sternly. 'I very much doubt that you will have cause to venture anywhere like that during your stay here'.

'Those poor people. Is there not anything that can be done for them?'

'Nothing that you or I can do as individuals,' he sniffed and walked onward. 'I imagine such places would exist in London also'.

'Well yes,' Margaret nodded, 'but I am not from London, sir. I may live there now, but if I had my choice, I would be living in the country again with my parents'.

Mr Thornton frowned. 'And what of Mr Lennox? What would he do there?'

Margaret sighed. 'Forgive me; I must sound so very improper. I am sure you must think me such an ungrateful child'.

Mr Thornton opened his mouth to respond, but at the same time a cab came rushing around the bend towards them. He scarcely had time to seize Mrs Lennox and pull her with him before the cab came crashing past, right where she had stood moments before.

'Are you injured?' he asked instantly and she shook her head, eyes wide with shock.

'Help!' a voice cried.

The pair whirled around to see the cab had lost a wheel and slid right into some people walking along the same path as them. There, a middle-aged man was calling for help, at the same time as trying to heave the ruined cab off of a young lady.

Margaret gasped and hurried over to the man who had yelled. 'Is she alright?'

The man looked up at her in surprise for a moment before replying in a gruff, northern accent. 'She's got 'er leg caught. I can't lift it, m'not strong enough'.

Margaret turned back to her companion. 'Mr Thornton, can you help?'

Unsure of what to do, but seeing no one else stepping forward to offer assistance, he tugged off his overcoat and hurried over, pulling up the sleeves of his shirt as he did.

With help from Mr Thornton and reassurance from Margaret, the men managed to dislodge the woman's leg and Margaret assisted her to get up and out of danger.

'Thank you,' the man nodded and reached out a hand to Mr Thornton.

Mr Thornton hesitated for a moment before taking it and nodding back. 'Higgins, isn't it?'

'Yes sir,' the man nodded. 'And Bessy'.

Mr Thornton's eyes turned to the girl. 'I believe you work for me'.

'Yes Master,' Bessy replied breathlessly.

'Your leg, can you work on it?'

'Surely not,' Margaret cut in before Bessy could reply.

Mr Thornton frowned. 'Excuse me?'

'Mr Thornton,' Margaret raised herself up a little to speak to him. 'Her leg is injured, sir. She cannot work, even if she would wish to. She must see a doctor'.

'With all due respect, Miss,' Mr Higgins cut in. 'Doctors are an expensive business. We cannot afford to pay one'.

'Then you must allow me to help,' she replied instantly. 'I am no doctor, to be sure, but I have learnt some things about medicines during my time in London'.

Mr Thornton stood still as he observed the small woman lean down and pull Bessy's arm up and around her shoulder. Mr Higgins quickly followed suit on the other side and the pair were able to support her.

'Mr Thornton,' Margaret addressed him. 'I am afraid that I may not be able to pay your sister a visit today. Would you apologise to her on my behalf and promise her another day?'

'Of course,' he murmured and watched on in silent amazement as she nodded her farewell and the three of them made their way slowly down the street in the opposite direction.

John made his way home slowly with even more distracting thoughts in his head. In fact, he was just reflecting on how lovely and rosy Mrs Lennox's cheeks had been, when the door opened in front him.

Fanny stood before him with a look of confusion and mild irritation on her face. She had expected her brother to bring the London lady back with him and yet there he was alone.

He listened to her sighs and complaints that she had changed a total of five times to find the right dress to wear, when their mother entered the hallway and called John into the sitting room.

'So, what happened, John?' she asked. 'Although I might not be so put out as Fanny, I too was under the impression that a guest would be joining us this afternoon'.

John sighed. 'There was an accident and she was needed'.

'Accident? Not Mrs Hale?'

'No,' John shook his head. 'A cab lost control in the street. Must've been a broken wheel,' he thought to himself as it dawned on him that he never thought to find out.

'Was she injured?'

Mr Thornton shook his head. 'No, but she came to the rescue of a young woman who was. She insisted on helping her home and caring for her…' he trailed off.

'Was the woman anyone we know?' Mrs Thornton asked disinterestedly.

'She works in the mill,' John cleared his throat. 'Bessy Higgins'.

Mrs Thornton raised an eyebrow. 'Interesting company for a lady of London'.

John ignored her comment and walked over to stand by the window. Mrs Thornton observed him there for a moment before she came to join him.

'I think you need to be careful, John,' she urged him quietly.

'What?' he murmured back distractedly, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Mrs Thornton sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder. 'We all want things that we cannot have, John. Perhaps it is better that Mrs Lennox doesn't visit'.

'Mother, what'—

'Don't pretend you don't know what I mean,' she sighed again. 'I may not have ever seen it on you before, but I know the look of a man who's infatuated'.

She turned on her heel then and strode back across to the table where she had been going over some papers. John turned back to the window and stared out into the courtyard, shame rising in his stomach.

xxx

Again, I don't know when the next one will be, but if you bear with me, there will definitely be more. Thanks again guys :)