So...here goes... I am so so sorry that I haven't updated in so long. I don't even know where to start with my reasons. I've had exams, summer subjects still going, I got engaged! Things have gone from 0-100 very quickly in my life and every time I tried to sit down to write, it just didn't happen. That being said, I have got a completed chapter here for you guys. Much more action in the next one though. Thank you all for your support and greetings to new readers.

xxx

The day after her conversation with Mr Thornton in the park, Margaret was hurrying along the familiar path to the Higgins' household. Although she knew there was a risk to breaking her silence, she knew that she could no longer contain herself. She needed to tell someone about her feelings.

She knocked on the door and stood back, anxiously awaiting an answer. Mary answered the door as she quite often did, and even in her distracted state, Margaret noticed that something was different.

'Mary, is everything alright?' she asked quietly, laying a gentle hand on the woman's arm.

Mary shook her head and sniffed. 'Bessy is getting worse, Miss'.

There was a harsh cough from behind her and Margaret peered around Mary to see Bessy attempting to rise from the bed.

'Don't let her worry you,' Bessy called out through coughs. 'It's just a bad day'.

Margaret tried not to let her true concern show as she crossed the room and took Bessy by the hand. Her skin was unnaturally cool to the touch and Margaret made quick work of getting her back into the bed and piling on the blankets.

Mary murmured something about going to the grocers and fled the house. Margaret watched her go with a sad expression.

'She only wants to care for you, you know,' Margaret sighed as she crossed to the fire to prepare them some tea. 'She worries about you'.

Bessy took in a shaky breath and then exhaled loudly. 'She knows I'm not getting any better. All our lives it's been her and me, especially since mother died. Father is very good to us, but he needs time to himself'.

Margaret smiled softly and passed her a cup of hot tea. 'You must be very close'.

Bessy shrugged her shoulders. 'As close as we can be'.

They sat in silence for several moments before Bessy spoke again.

'Now, what did you come here to tell me?' When Margaret looked confused, she laughed. 'I reckon I could hear you coming from the end of the street. You were rushing for something and I'm sure it wasn't just to talk about me'.

Margaret exhaled a small laugh and became a little more interested in her hands. 'It's silly'.

'I've got time for silly,' Bessy sat up a little in the bed. 'I think we could both do with a bit more silly'.

'Bessy, you must promise never to tell a soul of this'.

'I'll not be telling anyone anything much longer. Don't worry, whatever it is, I'll keep it to myself'.

Margaret nodded and swallowed thickly before speaking. 'When I was a little girl, I never dreamt of getting married someday to some far away prince. I never thought about why I'd marry someone, just that I would. I assumed that one day I would find a suitable man, and all would be well. I suppose that what I'm trying to say is that I was never a romantic. I didn't believe that the love my parents share was possible for just anyone'.

'So, what's changed?' Bessy asked curiously.

'Since I've been in Milton, I've felt something…something stirring inside me. I now know what I wish I had months ago, before I married Henry. I've felt love and I can do nothing about it'.

'Oh Margaret,' Bessy cried and seized Margaret's hand.

'I know, I sound like a spoilt child,' Margaret sniffed. 'I have everything I ought to, and yet I want none of it. I would leave it all behind for a chance…'

Bessy smiled softly. 'And you said you weren't a romantic'.

Margaret laughed quietly. 'I suppose I could be'.

'And this man, does he feel the same way about you?'

Margaret paused. Nothing about Mr Thornton's manner had led her to believe he didn't have feelings for her, but at the same time, he was a gentleman. A gentleman who was aware of her unavailability.

'I don't know,' she uttered. 'It is best that I never know'.

'But you could leave,' Bessy pressed. 'You could run away to live in Spain with your brother'.

Margaret laughed at the thought. 'Even if he did return my feelings, this place is his home. His livelihood is here and his family. I could never ask anyone to leave their home'.

'It's a pity you didn't move here before you accepted Henry,' Bessy observed. 'Maybe you could have changed your mind'.

'I suspect I would have'.

Bessy leaned back on her pillows, smiling a little to herself. 'It's a shame, really. You'd have made us a good mistress'.

Margaret's eyes widened in surprise and Bessy laughed heartily, bringing about another bout of coughing. Margaret passed her a handkerchief and waited patiently for her coughing to subside. A hopelessness washed over her as she observed the way Bessy shuddered with every cough. She knew that there was nothing to be done.

'What makes you think the man is Mr Thornton?'

'Do you think I'm stupid?' Betty laughed. 'I may not have brains, but I do have eyes'.

Margaret swallowed thickly. 'Am I so obvious? Please Bessy, do tell me'.

'If I were not to know you, I wouldn't suspect anything serious. After all, most of your interactions with him are under the privacy of your own roof'.

'But you must understand why I insist upon your secrecy,' Margaret pressed. 'A married woman should never have such feelings for another man'.

'Hmm,' Bessy hummed. 'Poor Thornton'.

Margaret looked confused.

Bessy smirked. 'I've seen the way he looks at you when you've come to the mills. He's as much gone as you are, I'm certain of it'.

Xxx

Bessy's words echoed in Margaret's head long after she arrived back at her parent's residence. So distracted it made her, that she could hardly focus on anything else. Edith's latest letter lay abandoned on the bed beside her as she drifted off into an uneasy sleep, too exhausted to think any more.

The following day, Mr Hale announced happily over breakfast that they had been invited to a dinner party at Marlborough Mills, some two weeks away. Margaret did not have any desire to go, but Mr Hale told her that the invitation was for the both of them.

It pained Margaret that her father did not even try to pretend that his wife might attend with them. It was a sad truth they were attempting to ignore, that Mrs Hale would unlikely attend another such event in her lifetime.

Some days she would seem to be brighter, and Dixon would encourage her every advancement. It was admirable of Dixon to try, but Mrs Hale had lost her joy for living all those years ago when Frederick had been named a mutineer. Milton was merely revealing the feelings that Helstone had kept at bay.

The whole mood of the place caused Margaret to wonder whether she was better off leaving Milton. She could be no comfort to her mother when she knew that it was Frederick she desired most to see, and her father spent most of his time in his study, or with pupils.

As the days passed by and Margaret's resolve to leave strengthened, word reached her that the workers had all stopped working early and that the millworkers of Milton were striking.

Having spent many hours with Bessy and her family, Margaret sympathised with the plight of the workers and understood their desperation to be heard as more than just numbers in their master's records. Although, many of the workers, Nicholas included, had long since given up hope of anything of the sort. Men like him sort only to have their wages increased, so that they may better survive.

Margaret had heard whispers on the street of the tempers of the masters, and as much as they saddened her, she was not surprised at all by what she heard. She did however notice that not once was Mr Thornton placed on the same level as those more heartless employers. She was glad to know that even the workers could see that he was not quite so bad.

Xxx

By the time of the Thornton's dinner party, Margaret was miserable and wanted nothing more than to leave Milton. Since the strike began, the streets were mostly empty and the stillness of what was usually such a busy scene was sobering. There were even more beggars on the street, as desperate parents sent their young children out to solicit strangers for money. The money that the union could give, was not nearly enough for those larger families, and Margaret gave what little she could at every opportunity. She had overheard Mr Thornton and her father talking of such things and had been angered to hear Mr Thornton condemn such good doings. He believed it would only prolong the strike.

Besides a visit or two to her father, Margaret had not seen much of Mr Thornton at all since the strike began. With each visit to the Higgins' she realised more and more that they stood on separate sides, and yet she still caught herself thinking of him, wondering what he was feeling.

Margaret stood before the mirror and sighed, plucking at the skirts of her gown. Dixon had been surprised at her for her selection, but Margaret was quite insistent on her choice of gown. The soft, light green coloured gown had been one of her favourites for some time, and she was delighted to find it in the assortment of clothing she had packed with her some time before arriving in Milton.

She and her father travelled on foot to the Thornton's and along the way were joined by Mr Hale's old friend, Mr Bell, whom Margaret had not seen for many years until the day previous. He had greeted her as though he could only recall her as a child and made no mention of the letter she had sent him months ago. For this she was grateful, as any mention of it would have caused her father to ask questions and she did not wish to worry him.

Upon their entry into the Thornton's parlour, Margaret's eyes were on the move immediately, searching for their host. She found him over by one of the windows, speaking in quiet tones with another gentleman. He turned as they arrived, and she smiled politely, despite the tingling sensation that spread across her body.

His returning smile and sent a shiver down her spine and she had to overt her eyes before anyone else in the room could notice the exchange. This only strengthened her resolve. She would leave for London before the week was out.

Xxx

The evening passed with very little enjoyable conversation for Margaret. The mill owners were all rough and very unfeeling towards the plights of their workers. Still Margaret held her tongue, not wanting to draw any extra attention to herself. Despite being cunning businessmen, the mill owners, Mr Thornton excluded, seemed to lack the intellect to truly understand any contrary point of view. Thankfully, Mr Bell was by her side, providing some much-needed diversion from the insufferable men.

Margaret decided after a certain hour to retire back to her parent's dwelling, and Mr Bell insisted on accompanying her, as her father was still engaged in conversation with Mr Thornton.

'Thank you for a lovely evening, Mrs Thornton. Please do bid farewell to Miss Thornton on my behalf,' she bowed to the older woman as they made to leave. Fanny had long since grown bored of the gentlemen and had managed to slip away earlier.

Mrs Thornton nodded stiffly, and Margaret noticed the lines of fatigue on her strong features. The strike was clearly causing her a lot more concern than she would let on. Margaret pushed her concern aside as Mr Bell said his goodbyes and escorted her out into the courtyard. The last thing she'd seen before they left the room was Mr Thornton watching her intently.

'How did you enjoy your evening, my dear?' Mr Bell asked jovially, with a twinkle of mischief in his eye.

Margaret smiled back at him. 'I feel you know me well enough to know that answer, Mr Bell'.

'Well,' he chuckled. 'I know it's nothing like the parties you've attended in London, no doubt, but surely it wasn't too unpleasant?'

'Indeed, it was very different. There was a lot more conversation of substance than one would find in London, and yet no sense to any of it'.

'Oh, I don't know,' Mr Bell sniffed. 'Thornton seems to have a decent grip on things'.

'Much more than any other Master,' Margaret agreed, looking up to see Mr Bell watching her closely.

'Margaret…' he began quietly. 'Have you and Mr Thornton spent much time together whilst you've been in Milton?'

'Some,' Margaret confessed, but continued to frown in confusion. 'I visit the house often to spend time with Miss Thornton'.

'He seems very taken with you'.

'Mr Bell'—

He held up his hand to silence her.

'I know, I'm a nosey old man who should mind his own business, but you are my goddaughter and I make my right to be concerned'.

Margaret sighed. 'I think perhaps he may enjoy my company, and that is why I've resolved myself to leave Milton'.

Mr Bell nodded. 'Perhaps that would be the most sensible decision'.

'Please don't breathe a word of any of this to father,' Margaret implored him. 'You know how much it would upset him'.

Mr Bell agreed, then said, 'I don't not think it would upset him in the way you believe it would. I believe his only cause for concern would be to know that his only daughter is unhappy in life'.

Margaret stayed quiet.

'I am truly sorry, Margaret,' he acknowledged as they reached the steps to the Hale's house. 'I would not wish it on anyone'.

Margaret merely nodded, thanked him for his escort and went inside.

xxx

Thank you all so much again for your support. Hopefully the next one won't take as long, but if it does, I'm promising you now that I'll never abandon it without an ending. I know that pain all too well as a reader. Thanks again guys!