Hello lovelies! I apologise for the delay, I had a massive uni assignment due yesterday and I actually had to spend time on it regardless of my wishes :( Anyway, I'm free now for a couple of weeks until the next one is due, and then exam revision, so hopefully I'll get some writing time! Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy.
xxx
The weeks following Henry's death were busy ones for Margaret. Edith and her aunt had insisted that Margaret move back into the house with them as she was not to be alone. Margaret would not have agreed, had it not been her desire to pack up the place as soon as she could. There was little purpose in her taking up a space that could accommodate a large family quite happily.
The condolences of acquaintances had slowly begun to ease, and Margaret felt that without the constant reminders, she was able to breathe better. She knew that they only offered them out of politeness and pity, neither of which she wanted from people she cared about very little.
She watched from the parlour window as down below her aunt and cousin bid farewell to their second party of guests that morning. Margaret had stayed upstairs and out of sight for the duration of both visits, insisting that she be excused from interacting. Her aunt had called her behaviour antisocial and insisted that it would do her no good, but Margaret didn't care. She was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with those who only cared for gossip.
Looking down at the boy sitting in the chair beside her, she smiled softly. Shalto was indeed a sweet boy and Margaret wondered if she would ever have children someday. It seemed very unlikely, but she liked to think that she would make a fitting mother should it happen in the future.
'You are growing up so quickly,' she smiled as the young lad tried to wiggle his way off the chair. 'You shall be running around in no time'.
The boy looked up at her smiling face and a giant grin spread across his. A small tooth poked out from his gums and another was beginning to show. Margaret scooped the boy up into her arms and carried him from the room.
'Your mothering is coming back now,' she nodded to him. 'Yes, she is'.
The boy let out a delighted squeal when Edith rounded the corner and she hurried to take him into her arms once more.
'Thank you for watching him, Margaret. Although I am uneasy to be parted from him, I know that he can be most disruptive at this time with his teeth coming in'.
'It's my pleasure, Edith,' Margaret assured her. 'He is no trouble at all'.
'I am hoping he continues to take after me,' Edith smiled warmly. 'Mother says I was as quiet as a mouse when I was a baby'.
'Are you expecting any more visitors this morning?'
'None that I am aware of,' Edith replied as they made their way up the stairs once more. 'I do hope there aren't'.
Margaret chuckled and Edith sighed.
'You must realise that it is exhausting for me too,' the blonde lady sank down onto a chair with her son. 'But I cannot be excused as you can'.
'You cannot refuse your mother, that is why,' Margaret replied with a smile.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, just watching the young boy. His pure presence was like a balm to Margaret. After seeing so much suffering, he was a great relief to behold.
'Do you think you will leave us soon?' Edith asked quietly.
'What do you mean?'
Edith sighed. 'I can see it in your eyes. You don't want to stay here'.
'I do have plans to visit Fred some time, but other than that, I do not know'.
Edith nodded. 'As long as we are never too far apart'.
'Oh Edith,' Margaret sighed as she thought of the distance between London and Milton. 'We will always visit one another and write to one another, no matter how far apart we are'.
'Well don't go too far'.
Margaret sighed again as her cousin sniffed sadly. She loved her dearly, but Edith had a family. All of the people Margaret cared for were far away. Her brother was in Spain and the man she loved was in Milton. As much as she hated to think of it, Edith was just going to have to understand that Margaret could not be there with her forever.
Xxx
Higgins walked slowly down the row of silent machinery. Besides his obvious concern that he would once again be without work, he felt for Mr Thornton. Over the past few months, he had gotten to know and understand the gentleman. Where once he only saw another money-hungry master, he now held a great respect for the work ethic and principles of the young gentleman.
The man himself stood up on the viewing platform, with his back to him. He leant there with his head in his hands, and it struck Higgins how young he truly was. While he was older than many of the young workers, he was still a young man. He always held himself in such a way as to demand respect, and yet hear he was, only a young man with the world crumbling around him.
'What're you still doing here?' he called down without turning around.
Higgins slowly made his way up onto the platform beside him. 'Just because it's a last shift, doesn't mean it's not worth doing well'.
Mr Thornton snorted. 'You're a good worker, Higgins. You never lied about that'.
'I may be speaking out of line here,' Higgins began cautiously, 'but I heard that the ownership of the place switched hands from that fellow to Mrs Lennox'.
'Aye'.
'Could you not come to some business agreement with her?'
Mr Thornton shook his head and puffed out a short laugh. 'And what could I possibly have to offer her in exchange?'
Higgins shrugged. 'I'm sure she wouldn't require much'.
'Do you know her so well?' Mr Thornton asked absently.
'Not as well as you, I'm sure,' Higgins gave him a sly smile.
'What do you know?' Mr Thornton asked with narrowed eyes.
'Nothing,' Higgins assured him with a smug smile. 'But it doesn't take a smart man to see how you look at her'.
'That doesn't matter,' Mr Thornton straightened up and sighed. 'She will not come here'.
'She's free to do as she pleases. I think she might surprise you'.
Mr Thornton turned to him with a stony expression. 'I am no longer in a position to offer her anything. I'd suggest you not speak of such things again'.
Higgins was saddened by Mr Thornton's sudden shift back to his more businesslike persona but did not argue. He nodded and reached down into his pocket.
'This is a list of names that I've collected. Men and women who would be more than happy to run a mill for you should you ever be in the position again'.
The stony expression softened slightly as Mr Thornton took the paper and a small smile curled his lips.
'Thank you, Higgins. You will be the first to know if any such thing were to happen'.
Higgins reached out his hand and Mr Thornton took it in a firm handshake. Thornton wished him luck and he left the mill alone. As he crossed the empty yard, he hoped deep down that Margaret would come. He knew that Mr Thornton longed for her return despite himself and he knew that her presence in Milton again could only bring good.
Xxx
Four weeks following the closure of Marlborough mills, Margaret was sitting with Edith at the breakfast table when the post arrived. While most of the letters that arrived at any time for usually for her aunt or Edith, there was one addressed to Margaret that morning.
As there wasn't much conversation that morning, Margaret did not feel impolite opening it. Her name and address were written in elegant looping characters and she felt her curiosity growing as she carefully opened it up.
Dear Mrs Lennox,
I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that since marrying, I have finally finished my decoration of our house here in Milton. It is so beautiful I cannot begin to explain it in writing. I must have you come to Milton immediately so see it, if that is agreeable to you, of course.
Mr Watson and I shall gladly receive you at any time following the delivery of this letter. I do miss the conversation of someone who does not constantly speak of business. I hardly see hide nor hair of Miss Latimer anymore since John's circumstances have changed. I fear she may not have valued my friendship at all.
Do not care to send a reply if you are coming. I will look forward to you visiting whenever you are able.
Fanny Watson
Margaret held back her exasperation at the foolish girl's impudence. While she had not expected Fanny to have heard about Henry, she would have hoped that such a letter would at least contain some enquiry after her health at the very least. Reading through the letter again she was only vexed further by the girl's self-centeredness.
Her eyes fell on the part that mentioned John and his circumstances. She had received word that the business was in trouble, but she did not know the extent of it, no doubt due to some neglect on her banker's part. Without Henry to organise their finances and explain things to her, she found herself quite lost and she suspected that as a woman, she was not so privy to all the details as she should be.
Still, the appeal of visiting Milton was not lost on Margaret as she looked up at the other woman at the table. Neither of them looked at her as they too were reading. With a deep breath, she cleared her throat.
'I have received an invitation to go to Milton,' she announced with a smile.
'By whom?' her aunt asked with a raised brow. 'I did not expect your friends from Milton to be writing'.
Margaret had to resist rolling her eyes. 'All of my friends can read, aunt, and a great deal of them can write. This invitation is from Fanny Watson, once Fanny Thornton. The Thornton's are a very respected family in Milton, I assure you'.
'Is Mr Thornton not your tenant?' Edith asked curiously.
'Yes,' Margaret nodded, 'and that is another reason for me to pay a visit. The business had been struggling when I was last in Milton. It would be prudent for me to see for myself'.
Her aunt looked conflicted. 'My dear, you are still in mourning. Should you not delay your visit for a few months?'
'And what if I do not?' Margaret asked seriously. 'I do not care for the opinions of society. To them I am merely a waste of youth'.
'Come Margaret'—
'No, aunt. I am a widow now. Nothing I ever do will be seen with the same respect as it once was. Whether I move about in society before a year has passed, whether I marry again or live out my days alone, it matters not. I am forever marked in their eyes'.
'Oh Margaret,' Edith cried as tears blossomed in her eyes.
'I cannot stay in London,' Margaret whispered, more to herself than to either of them. 'I am so very grateful to you both for taking me in, but you must understand the need for me to leave'.
'What can you be in Milton that you cannot be here?' asked Edith earnestly.
Margaret smiled softly. 'I don't know, but I do know that I can be of much better use there, and the people are too busy to pay me any mind. I will not be such a scandal to behold'.
Aunt Shaw pursed her lips. 'I know that if you have made up your mind, there is little I can do to stop you. But I would make my disapproval known'.
'You and all who would care to, aunt,' Margaret replied calmly as she rose from her chair. 'I will take the next train and be in Milton this afternoon'.
With that she left the room, leaving Edith staring after her in disbelief and her aunt wondering what the north had done to her young niece to cause her to abandon all reason.
Margaret packed her things with a smile on her face, feeling as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She loved her cousin and respected her aunt a great deal, but they both set far too much stock in their image in society. Edith was only following what she had been taught by her mother, and aunt Shaw followed whatever she believed the Beresford way to be. Her delusions of familial grandeur had always caused Margaret irritation, but never more so than when she would put the family image above the cares of family.
xxx
Has anyone researched widows in the 1800s. It was nasty stuff. They weren't allowed in society for the first year and weren't allowed to married again for years. They would also wear black of the rest of their lives, some of them. Also, if they were to remarry, it would never be considered as meaningful by society. Crazy. Don't worry though, Margaret aint about that life. :P
