I can only apologise for how long this has taken.

"Have you replied to the Thorntons' letters?"

Margaret looked up from her study of the flowers on the table to Edith's questioning face.

"Not yet. I had thought to wait until Mrs Watson's visit today."

The truth was, Margaret admitted to herself, that she had not yet found the right words to respond. Should she continue with the familiar tone she had set, or should she settle into a correspondence that, while she desperately wanted more, she could more reasonably hope for? She had spent the previous night in a spiral of despair, unable to think of a way to accomplish her heart's desire.

"I think that a good idea. And you have the excuse of being busy this week, helping me organise dinner."

"Thank you, Edith." Margaret smiled. "I think it may be easier after she has visited."

Edith frowned. "Why would you be finding it anything but easy?"

She did not want to admit to Edith, who had been the one who had helped her realise her feelings, that she was having doubts. Could she love someone and never again meet them? How would they ever come to the point through letters? There were so many obstacles to their future that Margaret did not like to contemplate it.

"It is nothing. Merely a brief lack of direction."

A servant entered distracting them both. Edith stood and gestured for her to follow.

"We will not discuss this now, for we simply do not have time. But later, I will know your troubles."

Margaret gave a resigned nod and trailed her to the front parlour to await their visitors. Edith truly had gone to an incredible amount of effort to make Mrs Watson feel welcome, and Margaret was loathe to ruin her hard work by being miserable throughout the entire visit, so forced herself to cheer up.

She felt she had made a good job of it when the doorbell rang and she was gripped with nerves. She had done her very best to prepare Edith for Mrs Watson's character, but still feared that this meeting may make her question supporting a match to the Thorntons so eagerly. There was no more time to panic however, as a servant was leading the Watsons into the rooms, and Margaret and Edith stood to receive them.

"Mrs Watson! It is a pleasure to see you again." Margaret gave her a genuine smile. "Please, allow me to introduce my cousin, Mrs Lennox. Edith, this is Mr and Mrs Watson. Mr Watson is one of the mill owners in Milton."

Mr Watson bowed his head and they all sat at Edith's invitation. Margaret turned to begin conversation with Mrs Watson, but did not manage a single word.

"Oh, Miss Hale! It has been so very long since we've seen each other, it's a shame you had to quit Milton when you did. But of course, you must have been overjoyed to come back to London, it is a wonder you ever left."

Margaret felt the need to draw breath for her, so quickly did Mrs Watson speak.

"I'm so glad my dear Watson managed to find the time to leave the mill for a few weeks, we were so in need of a holiday! It's a pity we have had to come to London after the season but I think we can still make a good go at it."

Margaret paused for a moment, giving Mrs Watson chance to continue if she wanted. It seemed that she had stopped for now.

"I am sure you will have plenty to entertain you, Mrs Watson. My cousin made sure to find the best on offer."

"Oh indeed. Mrs Lennox, I simply must thank you again for your note, it has been so very helpful! I quite despaired before I received it that we would have nothing to do. Last time I came to London I was held to my brother's whims and I feared that my chance to experience London on my terms would be wasted!"

"I am grateful to have been of use, Mrs Watson." Edith's gentle voice seemed so very quiet in comparison to Mrs Watson's brash tones. "I do hope you have a very enjoyable visit to town."

"We certainly plan to. It has been nice to really take our time with what's on offer. John was terribly impatient about it all during the exhibition."

Margaret could not deny the opportunity this granted her. "Is Mr Thornton well? And your mother?"

"Oh yes. Still not got his mill up and running properly again, so my dear Mr Watson tells me, but he seems to be managing well enough. Of course, he would not be worrying at all if he had taken part of the speculation when he was invited to, for it is sure to succeed, and that would be the end of his troubles!"

Margaret hoped Mrs Watson was exaggerating the issues at the mill. She had formed the impression that the mill was merely behind on orders, but they would eventually catch up.

"I see. And your mother? I'm sure you know I am in frequent correspondence with her, but I should like to know she is well."

"Yes she is well. Rather protective still of John and the mill – won't hear a bad word against them – but otherwise has no cause for complaint."

"I am glad to hear it."

A maid knocked at that moment, followed by refreshments. Edith served everyone tea and took control of the conversation.

"Mrs Watson, you simply must tell me how Milton differs to Town. Margaret has given me a wonderful idea of the place, but I should like to hear it from a Milton native."

"It is a dark, smoky place, Mrs Lennox! Full of rough, grasping people. Why I only agreed to marry Mr Watson if he promised me our home would be outside the city. I cannot imagine going back to living on the mill grounds like my mother. No! It was far too noisy."

"We do have the benefit here of peace and quiet."

"Oh yes, I like nothing more that the quiet at our home. It is such a relief to escape the noise whenever I have visited my mother. Of course, she hardly notices it anymore. That strike was a blessing on my poor head."

Margaret caught Edith's eyes flickering towards her before she continued the conversation.

"How is the weather up in Milton? Margaret would write me of snow during the winter when we would see nothing close to it!"

"It is much warmer down here. Far more preferable in the winter, I cannot abide snow but Milton does have a few more cool breezes than in London, which is about the only good thing to say for it."

"Indeed," Margaret broke in, "summers in Helstone were always stifling. I rather enjoyed the slightly cooler northern summer."

There was a moment of silence as all the ladies cast about for another topic. Mr Watson seemed content to sit quietly and practically ignore them all.

"Mrs Lennox, you simply must tell me about the shawl you are wearing. It is exquisite! Where did you…"

Margaret let the rest of Mrs Watson's words meld into one. She would not be required to join in the conversation now that it had turned to fashion, and she had several things to think on that were refusing to wait until their guests had gone. It was quite rude to abandon a guest for her thoughts, but was of the opinion that Mrs Watson probably never liked her, and still did not, and felt she was safe from her scrutiny.

The news of the mill troubled her. Mrs Thornton had assured her that they would weather the storm and all was on the mend, but the Watsons did not seem to agree. Was it possible Mr Thornton had not told his mother everything? Or were the Watsons merely mistaken? She did not feel comfortable demanding an explanation from Mr Thornton, especially after he reassured her, but she still dearly wished to know why the Watsons would believe there was cause for concern.

Margaret did not realise it had been several minutes that she had been lost in thought for, but was pulled back to reality when the Watsons stood. Jumping quickly to her feet, no one noticed her inattention, and she managed a very normal goodbye. The Watsons would return that evening for dinner, and so the partings were brief.

Once they had left, Margaret and Edith returned to the parlour.

"You were right to warn me, Margaret."

"Yes, she can be a bit much if you are not ready for her."

"I can imagine. But she was pleasant enough, if a little excitable."

"Mr Thornton is almost her exact opposite."

"Ah yes, Mr Thornton. Now why have you not replied to his letter? And I don't want to hear Mrs Watson's visit as your excuse."

Margaret sighed. "Truthfully, Edith, I am worried all this will come to nothing. He cannot escape his mill, and I cannot go waltzing up to Milton when I feel like it. I am scared I will never see him again."

"Surely it is not so bleak as you think. He must, on occasion, travel for business. It would be easy to contrive a visit if he ever does. And there is nothing to say you will never visit Milton. I am sure we could make a point to stop there if we ever holiday north."

"It is hardly conducive to developing a courtship."

"I think, for now, you are worrying too much. Mr Thornton can come and go as he likes. He will come to you when he feels it right."

Margaret could not argue with such logic. "Very well. I will stop fretting and carry on as we are."

Edith smiled. "Good. So you will write to Mr Thornton?"

"Yes. As soon as the dinner party tonight is done with, I will begin my reply."

"Excellent. Now, do you think we are completely ready for this evening? Perhaps we ought to check the placements again to be sure."

They whiled away the afternoon ensuring all was in readiness, and retired to dress. This was the largest dinner party Margaret had attended in some time, and she could feel the beginning fluttering of nerves as she waited for Edith to join her downstairs. Mrs Shaw arrived first and they chatted for several minutes until Edith and the captain joined them, and the conversation became more animated.

They were all laughing heartily at a story from the captain when the first guest arrived, and they all made ready to be at their most welcoming. The Watsons were the fourth set of guests to be presented, and Margaret made the effort to introduce them to as many people as possible. There were a few ladies of fashion among them, and she felt that Mrs Watson would greatly enjoy speaking to them. She turned to Mr Watson while his wife was distracted and attempted to engage him in a discussion.

"Are you enjoying your visit to London, Mr Watson?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes very good trip."

Margaret watched with expectation for him to continue but it seemed he was done.

"Have you been the museum?"

"We have- damned boring place if you ask me."

"Ah." Margaret was at a loss. She had never really spoken to Mr Watson when in Milton, but had not imagined him to be difficult. Perhaps having such a loquacious wife was a blessing for him. They stood in silence for a moment before the captain appeared and led him away. Relieved that she no longer had to force conversation with a man who did not wish for it, and spotting one of her long time London neighbours, she escaped to the other side of the room, away from any northerners who may make conversing difficult.

Once dinner was called and everyone had proceeded to the dining room, Margaret settled herself in for a meal of little speaking. She was seated next to Mrs Watson, and so far it did not appear that she had stopped to eat.

"Oh, Miss Hale! This is a wonderful party, much better than the yearly dinner my mother and John do for the masters. This room is so light in comparison to that dining room, it is far easier to see each other in here, not so dingy."

Margaret gave her a moment to continue, but Mrs Watson had finally begun to attend to her food, which gave Margaret the chance to reply.

"My aunt prefers lighter colours. I believe this room was refitted recently, in the style of the Grecian homes my cousin lived in while her husband was stationed there. I have been told everything is open and airy over there, useful in the heat."

Mrs Watson seemed intrigued by the knowledge and cast her eyes around the room. It was clear she was considering the differences in the décor from what she knew.

"Of course, I believe that Indian influences seem to be all the rage at the moment. I do remember you mentioning you had fitted your home with Indian wallpaper, it is a shame I never had the opportunity to visit you before I left Milton."

That set Mrs Watson off on a litany of what decoration she had used, and Margaret pretended to attend her. She had little interest in wallpaper, but felt that her guest would enjoy the opportunity to expound on her choice.

Dinner was soon over and Edith led the ladies to the parlour. Margaret was grateful she was not the host. Watching how elegantly Edith handled her guests, ensuring they were provided for and had ready conversation, Margaret did not think she would ever manage to be quite as gracious. She did not often feel deficient, but seeing her gregarious cousin shine among London elite made her realise how suited to Milton she really was. There were no airs or graces at the masters dinner. Even the wives were shockingly blunt at times, and it had taken until now for Margaret to appreciate it.

The entrance of the men called Margaret back to the room. Edith announced music, and directed her to the piano, where she performed for nearly half an hour. While normally Edith would ask the ladies if they wanted to exhibit, this time she merely made it clear that Margaret was to be background accompaniment to the discussion. Margaret preferred it that way, and felt more comfortable the less eyes were on her.

After she left the relative privacy of the piano, Mrs Watson bid her to sit by her.

"Well Miss Hale, I remember you saying you had no piano and did not play well! You must have been keeping secrets from us, you cannot have played so well tonight without possessing some skill in the first place."

Margaret was surprised by the compliment, but hid it well. Instead she smiled.

"Thank you, Mrs Watson. I could not claim any great skill before I left Helstone, but since coming to London I have enjoyed practicing. It is an excellent distraction for those who seek one."

"You must have practiced rather diligently."

"Yes. I confess to spending many hours at the piano these last months. I have enjoyed having something to apply myself to."

"I do so enjoy playing. I simply cannot imagine how you managed for so long in Milton without a piano! I could not have done it."

"Fortunately I had many things to do while in Milton. I think I would have struggled to find the time to practice."

Mrs Watson looked faintly bemused by the idea of having more to do that play the piano. Margaret could not regret the months, hard as they were, when almost all the household tasks fell to her. To be so exhausted from labouring all day that she fell to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow was an experience she held close. It reminded her of why it was so important to remain humble, despite the ease of her days now. None of them were above falling into poverty, even if her impoverished middleclass struggles were not indicative if the true poverty that existed mere miles from her home in Milton.

Before either of them could continue their conversation, Mr Watson appeared in front of them and told Mrs Watson it was time to leave. Margaret had not realised that others had already left, but the room was noticeably less full now that she was looking properly. Rising with the Watsons, they made their way to Edith and the captain to say their goodbyes.

"Mrs Lennox, I have greatly enjoyed my evening. I must thank you for the invitation to such a lovely party."

"I am glad to hear of your enjoyment, Mrs Watson. My husband and I are always happy when our guests are satisfied."

Edith turned to Mr Watson and Margaret added her own well wishes.

"I am happy we have had the opportunity to meet again, Mrs Watson. I departed Milton so quickly we never had the chance for a proper farewell."

"Should you ever visit Milton you would be very welcome at my home. I still cannot believe you have not seen it! I had been married months before you left."

Margaret smiled. "Thank you for your invitation. I would be glad to visit, should I get the opportunity."

Mr Watson called them and they joined him. He gave her a perfunctory goodbye, and the Watsons left.

It was not long before the parlour emptied completely and only Margaret, Edith, the captain, and Mrs Shaw remained. It had been a successful evening, and they had all enjoyed it immensely. The captain recited a story from one of his friends that had them all laughing, and Mrs Shaw told them the most amusing little aside about a poor lady's hat and an escaped monkey. It soon grew late, and they all as one decided to retire. Edith gave Margaret a knowing look as they separated, and instead of climbing into her inviting bed, she sat at her writing desk.

Harley Street

Mr Thornton,

You are cruel, sir, to deny me once again. I shall simply do what I have always done with you, and wrongly assume the worst. Or I may bypass you entirely and appeal to Nicholas. I am sure he would be more than willing to enlighten me!

I fear you are in for a very upset letter, sir, for you give me leave to abandon all pretence of business and proceed to engage my interest so thoroughly that I cannot resist asking you exactly what has been occurring at your mill. A wall falling down? You men working for nothing? And what is your clerk about, arguing with you this way? I declare, I do not like the fellow! There now, my outrage has been expressed and I can move on to more pleasurable thoughts.

Your sister visited us today, and I was pleased to find her the same as she ever was. I am glad there are some constants in the world. I do believe she enjoyed the visit (although I apologise now if a careless comment from me has her redecorating her dining room), and I hope has enjoyed being in London, despite the unfashionable season. My cousin was glad to finally meet at least one of the Thorntons and was happy to be of service to Mrs Watson. I cannot say if Mr Watson enjoyed his time quite so much, as I found him rather unwilling to speak, and apart from hearing that he found the museum boring, he had nothing to say. I imagine you will get more from him than I could, and I give you leave to tell us off if we have quite ruined his holiday.

I think slate and chalk a fine idea for the children and am quite put out that I did not think of it. You must not allow me to claim credit for your idea, unless, of course, it makes it easier for them to accept them. I know how proud you northern men can be, and should hate to see a gift be refused because it is viewed as charity. Tell Nicholas I shall be very cross with him if he will not let me help those children. I know I am not very frightening but I have been told I am frighteningly stubborn, so I know I can outlast even you tenacious northerners.

Is all well with the mill? I admit Mrs Watson said some things that made me worry, but I know it is not my place to pry, so you are well within your rights to tell me to put my nose elsewhere. It seems to have come from Mr Watson, and whether it is just him still finding your refusal of the speculation an offence and he is merely conjecturing or he has actual insight into your business, I cannot say. It has played on my mind given what you mentioned about your clerk. I do so hope all is well, for your sake as much as those who rely on you.

London is very much like Milton. Although the quality have left for the country, the vast majority of London live here all year round, so really it is not quite the exodus Mrs Watson feared. Admittedly my cousin would normally tour the continent, but in deference to me (and, I believe, the logistics of travelling with a small child – it was a difficult journey from Greece from what I have heard) they are remaining here. It is possible we will visit a sea side town at some point – Cromer is most likely – but we have not yet discussed it. I do find London somewhat stifling in comparison to Helstone, but I believe that has more to do with my ability to explore the woodland to my heart's content. There are simply not enough trees in London for me to get lost in.

We are very much the same in our lack of travel. Before I came to Milton, I had never taken such a long journey. My travels were almost exclusively between Helstone and London. I envied my brother when he joined the navy, merely because he was to see the world. He has been a great many places, including South America, which seems so far away it may as well exist on another planet. And of course he is settled in Spain now, which I imagine has much better weather in the winter than we get in our wet little country. I think I should like to see it. And Greece as well, for my cousin has spoken so well of it that I have a great longing for the place. Though I do admit that not every place I wish to visit is a far off land of favourable climes. I should also like to see Scotland, and I have heard many wonderful things of Wales.

It seems strange that I had no wish to travel when I was in Helstone (envy of my brother notwithstanding). I never felt jealous of my aunt and cousin off on adventures on the continent, but having been uprooted from my two homes has given me a sense of wanderlust. I am content in London as we are, and while I will enjoy an excursion away, I will not be disappointed should it not come to pass.

My candle is flickering rather disdainfully at me, so I suppose I should close. It would not do to upset my silent companion. I suppose it would be silly of me to apologise for my lack of business after thoroughly abusing you earlier for tempting me so, so I will not. I greatly look forward to your next letter, Mr Thornton.

Yours,

Margaret

P.S. I have just now remembered your little admission of being afraid of your mother. It would be a shame to let that slip in my quest for a certain story.

Margaret set her pen down and stared at her letter. She hoped he would like it, and that he would find her bit of cheek amusing. She took faith that he had openly laughed at her previous letter and put the worry from her mind. He would like it. She knew it. She put her writing equipment away and readied for bed. She would write her letter to Mrs Thornton in the morning.

Margaret woke too late to write before breakfast the next day, and so resolved to have it done before lunch. She met Edith's eye as she entered the dining room. Her aunt was with her and so she contented herself with a mere nod to Edith at her questioning glance. As soon as they had opportunity to escape, they made their way to Edith's parlour, where Edith veritably pounced.

"Have you done it?"

"Yes, Edith. I have written, but I did not have time to write to Mrs Thornton, so I must do that before I can send it."

"Did you write like you did last time? Will you make him laugh again?"

"I certainly hope so. It may have been even more playful than the last."

Edith seemed to conceal a squeal. "I cannot wait for him to respond."

Margaret laughed. "I have not even sent it yet!"

"But I still cannot wait to see what he will think." Edith opened her writing desk. "Now come. Write your letter so we can send them."

Margret acquiesced and pulled the pen towards her, considering how to reply to Mrs Thornton. She pulled the letter out of her pocket to review it, and then began to write.

Harley Street

Mrs Thornton,

I must agree that Milton looks picturesque from up in the hills. The aspect from up there puts the town in a favourable light, even on days when the factory chimneys smoke without pause. I miss my walks exploring the countryside around Milton. I fear I have exhausted London parks. But I do not fret, for now the weather is better I enjoy the company of my cousin an nephew more often while on my walks. They venture out several times a week when rain does not threaten, and I am grateful for them.

Mrs Watson visited us yesterday. I believe she enjoyed the museum exhibit my cousin recommended, and she was certainly glad for the other amusements my cousin wrote of. I do believe there is enough to do in London to satiate even Mrs Watson's appetite for it.

You will be quite proud of me, I would imagine, when I tell you that my cousin was surprised at Mrs Watson's opinion of Milton. It would seem I have been far more positive than I realised, for my cousin seemed not to believe Mrs Watson and I could be speaking of the same place. I do not think I am one for undue praise (though I do admit to being partial to Helstone above all other places), so you may rest assured that I have not exaggerated, despite my fondness for Milton and its inhabitants. I certainly hope you can believe it of me anyway.

I do not know if the Watson's will call again, though they are very welcome to, and I hope they have enjoyed the rest of their visit if we do not see them before you do. Please do give Mrs Watson my regards, and my thanks for the invitation to visit her home, should I ever be in Milton again.

At the moment we have no plans to holiday elsewhere (though a sea side visit has been mentioned), and we shall be in London for the rest of the summer, unless someone has a sudden and urgent change of heart. I find I do not mind the city as much as I feared I would. I am relatively content here, though I must admit I would be content wherever I happened to be.

I look forward to your next.

Yours,

Margaret Hale

"There, Edith. Are you happy?"

"I am very happy indeed, Margaret. And I will be happier still once they are posted."

With a smile, Margaret rose to collect her letter to Mr Thornton and sealed them together. There was no anxiety when handing them over to post, and Margaret was glad to enjoy her correspondence fully.

Two days later the Watsons called again. Margaret met them alone in the parlour and received their thanks for her help. Edith appeared some minutes after and had their appreciation as well.

"Mrs Lennox, you have made this holiday as perfect as could be! I can hardly believe the fun we have had."

"I am very glad to hear it, Mrs Watson. I believe you leave soon?"

"Yes, tomorrow. We felt it best to take our leave in person after your help."

"I am grateful for you visit, and I hope you are able to enjoy the capital again."

"Oh! We certainly shall!"

Mr Watson exerted himself at this point and added his brief thanks, before urging his wife to take her leave.

"Miss Hale, it is wonderful to have seen you again. I do hope you can visit Milton, as you are so fond of the place."

"I hope so as well, Mrs Watson. Thank you for coming to visit us."

The Watsons left and silence reigned for a moment before Edith turned to her.

"I cannot wait to meet your Thorntons. I simply cannot reconcile how two people you described managed to raise Mrs Watson. She seems nothing like them!"

"She is not like them at all. It is odd, but I could not say how it happened. She must be too young to remember the struggles they experienced."

Edith hummed thoughtfully. "Well, perhaps when you join the family you may pry a little."

Margaret merely sighed at that. Edith giggled and stood, inviting Margaret to nursery. They spent the rest of the day in a joyful state with Sholto.

It was almost two weeks before she received her replies and she took the letters straight to Edith, who was rearranging her parlour. When Margaret waved the letters at her, she gave her final commands and pulled Margaret up the stairs. Settled on her bed, Margaret pulled the seal open and eagerly reached for the letter in Mr Thornton's now familiar hand.

Marlborough Mill

Miss Hale,

Two threats in one letter! And to take my weakness and use it for your own gain? For shame, Miss Hale! But you will not defeat me, even your stubbornness cannot outdo mine. I also know you are far too good to tell my secret and so I do not fear you. You shall have to try harder.

My sister enjoyed her visit immensely. I must admit to not listening to everything she has said (please do not judge me too harshly, you know how she is), but I have heard most of it, and it is all good. She had sang your cousin's praises from dawn 'til dusk, but I know you are the one who made it possible, and so I have attributed much of it to you. You did her a great kindness.

So far there have been no plans to redecorate the dining room, so there is no need for forgiveness.

I must immediately discard what I have just written. Watson has just interrupted me in my office to tell me about the money he is paying out for a new dining room. I would imagine my sister is currently with my mother, and so I will find out later if we must demand more apologies from you.

There are some difficulties at the mill. Not so much that I fear for it, but enough to give us some concern. We had hoped that business would pick up during summer, but it has not. We are still behind on orders even now. The Irish workers I kept on are not as thorough as the natives of Milton, and we keep finding problems in the weave. I do not send out inferior product. The men stayed after their time to complete a large order.

I can only thank you for your insistence on Higgins and I getting along. If not for our open discussions, the men would not have known that the mills longevity depends on timely completion of these orders. We are working together as masters and men, and it is all thanks to you.

This is obviously the contention I have with my clerk. He does not think we should pay the Irish workers because their work is inferior. I disagree. I promised to keep them on, and it is not their fault they have not had sufficient training or experience.

On a lighter note, the spinning room issue made me laugh, though I could not show it at the time. Part of the wall came away thanks to a mice infestation. They had damaged the supports and once part of it loosened (knocked, I believe, by a careless child), it all came down, releasing hundreds of mice into the room. I should not laugh at their fear, but it is hard to not be amused by men larger than me running away from such a small creature. They had been using the excess fluff to build nests. I feel almost sorry for them. They probably had the warmest home in England during the winter. But alas, the mice have had to find another home, and my men had to be coaxed back to work by their wives. There is a temporary wall in place for now, until we can get it fixed properly.

There now, has that fully satiated your curiosity? You need not, how did you phrase it, put your nose elsewhere? Well, you are welcome to pry all you like, I certainly could not refuse you. Though I do worry what Watson is bandying about. I shall look into it, thank you for bringing it to my attention.

I do hope you get your holiday. I should imagine you would enjoy a seaside visit, and your nephew certainly will. Nicholas asks me to send you the best wishes from the children. They are making great use of the slate and chalk you so kindly provided. They shall all be scholars soon enough.

I will close here with a final taunt of my snapped belt. I am determined to keep you wondering.

Your very cruel friend,

John

P.S. You are forgiven for the lecture I have just received on the importance of having a fashionable dining room. I know you would never intentionally subject me to such torment and so I am willing to be magnanimous in this. Please think of me in future before suggesting home improvements.

Margaret smiled to herself at the postscript. She very much enjoyed the letter, although the mills struggles did give her a moment of worry. It gave her a feeling of great pride for Mr Thornton to credit her with the better relationship he now had with his men. She was happy for him.

Edith was waiting very patiently for her to finish. When Margaret looked to her, she took it as permission to begin her questioning.

"Is it like his other letters?"

"Similar. We are speaking of the mill."

Edith huffed and flopped back on the sofa. "Again?"

"Yes," Margaret laughed, "again."

"You two are made for each other."

Margaret gave her a wry look. "Thank you, Edith."

"Did you discuss anything else?"

"He teased me a little at the start."

"Really?" Edith sat up. "About what?"

"We have a little running joke about a belt that snapped some time ago." Margaret shook her head. "He is refusing to tell me the story, no matter how much I pester."

"Well. If you are both willing to tease you must be utterly enamoured with each other."

Margaret flushed. "Now you are teasing."

"I am. And I love you a great deal, so you cannot dispute my supposition."

She harrumphed. She was caught there and Edith knew it. Instead of engaging, she primly pulled out Mrs Thornton's letter and began to read.

Marlborough Mill

Miss Hale,

My daughter has taken great pains to acquaint me with the events of her holiday, so I must thank you for providing her with entertainment. She spoke at length about your opinion of Milton, and I can assure you that you have shocked her. I do not believe she was expecting to be contradicted in her quest to paint Milton as a hell on earth. But I am glad to hear that you value our town for what it is truly worth. Not many can appreciate it.

John tells me we have you to thank for Fanny's fervour to redecorate her dining room. In future, I would be very grateful if you would refrain from mentioning what happens to be in fashion in town. I am also told that you have apologised for it, and I will accept it if you do not give her anymore ideas, for my sanity if nothing else.

I am sure you can find amusement enough in London. I cannot imagine that there was much to do Helstone (apart from exploring the woodland) and whatever you did there, you can do in London. John mentioned that you may take a holiday during the summer, and I hope you will enjoy it, should you go.

I am aware that this letter is short, but there is a great deal for us to do with the mill, and I do not have time to write more.

I await your next.

Hannah Thornton

More cause for concern. Mrs Thornton was so busy she could not find the time to write more than a page? It felt to Margaret that the situation may be worse than either Thornton would let on.

"Well?"

"It would seem Mr Thornton speaks of me." She would keep her worries to herself. "Mrs Thornton has mentioned him telling her of what I have said."

"Oh!" Edith clapped gleefully. "That is a very good thing."

"I can only agree. But I am friends with Mrs Thornton, you know. I was corresponding with her already before Mr Thornton began sending letters. It is not so strange to speak of a mutual friend."

"But it is his mother. That must count for something."

"I suppose." Margaret considered her letter. "I think she approves of me now. We did not always see eye to eye."

"All the better," Edith said decisively. "That means she will not oppose you."

"I hope not. She was not happy with me when I rejected him. But neither did she wish for it to happen. She is a confusing woman at times. But I am grateful for her, she has been a great help to me."

"I am glad for it. You deserve good friends."

"Thank you, Edith."

They smiled at each other, just before a step was heard outside and the captain joined them. He invited them on an afternoon excursion with Sholto, and they both happily accepted.

Margaret saved her worries for the mill until that night, when she could think them over properly. But she could come to no satisfactory decision about the affair, and fell asleep to dreams of mice and looms.

Once again I must thank everyone for their kind reviews! They really make my day when I see them, and always give me a little kick to get this done. My excuse is that life got in the way once again, this time coupled with a frustrating writers block, which is why it's taken me so much longer. I know exactly where we're going, it's just occasionally I can't quite work out how to get there. But this work is not abandoned, nor will it be abandoned, so I thank you for your patience!