Chapter 2
At the mention of a Captain, Frederick became slightly panicked. John, somewhat awkwardly, attempted to soothe him.
"I met Mr Henry Lennox when he accompanied your sister to the Great Exhibition. The Lennoxes are connected to your family. The exact nature of the connection I cannot remember, but I am sure they mean you no harm"
Fred, still slightly wide eyed, simply nodded at Mr Thornton and made a small display of smoothing down his shirt front. Jane opened the door again and brought Captain and Mr Lennox into the room. The contrast between them was almost comical. Captain Lennox was tall and looked quite jovial, Mr Lennox shorter and quite sullen looking. They both swept small bows to Mr Thornton and thanked him for admitting them.
Captain Lennox gazed around the room, spotted Frederick attempting to shrink into his seat and seemed quite delighted to see him.
"You must be Frederick. Jolly good that you're here already, that's saved us a job of traipsing all over Milton looking for you. When we arrived, we enquired after acquaintances of the Hales and were told to call on the Thorntons of Malborough Mills. And a good thing we were welcomed so readily!"
It was an incredibly bemused Fred that responded to the Captain's warm overtures.
"Thankyou Captain. Ah – forgive me, I don't think I've had the pleasure of being introduced to you and your companion?"
"By Jove, where are our manners? My name is Captain Maxwell Lennox. I am your cousin by marriage, as your lovely Edith did me the greatest pleasure of accepting my hand. This is my brother Henry, currently working in London as a barrister"
Henry offered Frederick a small, tight smile. He then gave his brother a pointed look, whose own expression became quite solemn. John was suddenly struck with a sense of foreboding.
Frederick hadn't noticed this and answered brightly.
"Is my cousin well? I am so happy for her, she always dreamed of being a soldier's wife. I suppose Aunt Shaw knows of my situation and has sent you to fetch me. I am at your disposal gentleman; I shall be ready to travel when you see fit. Can you bring me word of my sister? I am surprised she is not here with you – perhaps she is refreshing herself from the journey?" Fred peered around them hopefully, and again missed the very dark look the Lennox brothers exchanged. John's sense of foreboding increased.
"About that lad. You are correct, your Aunt Shaw did send us to fetch you, and I am afraid Margaret was unable to join us for the journey. There is something we must prepare you for, although I am not sure we should divulge this in company," said Captain Lennox, casting an anxious glance at the Thorntons.
"We were well acquainted with Miss Hale. Whatever news you have of her health, we would like to hear as well," Mrs. Thornton told the Lennoxes in her usual cool tones, before instructing Jane to fetch them all fresh cups of tea. Fred, now understanding that all was not well, began glancing between the Captain and his brother. Jane brought in the requested tea. Captain Lennox and Henry took a seat and their audience prepared themselves for the worst.
"Before I tell you Fred, be well assured that Margaret is alive and every possible care is being taken for her. We will travel as soon as we are able so that you can see her again," Captain Lennox began.
"Alive? Every possible care? Dear God, what has happened to my sister?!" Fred demanded.
"It began as normal things for someone who is deep in mourning. Eating little at meals, retiring early in the evenings. We did not think to check it as we thought she would recover on her own" Captain Lennox took a moment to pause. John was in turmoil. Nothing prepared him for what came next, as the Lennoxes were not finished.
"Then she started having nightmares. Dreadful things, the entire household could hear her screaming. Not long after they started, she began refusing meals altogether and had to be encouraged to rise from her bed in the morning. Then one morning, she rose on her own and called for a bath, and we thought she was improving. She sat in that bath and scrubbed herself until her skin was red and blistering. When the maid tried to take the brush from her, she screamed that she was still not clean and sent the maid out. It took the combined strength of the maid, Aunt Shaw and Edith to pull her out of the bath. Within 2 hours she was calm and had no recollection of the incident"
Lennox took another pause, and Fred finally responded.
"So, she is a little sad and is behaving oddly. What can be so grave and serious about that?" Fred demanded, though his tone seemed to be begging that the Lennoxes tale was over. John was not so optimistic. This Aunt Shaw would not have searched Fred out so soon if she were not seriously concerned. Captain Lennox looked at Fred sadly, and Henry took over the tale.
"Later in the evening, a maid went to check on Margaret and found that she had emptied the entire contents of her wardrobe and was attempting to lace herself into a ballgown quite by herself. When asked what she was dressing for, she replied that she was dressing for the dinner her and her parents had been invited to. The dinner at the Thorntons' house. She was speaking as if your dear departed mother were in the room, staring at the chair by her bed the whole time. The maid went to fetch Aunt Shaw, who came in and gently explained that she was not in Milton with her mother, but in London and that your parents had passed away. Margaret then began sobbing, and did not stop for a full three hours"
Henry explained all this very quickly and in his usual business-like tones. Perhaps thinking that it would be better for Fred to hear all of this very quickly and divested of any emotion.
"Fred, the doctor is of the opinion that your sister has suffered a complete mental collapse. The grief of losing both parents in so short a space of time, the circumstances in which they left Helstone and the stress of your… situation has simply overwrought the poor girl," Captain Lennox explained softly.
"There is also some business of a head injury which the doctor is concerned may have caused more damage than first thought," Henry Lennox added, with a suspicious glance at John, who merely returned the glower. It felt as though Lennox was accusing him of hurling the rock himself, which riled him greatly. Hannah was merely thankful that Fanny was not here to listen to this. The foolish girl would not be able to keep a secret and this was not something she wanted known in the wider circles of Milton. Miss Hale had suffered enough as a topic of gossip without now being thought a lunatic.
Fred was digesting all the information he had been given with a look of anguish. John understood that look. Frederick was blaming himself for his sister's fate, feeling that his absence had left her to shoulder this immense burden alone and she had broken under it. Finally, he settled on one question out of the scores flying around his head.
"What is being done for my sister's care?"
"She remains in London," Captain Lennox told him, "The doctor recommended an institution, but your Aunt Shaw would not hear of it". As he said it, he could remember vividly his mother-in-law unleashing her scorn on the poor doctor.
"My niece has suffered quite enough! You insult the memory of my sister by suggesting that we, her only family, abandon her in that foul place! Has this child not suffered enough loss and heartbreak, without being given up by all the family she has left in the world? You insult my honour as her guardian with the very suggestion, and I bid you good day sir!"
"She remains in Harley Street, being cared for by Aunt Shaw and Edith, and the ever-devoted Dixon. She is supervised all hours of the day, and someone is always on hand to talk through her memories with her, as she is prone to becoming muddled and consequently very distressed. She eats very little, preferring to drink tea, though she is being persuaded to take a little soup in her teacups. I think she is over the worst of her condition, and the sight of you and knowing you will be able to stay with her shall help recover her spirits marvellously!" the captain concluded his report, attempting to inject some enthusiasm into his voice at the end, desperate to keep Fred's hopes up after having to impart such a sorry tale.
"When can you take me to see her?"
"We purchased three tickets back to London when we arrived. All goes well we shall be able to depart tomorrow, pray God this weather relents"
"There is simply the issue of arranging lodgings for ourselves back in Milton," Henry Lennox mentioned with a furrowed brow.
"I have already agreed to host Mr. Hale for the night. I would be happy to extend the invitation for you as well, gentleman," John finally mustered himself to speak. He had listened to the tale unfold with growing horror. It was some small mercy that she was not dangerously ill. But an illness of the mind? There was no telling how long it could take to recover from this, if she ever recovered at all. She could end up being committed, or dependant on some medicine or other for the rest of her life. His heart broke for her, so much misery for one soul to bear! Margaret had tried too hard to be strong for too long and it had torn her mind apart. John wouldn't wish such a fate on his worst enemy.
Looking slightly shattered in the wake of the afternoon's revelations, Hannah roused herself to go and instruct the servants to prepare the guest room and Fanny's old bedroom for guests and to prepare for additions to the dinner table, leaving the gentlemen to sit in rather shocked silence. Fred and John were both slumped in their seats, looking rather battered.
Fred's thoughts were going around in circles. His poor sister. She'd been alone suffering while he had been hiding in Spain like a coward. It had not been easy, a life of false names and constantly looking over his shoulder, but it seemed now a life of ease compared to what Margaret must have been suffering. To be brought to this place for a new life, only for that life to crumble around her ears. Her closest family and friend carried off to a place she could not reach them. The suffering she had witnessed and endured had torn her apart from the inside and he, her older brother who should have protected her, had been powerless to help her. Part of him wanted to dam the practicalities and set off for London right now. He was desperate to see his sister and begin to put right the tragic wrongs that fate had done to her.
After a dinner conducted mostly in silence, save for the usual pleasantries and compliments of the cooking, John showed his guests to their quarters. Fanny's old bedroom, being the largest, was to accommodate the Lennox brothers. Fred was to take the guest bedroom.
"Mr Hale, if you require anything, the servants are at your disposal," John could not conceal the pain that using that formerly forgotten address caused, least of all to the surprisingly astute Frederick Hale.
"Mr Thornton, I see the pain using that address causes you, as it invokes the memory of my beloved father. You were good to my family while they were here. I do not forget, and I've no wish to cause you harm. Call me Fred," he said gently, looking at John with sympathy. John was able to muster something of a smile as he looked at Fred, and it emboldened him to make his next request.
"Thankyou Fred. If it is not too impertinent, may I ask you to write us with your sister's progress? My mother and sister had formed an acquaintance with her and were most affected by the passing of Mr and Mrs. Hale. They would be glad to know i – that she is recovering," he caught himself at the end, determined not to set a seal on Margaret's fate before Fred even saw her. Fred was staring at him curiously, not entirely sure Mr. Thornton was telling him the whole truth. He was sceptical that this level of concern was entirely on behalf of his mother and sister.
"Very well, I will provide reports of her progress when I can. It is the least I can do, for the kindness you showed them when they resided here, and the kindness you have shown my associates and I today. May I ask you something in return? What was the nature of your connection with my sister?"
John was silent, but the flickering of emotions on his face told Fred all he needed to know.
"Never mind, your face is answer enough. Let me counsel you Mr. Thornton. Margaret can be stubborn when she sets her mind to something, be it a task or her opinion of something. Let me assure you, she never hated you. For all of your conflicts, she had a most high opinion of you. But I would also advise you this. Put her from your mind. Whatever your attachment to her, it is unlikely that anything further shall come to pass. She is far too sick at present to contemplate marriage or leaving London, and it could be years until she is recovered. For the good of both of you. Let her go," Fred watched John for his answer, who could only merely nod before turning to seek out his own quarters.
No-one in the Thornton household slept very well that night.
The Lennoxes were up at first light, yet found Fred already washed and dressed, having sought out his own washing water out of habit from the Navy. They ate a hurried breakfast, and gratefully accepted the cab Mr Thornton summoned for them, but not before attempting to protest his offer to pay for it. Finally, Captain Lennox, who could admit when he had met his match, acquiesced with a smile.
"Mr Thornton, if the Army were comprised of more tenacious northern men such as yourself, what foe could truly stand against it?"
John only found himself wishing he could have met Captain Lennox under more pleasant circumstances. He could see the two of them getting along.
Finally, the time came for them to take leave of their surprise hosts. All three men bowed to Mrs Thornton and Mr. Thornton. Fred thanked Mrs. Thornton for the food and bed and then turned to Mr Thornton on his way out.
"I will honour your request, but please consider the advice I gave you in return. It is the best course for the both of you"
John nodded tightly. Fred made one last bow and was gone. Not 10 minutes after they had departed in the cab, Jane came in announcing the arrival of Fanny Watson, whose shrill voice cut through the tense atmosphere left by their previous guests like a thousand blades.
"Oh Mother, John, you should have attended the dinner party Watson gave last night, it was sublime! I can't imagine that there was anything here that could have held that much interest for you. What did you do, sit around and embroider all evening? Sit and talk shipments and orders with my tedious brother?"
"You'll hold your tongue in this house girl. He may be your brother but he is the master of this house and you'll show him his due respect. And I'll remind you not to be so impertinent. You may be a woman grown and married, but you will still respect me as your mother!" Hannah Thornton snapped, overwrought by the events of the previous day. She and John shared a look, reaching an unspoken agreement not to divulge the events of yesterday to Fanny, who looked from one to the other with an increasing expression of confusion.
"I had mill business to attend to Fanny. Perhaps you might remind your husband to attend to business at his mill once in a while rather than spending all his days pondering speculations," John answered her tersely. Then, having neither the patience nor the energy to deal with his sister, he turned and left the room, seeking out his office and a strong brandy. Or three.
Meanwhile, on a train that was not moving towards London fast enough for Fred's liking, he was pondering how best to help his sister and wondering what on earth he was going to find when he finally got to see her.
"Please God, my sister has suffered enough. Torment her no longer!" he whispered to himself, over and over, until the words blurred together and he drifted into a fitful sleep.
A/N: Sorry, a few more plot twists to get through! I'm also posting this here now as a content warning, but as you can tell from this chapter, this story is going to look heavily at mental health and Victorian attitudes around it. Based on the research I've done already; it isn't going to be pretty, but I won't be going into very graphic detail. Please be assured that this will be a Happily Ever After story, I promise!
Also, by way of apology to ardent Thornton/Margaret readers, the Thorntons are going to be background characters for now. The Frederick/Margaret sibling relationship is not deeply explored in the book or television show for obvious reasons and I really wanted to see how it could be portrayed. I hope you are still interested in reading this work!
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