Chapter Four: Milton and John Thornton

John went home to change, but before leaving for Crampton, he stopped by the dining room to greet his mother. "Are you well, Mother?"

Hannah was always glad to see her son, and she said, 'I would be better if I got to spend more time with you. Won't you sit down?"

"Not tonight, Mother, I am going to Crampton and I need to be on my way."

Hannah was not letting him go just yet. "Cook told me that you had sent her a note this morning, after you got home from Oxford, to prepare meals for Miss Hale and her servant for the next few days. As mistress of this house, you should have asked me to see to that."

John walked over to his mother's chair and gently put his hand on her shoulder.

"Mother, I wanted to spare you the angst of having to do Miss Hale the kindness. She and Dixon have much to do to prepare to leave Milton, and their time is better spent sorting through the family possessions than shopping and preparing food."

Hannah scoffed, but John did not let her reply. He said to her, "I will not be home until late; please do not hold dinner."

Cook came from the kitchen and handed John a basket. "Mr. Thornton, Miss Hale once told me that my lemon biscuits were the best she had ever tasted. I baked some for her. I also added in some Earl Grey tea to go with them and the recipe for the biscuits."

John surprised Cook by kissing her cheek and giving her one of his rare smiles. "You are a jewel! Thank you!"

After her son had left the house, Hannah sat in her chair deep in thought. Hannah was apprehensive. She wondered if John would offer for Miss Hale again, and she did not think she could bear it if he did. Miss Hale might accept him this time. She would become mistress of the house and Hannah would be relegated to the role of nothingness. Hannah was aware that her son kept a great deal from her this days and she bitterly resented the girl as the cause of the distance between mother and son.


John spent the evening going through Richard Hale's things with Margaret. It was a melancholy task, but Margaret would stop and tell him stories as they went through Richard's personal effects. John loved hearing her speak of her life. At one point, grief threatened to overcome her, and John longed to take her in his arms, but he did not have the right.

The next evening was spent the same way. John treasured every moment he was with his beloved Margaret, and he showed her every small kindness he could think of. Cook sent over delicious meals and dainties twice a day. John had replenished the coal supply so Margaret and Dixon would have fires at night to ward off the chill of the evening. John bought a bouquet of yellow roses to lift Margaret's spirits, and he did something for her that he had never done for anyone else; he sang to her.

That evening, after going through more of her Papa's things, Margaret felt wave after wave of grief overcome her. The house in Crampton held precious memories of her family, and the finality of leaving Milton forever came crashing down on her. She did not cry, but the pain in her face nearly brought John to his knees.

He sat down beside her, took her hand, and started to sing. His voice was a rich baritone and it soothed Margaret's troubled heart. He sang to her a song about sorrow and hope. Margaret was so lost in the words, that for a time, she felt the sharp pain in her chest abate. When he was finished, she lifted her beautiful eyes to his, and said, "Thank you. I have never been given such a beautiful gift as your song. Your voice is enchanting, Mr. Thornton, and I could never tire of listening to you sing."

Mr. Thornton wanted to tell her that if she would be his wife, he would sing to her everyday if she wanted him to. He did not, but instead squeezed her hand.

Dixon came to remind him that the hour had grown late, and Miss Margaret needed to rest. John showed himself out and took his time walking home. He had done all he could to show Margaret how he felt about her. He had not spoken the words his heart needed to convey, but instead, he had respected her need to grieve. He only hoped Margaret would not forget him when she left Milton and someday, she would return to him.

Once back to his house, he visited with his mother briefly, then went to his room for some privacy. He thought of how Margaret responded to his most humble gift; his song. He imagined what their life together would be like if they married. They would sing together at church, he would sing to her at night when they laid in bed, and he would sing to their children. If only she could come to love him as he did her.

John closed his eyes and tried to get some rest. He feared tomorrow would be the day Margaret left Milton.


Just as John predicted, a carriage pulled into the mill yard early in the afternoon. John left his office and went down immediately to greet his guests. As he neared the carriage, Henry helped his mother down, and then Miss Hale.

Margaret saw Mr. Thornton immediately.

"Mr. Thornton, this is Mrs. Lennox, and you know Henry, of course."

"John nodded to Mrs. Lennox and shook Henry's hand. 'Mrs. Lennox, Miss Hale has spoken of you to me, and I am glad to make your acquaintance. Won't you come to the house for tea?"

Margaret answered for the group, "Yes, Mr. Thornton, we would like that."

John led the small party to the drawing room. His mother appeared, and John made the introductions.

John invited everyone to sit down and asked his mother to ring for tea. Hannah never liked having strangers in her home, but she did as John asked.

Once the tea arrived, and everyone had their cup, Margaret began to speak.

"Mrs. Thornton, I am leaving Milton today. I wanted to come to pay my respects to you. I know my mother asked you to be a friend to me. I want to thank you for honoring my mother's request of you."

Mrs. Thornton noticed that Margaret looked tired, but she was elegant even in her mourning garb. Begrudgingly, she could understand John's attraction to the beauty.

"I am sorry to hear of your father's passing. To lose both parents within a space of only a few months must be very difficult indeed."

Margaret was sitting next to Mrs. Lennox, and Hannah saw the elder woman squeeze Margaret's hand in sympathy.

"What will you do now?" Hannah inquired.

"Mother Lennox has invited me to stay in Scotland for several weeks before traveling to Spain to live with my family."

Hannah was surprised. "I was unaware you had family in Spain, Miss Hale. Why aren't you going to London to live with your relatives there?"

"My London family resides in Greece at this time. My closest family lives in Spain, so I will be going there."

Hannah noticed how protective John and Henry were of Margaret. Both were listening intently to every word, and ready to defend Miss Hale if needed. Hannah was offended, but not at Henry Lennox. It hurt to think John would worry she could not be civil to Miss Hale.

Hannah also noticed that Margaret had referred to Mrs. Lennox as Mother Lennox. She wondered at the relationship between Margaret and Henry Lennox. Such familiarity was uncommon.

Henry stood up and thanked the Thorntons for the tea. He shook John's hand again and thanked him for all he had done for the Hales.

John assured him it was nothing at all, but he disliked Henry's smug attitude that he had won this battle between the two rivals. Miss Hale was going with his mother, and Henry would be spending weeks in Margaret's company before she sailed for Spain with Mr. Bell and Dixon. John had to concede that Henry Lennox did have the advantage, but John was not giving up yet, not by a long shot. He did not know how he would woo Margaret across the miles that would separate them, but his happiness depended on winning her love.

Margaret took a deep breath and summoned all her courage.

"Mr. Thornton, may I have a private word with you?"

"Of course, Miss Hale."

Both Henry and his mother left the house, and John asked his mother to give them a moment of privacy.

Margaret lifted her eyes to his, and she studied his face. His beautiful blue eyes, his dark hair, and the smile she had been gifted with from time to time.

"Mr. Thornton, I have a letter for you. I have included Mother Lennox's address. It is not proper for me to write to you first, but I could not leave you without speaking from my heart."

Margaret handed him the letter." Thank you for everything, Mr. Thornton. I will never forget your kindness to me and my family."

John was at a loss for words. His heart was breaking.

"Miss Hale, I am never too far away, should you ever need me. Whatever you need, you have only to ask. I will come to Scotland or even sail to Spain. You have only to ask."

Margaret nodded, and knew his words were sincere. John walked her out to the mill yard. Nicholas and Mary Higgins had already said their goodbyes at the house in Crampton, but they wanted to see Margaret one last time.

Nicholas pulled Margaret into his arms, "I love you as much as you had been born my daughter, Miss. Be well and be happy. You will be very missed in Milton."

Margaret kissed his cheek and turned to hug Mary. "I will write as soon as I get to Scotland, Mary."

John helped Margaret into the carriage and held her hand for just a moment longer than necessary.

He watched the carriage take his beloved Margaret away from the city that had caused her much sorrow, but also from him, a man who loved her more than words could ever express.


John walked to his office. His grief was profound, and he wondered how he would ever gather up the pieces to his heart again. In the last four days, he had learned a great deal about Margaret and all he learned only made him love and admire her more. She was extraordinary and so very beautiful.

John took the letter from his pocket that she had written to him. He lifted the envelope to his nose and inhaled her lovely scent. He would always associate the scent of lavender and roses with Margaret Hale.

Dear Mr. Thornton,

My heart is so full right now, and I hope I can convey at least some of what I am feeling.

These past four days have meant a great deal to me. I am in mourning for two parents, and a dear friend. I have no understanding of what my true feelings are for you because my heart is shrouded in grief. I do know I have a friend in you, and I hope you know you will always have one in me.

Milton has not altogether been an unkind place to me. I found friendship with the Higgins family as well as you. I love the energy of its people and how life is lived with a sense of purpose.

You are so much a part of my memories of my time in this place. I will add to those memories the beautiful moments when you sang to me last night.

Mr. Thornton, a while back, you and Papa had a long discussion of what the meaning of home is. I would like to tell you what home means to me, and by doing so, I hope you will understand my decision to go to Spain.

Home is where you have security and happiness. It is a place where everyone who resides within loves and is loved. It is a place of joy for the children who grow up there, and it is a refuge from life's storms. Mr. Thornton, my brother and I are very close even though we were born many years apart. He and his wife will welcome me and give me a true home. In order to be happy, I need to feel loved by all the people I live with. I believe I will have that in Spain.

I have one request of you. My mother is alone in this city where there is nobody left to care for her grave. I wonder if you could tend to her grave from time to time. Please tell her how much I will always love her.

If you choose to write to me, I will welcome your letters. I have included Mrs. Lennox's address on the back of this letter.

I wish you a happy life and continued success with your mill, Mr. Thornton,

Your friend, Margaret Ann Hale

John got up and put the letter in the safe. Tomorrow, he would add the engagement ring he had purchased for Margaret to the letter. He could not bear to see it for now. His hopes for the future would be on a train bound for Scotland within the hour, and after that, a ship bound for Spain. She would be living with people who loved her. She would have an extended family and a true home. He would not give up hope to win her heart, but the task had become much more challenging the moment her carriage left the mill yard.


After Margaret left Milton, John worked twelve-hour days and brought work home with him at night. He had his desk moved upstairs so that in the dark of the night when he could not sleep, he would not disturb anyone else when he worked to fill the lonely hours.

John felt the emptiness of his life as never before. He had held Margaret in his arms when she cried for her Papa, and he had felt her body close to his as they walked through the city of Oxford. He had sat beside her at her father's funeral, and he felt he had a deeper understanding of her now.

Even his bed magnified his loneliness. Most men his age had already taken a wife, but it was not until John met his Margaret that he ever felt the inclination to marry. His arms ached to hold her again. His body longed to be one with the woman he loved. Nights were agony, and John did not know how to escape the pain of it all.

One the third night after Margaret left, John went to the Crampton house to help Dixon go through the rest of Hale's possessions. He had never seen the personal spaces of the Hale family, but Dixon had asked him to go through the house and advise her what to do with some of the remaining items.

John walked into a room that had been Margaret's bedroom. He spotted the open trunk that Dixon was in the process of packing. John knelt and touched the dress on top. He felt a wave of pain so strong that if he had been standing, John was sure it would have brought him to his knees.

John lifted the dress up to his face, and the scent of lavender and roses wafted through the air. He wondered if the joy of a mutual love was as strong as the pain of unrequited love. John smoothed the dress that Dixon had so carefully packed, took one last look around, and quit the house.

Dixon heard the door shut, and she stood still for a moment. She had seen how Mr. Thornton had behaved with Miss Margaret. Yes, that man was lovesick for her Miss Margaret. Dixon had not always thought well of Mr. Thornton, but he had been kind to her mistress, Maria Hale, and a good friend to Margaret and Mr. Hale. This past week, he had shown both Margaret and her more kindness than anyone had shown them in the entire year they had been in Milton. She would pray for Mr. Thornton to find peace in his heart.