Chapter Ten: Mr. Bell Comes to Visit

Margaret had been in Scotland for over three weeks. Mr. Bell had one letter from her, and from what he could gather from her letter, the trip was doing her good.

He had gone to London to see his doctor about an ailment, and he had run into Henry Lennox at their gentlemen's club. They had a drink together, and Henry told Bell that he was worried about Thornton having an edge for Margaret's heart. It was a rare day Henry Lennox allowed anyone to see his vulnerability, and Bell thought he was much like Thornton in that regard. However, Thornton wore his heart on his sleeve when it came to Margaret, even though it was not obvious to anyone who did not know him well.

Bell looked over sympathetically at his young friend, "Lennox, you and Margaret have known each other for a very long time. I have not known you to be a man who is tentative in his approach. Perhaps you need to be a little more assertive. The situation is less than ideal, but you have to work with it if you intend to be the victor in the rivalry."

Henry said, "The challenge is working with the distance between us. We have been apart, except for Scotland, and only one other time since she left London for Helstone. When she came to London several months ago for the Great Exhibition, we spent a great deal of time together, but I did not want to make her uncomfortable with expressing my feelings to her. Margaret had confided in Edith that her mother was quite ill at the time and the trip to London I hoped, was a bit of respite from the sick room. Now, I regret not not letting her know that I still cared for her."

Mr. Bell could hear the angst in Henry's voice, but he knew that Henry would have to find his own way to convey all he hoped for with Margaret, and either she would be receptive to it or not. " You were right to be sensitive to her needs, Henry. I do not know how Margaret is feeling about either of you at this time, but what I do know, is that she needs time, Lennox. I wish you luck, Henry."


Mr. Bell took the train back to Oxford. When he got home, he found a letter from Frederick Hale. His godson went by Fred Marshall in Cadiz to conceal his identity. Frederick was anxious for Margaret to come to Spain so he could assume her care.

Adam Bell's attorney was already making the arrangements for the trip to Spain, and Bell's servant was packing his trunks. He would be away for two months and there were many details to attend to before leaving Oxford in the morning.

Bell was anxious to get on his way. The journey to Scotland would take two days, and he would break it up by stopping in Milton. He had business at the bank and with John Thornton.

Bell arrived in Milton at 12:00 noon and went to his usual hotel, the Crown to check in. He would eat lunch, attend his appointment with his banker, Mr. Latimer, and then go to the Marlborough Mills to meet with John. He stopped at the desk to send a note over to the mill to let Thornton know he was coming.

Mr. Bell set up a transfer of funds at his bank in Milton to a bank in Cadiz. Latimer raised his eyebrows when Bell named the sum, but he wrote up the transfer without question. In addition, Bell wanted to sell some of his properties once the lease on each once was up for renewal, and he made arrangements for that as well with the bank's attorney. With business concluded, the two men shook hands, and Bell left for Marlborough Mills.

When Mr. Bell's carriage arrived at the mill, John was in the yard overseeing a shipment.

"Bell, it is good to see you. What brings you to Milton today?"

"I had business at the bank, and I thought I would come by to see you while I was in town this afternoon."

"Come on up to the office."

Once the men settled, John asked, "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"I am on my way to Scotland. I have heard from Frederick, and he wants his sister to join him and his family in Spain. My attorney is seeing to the details today. We will sail in two weeks from Port Grangemouth. The trip will take several days, and I will stay at least six weeks with my godchildren.

"I am an old man, Thornton, nearly sixty. Hale's death has made me realize that I want to spend time with the people I love while I still can. There are only two people left in the world whom I love."

"Bell, if this is too personal, then I will understand, but why didn't you ever marry?"

A cloud of sadness seemed to cross Bell's face, "The woman I loved married my best friend. I stood at their wedding as best man. I have only ever loved one woman, and Frederick and Margaret are all that are left of her now. Richard never knew that I loved Maria, and neither did she. I could not have taken another woman as my wife, so I have remained a bachelor."

John slid his hand across his face. He did not want Mr. Bell to see how this revelation affected him. If Margaret married Henry, then John would remain a life-long bachelor, just as Bell had done.

John felt a kinship with Mr. Bell that he never felt before. Usually, Bell irritated him with his meddling and facetious ways, but today, John saw a man who had lived a lonely life, and he understood that as well.

"Mr. Bell, I insist you stay for dinner tonight. I will send a note to Cook to make roast beef. I remember how much you enjoyed it the last time you dined with us."

"Of course, I would be delighted. Shall I return at 7:00?"

"See you then, Bell."

Bell had the carriage stop when he spotted a flower vendor on New Street. He purchased a dozen pink roses to lay on Maria's grave. He spent a long time with her and felt a deep loneliness for her. He had loved her silently all his adult life. Today was the first time he ever gave voice to his private feelings. He was surprised at himself that he revealed so much to John Thornton.

Hannah had just arrived home when she saw Mr. Bell leave the mill and she learned from Jane, her maid, John had sent a note to Cook asking her to make roast beef for dinner and to cook for three tonight. Adam Bell would be dining with them this evening.

Dinner went well, and Bell ate until he could eat no more. "My compliments to Cook, Mrs. Thornton. The roast beef was even better tonight than I remembered."

After dinner, Hannah went to the drawing room, and the men joined her there.

"I am leaving in the morning, Mrs. Thornton, to spend time with my goddaughter in Scotland. From her letters, it has done her good to be in the country and to spend time with Mrs. Lennox. I have not been to the estate, but Margaret thinks it is the grandest home she has ever seen with its expansive grounds."

John added, "Margaret sent Nicholas and Mary a small watercolor of the lake on the property. It seems an idyllic setting, like something Claude Lorrain would have wanted to capture in one of his paintings. Miss Hale says the village, Balloch on Loch Lomond, is quaint and even more lovely than her beloved Helstone."

"Yes, well I shall see it for myself shortly. I am leaving in the morning on the 8:00 train."

John asked Bell to join him in his study, and left Hannah to ruminate on all she had heard. Surely the lass would never want to return to their smoky town after experiencing such beauty in Scotland. Maybe she would marry that Lennox fellow with all his money and London airs.

John reached in his desk drawer and took out a letter. "I was going to mail this in the morning, but I ask you to take it to her, if you do not mind. I also want to send along these two books. They are collections of Richard's sermons."

Bell was learning that Thornton had a kindness about him that Bell had never noticed before.

Bell decided to speak plainly to John, "Are you prepared to do what it takes to be her husband, John? Will you give Margaret the life she deserves? If you are, then you cannot be a son first, my dear boy, Margaret must have a home of her own. I have no experience in marriage, but I am an astute observer, and the best marriages do not allow intrusion."

"Yes, Sir, I understand. Please know that if I am blessed enough to win her hand, her happiness will be my priority."

Bell extended his hand to his young friend, "I wish you luck, Thornton. Lennox is not going to let you have her easily. I believe he loves her as dearly as you do. If there is any business you need to conduct with me, please send your letters to my attorney. I will add that any correspondence to Spain will need to be sent through him as well. It is imperative that we protect Fred.


Bell arrived in Scotland that evening and was heartened to see Margaret looking so well. Mrs. Lennox had graciously planned a late supper for them, and afterwards, she excused herself to see to Mr. Bell's rooms.

"Margaret, I have a letter for you from Thornton. I saw him yesterday in Milton."

She took the letter from him, and Bell noted that she held it to her chest, as if it were something precious to her.

"My dear, I saw Henry two days ago, and he was looking a bit forlorn. I am afraid that young man is completely besotted. We had a good visit. I like him, Margaret, and although he can be brash as times, he is a good man."

"Mr. Bell, I went from having no suitors almost a month ago, and now I have two. I hardly know what to think or feel."

"It will all sort itself out, Margaret, with time."

BeIl reached over and patted her hand. "I am tired my dear, and I am needing to find my bed. We will speak more in the morning."

Margaret made her way to her own room, anxious to read Mr. Thornton's letter.

My love,

I hope my letter finds you well.

As you know, I bought all your father's books. While organizing them in my library, I came across some collections of your father's sermons. I have taken time to read at least one sermon each night. Tonight, I read his sermon on family. He spoke about how the union between the husband and wife must be sacred because it is the foundation on which they build their family. I wish he and I had discussed so many things when he was alive, and I wish I had heard him deliver the sermons I have read. I sent two of these collections along with Bell. I thought you and Frederick would want to have them.

It is late at night, and I cannot rest my mind enough to sleep. I think of you all throughout the day. I wish that you were still in Crampton, so I could walk the two miles to your home to enjoy your company. Instead, you are hundreds of miles away, and I must content myself with my memories of you.

I cannot offer you a life of beauty in the way Lennox can. I do not have a beautiful home to bring you to, but we can make our life beautiful, Margaret. I want to make a home with you, and to have a family with you. I want to be a man worthy of your love, and I promise you, I will devote the rest of my life to your happiness.

I miss you, Margaret.

You have all my love, John

Margaret read the letter twice, and then added it to her box of letters. His letter affected her greatly, and she was grateful for his gift of her father's books. She stood out on her balcony for a long time after she had read her letter from Mr. Thornton. Margaret thought of all Mr. Bell had told her and she vowed to be gentle with both men's hearts until she knew her own.