Chapter Thirteen: Spain and Family

Margaret and Mr. Bell were standing on the bow of the ship, looking at the shore of Spain. The trip had been a pleasant one, but Margaret would be glad to be back on dry land. Dixon was down below resting. She had never gained her sea legs, so to speak, so the voyage had been a miserable one.

Finally, the ship docked, and Dixon joined Margaret and Mr. Bell on deck. Mr. Bell had explained to them both that they would not see Fred on the dock waiting for them. For his safety, they were to make their way to the offices of Barbour and Company, located on the west end of the dock, and they would have their reunion in private. Every effort had to be made to protect Frederick. Three visitors from England to a port city might very well call attention to a man wanted by the English navy.

Their luggage was delivered to Fred's office, and the trio made their way to his office shortly afterwards. Margaret could barely wait to see her brother. Mr. Bell and Dixon could not keep up with her quick steps once she spied the office of Barbour and Company. She quickly made her way to the door.

Fred was waiting for them, and the reunion was a very joyous one. Mr. Bell felt tears come in his eyes when he saw Fred and Margaret embrace. The two of them were all that were left of the Hale family.

"Margaret, my dear sister! I am glad you are here at last. I wish you had been able to come to Spain under different circumstances."

Margaret said, "I wish so as well, but I am happy to be here now."

Fred held out his arms to the woman who had served their family for so many years, "Dixon, I am so happy you are here. Mama and Papa would be so glad to know you are still taking care of their children."

Mr. Bell extended his hand to his godson, "Fred, I hope you do not mind, but I would like to stay for a while."

"You are family, Mr. Bell, and our home is your home for as long as you wish to stay."

Fred pulled a beautiful young lady close to him, and introduced her, "This is my wife, Dolores."

Dolores greeted them, "It is nice to meet you. I am happy you are here." She was hesitant in her speech, but Margaret thought it was quite charming. Dolores was exquisitely beautiful, and she looked at Fred with such love. Margaret was glad to see Fred well settled and happy.

Then Dolores did something that surprised Margaret; she kissed her on both cheeks. Margaret blushed but hugged her new sister. She would need to get accustomed to these new Spanish customs. She briefly recalled the first time Mr. Thornton had extended his hand to her to shake, and how she did not know how to respond. She had learned from that experience and vowed to embrace the customs of her new home.

Fred took them all to their house. Margaret thought it enchanting. It was a beautiful stucco house, covered with vibrant pink bougainvillea vines. The second story had balconies that afforded a view of the ocean. Inside, the rooms were comfortable and inviting. In the center of the house, was an open courtyard with a table for dining and a beautiful water fountain.

Everyone was shown to their rooms, but Margaret stayed behind with Fred.

Fred hugged his sister again, "Margaret, are you well? I have been so anxious for you to get here."

"Fred, I am glad to be here at last. Mrs. Lennox was so very kind to me in Scotland, and it was good for me to have a quiet and peaceful place to grieve for Mama and Papa while arrangements were made for me to come to you."

Frederick was pensive, "It was all I could do to leave Milton after Mama died. I have missed out on so much time with you, and now that both Mama and Papa are gone now, I have so many regrets, Margaret. As a son, it grieved me to not be able to do more for my family. Milton was a dirty town, and it was obvious that the move to Milton had put the family into reduced circumstances."

Margaret agreed that Milton's climate had been hard on Mama, and she told Fred, " However, Dr. Donaldson said that Mama had been sick for quite some time before the move to Milton."

Fred took his sister's hands, "Let us not be sad for all we have lost, but instead be glad for what we have gained. We are together again, dear Margaret. Our parents are together in Heaven, and life must go on."

"I heard from Henry Lennox recently, Margaret, and he told me that the odds of clearing my name were slim, but he would keep working on my case if I wanted him to. I have decided, now that you are here with me, just to accept that I will never again step foot in England again. With both of our parents gone now, there is no reason to return. My life is here, and it is a good life. Dolores has made me very happy. You will meet the rest of our family at lunch. My in-laws are wonderful people, and we all live in this house together quite happily."

Fred stood up and held his arms out to Margaret, "Sister, I am so happy you are here with us. My family is now your family, too."

Margaret felt tears sting her eyes, and she was grateful that she had come to Spain.

Mr. Bell came into the room, "Am I interrupting?"

"No, of course not, Mr. Bell! It is good to have you here at last."

Margaret asked the men to excuse her to go rest in her room for a bit.

Mr. Bell was glad to have an opportunity to speak privately to Fred about Margaret. "Fred, our Margaret has two men vying for her hand. I do not know how long she will remain in Spain.

"I will say, both men are determined to win her heart and her hand."

"I knew about Henry. I had a letter from him last week about my case, and he made his intentions known that he intended to ask for Margaret's hand. He has been a good friend to our family, and I think he would be a good husband to her."

"I have only seen Thornton from a distance. He had a fierce scowl and seemed quite unpleasant. I saw him when Margaret escorted me to Outwood Station. I had embraced my sister, thinking I might never see her again, and Thornton saw us."

Mr. Bell said, "Yes, I know he did. It was quite the scandal in Milton. Margaret was ostracized as a fallen woman by the tittle-tattles in Milton. Leonard, the man who accosted you, was found dead the following day. There was to be an inquest, but Thornton protected her from it. He is a magistrate you know. Margaret never told him about you, Fred, and he was so blinded by jealousy and hurt that he treated Margaret with contempt."

Noticing Fred's distress from this new information, Bell continued, "After your father died, I told Thornton the truth, and he and your sister have come to understand one another better. Thornton has loved her for at least a year, and even asked for her hand several months ago. Margaret refused him due to circumstances, but that is a story for another day."

"As far as Henry is concerned, Margaret told me Henry had asked for her after Edith and Maxwell married. She was not ready to consider marriage at the time. She had just returned to live in Helstone with your parents. Margaret said that Henry was hurt, they remained amicable. Henry is as in love with your sister as Thornton is."

Fred listened to Mr. Bell with dismay. Margaret had just arrived in Spain, and he was not ready to think of her leaving anytime soon. He would need to have a conversation with his sister later today.

Upstairs, Margaret and Dixon were getting settled. Dixon had a room upstairs with the family. She would be treated as family, not a servant, Fred had decided. He loved her dearly, as grumpy as she was, and Dixon was getting on in years.

Margaret unpacked the books Mr. Thornton had sent her and left one out to give to Fred. It was quite warm, and Dixon helped Margaret change out of her wool dress and into a more comfortable cotton one that Mrs. Lennox has so thoughtfully had made for her.

Margaret was eager to explore the house. It was unlike any home she had ever seen, and she found it quite charming.

She heard voices and made her way to the spacious drawing room. Dolores's parents had joined Frederick and Mr. Bell, and introductions were made. Dolores's father was a jovial man and Margaret liked him immediately. Dolores's mother was very beautiful, and she welcomed Margaret with kisses on both cheeks. The family spoke some English, and Margaret was glad of it. She would need to learn Spanish now that she was to live in Spain.

Lunch was quite an affair. There were exotic dishes made from the bounty of the sea, such as a lovely oyster stew, shrimp fritters, and a dish called paella. The meal was sumptuous, and everyone ate far too much.

After lunch, it was the custom in Spain for everyone to rest from noon until late in the afternoon to escape the most intense heat of the day. Fred asked Margaret to stay downstairs so they could visit in private.

"Margaret, Mr. Bell tells me that you another suitor besides Henry Lennox. I was surprised to learn that John Thornton is pursuing you as well. I do not know much of him other than what you told me when I was in Milton. I know he was a good friend to Father and was kind to Mother."

Fred took his sisters hands, "Margaret, Bell also told me that I left you to face a scandal. Margaret, I cannot tell you how sorry I am."

Margaret was quick to reassure her brother, "Fred, all that matters is that you got away, and were able to get to London to Henry, and later, out of England. It is not safe for you to ever go back there again, Fred."

'Yes, I know that, and there is no need for me to go back now that you are here."

"Sister, do you know which man you might accept?"

"Fred, I respond to Mr. Thornton differently than I do to Henry. I do have feelings for him, but our past has been filled with many misunderstandings and we have hurt each other. My relationship with Henry is comfortable and easy. I had no idea how deeply he cares for me, and he has given me a great deal to think about."

Fred replied, "When I was in Milton, you spoke of Mr. Thornton. I did think at the time that you might have feelings for him. Henry would be able to give you such a different life, and a more comfortable one. However, I think you might find life dull with Henry, Margaret."

"As your brother, I want you to have it all, like I have with Dolores. We have a comfortable life, and we love each other deeply. Dolores is expecting our first child in only five months. I will be a father, Margaret."

"I am so happy for you and Dolores. I am so glad I will be here when the baby is born."


Bell, Margaret, and Dixon settled into their new life in Spain. Bell had only two weeks remaining before he was to leave to go back to Oxford and he was considering extending his stay. It was quite enjoyable to be around his godchildren and to soak up the Spanish sun.

The mail was delivered to the house, and Dolores handed him a stack of letters and Margaret had a letter from Henry. She took it upstairs to read in private, and left Bell to read over his own correspondence.

Dear Margaret,

I hope you are finding Spain agreeable. I know you must be elated to be reunited with your brother. I can just imagine you walking on the beach and soaking up the Spanish sun with him and having long conversations. I hope it eases your grief to be with Frederick.

Margaret, I have written to you brother about my intention to ask for your hand. I lament that I cannot court you properly. I long to take you to places and share experiences with you. The time we spent together in Scotland is precious to me, and I will always treasure the memories of it.

I miss you, and I think of you every day. I wish to spend my life with you, my dearest Margaret. I will sail for Spain the day I receive a letter from you that your heart has found its home with mine.

All my love, Henry.

Margaret set the letter aside. She did think of Henry, but she did not miss him as she did Mr. Thornton. He was dear to her, but as a friend. It became clear to her that she would not be able to accept him, and she needed to think about her response to him.

On the voyage to Spain, Margaret had read the remaining entries in John's journals. Some of them hurt her, but almost all of them brought her a much deeper understanding of him. She had spent many hours writing out her own thoughts and processing her feelings for both men.

She stood on the balcony outside her room and looked out, not really seeing anything, but instead focusing on her thoughts. Margaret knew that she needed to be honest with Henry. She cared for him deeply, but not in the way he cared for her.

Her heart belonged to John.