Chapter Fifteen: Mr. and Mrs. John Thornton

The voyage to Spain was a pleasant one. Mr. Bell and John had time to get to know each other better, and he told John stories of Margaret when she was young. They also talked at length about the mill and the reasons it may have failed. John worried about how the failure of the mill would affect his workers, but Bell assured him that his agent was making inquiries to get the property leased. Hopefully, the new mill master would hire many of his workers, especially Higgins.

The ship finally docked in the beautiful port city of Cadiz, and John was disappointed that Margaret was not there to greet him, but instead, her brother was. Bell introduced the two men. John was struck by how much Frederick and Margaret looked alike, and if he had not been so blinded by jealousy the night at Outwood Station, he might have seen the resemblance.

John extended his hand, "It is nice to meet you, Frederick. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity you have given me."

Fred said, "We are to be brothers, and there is no gratitude needed. It is the least I could do for my sister's happiness and for all you have done for my family, Thornton."

Noticing that John was looking around for Margaret, Fred said, "Now, I am sure there is someone you want to see. I have asked my sister to help me organize my books in the office. She does not know that you were coming to Spain, and I am sure you both would appreciate a private reunion. Let me show you the way, and then Bell and I will go home."

John felt his heart beating furiously. He was nervous and excited at the same time. He could not remember ever feeling like this. It had only been a few months since he had seen her last, but to John, a man so in love, it felt like a lifetime.

Before stepping into the office building, Fred said, "Thornton, I am entrusting my sister's happiness into your care."

John understood his concern perfectly because he had felt the same when Watson asked for Fanny's hand, "Yes, and I can promise you, I will do all I can to make her happy."

Fred took Bell to his house for some refreshments.

The door to Fred's office was closed. John knocked on it and stood back to wait on Margaret to answer it.

The door opened, and there she was. More beautiful than he remembered, and his eyes hungrily drank in the sight of her.

Margaret was shocked at first, and then her face broke into a beautiful smile. "John!"

John smiled back at her and then opened his arms. She stepped forward into his embrace and laid her cheek on his chest. John was sure she could feel his heart racing. It was heaven to hold her in his arms at last.

"Margaret, my beautiful Margaret, I have come to Spain because I love you so much that I could not do otherwise."

Margaret looked up at him and said the words he had needed to hear for so long, "I love you, John, I have missed you."

They stood there for several minutes, just enjoying being together, tightly wrapped in each other's arms.

Finally, John spoke. "Margaret, will you have me? Will you be my wife even though I am a poor man now and have little to offer you other than my heart?"

"Yes, dearest John, I will marry you."

John took her face in his hands and gently kissed her. He had dreamed of this moment so long, and finally, she was his. He took the ring from his pocket and placed it on her hand.

The two sat in Fred's office and talked about many things. John told her the mill had closed, and he was in Spain to stay. Mr. Bell had an agent in Milton who was handling the paperwork to lease the mill out to another master, and Thornton had left a letter of recommendation for Higgins to be hired by the new master. Margaret hoped that most of the workers from Marlborough Mills would find work with the new master as well.

"Margaret, what of Henry? Have you told him that your heart belongs to me?"

"Yes, I have. The day before I wrote you the letter Mr. Bell delivered to you, I wrote to Henry and told him that my heart had chosen you."

They spoke briefly of his mother, and John said that he had a letter from Hannah that he would give to Margaret later.

Margaret took John's arm, "John, let me take you to the house. I want you to meet our family, and I am sure you are needing something to eat."


Cadiz was not nearly as large as Milton was, but it was certainly far more beautiful. The air was clean and there were colorful flowers everywhere. John took in everything he was seeing in wonder. There was no comparing Milton to Cadiz, and he was glad he and Margaret would make their life here. She deserved to live in a place of beauty.

They came to a beautiful large home constructed of white stucco. The sides of the house were covered in pink bougainvillea. John was introduced to Senor and Senora Barbour, and Fred's wife Dolores. The family all lived in the compound together. Even Dixon had rooms with the family in this house. Both Dixon and Mr. Bell were considered extended family and were loved as such.

John learned that it was the custom to take the largest meal of the day at lunch, and he was sure he had never eaten such a magnificent meal. There were many dishes that were unfamiliar to him, but each course was delicious. He found the blue-fin tuna course especially to his taste.

After lunch, he was shown to the guest house where he would live for the time being, and John was grateful for the private space. He was overwhelmed by the changes in his life, however welcome they may be, and he needed a place for some privacy. He also thought it would be very difficult to live under the same roof with Margaret because he wanted her in every way a man wants the woman he loves.

John reflected on the morning. Margaret had chosen him, and she loved him. Today, He had held her close, and he had touched his lips to hers for the first time. They had many things to talk about yet, including when they would marry.

He unpacked his trunk, and settled in. He set the letter from his mother on the bedside table to give to Margaret later. He thought of his dear mother, and hoped she was content with Fanny and Watson. He would miss her, but this was a choice he needed to make for his own happiness.

His sister had given him a handsome leather writing case as a parting gift. He took out paper and wrote to his mother. He knew she would be anxious to know he had arrived safely in Spain, and that all was as it should be with Margaret.

He heard a knock on the door, and it was Fred.

"Come in, Fred. I must thank you for the accommodations. I shall be most comfortable here."

"Since your father has passed, and as you are Margaret's closest family, I wanted to ask you for permission to marry her."

Fred extended his hand and said, "Permission granted, Thornton. I know you will want to marry Margaret soon. Margaret may have told you that my wife's family is Catholic, and I have converted. However, Margaret will not convert, nor is she expected to. There are many other churches here in Cadiz. People from all over the world reside here and the churches in Cadiz represent many different faiths.

"My sister has found an Angelicin church she likes, and Mr. Bell attends with her. It is my guess that she will want to be married there. You will need to apply for a license of course, and since neither you nor Margaret are Spanish citizens, we will have to see how long you must wait to marry. I can go with you to apply for the license since I may need to translate for you."

Fred extended his hand to John, "Thornton, I admire you for leaving your old life behind to forge a new one with Margaret here in Cadiz. There are opportunities here for enterprising men, and a man of your experience should do very well here. Barbour and Company will be able to increase our profits and our markets with your expertise, I am sure."

Fred continued, "I think you will find there are many things here in Spain that are preferable to England, at least in my opinion. For instance, people are more expressive, and family is the center of our lives. We work to live, instead of living to work. Our priority is to spend time with the people we love. True wealth here is measured in happiness, not how much we have in our bank accounts. I think there are many in England that feel the same as we do here, but there can be no doubt that the culture here in Cadiz will be very different from the culture in Milton."

"Life is slower-paced here, and we are far less concerned with the hands of the clock. As an Englishman myself, I found adjusting to the culture here a challenge at times, but now I embrace it wholeheartedly. I hope you will, too."

After Fred left, John thought about how the move to Milton had been a cultural change for Margaret. Even within England, there were differences between the North and the South.

Later that evening, John gave Margaret the letter from his Mother.

Dear Miss Hale,

My son has told me that you are a virtuous woman, and the tittle-tattles of Milton did you wrong when they gossiped so unkindly about you. I do not know the circumstances of what really happened that night at Outwood Station, but I trust John, and he trusts you.

I hope you and John will be very happy together. Your love matters more to him than anything, so please treat it as the precious gift it is.

I cannot make my apologies for my unkindness toward you in person. but I have enclosed a small gift for you as a token of my regret and my hope that you and I can come to understand one another better.

Sincerely, Hannah Thornton

Margaret was moved by Hannah's words and her lovely gesture of the handkerchiefs. She and John had the support of their families to marry. All was well.

Fred helped John acquire the necessary license to marry Margaret, and the wedding day was set for the following Saturday.

"Margaret, we will need to get a beautiful dress for the wedding," Dolores said. I know you are in mourning, but for your special day, I do not think your parents would mind you wearing something other than black for the most important day of your life."

Margaret smiled at her sweet sister, "Then we must go today and choose something that will please my groom."

Fred had an account at the drapers, so the ladies chose a soft blue for her dress. It was a practical choice because she would be able to wear it again. She also ordered two more cotton black dresses."

John and Fred spent a good deal of time together going over business matters. John had several suggestions to improve profits. John was given his own office and the days settled into a pattern. The custom of the siesta in mid-day was so odd to John, and it took some getting used to. He thought it might find it most enjoyable once he could spend that time with his wife.

John also had some new clothes made to accommodate the heat and for the wedding.


On Saturday, Margaret awoke on her wedding day full of happiness and hope. Today, she would become John's wife. They would live in the guest house for another few months until they could secure a home of their home.

Dixon knocked on the door, "Miss Margaret, it is time for your bath. We have much to do to get you ready for your special day."

Dolores and Senorita Barbour joined Dixon in Margaret's room. Between the three ladies, Margaret was certain she had never been so pampered. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and could hardly believe it was her own reflection in the mirror.

Dixon placed Maria Hale's veil on Margaret's hair. Senorita Barbour lent Margaret beautiful diamond earrings and a necklace to wear. Dolores presented her with her bouquet of flowers from their own gardens, and Margaret tucked one of Hannah Thornton's handkerchiefs under her sleeve.

Dolores declared, "Senor Thornton will not be able to take his eyes off you."

Mr. Bell knocked on the door. "Margaret, are you ready? It is time to leave for the church, my dear."

"You are stunning, Margaret. I hope Thornton knows what a lucky man he is."

The wedding took place in a quaint little stone church with climbing roses covering much of the walls. It reminded Margaret of the vicarage in Helstone, and she wished her parents could be with her on this special day.

John was waiting at the front of the church with Fred by his side. It had been decided that Mr. Bell would escort Margaret down the aisle in their father's stead.

The only guests were family. Dolores and Dixon had decorated the pews with flowers, and the little church looked beautiful. Dolores was Margaret's matron-of-honor and went to take her place in front of the church.

The music began, signaling it was time for the ceremony to start. Mr. Bell offered his arm to Margaret, and she was grateful for his support as she walked toward her John. He was resplendent in his new gray suit, and he never took his eyes from her.

John could barely contain his joy when Mr. Bell placed Margaret's hand in his. For the rest of his life, he would take care of this beautiful woman who had chosen to marry him.

The couple said their vows with much love in their hearts. When the vicar pronounced them husband and wife, John lifted her veil, and kissed her for the first time as his wife.

Dolores and Senora Barbour had prepared a wedding feast to celebrate, and while the food was very delicious, neither John nor Margaret ate much. The meal was a joyous occasion with many toasts and much wine. After the cake was served, and enjoyed, it was finally time for the new couple to make their way to the guest house.

Fred said, "John, come have one drink with me in the study while Dixon takes Margaret over to the guest house."

Dixon undressed Margaret and hung her wedding dress up. After she helped Margaret out of her corset, she took down Margaret's hair.

"Dixon, thank you, but I can manage from here."

Dixon took her leave, and Margaret changed into a beautiful white silk nightgown and robe that had been a gift from Dolores.

She was still sitting at her vanity brushing her hair when John knocked on the door.

"Come in, husband." John was struck by her beauty, and when she stood up and walked toward him, he could barely breathe. The robe and gown concealed very little, and she was even more magnificent than his most vivid dreams.

He took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. "Margaret, you are so very beautiful."

Margaret leaned back in his arms and boldly said, "My love, you are overdressed for the occasion."

John leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Undress me, my wife, and she obliged him quite happily.

"Are you nervous, my love? John asked as she pushed his shirt from his shoulders.

"No, I am not nervous, but I fear that I will not know what to do."

John picked her up and laid her on the bed, "We will learn together, Margaret."

The afternoon was spent making love and snuggling in bed. They were finally husband and wife with all the joys and pleasures afforded them with their vows spoken.

From that day forward, John embraced the Spanish custom of the siesta because he and Margaret spent that time together discovering all the ways they could please each other.


It was September in Cadiz, and even at night, the heat was hard to bear. Margaret and John went to sit in their garden hoping the breeze would cool them off.

"John, there have been so many changes in our lives over the last few months, are you ready for another?"

John said, "Whatever it is, we will face it together, Margaret. What change are you speaking of?"

Margaret reached out and took her husband's hand, "We are going to be parents in March. Today, the doctor confirmed it."

John could not contain his joy. He picked his wife up and twirled her around. "A baby! We are going to be parents!"

The rest of the evening was spent talking about all they hoped for their child, and their plans for the future. John held Margaret in his arms, and he sang to her, as he often did in the evenings.

Later that night, John laid in bed next to his wife, and counted his blessings. He never dreamed such happiness could ever be his. Living in Spain suited them both, even though they both missed England at times.

John knew his mother would be very happy to hear their news.

John had taken a leap of faith to come to Spain, and he knew it was the best decision he had ever made. He had married his beloved Margaret, had satisfying work, and Margaret's brother and his family had embraced him into the family fold.

He remembered Margaret's message in the letter Mr. Bell delivered to him when he thought all was lost.

"Come to Spain to hold me close in your arms. Come to Spain to make me your wife and sing to me for the rest of our lives."

That letter had changed his life….. His Margaret, beautiful and wonderful Margaret, had chosen him.

Author's Notes:

Thank you for reading! For now, this is where I am leaving the story. I have more chapters planned and may do a sequel to this story later. If you would like to read a sequel, please leave me a comment.

Mr. Bell has not gifted the deed to the mill to John and Margaret just yet. He realizes that the couple needs some time to adjust to all of the changes in their lives. The gift of the mill will create a conflict for John. I wanted our couple to have a bit of bliss before they deal with the choice they may need to make to remain in Cadiz with Margaret's family, or return to Milton to John's. I actually have a rough draft of three more chapters dealing with a return visit to Milton, John's family, and a visit to London to see Margaret's family, including Henry.

In my story, I wanted John and Margaret to have a chance to set the foundation for their marriage without the angst of dealing with John's long hours at the mill and the adjustment of living with his mother. In Cadiz, they get to spend much more time together, and their experiences there will shape how their raise their children.