Chapter Five: Conversation and Confrontation
John met Mr. Martin at the appointed time, and Mr. Martin wasted little time getting down to business after pleasantries were exchanged. Mr. Martin was in his mid-forties and married with four children. He was anxious to get his business down in England and get back home to his family.
"Thornton, I am so glad you have decided to go to America with me. I think you can help me improve my mills a great deal with your expertise and methods used at your mill."
"Mr. Martin, as I told you in my last letter, my mill failed because I had overinvested in equipment without enough reserve capital to cover any slumps in the market, or an unforeseen circumstance such as the strike."
Martin nodded his head in understanding, and replied, "Thornton, as you well know, there is unrest in America due to the issue of slavery. I think a civil war may be years down the road, but in the meantime, I want to make my mills run more efficiently and to prepare for impending shortages of raw materials should the war happen sooner than later.
I think you will be even more invaluable to me because you have learned from your own failure, and by the way, the mill failed, you did not. According to your letter, not only did the strike impact your business but also an unseasonably cool summer two years in a row."
John appreciated his understanding of his situation. He realized that Mr. Martin was the only person he had spoken to about the closing of the mill who truly understood.
Martin asked John about his personal life, and John explained that his mother would be living with his sister and her husband.
Martin pressed on, "Please forgive my impertinence, and you are not obliged to answer this question, but is there a young lady in your life?"
John smiled, and said, "I do not mind you asking, and yes, there is someone special. We became engaged only yesterday. When I return from America in a year, we will marry."
Martin furrowed his brow, "Why wait a year? She could come with you to America as your wife. Part of your compensation is a lovely house, and it is certainly large enough for two. In America, we do not have so many servants as you have here in England, but there would be room for at least one maid, or two. I would imagine you would need a cook as well."
"Mr. Martin, I cannot support her and any children we may have at this time. I do have some savings to get started in America, but I will need to send money home to help support my mother. As much as I regret it, Margaret and I will have to wait to be married."
"Forgive me, John, but that is not necessary. She can make a home for you in America, and who knows? You may decide you want to stay longer than the year I am contracting you for. As a son myself, I can understand you need to help support your mother, but I am sure you can be a husband and a dutiful son as well."
John thought his reasoning sound, but Mr. Martin was not in possession of all the facts, "Sir, what you do not know, is my fiancé is from gentry. Her father was a vicar, and he was the second son of an earl. Margaret's great-uncle was a baron. She was raised in high society by her aunt in London. Recently, her godfather left her a fortune in money and properties. Surely you can see that I must reestablish myself before we wed. I am a tradesman and below her in society's eyes, but now, I am beneath her in wealth as well."
Martin knew that John had made up his mind, and he could well understand his reasons, so he wisely changed the course of the conversation to a more pleasant topic.
"Thornton, please tell me about your young lady."
John described his Margaret to Mr. Martin, and it did not go unnoticed that John's whole countenance softened when he spoke of Miss Hale.
The evening ended with plans for the two men to meet again in six days. Mr. Martin had secured passage for them on a ship leaving in seven days. In the meanwhile, he had business to conduct, and invited John to remain at the hotel for as long as he wished as his guest.
John planned to return to Milton tomorrow evening to gather his things and to say goodbye to his family. He also needed to tell them of his engagement.
At Harley Street, Margaret was miserable. When Captain Lennox returned her and Dixon back home to Harley Street, Dixon burst into tears almost immediately.
Of course, Aunt Shaw demanded to know why, and Dixon managed to say that Miss Margaret was ruining her life.
Captain Lennox was stunned at Dixon's betrayal, and Margaret was outraged. She dismissed Dixon and then turned to face her aunt.
Aunt Shaw asked, "What is Dixon speaking of Margaret? How are you ruining your life?"
Edith and Maxwell were sitting together on the sofa, and Margaret saw Maxwell take Edith's hand. Edith looked quite alarmed.
"Aunt, and Cousin Edith, I am engaged to be married."
"Engaged! That is preposterous, Margaret. Other than Henry, no young man has come calling because you show absolutely no interest in anyone. Who is this man you are engaged to?"
Margaret came and sat before her aunt. She took her aunt's hands in her own, and said, "I am to marry the man I love more than anyone else on earth, Aunt Shaw. I will marry John Thornton."
Aunt Shaw was flabbergasted. "You cannot be serious, Margaret! He is a tradesman and lives in that horrible house next to the mill. I can find nothing nice to say about his mother. I forbid this marriage, Margaret. It is beneath your station in society."
Margaret was patient and implored her aunt to listen to her. "Aunt Shaw, I have loved him for a long time. Many months ago, he asked for my hand, but I refused him because I did not understand him at that time."
Margaret continued, never belying that she was a bundle of nerves beneath her calm demeanor, "Mr. Thornton spent a great deal of time at our home in Crampton. He took lessons in philosophy from Papa, and I learned that there was a great deal to admire in him, Aunt Shaw. Over time, I grew to not only admire him, but to love him as well."
"As far as the mill house is concerned, it probably is not a concern. John is not master of Marlborough Mills any longer. I know that his mother can be unpleasant, but with time, I hope she and I can get along for John's sake."
Aunt Shaw did not marry for love herself, and with Margaret's fortune, it was important that her niece make a marriage that befitted her station. "Margaret, surely you see that he is not a suitable match for you. Henry would be a much better match, and one your family approves of."
Margaret turned from Aunt Shaw and looked at Maxwell, "Would you want your brother to marry a woman who loves another man?"
He shook his head no. "I want my brother to have all I have with Edith, and therefore, I can no longer support a match between you and Henry."
Edith asked, "Margaret, when did you see Mr. Thornton again?"
Margaret said, 'He came to Helstone a few days ago to see the place I grew up before he left for America to begin a new job. He has turned the mill over to another master, and will be working for Mr. Martin in Lowell, Massachusetts."
Edith persisted, "Why haven't you spoken of him to me, Margaret? We have always been so close."
"We have always been close, and I hope we always will be, Edith. I thought he was lost to me, so what was there to say? These months since Mama and Papa have died, I have grieved not only for their loss, but for the love I lost as well. My heart has ached for him."
Margaret turned to her family and in a firm voice said, "I am a woman of age and means now. I appreciate all you have done for me, but I must make my decisions for my life. I have chosen to marry John Thornton. While I do not need your permission, I want very much to have your blessing."
Captain Maxwell stood up and hugged Margaret. "You have my blessing, Margaret."
Both Edith and Aunt Shaw just sat there, not saying anything.
Maxwell addressed them both. "This morning, John and I had a chance to talk, and he told me about the engagement. I allowed them to sit together on the train so I could observe them. I believe they love each other as dearly as Edith and I do. As a family, I think we need to support this marriage."
He continued on, "Thornton will be in America for one year and then, the two of them shall marry.
Maxwell turned to his wife, "Just as Margaret helped you plan our wedding, just think of how much fun the two of you will have planning theirs."
Edith brightened with the thought of planning Margaret's wedding. She stood you and hugged her cousin. "Well, if you are to be married, it must be down in style. I will help you with everything. Make no mistake though Margaret, I think Henry is a far better match in many ways for you. However, you have always been stubborn and once your mind is set, I believe it to be unchangeable."
Everyone turned to look at Aunt Shaw. She was not won over yet, and until she spoke to John Thornton herself, she would not be swayed. A tradesman and married to her niece! It was not to be borne. She had to make Mr. Thornton understand that an engagement between the two of them was unsuitable.
Margaret realized that Aunt Shaw would not make things easy on John when the two of them spoke. However, John could be a bulldog if need be, and her aunt would soon realize that he was not a man to cower to anyone.
Margaret told her aunt that Mr. Thornton was expected at 10:00 the next morning.
They had all sat down to relax after the difficult conversation. Mrs. Shaw had just rung for tea, when a servant showed Henry into the room.
After Henry had greeted everyone, Margaret asked if they could take a walk in the garden.
Henry offered his arm, and Margaret took it. They walked out into Aunt Shaw's magnificent cottage garden and sat on a stone bench.
Margaret removed her arm from his and turned to him. "Henry, I consider you one of the dearest friends I have ever had. And because I value that friendship so highly, I wanted to tell you personally that I am engaged to John Thornton. We will be married one year from now."
Henry was speechless. When did all this happen, and how? He was at Harley Street every day and as far as he knew, John Thornton had not come for a visit.
Margaret explained how John had come to Helstone and a little of their history together. There were things too personal that would always remain just between John and Margaret, such as John's first proposal, but she revealed enough for Henry to know that she deeply cared for John Thornton.
Henry was hurt. He loved Margaret and had loved her for years. She had rejected his proposal in Helstone, and now she had accepted John's proposal also made in Helstone. He was angry but did his best to hide it. He had thought he had made progress in gaining her affections since she had returned to London, but sadly, he had been mistaken.
Henry needed to process his feelings in private. He walked Margaret back to the house and left without another word to anyone. He had lost her, and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.
Margaret returned to her family. She knew she had won this battle with her family today, but the war would be fought tomorrow when John came to speak with her Aunt Shaw, and when John told his family upon his return to Milton. Margaret had little hope that John's family would support their marriage as Mrs. Thornton had made her feelings about Margaret quite clear.
At least Maxwell was on their side.
