Chapter Seven: A Change of Plans

John was in a quandary. His pride demanded that he remedy his financial situation before marrying Margaret. Right now, he could not provide for her as he wished to. It was the imbalance in their circumstances that bothered him so much. He had only enough to get by on currently, and she was wealthy, very wealthy.

Mr. Martin had assured him that Margaret would be welcomed to go with him to America, and now, John feared that if he did not put his pride aside, he would lose Margaret. Her family might not be able to persuade her against him, but what if she never received his letters and believed that he had forgotten her? John had no illusions that Mrs. Shaw would not do all she could to prevent them from marrying, including withholding his letters to Margaret.

The very thought of losing Margaret tied his stomach up in knots. He had to swallow his pride and persuade her to marry him now. He would not be able to provide for her in the style he wished he could, but according to what Mr. Martin has told him, they would be comfortable, and best of all, they would be together.

Margaret came down the stairs and smiled at him. He draped her shawl around her shoulders and offered her his arm.

Margaret apologized for how her Aunt Shaw behaved. "John, please forgive my Aunt Shaw for how she behaved. She is quite used to getting her way, and she was not happy about Maxwell siding with us. I worry about what she is saying to him right now."

John squeezed her hand, "Captain Lennox has faced adversaries before, and I am sure he can handle your aunt."

Margaret led him to a little park she often frequented, and they sat down on a bench.

John knew he was asking a great deal of her, but it had to be done.

"Margaret, what is your vision for our wedding?"

"Something simple, John. Just our closest friends and loved ones. I am not one for grand weddings. Edith will turn our wedding into one like hers, but I am going to do my best to keep it more to my taste. It is tradition to have it in the church my family attends, and then Aunt Shaw will surely insist on having the wedding breakfast at her home."

John could just see it all in his mind, and it seemed much like Fanny's wedding. Very elaborate and impersonal.

John took both of Margaret's hands in his. "Margaret, I cannot bring myself to leave you, not even for a day. And, I worry that if I go to America without you, we will be separated forever. I could not bear that, my love."

John continued, "Mr. Martin has told me that I could bring you with me. Margaret, I carry my magistrate papers with me whenever I travel. With them, I can procure a special license this afternoon, and we can be married in a few days."

Margaret had not considered that they could marry so soon.

"John, what about your family? We have not spoken of them. I think before we decide this matter, we need to talk about your mother and sister."

"My love, they will behave just as your aunt did. I feel it is all the more reason for us to marry and leave for America together. We have just found each other, and I fear that we have not had enough time to forge a bond that can withstand so much pressure, even though I have complete faith in your love for me. I cannot leave you to face it all alone. Quite frankly, I do not trust your aunt to give you my letters."

Margaret knew he was right, and she would have to face the pressure to break their engagement without his support. She had not doubt she would stand strong, but the year apart would be a stressful one. His sister and mother would be in Milton, so there would be little contact with them, but it was clear that aside from Maxwell, none of the family would favor the marriage. John could be right in that her aunt would withhold his letters from America to her.

John could see that Margaret was considering his suggestion to marry immediately, and he pressed on.

"Margaret, this is our chance to create the future we spoke of in Helstone. We will be free to make the life of our own choosing without anyone trying to create strife between us. In America, we will be John and Margaret Thornton, not a failed mill master and an heiress. That is what we are here, in your family's eyes, like it or not. My family will not be any more charitable in their view of our marriage than yours, I am afraid."

"My mother will never find you worthy of me because of you did not accept me the first time I proposed. Quite frankly, she would never accept any woman I loved because she is so possessive of me. Since Mother has known of my attachment to you, she has been afraid of you taking me from her. I know it is ridiculous, but it is how she feels."

John was sorry not to reassure Margaret that his family would accept their marriage, but he continued on, "Fanny will accept you but only because you are an heiress, and we both know she values money and social status more than anything else."

As John was speaking, Margaret was thinking about what he was saying. If she was being honest with herself and with John, she had no desire to share a home with Mrs. Thornton, at least not at first. She also found Fanny Thornton shallow and crass.

Margaret asked John, "Do you think it is possible that your family would accept our marriage better if we lived in America, or do you think it will make your mother resent me even more?

"I honestly do not know, Margaret. My mother loves me and wants my happiness, but we will have to give her some time to adjust to the idea of her son being a married man. She is not an easy woman to know. Besides me, I only do not think anyone truly knows my mother, not even Fanny."

"When we return to England, she may come to live with us. Would you be agreeable to that?"

"Yes, of course, John. I want to create a happy home for us and for our family. I only hope if she comes to live with us she can contribute the happiness in our home."

"Yes, I hope so, too. I am glad we will have time on our own, Margaret, just the two of us."

"John, you said yesterday that you would not marry me until you could provide for me on your own. What has changed your mind about that condition of our engagement?"

"My love, when I met with Mr. Martin the last night, he told me that I would live in a small house as a part of my compensation. I will be earning a salary as well, so I will be able to provide for you. I had not known the specifics of the money I would earn until last night and that a small home would be provided as a part of my compensation. I had envisioned living in a boarding house initially, not a home.

"It is important to me to provide for you all on my own, Margaret. Your money will remain yours and there will be no argument about that."

Margaret did not want to have any disagreements with John, so for now, she would not say anything about her inheritance. John was a prideful man, and she honored that.

John would need to leave shortly to get the special license today, but he needed Margaret's agreement first.

"Margaret, will you marry me on Wednesday? I know it is only four days away, but I would like for us to have a few days to adjust to married life before we board the ship for America.

Margaret's face lit up with happiness. Yes, I will marry you on Wednesday and go to America with you."

John could barely contain his happiness.

Margaret, how close by is your church? We will need to arrange things with the vicar before we go back to your aunt's house. I will get the special license after I see you back home. It is Saturday and the registrar office may close early today.

John said, "I will need to write to my family to bring my trunk and to come to London for the wedding. I will not be returning to Milton tonight as planned. I plan to stay in London with at the hotel. We can see each other every day until we wed."

Margaret could hardly believe this was all happening, but she was happy to know she would be his wife in just a few short days.

The couple took off for the church, and luckily, the vicar was agreeable to the plan. John would have to show him the license after church tomorrow, but the date and time were set. The couple would marry at 10:00 on Wednesday morning.

At the house on Harley Street, their news put the whole family in an uproar. Aunt Shaw knew she was to blame for their decision, but she could not regret trying to do right by Margaret. She felt very unsettled by the rushed wedding, but she would give them a small wedding breakfast despite it. She could not have Margaret leaving for America angry at her.

Edith was dismayed because she had hoped to persuade Margaret to reconsider her decision, but Maxwell had cautioned her against it.

When John left to procure the license, the ladies spent the rest of the day making wedding preparations.

Edith whisked Margaret off to the modiste to see if she had anything ready to wear for Margaret's wedding dress. As it happens, she had a cream-colored silk dress in progress for another woman who did not need it for several weeks. She had bought bolts of that fabric, so she had more than enough silk for both gowns. She took Margaret's measurements, and the bodice design was determined. Mrs. Shaw was a frequent customer, and the modiste had made many gowns for Margaret over the years. She would have the dress ready for a fitting in two days and finished by Tuesday. The wedding dress would be a gift from Edith and Maxwell, as well as her trousseau.

They stopped by the flower shop on the way back to the house, and several arrangements were ordered for the house and for the church.

Their last stop was at the Adams Mercantile for several items for Margaret's trousseau. Edith picked out several racy nightgowns, and Margaret blushed. She did not refuse them though, and Edith determined that her cousin really did love her Mr. Thornton. Edith added several pairs of silk stockings and undergarments to the ever-growing pile of purchases. The shopkeeper was happy with their many purchases and told them he would have them delivered to Harley Street later that afternoon.

The ladies were exhausted from their afternoon and returned home for tea.

John returned to the hotel with his errand completed, and he ran into Mr. Martin in the lobby.

"Martin, I am so glad to run into you. I have convinced my Margaret to marry me on Wednesday, and then accompany me to America. I hope you can attend our small wedding."

John conveyed the details of the date and time, and Martin said he would be there.

Martin shook John's hand, "Congratulations, Thornton! I am happy things worked out this way."

The two men parted company and John went to this room to write to the letter his family in Milton.

Dear Mother and Fanny,

I know it is very short notice, but I would like to invite you both and Watson to London to attend my wedding. Miss Hale and I will be married in her church here in London at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday of this week. You will need to take the train to London on Tuesday, and I will book lodgings for you here at the Regent Hotel.

I hope you can be happy for me. Margaret is everything to me, and I cannot be happy without her by my side. I am fortunate that she loves me, too.

Mother, I know you have your reservations about Margaret, but I am asking you to trust me to make the best decisions for my life. With time, I hope you can come to know what a wonderful woman she is and come to love her as a daughter.

I need you to bring my trunk with my clothing and personal items with you when you come. I am not returning to Milton before the wedding. Margaret and I will sail for America on Friday after we are married.

Watson, will you do me the honor of standing with me as best man?

You may send your response to the address I have included on the envelope.

Yours affectionately, John

He took the letter down to be sent to London on the evening train. The letter would arrive in Milton tomorrow morning. John hoped his letter would not cause his dear mother too much unhappiness.