Chapter 9: The Engagement Party

John had met his family at the train station and had escorted them to the Crown Hotel. It was Watson's usual hotel when he was in town, and it was closer than the Regent to all of the shopping for Fanny.

Hannah was so glad to see her son, and she noticed that he looked younger and less careworn than he had in years.

After they got tp the hotel, she asked to have a moment alone with John, so Watson and Fanny went on to their rooms. Hannah and John went to the tearoom in the lobby and sat down.

John asked his mother, "Are you well?"

Hannah wasted no time getting to her point, "No, I am not. I am worried you are making the biggest mistake of your life by marrying Miss Hale. She is not a suitable wife for you and will not fit into Milton society when you return to England."

Even though John had expected her reticence to his marriage, it hurt that she could be so against it.

"Mother, you once said that my happiness was everything to you. If that is true, then you must accept Margaret as my wife. I have never known such happiness, and I know that she loves me, too."

Hannah scoffed, "What about that other lover?"

John told his mother. "He was family, and that is all I will say about it. There was no other lover. The only man she has ever loved is me."

How did the two of you meet? Did you call upon her at her family's home?"

John knew what he was about to tell his mother would not be received well, "No, I went to Helstone, the place where Margaret grew up. I needed some closure before leaving for America. Margaret was there with Dixon, and we were finally able to have a conversation from our hearts. I decided to ask her to marry me, and she agreed. Originally, we had planned to wait to wed until I returned from America, but Margaret's aunt was dead set against our marriage, so we decided to marry now."

"Mother," and John looked her directly in the eyes, "I will allow neither circumstance or the matriarchs of our families to keep up apart. She has my heart, and I have hers. We are meant to be together for the rest of our lives."

Hannah understood her son. Any words against the marriage would alienate her from John, so she wisely held her tongue.

John had to get back to his hotel to change but would be back later to collect them for the engagement dinner tonight.

His mother felt a sense of dread to have to spend the evening pretending to be happy when she was not.


On Harley Street, there was hardly a moment that was not spent in a flurry of activity. The guest list had included members of their church, some of Aunt Shaw friends, Henry, and John had invited the other mill masters and their wives from Milton. There had not been time to collect RSVPs, so Aunt Shaw had planned for the maximum number of invited guests.

The house on Harley was decorated with multiple flower arrangements and every room in the house was spotless.

Tonight, there would be an engagement dinner for the happy couple since John's family had arrived in town this afternoon. Margaret was upstairs getting dressed, and Aunt Shaw wanted to go up and speak with her before she went to her own room to dress. Edith was dressed already and would oversee the last-minute details of the dinner. Maxwell would greet any early arriving guests alongside his wife.

Aunt Shaw knocked on Margaret's door, and Margaret invited her to come in.

"I cannot thank you enough for all you have done to prepare for the wedding, Aunt Shaw. I know this is not the marriage you wanted for me, but I want you to know that your blessing means the world to me."

"Well, there was little to do about it since Maxwell supported you in it. He believes your John to be a good man, so I am trusting that he is, or you would not love Mr. Thornton so dearly. I have to admit he is quite handsome."

Margaret thanked her.

Aunt Shaw took a box from her pocket and handed it to Margaret. Inside, was a beautiful emerald and diamond necklace with matching earrings. It matched perfectly the emerald, green silk of Margaret's gown.

"My dear, these were a gift from my husband many years ago. I never wear them anymore, and they are too beautiful to languish away unworn in my jewelry case. Edith suggested for me to gift them to you since they suit you far better than they do her. Emeralds are precious gems, Margaret, just as you are a precious gem in my life. I love you as if you were my own daughter, and I know I hurt you when I was not agreeable to you marrying your John, but I hope you know I only want the best for you."

Margaret could not stop the tears from falling down her cheeks, and she hugged her aunt tightly.

Aunt Shaw pulled away, and helped Margaret dry the tears from her beautiful face. Dixon knocked on the door to see about finishing Margaret's hair, and Aunt Shaw left them to go get dressed herself.

Dixon fastened the necklace around Margaret's neck, and Margaret put on the earrings. The light caught the sparkle of her diamond engagement ring. John had presented it to her only last night.

Dixon did Margaret's hair in an elaborate style that was both soft and lovely. She left tendrils to curl freely about Margaret's face in a most becoming way, and then she added two crystal butterfly hair pins to the back of Margaret's hair to complete the look.

Dixon said, "When I see you dressed as you are now, it is almost as if I am seeing your dear mother, Margaret. You are every bit as beautiful as she was."

Margaret stood up and hugged Dixon. "I miss her, too."

"Dixon, has John and his family arrived yet?"

"I do not believe so, but I would go on down now. I hope Mrs. Thornton and her silly daughter brought their manners with them."

Margaret half-heartedly scolded her, "Now, Dixon, those two women are about to become my family, so we must be nice."

Dixon just grumbled and started picking up Margaret's room.

Margaret heard voices in the hallway as she descended the stairs. John and his family had just entered the foyer when she was making her way down the stairs. John turned to watch her walk towards him, and their eyes met. He had always thought her beautiful, but tonight, she was exquisitely so.

He took her hand and tucked it into his arm, and they turned to greet his family.

"Good evening, Mrs. Thornton and Mr. and Mrs. Watson. I am so glad you could come."

Fanny gushed over Margaret's gown, and Margaret complimented Fanny on hers. Mrs. Thornton nodded her head. Watson extended his hand to Margaret and congratulated her on the engagement.

Margaret led them into the drawing room where the rest of the guests were gathering as well.

Margaret introduced the Milton family to everyone, and seated Fanny next to Edith on the settee. Watson and John joined Maxwell and Henry by the fireplace. Margaret introduced Mrs. Thornton to Mrs. Lennox, Maxwell and Henry's mother. Lastly, she guided Mrs. Thornton to her Aunt Shaw.

"Mrs. Thornton, I am sure you remember meeting my aunt in Milton."

The two ladies acknowledged each other but had little else to say to one another. Mrs. Lennox recognized the need for a third party in the conversation and joined the elder ladies of the group. Margaret had spoken to her of her future mother-in-law and knew that Mrs. Thornton had never thought Margaret worthy of her son.

"Mrs. Thornton, you must be thrilled to see your son marry such a lovely girl. We all love our Margaret, and although I had wanted for her to be my daughter-in-law, I wish her every happiness with John."

Hannah wished that Margaret was marrying that dandy, Henry Lennox instead of her son, but she reminded herself to mind her words. She would not embarrass her son with her acerbic tongue on such an important occasion for him.

She felt uncomfortable in her black bombazine gown. She had worn mourning clothes for the last seventeen years, but in this fashionable drawing room with the ladies all dressed in vivid colors, she felt out of place. She also noticed that Fanny's dress was not fashionable for London's taste.

She looked around at the cream-colored room, with all its elegance, and then she noticed Margaret in her lovely gown. She could understand John's attraction to Miss Hale. Certainly, she was beautiful. She caught John and Margaret looking at one another several times, and it was clear they were deeply in love. She hardly recognized her son. His scowl had disappeared and there was a softness in his face when he looked at Miss Hale.

The dinner bell rang, interrupting her thoughts, and Edith and Maxwell led them into dinner. John seated Margaret and to his delight, he was seated next to his beloved. He took her hand in his for a moment under the table and squeezed it.

Fanny was dazzled by the table settings and flower arrangements. It was all far simpler than the tastes in Milton, but somehow, it looked far more expensive. She had learned that Margaret had grown up in this fashionable home and it raised Fanny's esteem of her.

Before the first course was served, Maxwell stood to make a toast. "To John and Margaret, may your marriage be a long and happy one. We welcome you to the family, John."

Everyone raised their glasses to the happy couple.

Watson stood to make his own toast, "I wish you both every happiness. Welcome to our family, Miss Hale." Once again, every glass was lifted to the happy couple.

In all the gaiety and joy of the evening, only two people were unhappy at that table, Henry Lennox and Hannah Thornton.

Henry did not know how he was going to endure this evening, but for Margaret, he would try. He had never seen her so beautiful, and it was not the exquisite dress that she wore that made her look thus so, but she was clearly very happy. Her eyes were softer, and her lips curved into a smile easily. When she looked at John, he saw in her face what he had wished she could have felt for him.

Determined to be a gentleman, Henry stood to make his own toast, "My dear friend, Margaret, I can honestly say that I have never seen you so happy, and I sincerely wish you and Mr. Thornton every happiness."

Margaret and John both appreciated Henry's gesture and raised their glasses to him.

Mrs. Lennox was sitting next to Mrs. Thornton at the table, and after Henry sat down, Mrs. Thornton noticed that Mrs. Lennox was looking directly at Henry, and she nodded her head to him in approval. Margaret had not chosen to marry Lennox even though he clearly cared for her, and yet, Mrs. Lennox loved Margaret. It was strange to Hannah that a woman could still think well of a woman who had hurt her son.

Hannah somehow made it through the dinner. She participated little in the conversation around her, and she felt alone. Totally alone in this room full of people. Everyone in this room was doing their best to make this evening a happy one for John and Margaret but her. She felt ashamed but had no idea how to make herself feel differently. John had been her life for thirty-two years, and her happiness was built around him. She felt abandoned.

John would have Margaret to see to his every need for the rest of his life. What was she to do now that nobody needed her?

Thankfully the evening did not go on until late so everyone could get some rest for the wedding tomorrow.

Watson thoughtfully escorted the ladies to the carriage, and John had a moment to say goodnight in privacy to his Margaret.

John took her into his arms, and said, "Sleep well, Miss Hale. Tomorrow night, you will sleep next to me as Mrs. Thornton. I love you, and will meet you at the church in the morning."

Margaret could barely stand to let him go, but after tonight, she would never have to be parted from him again.