Chapter Ten: Wedded Bliss

Margaret climbed into her bed for the last time in this house as an unmarried woman. Edith had prepared her for her wedding night, and Margaret was grateful. She was not afraid, but more anxious that John would find her pleasing as a wife.

The next morning, Margaret's room was a flurry of activity. Dixon ordered a bath and Margaret was scrubbed and pampered. Tea was delivered to the room and Edith joined in the preparations. Edith determined that Margaret would be the most beautiful bride that London had ever seen.

Margaret just enjoyed the moment. She would never again be a bride, and this morning was especially precious because these two women she had loved all her life, were making her ready to become John's wife. When at least Margaret's hair was done, it was time for the finishing touches. Margaret wore her mother's pearl wedding jewelry, and Edith placed Maria Hale's veil over Margaret's hair.

Margaret felt beautiful and hardly recognized her reflection in the mirror.

Captain Lennox knocked on the door. It was time for them to leave. He had hired a larger carriage to carry six people instead of four so Dixon could ride with them. She was a servant, but she had served Margaret's family for over twenty years and Margaret wanted her present at the wedding.

John and his family had arrived at the church almost a half an hour ago. The church was decorated beautifully with flowers, and it was quite the lovely. Hannah thought it was far too understated for a man of her son's stature, but it was the bride's family who hosted the wedding. If they had married in Milton, she would have made sure it was a far grander affair than this wedding.

John had asked Watson to stand with him as his best man, and Margaret had asked Edith to be her matron of honor.

The church was filled with guests. The Hampers and the Slicksons had accepted the invitation to the wedding and John was glad to see them. Mr. Martin was also in attendance. All of the pews in the church were filled with family and friends. John escorted his mother down the aisle to her seat, and Captain Maxwell escorted Mrs. Shaw to hers. Then, Watson escorted Fanny to sit next to her mother before he joined John in front of the church.

The music started, signaling the wedding had begun. Edith walked down the aisle first and joined the men at the front of the church.

The doors in the back of the church opened, and Captain Maxwell stepped through them with Margaret on his arm. John could not take his eyes off his beautiful bride. He could hardly believe this was truly happening.

Margaret kept her eyes on John as she walked toward him. When they reached the front of the church, Maxwell placed her hand in John's.

The couple said their vows and when they were pronounced man and wife, John lifted her veil and kissed her as his wife for the first time.

Hannah saw the love and the joy in her son's face, and she knew that her son was hers no more. He was Margaret's now, and she had to let him go. She would mar her son's joy on this day by her need to hold on to him.

Fanny thought the wedding was lovely. She reflected as she listened to John and Margaret exchange their vows, that she glad she had married her Watson. He was a bit gray, but he was the perfect man for her. No, she did not love him as John loved Margaret, but they had an affection for one another and it was enough for her.

The wedding breakfast was a gay affair, and both John and Margaret enjoyed it. The guests stayed for hours, and a good time was had by almost everyone. Fanny understood that her mother was unhappy about the wedding, so she kept on eye on her. Whenever she would see her mother alone, she would draw her into conversation with others. Henry was pleasant, but slipped out early.

John introduced Margaret's family to his new employer, Mr. Martin, and the other Milton guests. The other mill masters and their wives were impressed with Margaret's London home and the grand affair of the wedding. The ladies could hardly wait to get back to Milton to give their first hand accounts of the John Thornton's wedding to Margaret Hale. The men were envious of John's venture to America and that he would have his lovely bride by his side. Only a few weeks ago, John Thornton was a broken man, but now, things couldn't be better.

Finally, Aunt Shaw signaled that it was time to cut the cake. After everyone was served and enjoyed their slice, Captain Maxwell made a final toast to the happy couple. Guests slowly started making their way back to their homes, or to their hotels. Some of the men teased John good naturedly about his wedding night, but he took all in stride. He may not have experience, but he loved his wife with his whole heart, and he would do his best to make their wedding night a special memory for them both.

John and Margaret spent the next hour opening gifts, and Edith carefully noted each gift so that Margaret could write thank you notes to everyone. Edith would see that the gifts were packed in trunks to go to America with them.

John was impatient to finally be able to hold his wife. Maxwell could see that John was ready to leave, so he called for their carriage. Grateful, John thanked him, and they said their goodbyes to their families. Hannah had clung to her son, and John knew his dear mother was struggling with letting him go. He kissed her cheek, and then with a last wave to everyone, John helped Margaret into their carriage to go back to the Regent Hotel.

Mr. Martin had arranged for the new Mr. and Mrs. Thornton to have the honeymoon suite, and while the wedding was taking place, Margaret and John's belongings had been placed there.

John waited downstairs while a maid helped Margaret from her wedding gown. It was the longest thirty minutes that John could remember, but he told himself to savor this moment. He and Margaret would only experience their wedding night once in their lifetime together. He could be patient.

The maid finally came downstairs, and John made his way to his bride. He knocked before entering and Margaret stood in front of the window. When she turned to face him in her beautiful peignoir and robe, she took his breath away. She was even more beautiful than in his dreams.

He walked over and took her in his arms, and no words were needed. The language of love was spoken with kisses and caresses. John lifted Margert into his arms and laid her on the bed.

With all the love he felt for her, he made love to her with gentle passion and to his delight, she gave as much as he did. He had known how she would love, but the experience was more than he dreamed of. Her skin felt like velvet to his touch, and she responded to him as he explored her body. She wanted to explore his as well, so he laid back and let her tentative hands grow more confident with every touch. When he could stand no more, he whispered to her that he would be a gentle as possible this first time, and she was to let him know if he hurt her. Margaret was prepared for the pain, and thankfully, it was fleeting. What surprised her the most, was the intense pleasure that he could give her.

After they had become man and wife in their bed, Margaret laid in his arms with her hair fanned out over his chest, just as she had in his dreams. John pulled her closer and closed his eyes. No words could describe his joy, she was his Margaret, and he was her John.

They spent the following day learning all the ways they could please each other as husband and wife. They got out of their bed only to eat, and that afternoon, to bathe together in the enormous tub in their suite.

On Friday morning, they boarded the steamship that would take them to America and toward their new life together. Both families had come to the dock to see them off. John and Margaret stood on the deck of the ship with Mr. Martin and waved goodbye to their families.

Mr. Martin excused himself to give the couple a moment alone.

John stood with his arm around his wife's waist, and pulled her closer.

"Are you sad to be leaving England, Margaret?"

"No, I am not. All I could want in life to be happy is you. As long as we are together, I can be happy anywhere."

John agreed, 'You are my happiness. Whether we live in America or England, my heart has found its home with yours. I have never known such joy, Margaret. I wish I had the words to tell you what you are to me."

"Do you remember our conversation in Helstone about Mr. Bell and the gathering of wealth?"

Margaret looked up with her eyes shining with love at her husband, "Yes, John. You had said that you had wealth with all of your money, but my family was rich with the love we felt for each other."

John reflected, "You have made me the richest man on earth with your love, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that our life together will be beautiful."

Margaret smiled at her husband, "Yes, it will be because we will not take our love for granted. It was a painful journey to get where we are now, and let us never forget it."

John drew her closer and they looked back at the shores of England. They would make a new life for the next year or so in America. After that, the future was theirs to create together.

The End