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Chapter 4

It was an hour before the wedding and John was a wreck. What if she didn't show up? What if she changed her mind? What if she tripped and injured herself? What if she didn't love him anymore?

Margaret too was a nervous mess, but for reasons separate to John's. She didn't have any female figure in her life to preach to her about her duties as a wife. Her aunt and cousin would arrive just in time for the wedding as their train was delayed. Dixon had never been married. Her father was clueless of her dilemma as he knocked on her door "It isn't polite to be late to one's own wedding Maggie. I shall wait for you down stairs."

John will teach me everything I need to know, she thought. She truly looked bewitching in her mother's cream wedding dress. She felt like a queen as she placed a tiny silver tiara on her head and looped it into her curls. The powders Edith had sent from London were making her skin sparkle. Her mother's sapphire blue pendent resting on her breast.

She walked down the stairs to her father with all the grace and poise of a queen. Mr Hale marvelled as his daughter looked just like his lovely wife did on their wedding day. Dixon was waiting with the carriage outside. Mr Hale helped her into the carriage.

"Miss, you look just like your mother on her wedding day! Bless her soul." Dixon wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and sniffed.

The carriage ride was quiet as everyone was lost in their own nostalgic thoughts. They arrived at the church. Margaret felt her heart in her throat as she stepped out of the carriage. A part of her wanted to run away, yet another part of her wanted to race down the aisle. She was either going to be the best day of her life, or the greatest mistake she'd ever make.

She still had fifteen minutes to spare before the wedding, so she quietly headed to the small garden next to the church. She thought she was ready for this, yet maybe she should have waited for a few more months. The look of longing and isolation in Mr Thornton's eyes was what made her push for a short engagement, an indecently short engagement.

She heard leaves crunching as a person approached the bench she was sitting on "Margaret!" It was Mr Thornton, John. "Are you having second thoughts?" He asked as he sat next to her. His face was solemn, yet she could see how his hands were shaking as he buttoned and unbuttoned his coat. It was his nervous tick.

"No second thoughts, just nerves. I'm... I am afraid." She held his gaze as she spoke, her voice as soft as the petals of a rose "We will be bound for life soon, and I don't know how to act like a wife. I don't have anyone I can ask..." She blushed as she continued "I don't even know the duties of a bride in the bedroom."

John reached out to take her hand "we will learn together. I too haven't had a male figure to learn from and I have never had the time nor the inclination for an affair. I will not force any 'duties' on you Margaret. I don't wish for a reluctant bride."

After a moment of silence, she smiled "Let's get married" she helped him up by the hand that was still in his possession. The relief John felt was monumental.

They walked back to the entrance of the church, where John handed her over to her father, and walked back up the aisle to take his position.

The rest of the wedding was spent in a dreamlike haze, as neither John nor Margaret were aware of anything but each other's presence. For them, their vows were what happened in the garden. The crux of their marriage would be honesty and communication.

The reception was over before they even realised that it had begun. Both the bride and the groom were nervous, yet strangely exhilarated. They bid their guests farewell after all the drinks had been toasted and all the well-wishers had spoken. Mr Bell and Mr Hale seemed a bit teary as Margaret and John boarded their carriage.

John was so happy, he could fly away. He felt lighter than ever. He was holding her hand, so soft in his rough callous palms. In that moment, he felt gentle. He'd already known that he could never hurt her, but at that point he knew that she had all the power in their relationship. He may be the man of the house, but she was the queen of his heart. His wife. His responsibility was no longer just to himself, his mother and sister. He was now a husband. He couldn't be happier about it.

Before the couple could exchange words, they were home. John helped Margaret out of the carriage, and before she could take another step, he picked her up and carried her over the threshold. Margaret's delighted laughter making him feel ten feet tall.

They had the house to themselves since his mother had decided that her and Fanny would be in the way of their celebrations and had decided to take a holiday for a week. They were going to London, against mother's wishes and to John's amusement.

The servants greeted their new Mistress and were dismissed for the night. Feeling a bit shy, John led his new wife up the stairs to his chambers. He didn't want to spend a single night away for her, so he'd decided against preparing the adjoining room for her to his mother's disapproval. He was now wondering if Margaret would find that improper. Maybe he should have asked her... But how does one approach such an issue before being wed? His mind was going around in circles by the time they'd reached the top of the stairs.

With his arm around her waist, he opened the door. She walked in before him with all the grace of a swan. Her elegant neck exposed to his hungry eyes. He stepped in and shut the door behind him. The quiet thud startling them both. Unable to control himself, he lunged forward and pulled her into a deep kiss, his hands went to her hair to begin the busy task of removing all the pins. She lay a hand on his cheek and he pulled back to gaze into her eyes. She was nervous.

He looked down to realise that her gown was at their feet and she was standing in front of him with only her undergarments on. He picked her up, carried her to the bed and lay her down. "We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with Margaret," he whispered and stepped back, "this is your home now. If you're not ready, we can just go to sleep, and if you're uncomfortable with me sleeping next to you, I'll make other arrangements."

She stood up then, walked to him and pulled him down so she could look into his eyes "I wouldn't have agreed to marriage if I was uncomfortable with the thought of sharing a bed with you. Now stop being dramatic and finish what you started." She blushed as she spoke.

"Yes ma'am" John laughed.

A/N: I hope this is still within character… I tried making them shyer, but they wouldn't cooperate. I don't feel comfortable with this chapter… feels unfinished somehow, but I'm posting it anyway.

Anyone in the food industry on here? I'm studying food science, just wanted to ask some questions…