It had been a long day; a very long day. John had awoken before sunrise to break his fast before heading to the mill to review the ledgers. Following this was the arrival of the workers, the usual maintenance problems with the machinery and answering a series of correspondences with possible investors. Then followed lunch with the men; following the breaking of the strike, and at Margaret's recommendation, John had hired Higgins as a deputy foreman. He had then suggested a joint meal fund, which, after a month of success, became a medical fund too. Margaret had been delighted in learning of these developments, and attributed them to her own influence over John. He, in turn, attributed it to sound business sense. Secretly, he knew that her approval of the schemes was all they needed to gain his.

It had been a long day, but Mr Thornton had the pleasure of the company of Mr Hale and his daughter to look forward to that night. And that had sustained him quite well. It had been three months since the riot, and John now three times a week spent the evening at the Hales. It was always the highlight of the day. At first, wary and suspicious, his debates with Miss Hale and her father had been stilted, each either too afraid to upset the other, or too stubborn to back down from contrary views. But from these early debates, a great respect grew. From that respect grew, at least on Margaret's side, affection. John was already too far gone. He had loved her from the start, and their closer acquaintance did nothing but further convince him that she was sheer perfection, and their partnership the key to his happiness.

However, this evening would be different. The last time he had visited, as she handed him his tea, Margaret's hand accidentally brushed John's. Their eyes automatically slid to each others. Margaret stopped mid movement, staring into John's eyes, while he sat transfixed on hers. Only Mr Hale re-entering the room made them aware of their surroundings, and Margaret sat back down, her fingers tingling where they had touched his. For the next half hour, she did not follow the conversation. Rather, lost in her own thoughts, she stared down at the carpet, a look of intense concentration on her face. Mr Hale, who had noticed the growing attraction between his daughter and his pupil excused both of their distraction, for John could not concentrate on anything but Margaret if she was in the room.

As John got up to leave that evening, Margaret stood to see him to the door. With a smile, and a strange look in her eye, she gave her hand to Mr Thornton, as was their custom. This time, however, she held his hand a little longer. The warmth spread. She felt as though the whole world was vibrating and only she and John stood motionless.

And John knew. Margaret was ready. Margaret loved him, and she knew it, and she accepted it. She loved him, esteemed him, respected him, and, John hoped, was ready to give herself to him. And so John, walking up to the Hales' front door, knew that tonight would be special.

MHJTMHJTMHJTMHJT

She welcomed him into the house. Her hair was different to usual; she had used small clips with pearls on them to decorate it. An errant curl ran deliberately down the right side of her face. Her cheeks were red. She wore a dress which was clean and freshly laundered; Thornton could see the fold creases. She had made an effort. He smiled at her, broadly, and responded to her greeting and confirmation of his family's health. However, as she made her way to the staircase, he stopped her.

"Miss Hale, may I request a private audience with you for a few moments before the lesson? You may have noticed, I arrived a few minutes early for that purpose."

Margaret blushed, hoping that her suspicions of what was to come were accurate, and lead him into the sitting room. She sat and a seat by the lit fire, and indicated that he could sit close by her.

However, as soon as he sat, he shifted, unable to be comfortable. However, on meeting her eyes, he stilled. And began.

"Miss Hale… Margaret. I… I know I have never found myself in this position before. It is difficult to find the words. My feelings for you Miss Hale…"

"Please. Stop" Margaret interrupted him, tears in her eyes. Inside, John froze. Had he misinterpreted her? Had he been wrong all along? Did she not feel what he felt, this burning passion, this desire to be forever near to her, close, protecting and loving with all that was within him. He felt himself flinch as if he had been struck. Rightly interpreting his stricken look, Margaret started to speak, words flowing freely from her mouth.

"Mr Thornton, pray do not worry yourself. I only meant to say that if I understand your feelings as I know you have penetrated mine, there is no need for anxiety. You need not try to find the words when between us, words have caused only friction. You must know I love you." At this, Thornton looked up, eyes wide and burning with a kind of deranged hope. " You must have seen how I react to you. You must know. So there is no need for you to struggle to find words when I know that our feelings are one."

Thornton quickly knelt at her knees, and cupped her face in his hand. In the same movement, he caught her lips, and the electricity which had lingered between them for the past months exploded as they went up in flames. Her lips, soft and pliable, moulded to his and he thought of nothing except how she felt against him. After passing a few delicious moments thus, he pulled back and began to speak.

"Margaret, you must allow me to tell you how I feel. You pierce my soul. You fill every part of me with light and hope and love. I am sure that we are two halves of the same whole. I know that at the beginning I did not impress you, but I will do anything- anything Margaret- to make you happy. Please," tears now filled his eyes, as they ran down her cheeks, "please be my wife? Let me love you and cherish you and praise you every day, til death do us part?"

Margaret closed her eyes, and leant her head on John's.

"I could have no greater pleasure in this world than being your wife," she whispered at him.

They smiled warmly at each other, and continued to kiss, all the hope and frustration of the past months resolved in the most satisfying way. When it became apparent that Mr Thornton would be quite late to his lesson, wth tears streaming and radiant smiles on both their faces, they ran upstairs to tell Mr and Mrs Hale the good news.

A/N; thanks to all who reviewed, I really appreciate it. Not sure of this one. It's the middle of the night here, so sorry f any mistakes. Will probably make it a four shot and do a scene a few years in, if people are eager. Let me know.