'Miss Hale, what in the world are you doing here at this hour?. Is something the matter..your mother…'

'My mother is resting comfortably this morning thank you Mr Thornton.' Margaret was touched by his thoughtful concern. She looked past him into the yard, relieved to find it still largely deserted at this hour of the day. 'May I have a word with you in private sir?'

Nodding, John stepped aside and allowed Margaret through the gate. He ushered her in the direction of his office.

Margaret could feel her hands trembling again. She had been rehearsing in silence what she wanted to say to Mr Thornton but was finding it difficult to maintain order in her thoughts. She usually prided herself on her intellect and fluency of expression. But this man, with his intimidating size and keen perception had an unnerving ability to discombobulate her. She was both intrigued and fearful of him at the same time.

'After you Miss Hale. Please take a seat.'

Margaret watched as Mr Thornton walked around the desk. She noted a vigor about him this morning. Usually she saw him in the evenings – no doubt after a long day at work. But this morning - revitalised from sleep and freshly attired - he looked sharper and more youthful than she had ever seen him. His blue eyes were even more vivid when not wearied by poor light and long hours behind his desk.

Margaret straightened her back clearing her mind of these distracting thoughts.

'So Miss Hale, what can I do for you?'

'Sir, firstly allow me to thank you for fetching the Doctor yesterday evening. I..that is to say..my family are grateful that you would go out of your way to help us in that manner..' Margaret rang her hands, feeling more awkward by the second.

At first Mr Thornton looked down at his desk as if abashed. Then raising his eyes to meet hers with a wry smile he said, 'your family owes me no thanks. It was only a natural instinct – any man would have done the same. And as a lady you should perceive that any man, worthy of the name of man, would come forward to help the family of a friend he holds in such high esteem as I do your father.'

Margaret felt a wave of heat at her own words being used against her. At first she sat stunned, not sure how to respond. Then as panic took over she rose to leave. 'Mr Thornton, this is folly, I must go before I reduce myself further in your opinion…'

John was at the door before she could reach it. Shaking his head in self-reproof he said, 'Miss Hale, please let me apologise for my poor attempt at humour just now. It was ill-conceived I'm afraid. You have clearly come on an important errand. Please do not let my words divert you from your mission.'

With his tone reassuring, Margaret returned to her seat. Mr Thornton resumed his position across the desk.

'Sir, I have come today to atone for my poor behaviour at Crampton on the day after the riot at the mill.' The day you proposed, she thought to herself.

Mr Thornton held his gaze steady. The tightening of his jaw muscles was the only indication that he understood her meaning.

'As you said yourself, I was unfair and unjust. I understand now that it must have been difficult for you to express yourself so… openly.' Margaret blushed.

Mr Thornton shook his head soberly in disagreement. 'Not at all. I said what I meant to say. My only regret in the whole affair was my misguided hope that you could feel more for me than you do.' There was an awkward silence between them for a moment. 'Miss Hale, forgive me, but can you please tell me the exact reason for your visit? I am sure that you did not come here with the intent of causing yourself further distress by recalling events we would both probably prefer to forget?

'Of course,' Margaret bowed her head feeling worse than before. Rallying every ounce of courage she had she decided to make her intentions plain to Mr Thornton – come what may. 'Sir, I have come here today to ask whether it is still your wish…' Margaret stammered, 'whether you still..well whether you still wish to marry me?' There, it was said.

Mr Thornton sat back in his chair. If he had seemed surprised at the gate, he looked completely astonished now. Stirring himself, he got up and moved around the desk to sit beside Margaret. 'Miss Hale, Margaret, what are you saying?'

'I am saying Mr Thornton, that I would like the chance to reconsider your offer of marriage – if the offer is still open that is?' Margaret looked down at her hands not daring to meet his eyes.

'Margaret,' Mr Thornton said fervently, 'Oh Margaret. Could it be..?' John reached out to take Margaret's hand but she retracted it quickly – as if his touch had scolded her.

John withdrew, his disappointment visible. 'So your feelings have not changed. You despise me today as much as you always have.' He got up and walked to the window to look out. After a moment he said 'What is this really about Miss Hale?'

Margaret felt the tears welling in her eyes. She could not continue the charade further. 'I need to help Mama. ' Margaret's tears were flowing now. 'Her treatments are very expensive. Papa does not have enough money to pay the Apothecary and my Aunt Shaw is away on the continent. We need money now to cover the costs of her medicines. ' Margaret paused. 'If I were to marry a man of means…'

Mr Thornton's disappointment suddenly turned to anger. 'So you would trade yourself? Sell yourself to save your mother?'

Margaret's steeled herself at his accusations. 'I cannot save my mother. But I can and will do whatever it takes to make her last days as comfortable and happy as they can be.'

Mr Thornton stood still, facing out the window for what felt the longest time. 'The irony is not lost on me Miss Hale,' he said finally. 'That you, who proclaimed you were offended by my manner, by my offer, should come here today and insult me in this way. Offering yourself like some sacrificial lamb to the slaughter. Expecting me to be tempted.'

'Insult you sir, how so?' Margaret was indignant. 'I have never misled you. It was you who offered me your hand without any assurances of my affections. Would you have been more content if I had accepted in the first instance before revealing my true feelings?'

John looked at Margaret in bewilderment - searching for the right words. 'Am I not your father's friend?' He paused to contain his emotion. 'For you to think that the only way to obtain my help was to give yourself to me… Did it never occur to you to just ask? Do you think so little of me that you would believe that I would not help without some kind of 'payment' in return?'

Margaret sat in silence, staring ahead of her. There was a terrible truth in his words. She had never felt more young and naïve. She had misjudged him. And he had seen through her.

'Miss Hale, I may not exactly be what you consider a gentleman, but your actions today are not those of a lady.' John delivered his words with clear intent to wound.

His aim was precise. Margaret stood, her only option to retreat. 'I am truly sorry sir; it was not my intention to upset or insult you. I was merely trying to take care of my family. Please accept my regrets. I will not importune you any further with my presence.'

Margaret walked to the door. Stopping short, her injured pride compelled her to turn and add, 'Perhaps I have acted with impropriety. And perhaps it was wrong of me to do what I did today, motivated as I was by my family's reduced circumstances.'

'But?' Mr Thornton's tone was still harsh.

'But, there is a part of me that feels that an alliance between us would have been successful. I know you are a good man. And whilst I do not pretend to care for you in the way you desire, I also do not dislike you as much as you think I do Mr Thornton.' Margaret half smiled to herself. 'My father thinks so highly of you - I know it would have made him happy to see us married.'

John walked to the door and opened it for her. Standing close, looking down at her he half whispered. 'Would it have made you happy Margaret?'

With a shrug of her shoulders Margaret said earnestly, 'I guess we shall never know.' Turning on her heel she walked out of the office.