Margaret sat on the train, reading a children's book to the three younger King children. Three year old Harriet sat on Margaret's lap while five year old Alice sat eagerly to her right looking at pictures. Eight year old Thomas was to Margaret's left, he was a quiet boy who had become very fond of Margaret over the past two weeks in London.
Mrs. King had a governess, two nannies and a nurse. However, all seven children seemed to always be with her. All the children were very well behaved and Margaret had become a favorite with all.
Margaret appreciated Mrs. King's approach to family. Unlike most ladies, Mrs. King took a great interest in her children and was present and active in their care. This did not stop Mrs. King from also being present in society.
When possible, some or all of the children accompanied her but she occasionally went out unaccompanied by small ones. Margaret thought her a very good mother.
Margaret began to recognize some of the stations the train passed and she realized they were not far from Milton. Butterflies began to rise in her stomach and throat. Her voice began to trail off and the children were soon distracted by the industrial sights outside their window.
"Are you happy to be returning to Milton Miss Hale?" Mrs. King asked her friend.
"Yes, I have missed it very much" Margaret replied. "Do you know who will be meeting us at the station?"
Mrs. King knew instantly she was asking if he would be at the station.
"No one, just a servant and carriage. However, I did ask Mrs. Watson and her brother to tea this afternoon to welcome you. I know you and the Thornton's have been great friends. I'm sure you will want to visit Mrs. Thornton tomorrow as well." Mrs. King had planned everything most properly.
As they pulled into the station Margaret could feel her heart in her throat. She had not seen John in two weeks and while her heart was as full as ever, she had begun to fear he was not as eager. His letters had been frequent and endearing but they held little of the passion she knew him capable of.
Although she never would imagine him to put into writing any of the fire she felt behind their kisses, she searched his letters for a hint or innuendo of any heat. Day to day of mill and business talk and general chatting had her questioning if his feelings had shifted.
He had written so openly and freely, asking her opinion and waiting her reply before business decisions. What if he had come to think of her more as a companion and business associate? Margaret thought this very improbable however a recent piece of gossip had reached Margaret that had her mind spinning.
Margaret was very fond of modern art and there were a few young painters which she favored including John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt. She often went to the Academy or other exhibitions if they were being shown.
Margaret had recently heard a man connected with them, their patron and mentor John Ruskin, had a wife who was seeking an annulment due to nonconsummation. Margaret tried to discern what exactly this meant and until she frankly asked her aunt, was still not completely sure of the understanding.
Margaret had never met Mr. Ruskin but she had seen his wife Effie Gray once at a gallery and found her very elegant and beautiful. Margaret then learned the practice of always maintaining separate quarters and beds was not common but not all together unheard of.
Complete refusal to consummate was as Margaret learned not compliant with God's laws in marriage but not against the King's law. Margaret knew Mr. Thornton loved her and she thought it very unlikely that Effie Gray's fate could be her own.
However, before learning this gossip Margaret had never even dreamt of the concept and she doubted Effie had any idea before marrying Ruskin either.
A pressing thought formed in Margaret's mind,
Whether or not Mr. Thornton wished to have her as a wife completely and physically – My goodness the perils of lust. One always hears about a problem of too much lust but now it seems one can suffer from too little.
Margaret secretly thought she would prefer if Mr. Thornton suffered too much rather than too little, that would be more in line with her feelings she thought sheepishly. Little did she know soon she would learn the real tragedy of lust in her own society.
The train pulled to a halt and Margaret snapped out of her thought and began scanning the platform for Mr. Thornton. Even though she was told not to expect him, she still looked. And there he was.
A head taller than the crowd, standing with his top hat. As Mrs. King and the children began exiting the carriage Mr. Thornton came toward them and Margaret stepped out.
A short distance and only a moment lay between them. Margaret stepped toward him and then they forgot themselves. Suddenly all the noise and movement surrounding them halted.
As if stepping through pudding-thick fog Margaret moved forward, walking in a dream completely impenetrable to the bustle around them. They both reached forward in an embrace and suddenly without warning he kissed her and she kissed him back ever so quickly and naturally.
Like lightening the moment passed and they moved part and away as if nothing had happened. The lightening still stung on Margaret's lips and she felt the fire of all eyes upon her even if there were none.
Mrs. King called to them,
"Good God child, I will throw cold water on you. Now come let us get home before gossip reaches Mrs. Thornton, here take Harriet's hand"
They all gathered into the carriages. Mrs. King, the baby, Harriet, Margaret and Mr. Thornton all traveled to the King's home in Mr. Thornton's carriage. General tet-e-tet commenced as they traveled.
Mr. Thornton filled the ladies' ears with all the developments and gossip which he knew, which was not much. Mrs. Grey returned from her visit to her mother in Scotland, Miss Latimer was to be engaged to Mr. Slickson's nephew Mr. Carlyle, and the Hamper's niece Augusta was visiting from Surrey.
Although Miss Augusta Hamper was a Southerner, Milton's society had not found a Margaret Hale in her, for better and worse. She was quite entertaining and delightful, a bit of a flirt, but she was proving to at least provide some lively entertainment and excitement going into winter.
When they reached the King's home the sun was beginning to set and with it the children's patience. Mrs. King handed the baby to Margaret as she and little Harriet slipped out of the carriage.
As Mr. Thornton stepped out of the carriage Mrs. King, other child and nannies began to walk up the small yard to the house.
Margaret handed the sleeping baby to Mr. Thornton as she herself exited the carriage. She reached for the baby but Mr. Thornton pulled away.
No nurse in sight and a sleeping baby on his shoulder he said,
"Never wake a sleeping baby, I'll hand her to the nurse inside" Margaret agreed and reached to tuck the blanket around a small foot.
Mr. Thornton never took his eyes off Margaret and soon his piercing stare transfixed her in the place she stood. It was as if his stare was sucking the air from her lungs. Just as her chest tightened and she thought her heart would burst he smiled and turned toward the house.
How beautiful he was standing here with her and she had to admit to herself the sight of him holding a baby was quite more than she had ever imagined.
Margaret had not seen many men holding babies, aside from her father during a baptism. The thought of him holding her… their own babies grew in Margaret's mind and she could feel the warmth and tension growing in the pit of her stomach.
Mrs. King called them in quickly and the moment passed. However Margaret's memory of this moment would not pass so quickly.
Inside Margaret and Mr. Thornton were reprimanded for their very inappropriate kiss at the station as well as Mr. Thornton's forward move meeting them at the station at all.
The plea to both offenses were the same. Neither could contain themselves but guilty none the same.
Mr. Thornton stayed, his sister arrived for tea later in the day but all were parted before dinner. With a promise to visit his mother, and perhaps the mill, tomorrow Margaret and Mr. Thornton were satisfied with a kiss on the hand as he left the house.
Margaret was happy to be back in Milton, and closer to John. Now she is home all will be well, for a time.