The night of Mrs. Grey's dinner arrived. Margaret had reviewed the menu and seating chart as promised so she anticipated no surprises. She planned to arrive an hour before other guests as she had been instructed.
Margaret had chosen her dress carefully from amongst her London gowns. A soft pink satin gown with skirts as large as any Fanny Watson wore. Layers of flowing satin overlaid by layers of French Valenciennes lace. Not from the selection of Milton's finery but Margaret could not punish the beautiful gown for its foreign origins.
The bodice was low on her chest and arms, exposing the soft white skin of her shoulders. The neckline was lower than what Margaret was used to. Her bosom flowing out of her gown in a way that was on the edge of tasteful and vulgar.
Margaret thought back to the last fitting when she expressed concern for her exposed décolletage. Her aunt and cousin both agreed the excess of person was quite becoming and was in no way distasteful. As her hair was being placed she looked in the mirror and felt almost naked with her exposed skin. Her aunt and cousin either had very different tastes or had not been truthful in their comments. But she didn't care. She wondered if her appearance would have any effect on Mr. Thornton or if he was accustomed to more fashionable ladies parading their excess of person in hopes of catching his eye.
Margaret decided a delicate gold chain with a small cross laying at her collar bone was less distracting than the black ribbon choker she originally chose. Her hair was pinned lower in the back as was becoming the fashion with a few lose curls framing her face. Margaret secretly knew this would drive Mr. Thornton wild as he would continuously wish to manipulate them every time she tucked one behind her ear.
Margaret slipped on her long gloves and began struggling to button the small white covered buttons. She was more nervous than she knew and her fingers shook. Her maid took over and Margaret let out a breath she did not realize she was holding.
This party was for Margaret and Miss Hamper, so all eyes would be watching them. Secretly, the event was developed as a plot to throw Margaret and Mr. Thornton together. Margaret did not know which prospect gave her more anxiety.
Mrs. King called for her and down the stairs she went to be handed into a carriage and rushed off to Mrs. Grey's fine house on the outer edge of the city, on a very fine street.
To her surprise when she walked in the parlor she found Mr. and Mrs. Grey as well as a tall male figure with his back to the door. Margaret knew instantly it was Mr. Thornton.
"My dears I am so glad you are here. Miss Hamper has written to say she will arrive with the other guests in an hour. Please have champagne and Mrs. King may I steal you and your husband to overlook my plans for a trip to Madrid. I understand you have been to Barcelona." Margaret was almost interested in what the two women spoke about Spain. However, Margaret soon realized she and Mr. Thornton were left alone in the room as the two couples stepped through a large open door into the adjacent room.
"Forgive me for speaking so plainly but you look beautiful tonight Miss Hale. I don't believe I have seen that dress before."
So he does notice the dress. I'm sure it's not the lace he's referring to. Margaret thought as she took a sip from her glass.
"Thank you sir, it is new and French I'm afraid. I'm surprised to hear you have taken any notice of my gowns Mr. Thornton. Although I suppose your interest in fabrics makes you a bit more attentive than most men." Trying to be sly about his focus on fabrics instead of what lay beneath.
"My work as a draper has given me my taste and opinion in such things. However I feel everything looks lovely on you, or maybe it's just that you look lovely in everything." Mr. Thornton looks over Margaret's shoulder to see the other two couples completely out of sight. He steps forward, looking down at her eyes darkening and her mouth almost parting in anticipation for him.
He bends down gently places his lips on hers then taking her mouth in his. He places one hand on her waist drawing her closer to his side. The kiss deepens for a moment but a laugh from the other room takes them both out of the moment. Mr. Thornton smiles against Margaret's mouth and pulls his face away while still holding her waist.
As footsteps grow closer he lets his grip on Margaret go and steps have away from her. He pulls his bottom lip in with his teeth and tastes the lasts bit of their kiss before sipping his own glass of champagne. Margaret nervously presses her skirts down and finishes her champagne as the others reenter the room.
As coolly and calmly as possible Mr. Thornton turns to Margaret and offers to retrieve her another glass of champagne which Margaret accepts. Their hands linger on the contact when she hands the glass over.
The whole evening passes pleasantly. Mr. Thornton's attentions make almost all social conversations bearable and both enjoy all the guests at the party.
Mr. Thornton took Margaret into dinner and sat her to his left however to Margaret's surprise Miss Augusta Hamper sat to his right. Miss Hamper was neither fat nor ugly in fact quite the opposite. Margaret looked to Mrs. Grey who only nodded and winked at her. Perhaps this is part of her plan in some way. No matter, John will not change his attentions in any way.
Margaret was right in her prediction. In fact Mr. Carlyle who sat on the other side of Miss Hamper seemed very obliged to occupy all of Augusta's conversation.
Miss Hamper and her vivacious personality consumed all attentions of Mr. Carlyle and the whole dinner table. The room seemed to be guided by her alone. She was captivating and very beautiful. Only Margaret and Mr. Thornton were impermeable, appearing insulated in their own world.
Mrs. King and Mrs. Grey would later say that at least three times throughout dinner it was said Mr. Thornton and Miss Hale would make a good match. Even Fanny was pressed upon to persuade her brother to consider the match.
Fanny was not completely aware of Mr. Thornton and Margaret's situation. Mrs. King had thought it best that Fanny nor her brother be included on any particulars. When it was suggested to Mrs. Fanny Watson that her brother might make an advantageous match she replied with a very curt, "I think not. She could do much worse."
Secretly she still hoped Miss Latimer would somehow be his choice, even though she was engaged to Mr. Carlyle and currently home with a cold. There was suspicion she did not care for Miss Hamper or Miss Hale and therefore refused to come, but Margaret chose not to think this and wished only for her recovery.
After dinner Miss Hamper, Mrs. Watson and a few others entertained on the piano. Margaret was asked on more than one occasion but she refused, saying she could not possible pain anyone to listen especially after hearing such talent.
It was then noticed that Mr. Thornton seemed to be taking all of Miss Hale's attentions as they sat and stood almost always in company of one another.
The evening passed in this way and all the guests enjoyed themselves and were disappointed when the night came to an end. Mrs. King whispered to Margaret, "Invite Mr. Thornton for brandy and coffee with us."
Margaret did as she was asked with pleasure. The whole carriage ride back to the King's she wished she was with him in his carriage. How silly that three should ride together while one by himself. But it was enough to have spent the whole evening with him and now even more.
Once arrived at the King's residence there were two rounds of brandy, one round of Black Lady and then Margaret and Mr. Thornton found themselves alone in the drawing room. Soon they found themselves on the same sofa, and then the same cushion.
Margaret's gloved hands wrapped around his head and into his hair. She longed to feel the velvety groves of his dark hair beneath and between her fingers. Staying close in his embrace she brought her hands back between them and began removing her gloves, or at least attempting.
Again her fingers were shaking and found the small buttons difficult. She was about to simply pull the glove off with force when Mr. Thornton began to assist, still maintaining a very small space between them.
He was successful in manipulating the buttons but managed to brush his thumb against hear breast. Margaret thought this was accidental and wondered if he experienced as much of a thrill as she did or if he even knew he had touched her. He looked into her darkening eyes and then watched her lips slightly part in anticipation of him.
He then placed his hand to cradle the back of her head and neck, his thumb lightly brushing the sweetest spot just below Margaret's ear. As their kiss deepened they both inched toward each other, unable to be close enough. John's other hand gripped tightly around his waist, drawing her in.
His hand behind her neck began to slowly skim her soft skin down her neck, resting his thumb on her collar bone. This immediately caused every nerve in Margaret's body to fire in ecstasy. No one had ever touched Margaret in such an intimate way and she wished he would continue.
Keeping his thumb on her collar bone, he repositioned the palm of his hand, laying on chest. She was sure he could feel her heart racing. And in fact he could, he worried her heart would burst from her chest until he realized his own was keeping the same pace.
As he moved his hand from its intimate position to her shoulder he lightly fingered the seam just on the inside edge of her dress's neckline, right against her breast. Margaret knew this act was very much with purpose and not accidental. However, he had moved so naturally and it happened so quickly in one fluid motion she hardly knew if it really happened or if she had imagined it all in her mind.
God how wonderful! Has anything ever felt so divine, surely no one has ever felt anything so pleasing! Is it even possible John felt half as marvelous?
Margaret could barely contain herself and she did not know how to express or think of her condition. She wished to jump out of herself and into him.
Both her hands had been straying between his lapels and the grove of velvety hairs on the back of his neck. Emboldened by John's daring move Margaret moved one of her small, white hands to his knee and leaned even deeper into their kiss.
Margaret knew she would be completely unable to advance her hand in any way. It was stuck like stone in its position. It had taken all her courage to place it where it was. John could feel the slight tremors in her grasp, making her efforts all the more ardent and saccharine.
John thought briefly and with actual consideration at forgoing all propriety and pulling Margaret onto his lap and kissing every exposed inch of her. However, in the end he decided decency must be maintained and they still had many months; his will would be breaking too early.
When he left that night Margaret was left with her head in the clouds and a new level of intimacy to analyze and process. Sleep would be difficult this night.
Margaret was still determined she did not want to appear the demur and reluctant lover. Her thoughts were an effort to confirm to herself that her eagerness at John's attentions were not as shameless as they might appear. She could not honestly admit to herself that she felt any shame in their actions or wrongness in her behavior.
It was clear she no longer had any concern over the possibility of John thinking her licentious and wanton. What anxiety over something that turns out to be nothing. Perhaps his background has exposed him to true emotion in a way my society upbringing has not.
Margaret attending her father's funeral was very abnormal because women in her class did not attend funerals. Women were not allowed to display emotion in public and it was assumed they would not be able to control themselves at a funeral in public. However Margaret had always been mistress of herself and kept her emotions in check better than most men.
John had not always lived in the highest society and even now he was not sheltered from cruder society. So it seemed likely to Margaret that these experiences would affect his personal thoughts and color their private life. Margaret felt this was probably more suited to her personal tastes and habits as well. How these things do settle out for the best.
Margaret soon came to the conclusion they should announce their engagement soon. Given the evening's transgressions she thought it best not to tempt fate and push the envelope of the inevitable. In truth she was not sure how much longer it would be before she and John would want to cross a line. She already knew she would deny him nothing, now she wondered if she would deny herself.