As they made their way to the Central Tea Room, Henry whispered snidely to his brother, "I'd hardly have thought a manufacturer would've appreciated a show like this."
Maxwell glared at his pettish brother and shot a pointed glance over his shoulder. Henry had not noticed the proximity of Mr. Thornton. The massive crowds had forced Margaret and her escort to move closer to the rest of their party.
Margaret, of course, overheard the comment and earnestly replied, "No, you're wrong, Mr. Lennox. I've heard Mr. Thornton talk often at his lessons with my father. He's very interested in and quite knowledgeable about the world. I knew this exposition would be just the thing John would enjoy. If you could but open your mind you might find, as I did," she said, looking sheepishly at John, "that many of our southern prejudices are totally unfounded."
Mr. Thornton smiled at her passionate defense, contrite proclamation, and the familiar use of his own name on her beautiful lips. All while the other members of the party shot concerned glances at each other. They could not shed their prejudices so quickly.
They soon arrived at the tea room, found a table and proceeded to order tea.
Just then a shrill shriek was heard exclaiming, "Miss Hale!" It was Fanny Thornton. She then added flatly, as she approached, "How delightful!"
Accompanying Fanny was Ann Latimer whose father was not far behind. All the men of the party stood up. Mr. Thornton gave his sister a slightly irritated look to be making such a spectacle of herself and consequently the whole party. However, as usual, Fanny seemed to miss his glare. Even if she caught it the meaning of it would surely have been lost on her.
Margaret intervened and said, "Miss Thornton! You've managed to come to London at last."
Fanny replied, "Mother allowed it only because John was coming, and Miss Latimer of course, who she approves of greatly." Then she added under her breath, "Seems to think she is far more sensible than me."
John made the introductions and the party from Milton was invited to join them. John helped Fanny to the seat next to himself. Henry Lennox offered the rich banker's daughter the seat next to his. Mr. Latimer sat between the two young ladies.
When the tea arrived Aunt Shaw asked Margaret to serve since she knew everyone. It did not go unnoticed by much of the party that Margaret gave John the distinction of the guest of honor by serving him first as he was sitting to her left. She had to ask the Latimers how they took their tea. However, John was impressed (as well as Fanny) that Margaret remembered how Fanny liked her tea just from the one time Margaret had served her at her home in Crampton. She may not be an accomplished pianist but she did know how to be an attentive hostess.
After exchanging pleasantries about the weather, train travel, and the London season, the party settled into a lengthy discussion about the wondrous displays at the exhibition. This resulted in many side conversations of two or three amongst those present.
Henry, finally catching on to the hints Margaret had been giving him all day long (longer than that by Margaret's reckoning) decided to turn his attention to the young lady next to him. So he struck up a very animated conversation with Miss Latimer. Being a skilled gentleman, he was quickly able to discover through their conversation that Miss Latimer was an only child and her father was a banker. With his expertise in estate law and a few pointed questions to Mr. Latimer, who occasionally joined their conversation, he was able to deduce that Ann's dowry was probably around ten thousand pounds and she stood to inherit even more upon the death of her parents. Henry also observed that Ann was rather pretty, accomplished (she had informed him that she had just returned from finishing school in Switzerland), and no where near as headstrong and opinionated as Margaret. All in all Ann Latimer seemed to be a much better choice for him. Margaret could have her Northern tradesman, that great rough fellow, he would take Miss Latimer.
At an opportune moment, Henry surreptitiously signaled his brother his desire that the Milton party should be invited to dinner (he must have had a very good relationship with his brother to be able to convey all this with just a look, but there it is). The captain then whispered something in his wife's ear to which she reacted with a poorly disguised horrified expression.
Edith whispered back, "Invite them to dinner!? In God's name, why? We are trying to keep Margaret away from 'that man' not just for Henry's sake but to keep her in London for… for Sholto of course! If she left he would cry so!"
"Edith, have you not been paying attention?" he asked, "Henry seems quite taken with Miss Latimer"
So Edith observed Henry. Then she observed Margaret. She noticed that both seemed extremely happy with their current companions.
Margaret in fact looked quite smitten and Mr. Thornton seemed to utterly adore her. They reminded Edith of herself and the captain during their courtship. Upon this reflection she decided that she would no longer scheme to separate the pair because she knew that she herself would be quite miserable without her dear captain.
After a brief whispered consultation with her mother Edith extended a hearty invitation to the Milton party to join them for dinner at Harley Street that evening.
Fanny turned plaintively to her brother and said, "Oh John, can we go please? Don't be a stick-in-the-mud."
Mr. Thornton gladly accepted the invitation much to his sister's (and Margaret's) delight.
Mr. Latimer started to hem and haw until his daughter whispered something in his ear. Then he said, first to her, "Ah, quite right my dear." Then to Mrs. Lennox, "My daughter and I would be delighted."
Therefore the party broke up so that they could all return to their lodgings to prepare for dinner at Harley Street.
A/N: My source for tea party etiquette: 2013/08/06/tea-coffee-the-proper-etiquette/