Margaret paced nervously across the drawing room floor. Their guests would be arriving any minute now. Edith couldn't help but smile and laugh to herself. Her dearest cousin must surely be in love as she had never behaved like this before. Margaret was always the calm, steady, level headed one but tonight she just could not sit still. If she did sit down she would bounce right back up pacing the room or beautifying a nosegay or checking the place cards at the table for the tenth time.

Margaret had helped Edith arrange the table earlier. She wanted to be sure that she and John were together as well as Ann and Henry and that the two couples were as far away from each other as possible. They also figured that Aunt Shaw and Mr. Latimer might enjoy each other's company being that they were the only older members of the party. Unfortunately that left Fanny without a partner. However, Margaret insisted that they seat Fanny near Edith because they had similar temperaments and should get on well together. The uneven number of diners made Margaret think that it might have been convenient if Mrs. Thornton had come to London as well. She immediately thought better of that idea as she realized the presence of the Thornton matriarch would certainly have shattered whatever nerves she might have left.

"Margaret," said Edith, "you must sit down and calm yourself. The flowers look beautiful, the table settings are perfect, and you look absolutely stunning."

"Do you really think so?" Margaret asked, checking her appearance in the mirror once again.

Edith replied, "It doesn't really matter what I think now does it. The only opinion that matters is Mr. Thornton's."

Margaret blushed. Just then they heard a carriage come to a stop in front of the house. It was all Margaret could do to keep herself from running into the foyer to greet their guests. Decorum required her to wait until the guests were presented to them in the drawing room.

The overanxious Fanny was the first one through the door. Margaret noticed that she was dressed as her typical ostentatious self. Ann came next on the arm of her father. She was dressed elegantly as usual. Margaret made a mental note to pay Ann that compliment later. Finally he walked through the door. How dapper he looked wearing the pale gold cravat and matching waistcoat that he had worn at his dinner party a few months back. Margaret thought that was ironic since she was so self conscious about wearing the same attire from that occasion as well. However, all of Margaret's thoughts completely abandoned her as soon as John looked her way, flashing that glorious smile of his.

John had to use all of his practiced self control not to just stand there gaping at Margaret. She was wearing that dress. She looked stunning. John felt his heart tighten in his chest and he thought he might die right there – but what a way to go. Fortunately (or unfortunately), his attention was called back to the rest of the party.

By this time everyone was on their feet to exchange greetings – handshakes, that is – as Margaret had informed the Londoners that in the North the handshake was used in all forms of society. When Mr. Thornton approached Margaret she clasped his hand in both of hers, reminiscent of that first handshake, and said with a smile, "You see, Mr. Thornton, I have taught them our Milton ways."

Mr. Thornton's breath caught, 'She said our Milton ways. Does she consider herself from Milton?'

"You are looking radiant this evening Miss Hale," he said with a smile.

Margaret inclined her head with bashful modesty. Then with a playful smirk she replied, "You look rather handsome yourself Mr. Thornton."

It was now John's turn to blush. Not used to receiving such compliments he was unsure what to say. So instead he changed the subject and asked, "How are your parents? I have not seen your father in a week."

"Father was well when I left," she began, "but my mother's health…" She could not finish and tears began to fill her eyes. She started to search her skirt for her handkerchief but soon found Mr. Thornton offering his instead. She took it with a smile and dabbed at her eyes. Continuing she said, "She would have liked to have seen the Exhibition herself. I didn't want to leave her but she desired me to come in her stead."

"How long are you to remain in London?" he asked.

"The captain is to escort me home on Sunday," Margaret replied, worriedly biting her lip.

The pained expression on her face told him what she was really thinking. So he offered, "Fanny, the Latimers, and I will be returning to Milton on Wednesday morning if you would like to join us."

"Really?! You would not mind escorting me home?" she asked.

"Not at all. It would be m- our pleasure," he said.

"Oh, it makes me feel so much better not to be away from home so long," Margaret stated. Then looking into his eyes she half whispered, "One never wants to be parted from loved ones for too long."

They looked at each other for a few moments. Then dinner was announced. Mr. Thornton offered Margaret his arm and escorted her to the table.

….oOo….

Dinner itself was a relatively uneventful affair. General conversation centered mostly around the Exhibition with the Londoners recommending certain sites to their guests. Earlier in the evening it was decided that the two parties would meet at the Exhibition on the morrow and spend the day together. Margaret announced that Mr. Thornton had offered to see her home on Wednesday and that she had accepted. Edith was upset to be losing Margaret's company so soon but she understood. Smaller conversations broke off wherein the two couples talked mostly with each other, Edith and Fanny chattered away about London and gowns, and the captain and Mrs. Shaw entertained Mr. Latimer.

After dinner the ladies withdrew to the drawing room and left the men to their brandy and cigars. The Captain, understanding that two of his three companions, as well as himself, would like rejoin the ladies as soon as possible resolved to keep the separation short.

However, Mr. Latimer, ever scheming for his daughter, preempted his host and suggested they forego the custom altogether and return to the drawing room immediately. He was met with agreement on all sides.

…oOo….

The ladies were pleasantly surprised to see the men enter the drawing room shortly after they had seated themselves. John immediately joined Margaret on the settee where she was mending some clothes from the poor basket. The captain sought his wife who was happily engaged in an animated conversation with Miss Thornton detailing all of the most fashionable events of the London season. Mr. Latimer and Henry joined Ann who was listening to Mrs. Shaw. The younger pair eventually separated themselves for their own conversation.

Margaret and John had just settled the details of their departure on Wednesday when Edith called Margaret to join their conversation. John followed Margaret to where his sister and Edith were standing. Ann also joined in and Maxwell took the opportunity to pull his brother aside on a personal matter.

Mr. Latimer noticed the four young Miltonians standing together. As he approached them he observed, "Ah, here is a familiar scene. If I am not mistaken, you are all dressed just as you were the night of Mrs. Thornton's dinner party."

All three of the young ladies turned red. None of them had recognized the other's apparel but were self conscious of their own. They were happy to have gone most of the evening without anyone noticing and were all quite surprised to hear the comment come from the elderly banker whom they thought to be the least observant man in attendance. Oh well, the cat was out of the bag now and all that was left to do was be embarrassed and look sheepishly at each other.

Margaret took this opportunity to relieve the awkwardness of the situation and pay her compliment to her former rival Ann, "You do look very elegant this evening Miss Latimer. I have always admired your taste in style."

Ann, in her typical fashion, did not say a word. She simply smiled and bowed her head slightly. Margaret figured she must only have a certain allotment of words and she was saving them all for Henry. Just then the young lawyer came up and asked Miss Latimer if she would like something to drink. Ann took his arm possessively in both of hers and he led her to the refreshment table. Upon reflection Margaret realized that Henry would probably greatly appreciate a pretty, rich wife that didn't have much to say.

At that moment Fanny spied the piano through the connected doorway into the music room. "Oh!" she squealed, "What a beautiful instrument!" and she floated over in all her voluminous skirts to admire it. Edith followed her to show her around the music room and eventually, to John's dismay, she invited Fanny to play. The rest of the party gravitated in that direction except John and Margaret. Miss Latimer performed next and Edith finished out the impromptu concert with a beautiful concerto.

While the ladies were exhibiting their musical talents the Milton manufacturer and the parson's daughter were finally able to be alone.