A/N: The astute reader might notice that I borrowed a few quotes from Miss Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
John led Margaret over to the sofa, where they could not be seen by those in the music room. They sat down. He took her hands in his.
"Margaret," John's voice was laced with desperate longing, "today has been like a dream."
Margaret smiled and looked adoringly into his eyes.
John looked down and began to rub his thumbs on the backs of her hands. "You know, I came to London hoping to find some investors for the mill."
"Yes," Margaret said, "how did that go?"
"Very well, Latimer tells me. Looks like I will have enough to cover the shortfall I have had ever since the strike."
"Oh how fortunate," exclaimed Margaret, giving his hands a squeeze, and bouncing a little closer to him in her zeal, "that is wonderful news!"
John smiled heartily at this display of enthusiasm, "Yes, but not all of my fortune today can be counted in pounds, shillings, and pence."
Margaret smiled and her cheeks flushed. It was now her turn to look down at their conjoined hands.
"I count myself most fortunate to have run into you here," he said. Then after a brief pause he spoke again, "Margaret, I was too precipitate the last time and was focused wholly on myself, without any regard to your feelings which were obviously so varied and must have been confusing. I did not take care. This time, however, I would like to ask," he was cut off mid-sentence when Margaret abruptly interjected with a very determined, "Yes!"
John's mouth dropped open and he blinked several times. He quickly ran over his own words in his mind. How could she know what he was going to ask? He intended to ask to court her this time and do it right. But upon reflection John realized that she probably thought he was going to ask for her hand again… and she had said yes!
An amused smile spread over Margaret's face as she watched John experience this epiphany.
Attempting to compose himself and looking into her eyes, John stuttered, "You… you would be willing… to… to marry me?"
"Yes!" she said laughingly as happy tears began to fill her eyes.
"Margaret," John said. He reached up and gently brushing his fingers across her cheek he cupped her face and drew her near. As he leaned forward their lips met in a timid kiss. They drew apart a few inches, looking at each other. Their eyes dropped to their mouths again and they came together for another kiss, more urgent and more passionate this time. After a few minutes they heard the applause coming from the music room as Edith finished her concerto and so they broke apart. With lips swollen and cheeks flushed the newly engaged couple had only a minute or two to compose themselves before the others returned to the drawing room.
As the musicians entered, John and Margaret rose and mixed among the group. They also added their praises for each lady's performance and a discussion of music ensued amongst the party. All the while, the newly betrothed couple kept stealing glances at each other and attempting to contrive ways they could be alone together again. As Margaret was more familiar with the house she came up with an idea first.
"Mr. Thornton," she exclaimed, seemingly out of the blue, "I just remembered that my aunt has a very extensive collection of the works of all the Greek philosophers. Would you be interested in seeing it?"
"Why, yes, very much so," was his thinly veiled reply.
Edith and Maxwell looked knowingly at each other but no one else seemed to find anything amiss.
Excusing themselves, Margaret led John to the library. She took him to the shelf where the Greek philosophers were kept. But of course John was not at all interested in Plato or Aristotle. As soon as she turned toward him he slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her close. She rested her hands on his chest and he placed his forehead on hers.
He said, "I'm still afraid I am going to wake up and find this was all a dream. Tell me again that you have consented to marry me."
Looking up into his clear blue eyes she said, "Yes, John, I will marry you." She looked back down and started to play with the lapels on his jacket, "When you left after… the last time, I realized that I had really wanted to accept you. But at the time I was so overwhelmed and confused and… I abused you so abominably, I am so sorry." She was almost in tears.
John reached up and pressed a finger to her lips. "No," he said, "it was my fault, rushing in like a bull in a China shop…"
"Let us not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that morning," said Margaret, "The conduct of neither, if strictly examined, will be irreproachable; but since then, we have both, I hope, improved in civility."
"Yes, I believe we have," he said as he bent down to kiss her again. She slid her hands up around his neck to play with the hair at his nape.
Separating to catch their breath he said, "You look so stunningly beautiful in this dress. I was mesmerized the first time I saw you in it. I believe it is driving me mad now. How long until I can make you mine?"
"Well," Margaret said with a laugh, "don't you think you need to speak to my father first?"
"Quite right," he replied with much more practicality, "I will escort you home Wednesday morning and then come and speak to your father in the evening, will that do?"
Margaret nodded. Then lifting herself on her toes, she kissed him this time.
Realizing that they had been gone long enough they decided it was best to return to the drawing room.
Upon their arrival, John complimented Mrs. Shaw on the completeness of her literary collection. As the party was on the verge of breaking up they were discussing their plans for visiting the Exhibition the next day. It was decided that they would all meet at the fountain at ten o'clock.
Aunt Shaw, Edith and Maxwell disappeared upstairs as Margaret saw Mr. Lennox and the Milton guests to the door. Henry helped Miss Latimer with her shawl and escorted her to the carriage as he took his own leave. John helped his sister with her shawl but as he then turned to speak with Margaret, Mr. Latimer offered Fanny his arm to escort her to the coach. Left alone for a moment John grasped Margaret's hand and took the opportunity to bestow a parting kiss upon her lips.
"Until tomorrow," he said.
"Yes," she dreamily replied. Then remembering herself she quickly took her monogrammed handkerchief from her skirt pocket and pressed it into his hand. With twinkling eyes she said, "So that when you wake up tomorrow you will have proof that it wasn't just a dream. I still have yours."
Their fingers slid along each other's as he stepped toward the door. He donned his hat, smiled at her once more and left.
After shutting the door she shamelessly pressed her forehead to the glass and watched the carriage drive off.