Margaret had spent the evening packing and enjoying the company of her aunt, cousin, and little Sholto. She knew her mother would want to hear all the news from Harley Street along with her tales from the Great Exhibition.
When Sholto finally fell asleep in his mother's lap Margaret decided it was the perfect opportunity to sketch the child. Her mother would love to see the angelic face of her great nephew and while asleep in his mother's arms the boy looked particularly beautiful. So, with Edith's permission, she ran to her room to get her sketch book and pencils. She had to rummage through her trunk to find them since she already packed them earlier.
When she returned to the drawing room she immediately set about her labors. Thankfully the child stayed in one position throughout the entire process. Upon completing her sketch of the boy she showed it to her aunt and Edith.
"Oh, Margaret!" exclaimed Edith, in hushed tones so as not to wake the child, "It is so like! May I keep it?"
"I wanted to show it to Mama," Margaret replied. After a pause she offered, "How about I make a copy of it when I get back to Milton and then send you the original?"
"That would be perfect," said Edith. "If Aunt Maria can't come and see Sholto herself then at least she can see him this way. Although I wonder if an opportunity might present itself for us all coming to Milton sometime soon," Edith added with a wink and an arched brow.
"I cannot see what event might occur to occasion us all to Milton," Aunt Shaw said derisively. Margaret and Edith shared a knowing look.
Edith then rose to carry the child to bed. Margaret declared that she too would retire as she would be getting up early to catch the morning train to Milton with the Thorntons. She said her goodbyes to her aunt and cousin then, as she would not be seeing them in the morning, and followed Edith up the stairs.
While preparing for bed and packing up the rest of her things Margaret decided to place her sketch book and pencils in her reticule. She laid out her traveling dress for the morrow and with instructions to the maid to wake her at four, she climbed into bed. She curled up with John's handkerchief in her hand and delightful thoughts of him in her head.
….oOo….
Margaret was ready and waiting in the foyer at ten minutes to five the next morning. She had practically flown through her morning ablutions and found she could not eat much in her nervous excitement. She would be spending half the day in close quarters with Mr. Thornton. It was highly unlikely, as well as improper, for them to be alone. However, to be in such near proximity to him for so many hours made the butterflies flutter frantically in her belly.
She had already dismissed Nestor, the butler, so that when, five minutes later, the knock came she answered the door herself.
"John!" she said smilingly, inviting him to step in.
"My darling Margaret," he said as she closed the door behind him. He removed his hat placing it on the entrance table. Then slipping his hands around her waist he pulled her to him.
Margaret's hands came to rest on his lapels and fingering them she asked, "Aren't the others waiting for us in the carriage?"
"No," he replied somewhat annoyed, but not really, "the ladies were running a bit behind so I told Latimer I would secure us a cab and come pick you up before returning to the hotel. It is on the way to the station anyway."
"So we are to ride alone together back to the hotel!?" Margaret replied, feigning alarm.
"Yes," replied he, "I must confess I told Fanny of our engagement. She had practically guessed anyway. She subsequently told Miss Latimer. And, well, as a result everyone thought it was a perfectly fine idea for me to come get you by myself. However," he continued teasingly, "if you feel so strongly against it I can always ride on top with the driver." He began to let his hands slip from her waist and step back but she hastily slid hers up and around his neck to secure him in place.
"My strong inclinations," said she with a glimmer in her eye, "tend in the opposite direction." Then standing on tiptoe and pulling him down to her, since both were required to complete the task, she kissed him. He returned the gesture and they enjoyed a few moments of delicious silence.
Finally breaking apart, with flushed faces and swollen lips, Margaret asked, "Had not we better go?"
"Yes," replied he and so they donned hat and bonnet. Margaret grabbed her reticule and they stepped out the door.
They behaved admirably for the short carriage ride, sitting opposite each other, lest anyone see. However, neither of them moved when they realized their shoes were touching – how scandalous!
When they arrived at the hotel the rest of the party was waiting. John quickly alighted and handed the ladies in. Margaret slid over to allow the others some room. All three ladies sat on one side with the gentlemen sitting opposite. Again a brief ride to the station where John handed them all out. While John paid for the cab and saw to the luggage, Mr. Latimer went to purchase their tickets. When Latimer returned he announced that the train was to be quite full and that they would have to separate as he could not secure one compartment for all five of them. So it was decided that Fanny would accompany the Latimers and John and Margaret would be on their own.
At that moment Margaret noticed Henry. He was a distance away but moving determinedly in their direction. Instinctively she stepped closer to John and grasped his arm. Henry, however, didn't even seem to see Margaret and John, much to her relief. He sailed right past them and up to Miss Latimer. Bending to kiss her hand he said that he could only stop for the briefest of moments as he was on his way to court. He proceeded to request permission to write to her and then bid Ann and her father adieu.
As the conductor made the last call for the North bound train the parties stepped into their respective compartments. John and Margaret were forced to sit next to each other as they found themselves sharing their compartment with an elderly couple.
After about a half an hour of companionable silence, peppered with occasional glances at each other, John and Margaret were pleased to see the husband and wife disembark and no one come to replace them.
Now that they were alone, conversation flowed freely. They talked about the Exhibition and train travel which led to the discussion of other forms of travel. John asked Margaret if she had ever sailed, as he often did when going to Le Havre to buy cotton.
She answered in the negative and instantly fell silent and contemplative. Sailing reminded her of her brother, Frederick who had joined the Navy. She had recently written to him to encourage his attendance of their dying mother. However, returning to England was risky for him since if he were caught he would be tried for mutiny and hanged. She was certain he would come, however. He might even have already arrived in Milton, she realized.
John, noticing her sudden reticence, inquired of her what was the matter.
She must tell John, but he was a Magistrate. What would he think? What would he do? Certainly he was a most honorable gentleman but this would put him in an awkward position. She thought of not telling him and waiting to speak with her father. However that would certainly make the rest of this trip uncomfortable and she was to marry John so he would have to know eventually. Then it hit Margaret that he might decide not to marry her because of her unsavory connections. However, Margaret was never one to shirk responsibility, in fact she often took too much upon herself.
Seeing the indecision and consternation on her face John thought to try to make things easier for her. He reached over and taking her hand he said, "Margaret, you know you can tell me anything."
Stealing herself against the worst and gripping his hand tightly with hers as if it might be the last time she held it, she took a deep breath. Then she looked up at him and said, "I have a brother."
"A brother?" replied he with extreme surprise and confusion, "How come your father never mentioned him to me?"
Looking down and now absentmindedly rubbing the back of his hand with her free one, she said, "Because he is accused of mutiny by the Navy and lives in exile."
Slightly distracted by her caresses, John blinked and said, "Mutiny?" He then closed his eyes, let out a breath, and, attempting to put aside her delicious distraction, which for her seemed to be just a gesture of nerves, he said, "Margaret, why don't you tell me this story from the beginning." Then trying to lighten the mood, he said with a smile, "Lord knows we have plenty of time."
She proceeded to tell him all about Fred: their childhood, how he joined the Navy, about Captain Reed, and finally the mutiny. She finished up the story by telling him about the letter and Fred's impending arrival.
John pulled her close and wrapped an arm around her. At this gesture she let go of all the fear and tension she had been holding and cried on his shoulder.
"Oh, Margaret," he sympathized, "the burdens you have had to bear! But you are no longer alone. I will help shoulder this burden with you. You will have only to worry about your family's immediate needs. When Frederick arrives I will make sure he stays safe."
"Oh John!" cried she, "I cannot ask that of you. You are a Magistrate, what about your reputation?"
"You are not asking it of me. I am taking the responsibility of it for myself. Am I not soon to be a part of your family? Your brother will be my brother. I am only doing what any brother would do for his sibling."
At this declaration Margaret was greatly relieved. He was not going to cast her off! No, instead he was holding on with both hands, claiming Fred as his own brother. What a wonderful man she had betrothed herself to!
"Oh, John!" said she, "Thank you, thank you so much!" and she slid her arms around him and hugged him tightly. For John there was no greater reward than this: to be the comfort and solace of the woman he loved and to receive her unguarded affection in return.
….oOo….
They lapsed into a discussion of what needed to be done before and after Fred's arrival which then led them to the state of her mother's health.
Margaret told him that her mother was dying. He admitted that he suspected as much. He also agreed with Margaret that her father was either oblivious or in denial of the fact and that he would need extra support when the truth finally dawned on him.
"Well then," John said mischievously, "That just gives me yet another reason to spend more time at your house."
Margaret blushed, then said sadly, "Yes, John, as to that, I am afraid that it may be quite some time before we can get married." With a shuddering breath she said, "I don't think Mama will last the three weeks necessary for the banns to be read, and then, of course, I will be in mourning."
John brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Margaret," he said, "I will wait however long you require to marry you. Nevertheless, I had similar thoughts to yours yesterday and took advantage of the fact that I was in London to acquire a Special License. We could get married this evening in your kitchen if you wish." Then with a smile he added, "I would just need to find us a priest."
Margaret smiled and covered her cheeks with her hands. "John!" she declared, "Your zeal for our union humbles me. I am truly blessed. You know I like things simple. I don't care when, where, or how we get married. The kitchen sounds lovely, but on second thought, the parlor might be better." They both laughed. Margaret resumed, "If you do not mind, I would like to let my mother decide. If she wants to see us get married we will do so right away. If not, we will wait."
John smiled and kissed her forehead. "That is perfectly acceptable to me," he said.
Margaret, still holding his hand, snuggled up next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Her emotions and exhaustion finally caught up to her and with the gentle rocking of the train she fell asleep.