They sat in the same place they did a few minutes earlier, this time side by side and in a much different mood.
"Did he hurt you?" John asked, rubbing her arm where Leonards had gripped it.
"No," replied Margaret, "just frightened me."
Then, still in tears, she managed to tell John, between many sobs and hiccups, exactly what had happened.
John told Margaret that he would be back in a moment and he left to speak to his mother.
When he found her she informed him that she had sent a boy for the inspector and asked for him to be brought in by the servant's entrance. John told her what had happened and asked her to discretely bring the servants up one by one to find out if any of them know who the man is. Then he returned to Margaret.
She had ceased crying but was fretfully worried about her brother. He told her that the inspector was coming and he would speak to him relieving her from that duty.
"But you can't tell the inspector about Fred!" she pleaded.
"I know," he replied.
Just then there was a knock at the door and his mother entered with Jane, the housekeeper. The girl's head was hung in shame and she was crying as Mrs. Thornton led her forward.
Mrs. Thornton explained, "The first servant who saw him identified him as Jane's fiancé. She told me that he stopped by to see her as he often does and when she told him they were shorthanded due to Thomas' illness he offered to help. That's how he got up here."
"Thank you mother," John said, "please return to our guests and have the inspector brought in here when he arrives."
She nodded and left Jane with the couple.
John bade the servant to sit and began asking her questions. She told him that Leonards never cared anything about the new mistress until a few days ago when he heard her name and asked where she was from. Jane admitted it was she herself that pointed out that Miss Hale was from his native county of Hampshire. However, he never told Jane that he knew anything of the Hale family.
The Milton Magistrate asked the housekeeper a few indirect questions and concluded that Jane knew nothing about Frederick nor did she know of any plans her fiancé had of accosting his wife today. He also found that none of the other servants had ever spoken with Leonards beyond casual greetings.
John dismissed the servant but told her that the inspector may need to speak with her later. Jane nodded and curtseyed and left the room.
Soon there was another knock at the study door. It was the police-inspector.
"My name is Mason-George Mason, sir, that you got-"
"Ah, yes! I recollect," the Magistrate said, "Why you are getting on famously, I hear."
Mr. Thornton had obtained for him his first situation in the police, and had heard from time to time of the progress of his protege, but they had not often met, and at first Mr. Thornton did not remember him.
"Yes, sir. I ought to thank you, sir. It has been a great pleasure to work on the police force," said Mason, "And congratulations on your marriage, sir. I wish you both joy."
John nodded his thanks.
Mason continued, "I saw the perpetrator in the hallway and was told that you were the one who, er, apprehended him. Nice work, sir."
John invited the inspector to sit, and asked, "What is being done with him?"
"My men are taking him to the infirmary since he is still unconscious and likely drunk by the smell of him," replied Mason. "Can you tell me what happened?" he asked.
John explained everything he knew: who the man was, how he got into the house, and how he gained access to the family's living space. However, he truncated Margaret's story to say that Leonards had recognized his wife from their hometown of Helstone in Hampshire and in his drunkenness accosted her. He explained that he himself had heard his wife's distress and came to her rescue.
The inspector turned to Margaret and asked if she had anything to add. She did not.
Mason told Mr. Thornton that he would keep him apprised of any developments in the case including when the man woke.
John replied, "Yes, send word here. I can be fetched with an hour's notice. I want to be present for his deposition."
Mason knew that it was against protocol for the victim to be present at the deposition but this was a unique case where the victim was also a magistrate. So considering his acquaintance with the up standing mill master, he agreed. He then took his leave of the master and his new wife.
….oOo….
Margaret was in a panic, "John! What if Leonards tells them of Fred!? We must send him away at once!"
John took his wife in his arms again, "That is why I will be there. They won't take his deposition without me. They won't believe a drunken ruffian anyway. What would he tell them? That the dark skinned foreigner hanging around Marlborough Mills is your brother? I have introduced him to many prominent Milton citizens as a business contact from Le Harve and your brother comported himself with considerable credibility. He even had a lengthy conversation with Milton's MP about the shipping trade. They will think Leonards is crazy."
"What if he tells somebody else… another prisoner, or a friend?" she asked.
"He never even told his fiancé," John pointed out, "He is after the reward money. He won't want anyone else to get there before him."
"But what about when they release him? He will come after Fred again!" she said, her panic rising once more.
"That's where I come in. I can make sure he stays in prison as long as I want him to. I won't even have to use my Magistrate's credentials. I just have to tell them that my wife is terrified of him."
This rational explanation from the man she trusted impeccably finally calmed her nerves. She relaxed in his embrace and they both breathed easy for a few minutes.
With all the kerfuffle now resolved for the time being John and Margaret returned to the drawing room to bid farewell to their guests. They would now return to Crampton so Margaret could change out of her wedding dress and proceed to their honeymoon destination.
….oOo….
When they arrived at Crampton Margaret went to see her mother. John, Frederick and Mr. Hale sequestered themselves in the latter's study so John could apprise them of the Leonards situation.
It was decided that Frederick would remain out of sight from now on and would be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
Due to her mother's rapidly failing health John decided to take Margaret to a small cottage overlooking Kersal Moor just outside Milton for their honeymoon. He informed his father-in-law of the direction and that they could be summoned home in an hour's notice. He also told them that they would return at ten o'clock the next morning so Margaret could visit her mother and John could check on the prisoner.
By this time Margaret had descended the stairs in her travel dress and tapped on the study door.
The couple returned to their carriage and departed for their honeymoon cottage.