Chapter Four: Relatives

"We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present." – Marianne Williamson

Later that morning, when John and Margaret arrived back at the inn, Margaret was handed a note that Mr. Lennox was waiting for her in the dining room. Margaret took John's arm, and they went to join Henry.

John felt the familiar pangs of jealousy, but did his best hide to it. Although Margaret had made it clear that he was the man she loved, it was a hard pill to swallow to know that her family preferred Lennox as a husband for Margaret. They would not give their blessings easily, and John wished he were going to London with her this afternoon so that they could face her family together.

Margaret greeted Henry, "Good morning. You remember Mr. Thornton, don't you? You met at the Great Exhibition."

Henry had learned his lesson about being facetious in Margaret's presence when it came to Thornton. He swore that she would defend Thornton to the moon and back. He nodded to Thornton and replied, "Yes, of course, I remember."

John and Henry shook hands, and John simply said in greeting, "Lennox."

Henry asked them to join him, and a waiter brought a fresh pot of tea. Margaret made John's cup of tea just as he liked it, and John took some satisfaction that Lennox noticed that Margaret knew his preferences. Mary refreshed Henry's tea as well, and it did not escape John's attention that Margaret prepared Henry's cup as he liked it, too.

Henry remarked. "Thornton, I am surprised that you could take time away from your mill."

John replied, "I always have time for Margaret, Lennox. I am equally surprised that you can take time away from your law practice."

Henry noted that Thornton referred to Margaret by her Christian name, and it alarmed him. Something had changed between the two of them in the short time Margaret had been back in Milton. Henry remarked, "Just like you, I always have time for Margaret."

As Margaret lifted her napkin to her lips, Henry noticed the diamond engagement ring she wore on her left hand.

Henry's eyes narrowed. "Margaret, is that an engagement ring I see?"

Margaret looked across at John before addressing Henry and said, "It is, and I could not be happier, Henry."

Henry could not breathe. He felt his cravat tightly against his throat as he tried to regain his composure. Henry was both hurt and angry, and did not succeed in masking his emotions quickly enough. John recognized the same desperation in Henry that he once felt when he thought had lost Margaret forever.

As a barrister, Henry knew better than to reveal his feelings or to question Margaret on the matter in Thornton's presence. She would get defensive, he was sure of it. There would be time for that on the journey back to London. Instead, Henry suggested they eat lunch before going to the train station, and Margaret had a plate sent upstairs for Dixon.

Lunch passed pleasantly enough, but Margaret knew Henry too well to believe that he had accepted her engagement so easily. After they had finished eating, Margaret turned to Henry, "I would like a private moment with John. We will move to the sitting room in the lobby, and you may find me there when it is time to leave for the train station. Dixon will have our things ready to go by then."

John stood and held out his arm to Margaret. Once settled in the little sitting room in full view of the lobby, both John and Margaret were aware that their time together was coming to a close.

"John, I just need a moment with you to believe that this is all true. I am going to be your wife, and we are going to share a life together."

He smiled at her and echoed her sentiments, "It is hard to imagine that only a few days ago you returned to Milton and to me. I cannot tell you that our life together will be perfect, but I promise you that nothing is more important to me than your happiness. I know you have concerns about my mother, Margaret. She is a woman who finds change very hard, but for me, I believe she will do her best to welcome you into our family."

"John, there are many things, including the details about my brother that can never be shared with anyone else. I also do not want more particulars about my inheritance revealed. All of that must remain between just the two of us."

John agreed and said, "Of course, Margaret. Just because we will share our home with Mother does not mean we will not have our own private lives, just as any other married couple. She is not used to sharing my attention with anyone else, and that will be an adjustment that she will just have to make. Margaret, please trust me on this matter. You and Mother will come to understand each other in time, and all will be well."

A few minutes later, Henry cleared his voice, alerting them of his presence, and told Margaret it was time to go. It was decided that John would ride to the station with them and Dixon. When they arrived at the platform, Henry helped Dixon out and saw to their luggage. Dixon stepped away to give her mistress and Mr. Thornton a few moments of privacy.

John whispered words of love to her, and she responded with her own words of endearment. They would see each other on Saturday, and their future would be settled.

John could hardly bear to let her go, but when the train whistle blew, he handed her to Henry who helped her alight the train. Margaret turned to wave at him, and he stood on the platform until he could no longer see the train carrying her away from him yet again.

oooOooo

On the way to London, Henry saw to Margaret's every comfort. While she was speaking with Thornton after lunch, he had arranged for a basket of food for the trip, and there was even a jug of tea that was still piping hot. It was chilly in their car, and the warmth provided by their steaming cups of tea was welcomed.

Dixon fell asleep not a half an hour into their journey, giving Henry privacy to speak with Margaret.

"Are you not worried that Thornton may be an opportunist? You lived in Milton for eighteen months before without forming an attachment to Thonrton, and as far as I know, you have not had contact with the man since you left a year ago."

Margaret bristled, but endeavored to not lose her temper with Henry, "You cannot know all that has passed in the time I have known John Thornton, Henry. He was a frequent visitor in our home in Crampton, and I spent a good deal of time with him while he was there, always with Papa present. I know him to be the best of men, Henry. As far as our relationship is concerned, I can assure you that we have cared for one another for a long time, and should have been married two years ago."

As a gentleman, he should not have continued this conversation as it was far too personal, but he was a glutton for punishment as every new thing he learned hurt him. "Margaret, did you refuse him, as you did me?"

Margaret was impatient to put an end to his questions, and so she answered shortly, "I do not think it is fair for you to ask that, but obviously I did. At the time, Mama was gravely ill, and I just wanted to be a daughter to my parents. As I told you in Helstone, I had no wish to marry at nineteen."

Henry asked, knowing her answer would be painful to hear, "What changed, Margaret?"

She looked directly at Henry, and as gently as she could, she explained. "When I first moved to Milton, I had prejudices against tradesmen, and from the beginning of my acquaintance with John, I can honestly say that he and I did not understand one another. It was really not until Mama became terribly sick that I saw the man John Thornton is. He is a stern, but fair mill master, and underneath that steely exterior beats a heart of gold. There are many things to love about him, Henry, and I look forward to spending a lifetime learning them all."

Henry could barely breathe. Margaret Thorntwas in love with Thorton, and there was absolutely nothing he could say or do to change her mind about it. He felt the heavy weight of losing her in his heart, and for quite some time, he had little to say.

Margaret was sorry to hurt him. He had been a steadfast friend for more than five years, and she was certain that once she left the house on Harley Street, she might not ever see him again. It made her sad, but it could not be helped. Her happiness was with John.

Henry shook out the pages of the newspaper he had purchased at the train station, and he tried to read. His mind would not focus on the words on the page; he had lost her to Thornton. Their friendship was what he had hoped would be a basis for a loving marriage, but now, it was simply not to be.

His sister-in-law and Mrs. Shaw would not support the marriage between Margaret and her manufacturer; he was sure of it. Mrs. Shaw would not think Thornton was a suitable husband due to the disparity in social class. Then, there was the matter of Margaret's considerable fortune. Henry knew that Mrs. Shaw would consider it quite distasteful that Margaret would marry a man with less money and who lived in Milton, a city she utterly disdained. Margaret did not like to displease her aunt, and Henry knew it would be an uncomfortable conversation for them both.

Margaret was reading when he folded his paper. Margaret looked up and met his eyes. "Henry, I have always known that I had a true friend in you. I will always be grateful for all you have done to try to clear Fred's name, and for all you have done for me."

Henry nodded his head and pondered his words carefully before he began to speak, "Margaret, we need to clear the air between us before we arrive in London."

Margaret simply said, "Go on, Henry."

"You know that I had wished for more than friendship between us, and so did Edith and Mrs. Shaw. Your announcement is going to be met with dismay, and you must consider their feelings on the matter since they love you dearly."

Margaret conceded that he was right, but she would not be persuaded against her engagement to John.

oooOooo

The rest of the journey was passed with little conversation. When they arrived at Harley Street, Margaret had hoped that Henry would not stay for dinner, but with Edith's encouragement, he made himself at home in the drawing room with the rest of the family.

Margaret was asked about her trip to Milton, and she gave her family a brief accounting of her time there.

Aunt Shaw asked if she had seen the Thorntons, and Margaret answered, "Yes, Aunt Shaw, I did." When she did not elaborate, Aunt Shaw seemed satisfied that there must be little to tell.

Margaret felt her lie by omission, but now was not the time to tell them about her engagement. She felt Henry's disapproval, but it was her news to share, and she would tell her family tomorrow when she was alone with Aunt Shaw and Edith.

Edith and Maxwell were interested in hearing about the wedding, and when Margaret was telling them about the party the night before the wedding, Edith walked across to where Margaret was sitting and took Mararet's left hand in hers.

"I have never seen this ring before, Margaret. Where did it come from?" Edith looked at her cousin as she waited for an answer.

Margaret lifted her chin, and Edith knew that she was not going to like what her cousin had to say. "Edith, it is an engagement ring…from John Thornton."

Edith was stunned, "Margaret! You cannot be serious! You cannot marry a tradesman." Margaret knew her cousin was dismayed, but she was hurt nonetheless by the derision that she heard in Edith's voice.

Aunt Shaw's face became red and puffy, so Margaret knew she had angered her aunt. Edith asked Captain Maxwell to fetch her smelling salts for her mother and for a maid to bring tea. Edith stepped over to her mother and sat down beside her.

Margaret watched as Edith and Maxwell fussed over Aunt Shaw and used the time to gather her courage.

Margaret was adamant that she would be John's wife, and she would not tolerate a word being said against him. Nothing they could say could change the choice she had made for her life.

When Aunt Shaw was once again composed, she said, "Margaret Ann, you are like a daughter to me, and it is my place to see that you make a suitable marriage. I simply cannot allow you to marry that tradesman and live in that filthy town. You must write to Mr. Thornton and end your engagement tomorrow. Outside of this room, the only other person who knows is Dixon, and I am certain she wants a different life for you as well. No one will be the wiser, and the whole affair can be forgotten. There will be no scandal of a broken engagement and all the gossip that would ensue because of it."

Margaret stood, said in a voice laced with deep sadness, "I love you, Aunt Shaw, and I love you, Edith. I am grateful that you gave me a home after my parents died. However, on this matter, I will not do as you asked even if it means I must remove to Milton tomorrow."

Aunt Shaw sputtered, "But you must do as I ask, Margaret. I am asking you to trust me to know what is best for you."

Margaret went to kneel before her aunt and took her hand in her own before she began to speak, "Aunt Shaw, you must trust me to know my own heart. I have loved John Thornton for over two years. It is my most fervent desire to be his wife."

Edith interjected, "If he were a gentleman, he would have come here first, and then asked for permission to court you. But instead, he was heavy-handed and asked you without gaining the approval of your family, Margaret. Surely, he is unworthy of you and even you cannot deny that he is beneath you in society."

Margaret was weary, but she would not relent. She softened her voice and said, "Papa and Mama approved of him, and Papa loved John as a son. Does that not matter?"

Aunt Shaw knew her niece well, and decided to table the discussion for now. She patted Margaret's hand, and said, "We will talk of it more later, my dear. Right now, let's have a nice family dinner and talk about more pleasant things."

Margaret agreed that they would discuss the matter later. Her aunt had no idea, Margaret was certain, how deeply she had hurt her. It felt as if her happiness did not matter at all to Aunt Shaw. She was being treated like a child instead of a grown woman who knew her own heart. More pleasant things? Nothing in her life had ever brought her more happiness than John's love. She sighed audibly, and Henry offered a hand to help her stand.

Dinner was one of her favorite meals, roast duck with all the trimmings, but Margaret found that she had no appetite. Her happiness at being engaged lasted less than twenty-four hours. She looked around the table and found that everyone was steadfastly trying to move past the uncomfortable conversation in the drawing room.

Edith began telling of Sholto's antics that afternoon and lamenting at how unruly he had become in Margaret's short absence. "Sholto would miss you if you left us, Margaret. He loves you so very much."

Margaret knew it to be true, and she loved him as well, "Children bring us great joy, Edith. I love every minute I spend with him."

Henry knew Margaret's mannerisms well, and he knew she was putting on a brave front. He would not be surprised if after everyone went to sleep, she returned to Milton on the midnight train.

He was hurt that she had given her heart to Thornton, but he loved her too well to see her as miserable as she was now. He had to do what he could for her. He reached for his goblet and stood. Before he spoke, he met Margaret's eyes, "To Margaret's happiness!"

For a moment, everyone was stunned, and they did not raise their glasses, nor did they speak. Henry looked around at each one of them, held his glass higher in the air, and implored them with his eyes to support Margaret.

Maxwell looked at his brother and knew that this was the most unselfish and magnanimous thing Henry might ever do, and he raised his glass before adding his own well wishes to Henry's.

Edith looked at her husband in confusion. Surely he knew that Henry was hurt by Margaret's attachment to John Thornton. Maxwell laid his hand on hers, and nodded for her to raise her glass as well. Edith did so reluctantly.

Aunt Shaw was left to comply with the others. Margaret looked at Henry and thanked him.

For a second time, Henry raised his glass and gave a toast to friendship and family. This time, everyone raised their glass without hesitation.

Later that evening, when Henry left to go to his townhome, Margaret accompanied him to the door. "I have always known that you were a true friend to me, but tonight, I learned that you care about my happiness more than my own family does. I appreciate that more than you will ever know, Henry."

He gave her a sad smile and replied, "Margaret, your happiness is more important to me than my own. I am not going to lie and tell you that I am not disappointed that you chose Thornton instead of me, but I know you are marrying the man your heart desires. I am just selfish enough not to want to be second-best in your heart and in your life."

It was the end of a five-year chapter for Margaret and Henry; friends that were as good as family, but Henry's release of her meant that her family would be more agreeable to her marriage to John.

"Goodnight, Margaret."

Margaret knew that he was also saying goodbye.

oooOooo

Milton-Northern

John was working long hours to prepare for his trip to London on Saturday. He had little time to spare, but when he saw his sister arrive in the mill yard, he walked across to the house to have tea with her and his mother. John walked in the room and kissed his sister's cheek, then his mother's.

John spoke to Fanny while his mother made his cup of tea. "Fanny, have you come to give me your well-wishes?"

Fanny smiled and said, "Yes, I have, John. Mother told me yesterday that you were to be married to Miss Hale. I know you think I have a myopic view of the world, and am a shallow woman who cares only about shopping and gossip, but since becoming Watson's wife, I believe I have grown up a bit. Not that I still do not care about those things, but now I care about other people in a way that I once did not."

John was pleased, and said, "I am glad of it, Fanny. Marriage suits you well."

She continued, with affection in her voice, "I wish you every happiness with Miss Hale, John. I will own that she is not the woman I would have chosen for my sister, but it is not my choice to make, and my Watson has helped me to see that. You can count on me to help Miss Hale find her way in society with the other mill wives. I am happy to help with planning the wedding, if I am needed. After all, you gave me the wedding of my dreams, so it is the least I can do for you."

John was grateful for his sister's support, and in a husky voice he replied, "Thank you, Fanny, that means a great deal to me. As far as the wedding is concerned, a date will be settled this weekend, and thank you for offering your services."

Hannah sipped her tea and watched the interaction between her two children. It pleased her to see them getting along well.

John stood up to return to the mill. Fanny watched him leave the room, and remarked, "John is happy, Mother. There is something about his countenance that I have never seen before, a sort of contentment and we must credit Miss Hale for it."

Hannah said, "I am finding it hard to accept that John will marry Miss Hale, Fanny."

Fanny believed she understood why her mother's trepidation about John's impending marriage to Miss Hale. "Mother, while I was growing up in this house, I felt invisible at times, and I can say that now without rancor. Your world revolves around John and soon, you will have to share him with someone he loves with his whole heart. I think you are afraid of becoming less important to John.

Hannah said defensively, "I do not want him to marry her because she is unworthy of him, Fanny."

Fanny said, "There was that unfortunate gossip, but my brother is a deeply moral man, so I believe things must not have been as they appeared. Miss Hale is worthy of him if for no other reason that he has decided it to be so. It is only natural for you to feel some insecurity as your role of mistress of this house will become Margaret's honor as John's wife. She will see to John's every need, and it is understandable that you will feel displaced. However, you will have your days to spend as you wish, and I would think you would welcome that since you so dislike the social obligations that come with being active in society. Now that John will be married, you will not longer need to foster relationships with the other mill matrons. He will no longer be the young and handsome bachelor that they all were eyeing as a prospective husband for their daughters."

Hannah replied sadly, "He does need me anymore, Fanny. If I am being honest with myself, I became second in his affections when he formed an attachment to Miss Hale long ago."

Fanny tried to be gentle in her response, "Mother, he is a grown man, and he may not need you, but he loves you dearly. We are his family, but she is his heart. Watson told me that all the other mill masters have long known that John cared for Miss Hale."

"Mother, would you have wanted Mother Watson to have felt about me the way you do about Miss Hale?"

"No, I am glad that Mrs. Watson has embraced you as a daughter." Hannah's voice was barely audible when she said, "I will do my best to accept what I cannot change, Fanny. Thank you for helping me understand that I must, for John's sake."

Hannah looked at her daughter and really saw the young woman before her. Fanny had grown up a great deal since her marriage to Watson. Hannah reached across and laid her hand over Fanny's, "I am proud of you."

Fanny smiled, "Thank you, Mother. If you find that you cannot be content living with the besotted couple, then you have the choice to make your home with Watson and I. We would be happy to have you. I could use your help with Louisa Victoria, and you would be able to spend time with her everyday. At the very least, it would give you some time to come to terms with John's devotion to Margaret."

Fanny stood, kissed her mother's cheek, and left for her own home.

Hannah sighed and picked up the first of many linens that would need to have the initials changed on them. She pondered all Fanny had said, and realized that life had moved on for both of her children, and they had found their own happiness separate from her.

But, Hannah Thornton was not one to dwell in self-pity, so she picked up her needle and began expertly embroider the letter "M" on the snowy white dish towel she held in her hand.

oooOooo

Author's Notes: Readers in our fandom have different degrees of dislike for Henry Lennox based upon his behavior toward John at the Great Exhibition. He can be snarky and obnoxious, but he also, IMO, loved Margaret enough to put her happiness before his own. In the canon, he never showed up for the meeting with John at Harley Street, leaving Margaret and John to speak alone which of course led to them coming to an understanding. Secondly, at the end of the mini-series, he did not lose his temper or admonish Margaret over kissing John Thornton, instead, he wished her a sad goodbye. He is by no means my favorite character in the story, but I think he has more depth than what we read in the canon or saw in the mini-series. Only Elizabeth Gaskell knows for sure! Annabella Grace