Milton Belle

Part 10

We now come to the week leading u to the wedding.................

After 4 fittings Margaret's wedding gown was ready and she had wept with joy over it.
Insisting on providing a sumptuous lunch for the Malone sisters and their parents as a thank you.
As she trailed a loving hand over the fabric she smiled at the 3 craft's women. ' I defy anyone to decry Marlborough Mill cotton when they see this. I can't imagine that any lady in London has been married in anything better.
The cut of the dress was simplicity itself it's charm was how it had been shaped to compliment Margaret's figure.
The decoration of Aggie's faerie fine lace and Lucy's embroidered roses were unobtrusive.
Yet without them the gown would look unfinished.
Hannah's veil lay wrapped snugly in tissue paper beside Margaret's delicate bridal shoes and stockings.

Higgins had for the last few weeks been diverted from Margaret's garden to the field that thanks to Sir Cedric Boucher had been purchased and was now slowly being transformed from wilderness to Garden of Eden.
He did come back daily however to tend the Milton Belles that had remained to be used for Margaret's bouquet and headdress.

Bess would be going to work at the Marlborough Mill canteen part time after the wedding. Margaret would also be teaching her reading, writing and arithmetic to prepare her for helping at the school.
The house did not yet have a definite buyer but there was considerable interest in such a desirable property.

Thinking about selling the house made Margaret feel a twinge of sadness. Not for the house itself, but for the memory of her beloved guardian.
' Dear Uncle Henry'. She found herself saying out loud. ' I think you knew that John and |I would marry didn't you. Wily old fox'.
She fancied she could almost hear his voice answering with a chuckle. ' My very dear girl.
It stood out a mile to anyone who knew you both. Let this old house go now.
Embrace your new life at Marlborough Mill with my blessing. I will always be there in your heart as will your family'.
And Margaret thought of her parents and her brother. How they had waved her off from the railway platform sending her away to protect her from contagion to which all 3 of them came to fall.
' Darling Mama, Papa and Freddie'. She again said aloud. ' You'd love my John I know you would. I so wish you could have met in this world'.

Margaret had invited Cecily to stay with her the night before the wedding. Bidding her friend 'good night God bless' she climbed in between the covers of her maiden bed for the last time.
On her beside table lay an open parcel that had been delivered earlier. She had found a velvet covered box and a white cotton bag. Sandwiched between them a note from John.

My Darling Margaret.
How can I put into pen and ink
all that I am feeling ?
If I say that I love and adore you
and am burning with longing to make you mine.
Then I cannot convey even half of my passion.

I hope you will like these gifts I have sent you.
May I ask that you will wear them for me tomorrow.

Your loving and pining John xxxxxxx

The box contained a breathtakingly lovely pendant. A gold chain supporting a gold and amber rose. Restless she took another look at the precious jewel. It would look wonderful with her gown and compliment her bouquet and headdress of glowing yellow blooms.
A blush spread upwards from her chest as she picked up the note and opened the cotton bag.
Inside were 2 blue lace garters. ' burning with longing to make you mine'.
She closed her eyes and thought of John's elegant hands sliding the garters from her thighs......
removing the stockings.....then.............

She glanced at the clock on the wall and moaned in frustration. Would tomorrow never come.

****************************************

John was no closer to sleep either. Never had a bed felt so empty and lonely as his did tonight.
He mind wandered to the big king sized bed that had been a gift from Lord and Lady Townley. And the beautiful wife he would be sharing it with. Beautiful inside and out he thought with pride. Not many of his fellow Masters could claim as much.

He hoped that she was not feeling any great fear about tomorrow night. She must know that he would die rather than harm her and that he would do all he could to give her pleasure to match his own.

He counted himself fortunate to have had the best of experience
At 18 his Uncle Lord Townley had taken on the duty that should have been his Fathers and took him to a prostitute.
Mattie, who specialised in the new middle class gentlemen was very taken with this charming handsome boy. John had liked her too and for the next 16 years had visited her regularly once a week and they had become good friends. She had been a wonderful teacher of the secrets of women's sexual pleasure and John had been a chivalrous lover to her unlike most of her clients.
They had both known that the arrangement could not go on for ever. John had known it was time when he knew he was falling in love with Margaret.
He went to see Mattie and told her about this remarkable young lady that he longed to marry. ' I'm very fond of you Mattie'. He had told her 'and I hope we can continue to be friends. I wouldn't want to leave you feeling that you're being merely cast aside'.

Mattie kissed his cheek warmly. ' That I know you would never do. I've hoped you would find yourself a wife worthy of you. Even though it would mean the end of our arrangement.
I'm glad to be sending her a man with whom she'll be well satisfied'.
They kissed. wished each other well and parted to become just friends.

He was looking forward to doing all that Mattie had taught him with Margaret. He looked at the clock on the wall and groaned in frustration. Would morning never come ?

*************************************

Margaret sat at the table. She really felt too excited to eat. But under the scrutiny of her friends she made herself eat some porridge and drink a cup of tea.

After she had bathed. Cecily arranged her hair. And both girls helped her into her gown and shoes.
The Thornton veil with its silver headdress decorated with Milton Belle roses finished off the effect.
Then Bess brought the full length mirror for her to see herself and she burst into tears.
' Thank you both. I can hardly believe it's me'.


*********************************

John was dressed and ready and walked downstairs to find Hannah waiting for him.
' John. You look wonderful'. She smiled with her version of enthusiasm. John really did look devastating. His waistcoat was the shiny green of a mallard's head and he wore a gold cravat to match the yellow of the Milton Belle roses.

She rested her head against her Son's chin. ' I'm happy for you today. But I can't pretend
that I'm not sad too. I'll no longer be your first confidante..............' .
John put his arms around her. ' Mother. This was always going to happen when I found a wife.
But it doesn't change how I feel about you. You're the best Mother I could have asked for.
And I know that Margaret is longing to be a daughter to you if you'll let her'.

They shared a loving hug and then Hannah brisk once more announced they ought to be getting to the church.

***************************************

Cecily had gone to church with Thomas Boucher and Sir Cedric. Nicholas has brought Margaret's bouquet of sweet Milton Belles and took Bess so they could get to the church.
They had not wanted to leave Margaret alone as she waited for the Thornton's carriage to come for her.
' I'll be perfectly alright'. She told them. ' A few quiet moments alone before I have to be the centre of attention would be welcome'.

She didn't have many quiet moments to wait. Having arrived at church John had immediately sent the carriage to fetch his bride. He couldn't wait a moment longer to have her with him.


The carriage pulled up outside the church and the driver helped Margaret down before going through the church door and told the Verger that Miss Hale had arrived.

John saw the Verger whisper to the Vicar and the Vicar turned to smile at John. 'Shall we begin Mr Thornton' ?


The Verger returned to the back of the church and escorted Margaret inside before nodding to the organist. Who played the first chord that brought the congregation to their feet.
Nicholas and Bess in the back pew gave Margaret their friendly smiles and she nodded in greeting to them as she slowly walked past them.

At the front of the church she saw her beloved Bridegroom. His broad strong shoulders and long legs unmistakable.

He turned around and their eyes met drawing a smile from them both. One of Margaret's gloved hands moved delicately to finger the rose pendant at her throat drawing John's attention there.

In his wildest dreams ( and in the past week they had been wild indeed) he hadn't imagined she could look as heart stopping beautiful as she did today. That dress fitting so lovingly to her feminine curves was a work of art.
What better advertisement for Marlborough Mill cotton could there be.

At last she was there beside him. Speechless he just devoured her with his eyes and raising her left hand kissed the finger he would be dressing with a ring.

The music ended and the Vicar began to intone the service....................

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony;....................

I John Edward take thee Margaret Maria to my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.
I Margaret Maria. take thee John Edward. to my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.........................................

WITH this Ring I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship, and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.......................................


Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
.
FORASMUCH as John. and Margaret. have consented together in holy Wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
***************************************************
It was done. The register was signed and John had lifted the veil from Margaret's face that was smiling up at him in joyful adoration.

Arm in arm Mr and Mrs John Thornton walked down the aisle. It was not generally done for a bride and groom to chat either to each other or to their guests at this point.
But they did both of these as well as laughing. Giddy with happiness.
They stepped into the sunshine and as their guests followed them out they saw the couple still deep in conversation arms unashamedly around each other.

TBC ( Marriage service from the Book of Commom Prayer)