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Milton Belle
folder
M through R › North and South (BBC)
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
30
Views:
9,068
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
M through R › North and South (BBC)
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
30
Views:
9,068
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own the television series that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
chapter 2
Henry Bell had spent the past 12 years in South America, but now had a yen to be back in England. His banker and boyhood friend James Latimer had recommended that he purchase a mill, newly on the market, called Marlborough
Mill. It was being run very well at present by one John Thornton, and seemed a good proposition.
When Henry arrived in England he decided to visit his new property. Latimer was correct. Thornton was doing well, and he was extremely pleased.
That evening he joined Thornton and his mother Hannah, for dinner. Having discovered that Bell knew the Latimer family he had a pressing question to ask,
aside from the talk of business.
'Did you ever know a Rev. Hale, who married Latimer's sister sir?'. Bell smiled, ' yes indeed, Richard and I were at Oxford together, and I am Godfather to his youngest child Margaret. Rather lapsed I fear, with being in Ecuador, I haven't seen them all for 12 years'.
John sighed. 'I have some unpleasant news for you then. Rev Hale, his wife and their son died 11 years ago of scarlet fever. Margaret was sent here to stay with Latimer, but as soon as she was orphaned, he put her to earn her keep as a servant'.
Bell looked incredulous, and not a little annoyed. 'That is a rather serious accusation young man. I hope you would not make it lightly'.
John wished he were not so certain. He sent Henry to the Latimer house, recommending that he ask the gardener Higgins if he could speak with Maggie Hale.
When the young woman appeared before him, there was no doubt that this was his God daughter, and he warmly hugged her. 'That louse Latimer,
what has he done to you?'
Latimer when asked to explain himself, fluffed and blustered, not a man of words at all. Bell immediately announced that he was intending to make up for 12 years of neglect, by becoming Margaret's Guardian. Latimer was happy to have the girl off his hands. He was not so pleased when Bell insisted on poaching Nicholas and Bess Higgins ( along with several cuttings of the Milton Belle). 'Think of it as compensation that you owe to your niece'.
Margaret had an idea that she had been cherishing for some time, and now had the chance to bring to fruition. She also knew where to do so.
Margaret had an idea that she had been cherishing for some time, and now had the chance to bring to fruition. She also knew where to do so.
Since she had become her Godfather's ward, she had tried to discover all she could about the mills of the town.
It was not pretty. However, it comforted her to know that Marlborough mill, though still harsh and grim enough was very much better than the others. Thornton had installed a wheel, which eased the amount of fluff that his workers inhaled, and he had paid for an old outhouse to be converted into a kitchen and dining area so that his workers could have a hot meal during the day. 'If people eat well they work well'.
Margaret faced the Mill Master now on equal terms and spoke with more confidence.
It saddens me sir that servants and mill workers seem to have no prospect of raising themselves from poverty and hardship. They cannot read write or do simple arithmetic, so they remain in a cycle of destitution all their lives.
It is a wish of mine to give their children at least a chance. May I have your permission to use the eating area for a school. I will teach in the children's own time , not yours, and my Godfather gives me an allowance, so I shall not be asking you for money.
John Thornton's handsome face registered approval of this scheme, he tried to keep business like however. ' Just as long as it does not take them from their work, Miss Hale'.
Mr Bell had decided to host a dinner party. He had 2 reasons. Firstly he wanted to give his ward the chance to move in the circles she had been deprived of. Secondly, there was talk of a mill strike over pay, and distraction was needed to ease the tension.
When the night of the dinner party came, the strike had, as expected already begun, so conversation was likely to be a little tense.
Mr Bell had bought a wonderful evening gown for his ward. A delicate forest green, it was of the shoulders and showed rather more of Margaret's chest than she was used to. She looked very beautiful.
As the guests arrived, Bell could see that his ward was making quite an impression. The bluff mill owners of Milton, stealing sidelong glances at their hostess. Mr Bell talking intently to Thornton about the strike found occasionally that the younger man's attention was elsewhere, his eyes intently upon Margaret. Bell smiled to himself.
At dinner of course, the strike dominated conversation. Margaret could not help making comparisons between Mr Thornton's attempts at broadening his cultural horizons, not wanting business to dominate his mind, and the other masters for whom making money, and winning the competion with their workers and each other, seemed to be their only thoughts.
Mr Thornton looked extremely bored with with their boorish and unsophisticated way of thinking, worse than the workers they considered to be their inferiors.
Once he caught Margaret's eye and raised his eyes heavenwards with a mock martyred sigh, they both had to stifle broad grins into their napkins.
Ann Latimer, who had set her hat very firmly at Mr Thornton had a considerable ace to play in her battle with Margaret. The talk was presently about the workers. 'I think,' said Miss Latimer sweetly ' that we should ask Margaret about them, she seems to prefer their company to ours I hear'.
Margaret was trying to think of a reply when rescue came from Mr Thornton. 'That should hardly surprise you Miss Latimer, since your cousin spent most of the time she lived in your house having to earn her keep in the kitchens'.
This caused a most un comfortable silence. This was saved by the resorseful Hannah Thornton, 'I was admiring the roses on your table Mr Bell. I'm afraid I am not acquainted with rose varieties as my son is, can you tell us what they are?' Mr Bell told her and also, with a challenging look at Mr Latimer, the fact that his gardener Higgins had propagated it.
At the end of the evening, Mr Bell left Margaret to say goodnight to the guests.
Hannah Thornton said her thanks in her usual cool manner, looking at her son who seemed keen to linger. He took Margaret's hand. 'Thank you for a delightful evening Miss Hale'. Margaret smiled, 'and I must thank you for assisting me earlier, I fear Ann and I will never be friends'. The both laughed quietly. Mr Thornton seemed to be stealing himself to say something else.
Miss Hale, I wonder if you would do me the honour of taking a walk with me on Sunday?'
TBC
Mill. It was being run very well at present by one John Thornton, and seemed a good proposition.
When Henry arrived in England he decided to visit his new property. Latimer was correct. Thornton was doing well, and he was extremely pleased.
That evening he joined Thornton and his mother Hannah, for dinner. Having discovered that Bell knew the Latimer family he had a pressing question to ask,
aside from the talk of business.
'Did you ever know a Rev. Hale, who married Latimer's sister sir?'. Bell smiled, ' yes indeed, Richard and I were at Oxford together, and I am Godfather to his youngest child Margaret. Rather lapsed I fear, with being in Ecuador, I haven't seen them all for 12 years'.
John sighed. 'I have some unpleasant news for you then. Rev Hale, his wife and their son died 11 years ago of scarlet fever. Margaret was sent here to stay with Latimer, but as soon as she was orphaned, he put her to earn her keep as a servant'.
Bell looked incredulous, and not a little annoyed. 'That is a rather serious accusation young man. I hope you would not make it lightly'.
John wished he were not so certain. He sent Henry to the Latimer house, recommending that he ask the gardener Higgins if he could speak with Maggie Hale.
When the young woman appeared before him, there was no doubt that this was his God daughter, and he warmly hugged her. 'That louse Latimer,
what has he done to you?'
Latimer when asked to explain himself, fluffed and blustered, not a man of words at all. Bell immediately announced that he was intending to make up for 12 years of neglect, by becoming Margaret's Guardian. Latimer was happy to have the girl off his hands. He was not so pleased when Bell insisted on poaching Nicholas and Bess Higgins ( along with several cuttings of the Milton Belle). 'Think of it as compensation that you owe to your niece'.
Margaret had an idea that she had been cherishing for some time, and now had the chance to bring to fruition. She also knew where to do so.
Margaret had an idea that she had been cherishing for some time, and now had the chance to bring to fruition. She also knew where to do so.
Since she had become her Godfather's ward, she had tried to discover all she could about the mills of the town.
It was not pretty. However, it comforted her to know that Marlborough mill, though still harsh and grim enough was very much better than the others. Thornton had installed a wheel, which eased the amount of fluff that his workers inhaled, and he had paid for an old outhouse to be converted into a kitchen and dining area so that his workers could have a hot meal during the day. 'If people eat well they work well'.
Margaret faced the Mill Master now on equal terms and spoke with more confidence.
It saddens me sir that servants and mill workers seem to have no prospect of raising themselves from poverty and hardship. They cannot read write or do simple arithmetic, so they remain in a cycle of destitution all their lives.
It is a wish of mine to give their children at least a chance. May I have your permission to use the eating area for a school. I will teach in the children's own time , not yours, and my Godfather gives me an allowance, so I shall not be asking you for money.
John Thornton's handsome face registered approval of this scheme, he tried to keep business like however. ' Just as long as it does not take them from their work, Miss Hale'.
Mr Bell had decided to host a dinner party. He had 2 reasons. Firstly he wanted to give his ward the chance to move in the circles she had been deprived of. Secondly, there was talk of a mill strike over pay, and distraction was needed to ease the tension.
When the night of the dinner party came, the strike had, as expected already begun, so conversation was likely to be a little tense.
Mr Bell had bought a wonderful evening gown for his ward. A delicate forest green, it was of the shoulders and showed rather more of Margaret's chest than she was used to. She looked very beautiful.
As the guests arrived, Bell could see that his ward was making quite an impression. The bluff mill owners of Milton, stealing sidelong glances at their hostess. Mr Bell talking intently to Thornton about the strike found occasionally that the younger man's attention was elsewhere, his eyes intently upon Margaret. Bell smiled to himself.
At dinner of course, the strike dominated conversation. Margaret could not help making comparisons between Mr Thornton's attempts at broadening his cultural horizons, not wanting business to dominate his mind, and the other masters for whom making money, and winning the competion with their workers and each other, seemed to be their only thoughts.
Mr Thornton looked extremely bored with with their boorish and unsophisticated way of thinking, worse than the workers they considered to be their inferiors.
Once he caught Margaret's eye and raised his eyes heavenwards with a mock martyred sigh, they both had to stifle broad grins into their napkins.
Ann Latimer, who had set her hat very firmly at Mr Thornton had a considerable ace to play in her battle with Margaret. The talk was presently about the workers. 'I think,' said Miss Latimer sweetly ' that we should ask Margaret about them, she seems to prefer their company to ours I hear'.
Margaret was trying to think of a reply when rescue came from Mr Thornton. 'That should hardly surprise you Miss Latimer, since your cousin spent most of the time she lived in your house having to earn her keep in the kitchens'.
This caused a most un comfortable silence. This was saved by the resorseful Hannah Thornton, 'I was admiring the roses on your table Mr Bell. I'm afraid I am not acquainted with rose varieties as my son is, can you tell us what they are?' Mr Bell told her and also, with a challenging look at Mr Latimer, the fact that his gardener Higgins had propagated it.
At the end of the evening, Mr Bell left Margaret to say goodnight to the guests.
Hannah Thornton said her thanks in her usual cool manner, looking at her son who seemed keen to linger. He took Margaret's hand. 'Thank you for a delightful evening Miss Hale'. Margaret smiled, 'and I must thank you for assisting me earlier, I fear Ann and I will never be friends'. The both laughed quietly. Mr Thornton seemed to be stealing himself to say something else.
Miss Hale, I wonder if you would do me the honour of taking a walk with me on Sunday?'
TBC