Milton Belle

Part 23

Part of John wished that he and Margaret could have been as alone on Christmas morning as they had been the night before. It had felt so liberating, being able to just express their passion without any fear of detection.
He grinned into the half light of dawn at the image of his Mother's horror at the thought of love making brought out of the bedroom.
There was no way that his late Father would have contemplated giving in to his lust on the hearth rug, hardly the sort of man to help the tight laced Hannah to relax.
Hopefully Cedric Boucher was the man to relax her.
But his well honed practical side told him that there would have been little chance for romance had Margaret needed to do all the house hold chores herself.
Just as well then that by now the staff would be up and about.


The Young Mistress of Marlborough Mill understood very clearly how much work it took to run even a small household like theirs.
This empathy with not only her household staff but also with the Mill workers made Margaret Thornton a well loved and respected figure amongst the working classes, though the other society ladies did see her as something of an oddity.

She had a keen sense of the rights of the workers in her world. She made no apologies to anyone for her attitude and was strict about making sure the rights of those workers beneath her protection were met.

John had told her that the household staff all got a bonus at Christmas which she approved of.
What annoyed her was the idea that they would simply be handed this money in their weeks wages. No sense of ceremony. Not so much as a 'Thank you for your hard work over the past year '.
Oh no. That wouldn't do........Not at all.
“ Don't either of you realise how hard they work ? At Christmas especially “. She railed at both her husband and her Mother in law...............

Then Hannah and Cedric had announced they would be away for Christmas so now Margaret could arrange matters in her own way.
Rubbing her little hands with glee she'd announced to John that they would be inviting the staff to have Christmas breakfast with them. The whole household would go to church together.
Getting back home she would give them all their bonus and thank them for all their hard work before they went to prepare Christmas Lunch.
The staff could have their meal while John, Margaret and their guests had theirs. “ I don't mind serving you and our guests “.
She told a slightly disgruntled John. One could get too eccentric.
Then she put a smile on his face by adding “ of course I'm hoping that you'll claim Droit de Seigneur on your Little Maggie and pinch my rear as often as possible “.

He chuckled at her. “ Ahhh how my Little Maggie knows the ways to my heart. You're right of course My Love “. He admitted kissing her hand. “ Happy well cared for staff work harder. I'm a lucky man to have such a Sweet Angel to whisper to my conscience the way you do “.


On Christmas Eve there fore. After he had once again made love to his wife, this time in bed , John went down to the kitchen to place an invitation for the staff written in Margaret's careful hand.

Mr and Mrs Thornton
Invite you all to join us
For Christmas Breakfast
At 9 O clock in the Dining Room.
Followed by Christmas Morning Service.

The Butler, in some surprise read this out to the Cook and the 2 maids Jane and Charlotte. “ Young Mrs Thornton's idea of course “. The Cook nodded. “ No way on Earth would Madame be so familiar “.

Initially the atmosphere was rather strained. The 4 staff members unsure of how informal they were allowed to be.
Margaret felt it up to her to break the ice.
“ I can see that no one is quite sure of how to behave here “. She smiled squeezing her husband's hand, though respectful enough not to point out that she could see he was fully as nervous as the servants.
“ Let me explain then. You may have heard rumours that I was once employed as a servant before I met Mr Thornton. Well that is the truth. And it is not something I am ashamed to own to.
I like to think it has given me the privileged position of being able to have empathy with both the Servant and the Mistress.
Today we are celebrating the birth of a man who had no time for class distinction. He showed the same love to both King and Beggar and I endeavour to do the same as he has instructed me.
Here this morning I would like us all to regard ourselves as the equals Our Lord wanted us to be. She looked at her husband with a smile raising her teacup in a toast.
“A Merry Christmas to us all. “
John squeezed her hand in return before raising his own cup, the staff following suit.

After this things became rather more relaxed. There were smiles and even laughter. The dour Butler revealed to have a bumptious sense of humour ( though he fore bore from telling the bawdier jokes in his repertoire with ladies present ).
Eating over they all made ready for church. For once Margaret ensured that she and John sat with the 4 servants.
Some of the other Mill Masters shot them disapproving looks.
John however continued to have faith in his wife. She was not a conventional lady by any means but she had never harmed him with her eccentricity yet. So he met the dark looks full on, inclining his head and raising his hat without shame.
What after all did any of them have to feel superior about ?
The vicar made no remarks about the Thornton's familiarity with their staff this morning but as he greeted the congregation when they filed out past him both John and Margaret felt their hand's given an extra warm press.
The Reverend was known locally as an advocate of social reform. This gesture of the Thornton's might be small he thought happily, but small gestures can make huge waves.

Back home and Margaret asked the Butler if she and Mr Thornton might take up just a little more of their time.
In the kitchen she told them all that she and John were most grateful for all the hard work they had done in the last year particularly over the festive season. “ Although I have only been with you myself since the Summer “.
She asked them there fore to accept this token of their appreciation as she handed their generous Christmas bonuses to each of them.
John squeezed her waist. “ Now Mrs Thornton I think we ought to leave these fine people to their work and let them relax without having to be polite to us any longer “.
He shot them all a grin that had the Cook and Maids flushing before leading Margaret out and back upstairs.


Grace Dixon along with her brother Andrew, a solemn Presbyterian Minister, Nicholas and Bess arrived for lunch.
Bess and Grace noticed that when Jane and Lucy brought the food they just bobbed a curtsey and left. They whispered to Margaret. “ Shouldn't you be having words with them about that. Such insolence.......”
Margaret calmed them by explaining how she had arranged matters for the day. “ I 'm sure it won't hurt me to serve my husband and our guests myself on this one day “.
The 2 ladies made to help her but she stopped them with a wave of her hand. “ I can't ask my guests to serve. That would be unforgivable”.
John exchanged a look with Nicholas, a man he was liking more and more and one who had a deep fondness for his darling wife.
“ Such gentleness hiding a will of iron “. He remarked. His eyes following her lovely form round the table. “ Aye and don't we love her for that Sir”. Nicholas smiled.
He never failed to feel gladdened by the younger man's love for this sweet girl. He himself had felt protective of her ever since he had first seen her as Motherless 11 year old let down by her only relatives.
Now she had the adoration of this fine man and had become a wonderful woman in her own right.
Margaret was serving John again. She was blushing and flashing John brief flirtatious glances.....No one else was to know that her husbands foot was rubbing her ankle and he had twice patted her on her high rounded backside.

Conversation flowed happily. Grace and Margaret had plans for their school. They wanted to allow adults to come and learn if they liked too.
“ On a Sunday of course “. Margaret added. John had already voiced his support for this idea. “ So long as there is someone who can do the teaching. “ He added.
Grace patted her brother's arm as though prompting him to speak. He was not a great talker it seemed.
“ Ahhhhh yes “. Rev Dixon said. “ I am happy to lend my services for an hour on the Sabbath in the interests of helping to educate the masses. “
John looked at Nicholas and they each raised an eyebrow. The man had the sort of voice that belonged in a graveyard.
Nicholas was far more animated on the subject of the Mill Gardens. “ We'll be opening up come March “. He beamed. “ If Mrs Thornton here will do the honours for us. Cut the ribbon like the Queen “. Margaret beamed. “ I'll be delighted Nicholas dear “.

After a light tea at 5 O clock the 4 guests got ready to leave. John made valiant attempts not to look too eager for them to go. But the fact remained that he was.
There was only Andrew Dixon that he personally wanted rid of. The man was dull will no sort of joi de vivre, even on this happy day. He felt very sorry for the unfortunate congregations that had to listen to him preach. No doubt he was a 'Hell Fire and Punishment' merchant.
The other guests he would happily have to dinner again especially his good friend Higgins.
Right now however all he wanted was his Margaret. Finally alone with her he led her up to the dressing room beside their bedroom, sighing with relief as he shut the door behind them.
He slid off his jacket, opened his waistcoat then felt Margaret's fingers on his.
“ Let me “. She whispered beginning to free his cravat from it's moorings. The tip of her tongue just poked out in concentration. John was enchanted, just settling back to watch her.
The strip of silk joined his jacket and she was opening the top shirt buttons, her soft lips brushing the tender skin like a breath of air.........John hissed in air, trembling at her touch.

“ Maggie “. He murmured. “ It's been a wonderful day. I love seeing my little Darkshire Angel in action ............. “
His fingers were already working on the buttons of her gown. He moved her lips from his throat so he could turn her around to continue with undressing her.
“.............But I can only bear to share you for so long “. He whispers into her ear. “ Now I'm keeping you all to myself until the morning “.
There she stood before him in her underwear. Corset still in place making her increasingly shallow breath a torture.
Her husband's elegant long hands began to relieve her. Planting kisses on the swell of her bosom that was gradually taking deeper breaths with each loosened lace.
“ John “, she gasped. “ Take me to bed. “ I'm tired of being an angel for one day.
Now I want to be your Maggie.........Mr Thornton.....Sir “.
Her eyes twinkled with mischief and flirtation. John felt himself swell with joy and desire.
No one got to see this side of his lady but him and it thrilled him almost unbearably.
“ Come then Maggie”. He said taking her arm. “ You've been a good girl today and good girls get rewarded. Don't they ?”

Margaret lowered her eyes demurely. “ Thank you Sir. May I choose my own reward please Sir ?”
John thought about this. “ That would depend on what you want Miss “. He said sternly but still with the same playful light in his eyes as they followed Margaret's progress into the corner of the room.
She came back and gave John a luscious look that had his knees buckling as she dropped a long feather into his lap.
“ Please Sir ?” She purred.
“ Oh yes Maggie. “ John growled. “ I think we'll both enjoy that reward.“
“ I think you've been a good boy today too John “. Margaret agreed. Her voice changing, just a fraction but enough for John to catch her meaning. A sexy grin spreading over his face that robbed her legs of all strength.
“ Thank you Miss Hale”. He said quietly.

TBC