Milton Belle

27
October
Margaret was due to give birth any time now and was going mad with frustration. She felt weary, heavy and bulging as the baby's head pressed down waiting for the birth canal to open.

Each morning after breakfast Hannah would come over to make sure Margaret would not be alone and John would offer up silent prayers that he would arrive back home one evening to find his home a hive of natal activity.

One Tuesday morning at last Margaret was able to tell her Mother in law that she had been having contractions for some hours now.
John was looking mutinous. “ Mother you can't expect me to be able to concentrate at work now surely ?”
Nonetheless Hannah pushed him towards the door. “ And what pray would you do at home, other than fuss over Margaret and get in the way ? Go to work as usual John “.
She added firmly. “ I'll send someone to let you know of any developments. I promise “.

John turned puppy dog eyes on his wife. “ I'm not sure I'd be any sort of company today “.
She said softly. “ Your Mother said I could be hours yet. Besides “, she added coyly.
“ I 'm not sure I want to let you see me when I'm in pain “.
John kissed her. “ I see I'm surplus to requirement in this haven of femininity “. He remarked drily. “ Mind I want to be informed immediately of any developments “. He gazed imperiously at his women folk .
“ You have our word darling “. Hannah smiled and a resigned John exited slightly sulkily.

By early afternoon the stage had been reached where Dr Boucher's services were required. Jane was sent out, first to fetch Thomas and then to tell John that the end was nigh.

Jane had never seen her master so on edge with excitement as this and was rather nervous as he stood up to follow her back to the house.
“ Sorry Sir “. She all but stammered, “ bbbut Mrs T........Lady Boucher said you weren't to come for't time bein'. Mrs Thornton will be a while yet , but I'll come and tell you right away when't baby's here Sir “. She added in sympathy as John seemed to deflate in disappointment. No use in trying to argue with his Mother.
It was always hard on a Father to be she thought . All this activity focused on his wife and leaving him out completely.
“ How is Mrs Thornton Jane ?” That smooth patrician voice was gentle and pleading as his heart was laid bare and Jane felt immensely moved.
“ Doing really well “. She smiled. “ Tha con be proud of her Sir ........Can Ah fetch thi some tea Sir ?” She added as an after thought.
John's mouth curled ever so slightly. He was touched by Jane's concern for both him and Margaret at such a time.
“ Thank you Jane “. He nodded. “ Tea would be very welcome and it means a lot to have someone on my side here........
Jane floated back to the house, elated that for a moment she and The Master had shared a connection.
********************************

Margaret leaned on the back of a chair moaning loudly as another intense wave shot through her womb.
Hannah had tried and failed to get her daughter in law to lie down but Margaret had felt better standing up and walking about so Hannah indulged her until Dr Boucher walked in and she anticipated an ally as the voice of reason.
Thomas shrugged however. “ I've spoken to a good many midwives of considerable birth experience Hannah and many of them say that standing and walking around can help the baby's passage. Plus if Margaret feels better this way I shouldn't discourage her.”
He waited for another contraction to fade then got the young Mother to be to kneel by the bed so he could examine her progress.
“ Nearly there Sweetheart. “ He told her gently. Though Margaret considered it to be more than long enough as she grasped the bed clothes with another wail of agony........

Over an hour after this Jane knocked at Mr Thornton's office door. “ Come in “. Said her master's weary voice.
Jane came in over flowing with gleeful chatter. “ A little lad Sir. You're a Father Sir and oh he's so lovely. Mrs Thornton adores him already............”. She gasped as John kissed her cheek, grinning broadly as with the tiredness of the day forgotten he sprinted for the house.
A smiling Hannah was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. “ Go and meet your Son darling “. She hugged him close. “ My first Grandchild.” She sighed, wiping away tears of joy. “ If you don't mind I'm getting the carriage to take me home so I can tell Cedric........”
John was off up the stairs towards his bedroom. Thomas came out and beamingly shook his friend's hand. “ A healthy, lusty boy. Mother and son doing fine . Congratulations.
Now I'lll go and leave the 3 of you alone “. He patted John's shoulder and walked off to give the good news to Cecily.


Margaret looked over the head of her contentedly sucking child and her tired face split into a smile as she saw her husband in the door way.
He sat down on the bed putting a hand to his wife's pale cheek. “ Oh Margaret “. He said softly and she kissed it warmly, too emotional still to have the words to speak.
The little man now with a full stomach let go of his Mother's breast with a tender 'plop' giving his Father a chance to look him over while he slept.
“ Perfect “, John whispered in awe. “ He's absolutely perfect. Oh angel, Thank you “.
He took off his jacket and shoes, unfastened his cravat and after Margaret had laid their son down into his crib he stretched out by her side pulling her into his arms and they cuddled together, both in tears of happiness.

November
Henry John Thornton was baptised in the same Church where his parents had married just over a year ago.
Thomas and Cecily Boucher were god parents and still to his surprise was Nicholas Higgins.
Initially he'd been highly reluctant to agree to this when John had asked him.
“ Tha's took me by surprise there John Lad “. He said, running his hands through his hair.
“ I don't rightly know what to say. I would'na want to be an embarrassment to yon little lad when he's older and mixing in society like “.
John clapped his hand on the older man's back. “ Listen to me Nicholas. “ He said gravely. “ I admit that in the early days I felt more than a little snobbish about you.
I accepted Margaret's being fond of you because I'd have done anything to be with her
and I knew how much you'd cared for her over the years, but as for being friends with you myself..........Then I began to get to know you through Margaret and I can say that you're far more of a gentleman in your manners and your ways than a lot of the yobs I'm supposed to call my peers. I'd be as proud to call you Henry's god father as I will be of Thomas. So will you oblige ? “
Faced with this plea from the Master of Marlborough Mill and even more from his Lady
( he could never resist a “ please Nicholas “ from Margaret ) how could he refuse ?

If last Christmas had been quiet and gently romantic Chez Thornton this year was happily, jovially boisterous.
The Mill house now with little Henry as the darling of the establishment played host to the Thornton's usual group of friends and relatives. Hannah and Cedric Bouchers were here today. Thomas and Cecily were spending to day with Cecily's parents so close to the birth of their first grandchild. They were coming to spend the less formal Boxing day with their friends the Thorntons,


Nicholas and Bess Higgins along with Ted Stephens who as a Christmas surprise has asked Nicholas for Bess's hand to which the older man had replied drily. “ Best ask Our Lass. I daren't say owt wi out knowing her mind first “ and Bess had almost screamed out “ Yes ! Oh Teddy how wonderful “,
and finally Grace Dixon and her brother. Margaret shared a knowing look with Bess as it became evident that a friendship was developing between Grace and the charming Nicholas.
“ He really is lovely”. Grace remarked to her hostess blushing like a young girl. “ He certainly is “. Margaret smiled. “ You could do a lot worse than Nicholas. Much as I cringe to use cliches he's very much a 'rough diamond '.
On Boxing Day it was just John, Margaret and baby Henry in the morning and early afternoon with Thomas and Cecily coming to tea and dinner with them.
Margaret clicked contentedly around Cecily. “ In her element she is “. John grinned at Thomas rolling his eyes in affectionate exasperation. “ Never happier than with someone to fuss over. “.
TBC