Milton Belle

Chapter 29

March.

It was the first fine Sunday that showed winter was over and the Mill Gardens were full.
Amongst the Mill workers and their families were the Thorntons and the Bouchers complete with babies Henry and Philip accompanied by their nannies.

Their parents, Henry's Grandmama Hannah and Philip's Great Uncle Cedric were chatting about Cedric and Hannah's plans for their future.
“ As you know My Dears”, he told the younger couples, “ Hannah and I have never intended to remain in Milton.
And now that we see you all happily settled down and our 2 splendid Little Men safely with us it is time for us to turn plans into action.”
Hannah glowed happily as Cedric outlined all that the 2 of them had been discussing through out the Winter nights.
They had bought a smallholding just over the Pennines in Yorkshire. Enough to keep a cow perhaps, pigs and hens and grow fruit and vegetables.
“ Should keep us amply busy eh ?” He chortled. His green eyes twinkled as merrily as any young boy and Hannah knew she would never tire of having them look into her own.
He was happy at the thought of their new life and much of that was down to her being so happy too.
There was so little selfishness in him. She thought fondly. If she had pined to stay in Milton then he'd have considered it.
But no, much as she was proud of the Mill and her part in running it that stage of her life was over.
Margaret was Mrs Thornton now, Chatelaine of John's Domestic Hearth. She had proved herself more than equal to the task, though Hannah assured her that should she need advice then she should not be afraid to call on her Mother in Law.

The following few weeks were taken up with the myriad preparations for moving. Hannah, Margaret and Cecily went daily to the house to ensure that it was ready to be a new home.

April
By the Second week in April all was complete and Sir Cedric and Lady Boucher made ready to depart.
Hannah embraced her daughter and neice in law repeating yet again that she was far from going from their lives. “ I expect to hear from you by post at least fortnightly and if I do not see my little boys once a month then I shall be most displeased.”
Both ladies giggled and promised her faithfully.

Now as Cedric took his leave of the girls Hannah embraced her beloved son and the tears flowed copiously.
“ I want you to know that no Mama could be prouder of her Son than I am of you darling and all you've done with your life. Now you've crowned it all with giving me a lovely daughter in law and an adorable grandson......Thank You”.
John kissed her tenderly. “ If I've been a good son then it pales in comparison to how good a mother you've been to me “. He told her.
“ After Father died you held us together. I couldn't have rebuilt our fortunes without you being so strong for me.
Now I'm so happy that you've become like a Mother for Margaret too. She's longed for your appproval and affection from the moment we became a couple. I'm very glad you did warm to her in the end “.
He turned to Cedric. “ I know she'll be in good hands. So no need for me to say more than to wish you every happiness in your new home “.
Cedric shhok the long elegant hand proffered to him. “ No need to talk as though this is good bye for ever lad. We might not want to live in Milton any longer but part of your mother and I will always be here while you all are.
We'll be seeing each other again and often. On that I can give you my word ”.

The 2 of them climbed into the carriage and with a wave they were off towards a new life.
Thomas and Cecily headed off back to their house and Thomas surgery. Promising to meet with the Thorntons later that week.
Alone with him again but for the bustle of the working mill, Margaret squeezed John's arm gently as she looked up and saw a single tear lingering in the corner of one deep blue eye before it began to trickle down his cheek.
Lovingly she wiped it away with a thumb. John captured her hand, carrying it to his mouth and licked the salty drop away.
His eyes met Margarets and she felt the blood rise to her cheeks. It had been such an innocent, affectionate gesture and yet the connection between them was as intimate as any they experienced while in their most private moments together.
It was so powerful that she was certain the mill workers going about their business around them would feel it too.
It surely had to be sinful to be so.......stirred in full public view.
John felt it too and swallowed hard as his body reacted. “ Perhaps I ought to return to work “. He said weakly, removing his jacket to cover his modesty while he calmed himself down.
Despite Margarets fears no one had noticed in the slightest so John with a huge effort escorted her back towards the house.
“ I daren't come up the steps with you darling. “ He murmured. “ I'd be unable to restrain myself from carrying you inside and up the stairs. “
Her cheeks flushed enchantingly again so he pressed a single kiss onto her lips and dragged himself away. “ Until tonight angel “.
Margaret nodded. “ Oh yes. tonight”.

The afternoon seemed to last forever and John felt drained as he closed the office for the day.
Not too much however to feel the returning flow of hot blood to his belly at the thought of Margaret. 'Not yet. ' He told himself, ' just hold on until Henry goes to bed '.
He walked into the house and Henry was there in Nannys arms. He gurgled and held out a chubby arm to his Papa . So John took him and hugged the little warm body tightly.
Love of a different kind taking precedence in his heart for an hour.
But after Henry had been bourne upstairs for his bath and bed and he and Margaret had eaten, lust returned with a vengeance.
He pulled his wife against him devouring her mouth and neck ravenously. “ Sorry my love” he whispered hoarsely. “ This is selfish of me. But hells bells Margaret I've had you on my mind all afternoon, driving me insane “.
He pressed her against him. Needing her to feel his want. On fire just as completely as he Margaret kissed him back with equal fervour.
“ See”, she whispered. “ You're not the only one to have been suffering....Let's go upstairs”.

May
On a glorious early summer day John and Margaret attended yet another wedding, that of Bess Higgins to Ted Stephens.
The guests who worked at Marlborough Mill were quite nu perturbed by the presence of their Master at the wedding feast, ( a roast dinner in the mill canteen provided by Margaret ). After all he ate with them at lunch time several times a week. Thos was no different.
It was Ted and Bess's friends from the other Mills that looked at Nicholas and asked if he'd taken leave of his senses “suppin' wi't masters”.
Nicholas's reply was that Mrs Thornton was an old and dear friend to Bess and himself and now Mr Thornton was too. “ So if tha conna eat at't same table as him tha knows where't door is “.

Chapter 30
August
John and Margaret's 2nd wedding anniversary came and went and was followed by the news that 'Dear Nicholas' had finally asked Miss Grace Dixon to marry him after walking out with her since April.
To her own surprise Grace accepted without much need for thought.
A common working man he might be but she had discovered during the course of their friendship and subsequent courtship that Higgins was very much the Rough Diamond that Margaret had described him as.
She had long since reached the conclusion that she could do a great deal worse than to become Mrs Nicholas Higgins.
He was hardly wealthy but was making quite a tidy living for himself these days and with her wage for teaching in Mrs Thornton's School they would do very comfortably between them both.

Margaret was thrilled for them and John chuckled richly. “ Well done Nicholas. Sly old fox that he is. I've suspected that the wind was blowing that way for a while. “

During a lunch hour he took Margaret's hand and led her out of the house towards one of the Mill's sigle story outbuildings.
Inside he showed her a fine space that would, if given a little tender loving care make a very comfortable living space for 2 people.
“ What would you say to our furnishing this as a wedding gift to our god friends ?”
A kiss from Margaret told him she approved whole heartedly. “ Dear Sweet Man “. She purred. “ You really have got to like Nicholas haven't you ?”
John nodded. “ He's a good man. Very good in fact. One can't have too many good men on ones side .
Now. I wonder if this will merit another kiss from those succulent lips “. He was flirting heavily and Margaret loved it.
“ Try me “. She said.
“ Well.....” He pulled her close. “ Since Mother went to Yorkshire Williams has been doing sterling work as my second in command on the shop floor, however he isn't getting any younger so I think it time he trained someone to be able to succeed him one day.I've been watching out for someone suitable and I believe that young Ted Stephens would fit the bill very well. “
He looked at her with his most imploring puppy dog eyes yearning for her approval on this.
There was an important point to put straight first though.
“ Please don't think Darling that this is just a favour to the husband of your friend “. He said seriously. “ I have no time for nepotism. “ I'd have chosen Stephens regardless of who his wife was. “.
Margaret reached up to bestow the wished for embrace. “ Oh worry not My Love. I know you to be far too sensible than that. It never occurred to me that this will be anything other than a promotion to the most deserving candidate.
I'm just delighted that Bess 's husband has proved himself that's all. They will be needing the extra money in a few months time........”
“ A baby ?” John asked.
Margaret smiled. “ Yes she's over the moon bless her. Although I hope no one manages to work out that he or she was conceived before rather than after they were married”.
John shrugged. “ Well it isn't as though they aren't married now is it ? And they won't be the first couple to put the cart before the horse, nor the last “.

He noticed that the ravishing hazel eyes looking up at him and melting his insides as they always did, had an extra whistfulness that he recalled having seen once before.
“ There's going to be another baby at the Mill House too Mr Thornton. “ She said quietly yet clearly. “ Master Henry is going to be a big brother and you are to be a Father again”. This was a statement of the ridiculously obvious but the words tripped so pleasingly from her tongue that she said them anyway.
John just as delighted as the last time swept her up into his arms kissing her blissfully.
“ Is there no end to your capacity to make me happy Little Maggie ?” He soughed adoringly into her hair.
“ Oh I do hope not Mr Thornton “. Margarets warm sighing breath tickled his ear, adding to the fire already ignited within him.
“ I think Williams can manage at the Mill without me for an hour “. He growled huskily. “ Why don't we go to bed and find out “.

THE END