Milton Belle

Part 7

3 weeks later on a fine May morning John helped Margaret into the carriage that would take her to his Aunt Elisabeth in Burnley. He'd been into the garden and picked a Milton Belle rose which he now kissed and slotted into her hair. Smiling as she blushed while thanking him.
' Take care Angel'. He told her gently. 'And if any friends of my cousin get more familiar than you'd like I want to know about it'.

Margaret cupped his face in her hands and kissed his lovely long nose. 'I'm sure that if your Aunt is anything like your Mother they wouldn't dare.............I have something for you too'.

From her pocket she took out a small square envelope with 'John' written on the front. He opened it and found a small card with an embroidered yellow rose in its window. inside it said To John my love always. Your Margaret . He felt like weeping.
' Did you make this ?' He asked in a voice slightly thickened with fiercely controlled tears.
' Yes'. Margaret said with pride. ' I do need the practice. I haven't done much needlework over the years. Mother would be most unamused'.
' I'll treasure it'. John said. 'I'll take it with me everywhere until you return'. He kissed her softly through the window. Silently cursing the formalities that forbade him from pulling her close and kissing the breath from her.
They said their farewells. Unable to say all they wanted to. Except for 'I love you. See you soon'.

The carriage pulled away and Margaret waved to John through the back window until he was out of sight.

Nicholas Higgins put a hand onto the younger man's arm. ' It's only a month Sir. And in 9 weeks she's be your wife. Tell you what shall us go for a walk. Happen it'll take your mind from brooding'.

John gave him a warm smile. ' You're a good man Nicholas. No wonder Margaret's so fond of you'. As he was getting to know the gardener he was beginning to realise the man's intelligence. Far greater than the thick headed Mill Masters whose company John had to suffer from time to time. And he was certainly more of a gentleman.

They walked along the clean aired green path that separated one part if the town from another and which led towards the mills. 'There's something I want to show you Sir'. Higgins chatted. 'And there's an idea I've been having that I'd like you to hear'.

Before the green path gave way to cobbled streets and buildings Higgins led John along a bend to the right. ' There Sir'. He pointed ahead. John followed his finger to a wildly over grown medium sized field.
' I don't follow you'. John said puzzled. ' Does yon field belong to anyone Sir'. Nicholas asked.
' Not that I know of. Why do you ask ?'

The gardener grinned. 'I've always told my lass that I could never work in a mill. I couldn't bear to be shut away from green things and the sun, wind and rain.
Then it occurred to me like that the folk as do work in't mills might get some good from having a green place to go to just for them. Then I saw this field and it's close to the mills.
Don't you think it would made a fantastic garden. All cleaned up and planted with new stuff.
It'd be a place where mill workers could come for fresh air and to see and smell the plants. That'd be just as good for them.........What do you think Sir ?'
He asked eagerly.

John looked at the field then at Higgins. Margaret would adore the idea. And it would be a job for Higgins to do after the wedding. He was sure that rich patrons could be found to put extra money into the venture.
' You do bring your brains to work don't you just ?' He said warmly. ' I'll look into it and see what can be arranged. You may have just sorted out your own future there'.
He patted Higgins on the back and the 2 men laughed together.
Another thought came to John. ' Your Bess is a good cook isn't she ?' He asked.
' Aye she's brilliant'. Higgins said proudly. ' Well' John mused. ' There may be a place for her in Marlborough mill canteen. And I wonder if Margaret might be able to train her up to help with her teaching.
' Got your brain working an' all Sir'. Higgins quipped. John grinned and the men said farewell before going their separate ways'.

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

Lady Elisabeth Townley had received 2 letters from Milton. One from her sister Hannah. Telling her that John was to marry and that the young lady was ' somewhat lacking in social experience' and asking Elisabeth to take the girl in hand before the wedding.
The other was from John himself saying that he adored Margaret and please would Aunt Elisabeth not turn her into another interchangeable débutante. ' She may never have been to a ball or a 'ladies' At Home'. But she is intelligent, charming and with the warmest of hearts. I implore you not to spoil that with too much polishing..............'.

So Elisabeth waited to meet her nephew's beloved little ingénue.

Jenkins the butler came into the room. ' Miss Margaret Hale My Lady'. And Margaret stood looking at her future husband's Aunt who stood smiling in greeting at her.

' My dear girl. No one told me what a beauty you are'. Elisabeth said warmly. ' Though John was fulsome in his praises of you'.

' You've spoken to John ?' Margaret found her tongue at last hastily adding. ' Good day
My Lady and thank you for being so good as to help me like this'.

Elisabeth held out a hand. ' Please don't be frightened my dear. That was a charming greeting. In answer to your question I haven't spoken to John he sent me a letter along with Hannah's. He begs me not to send you back to him as a little débutante'.

Margaret relaxed visibly. Elisabeth might have married a Lord but she was far less starchy than Hannah.
' I am rather nervous I must confess. I feel like I'm entering another world with so many rules'.

She felt a comforting hand on her arm and could see a lot of John in his Mother's sister.
' I don't regard them as rules child. We are people after all not clockwork dolls. They are merely social guidelines and I'm sure you know most of it already.
John tells me you have given a dinner party some months ago so no need for teaching there.
He says you have never attended a ball nor a tea party.'

Margaret nodded. So Lady Elisabeth drew out of her the details of her interrupted childhood and how she had come to meet John and Henry Bell who became her Guardian.

Elisabeth wrinkled her nose. ' I seem to recall Hannah mentioning some Latimers. They didn't sound especially appealing.
Still,' she said firmly. ' That is the past. We are concerned with your future My Dear
which if John has any say in the matter will be much happier I'm certain'.

Discovering Margaret hadn't yet eaten she ordered some lunch for her and then had Jenkins show her guest to her room.

Dinner that evening was a success for Margaret. The normally grouchy Lord Townley became almost amiable in the company of this delightful unaffected young lady.
His and Elisabeth's son and heir James was also very taken with his cousin's Bride to Be asking just how long she planned to stay.
' I think we should give a ball for Margaret'. He told his parents. ' Such a beauty needs to be celebrated before she becomes a married woman'. Margaret flushed. She was unused to such elaborate compliments from any other man but John and wasn't sure how to respond.
' Oh I think it's a wonderful idea'. Lady Elisabeth enthused. ' We were discussing earlier what social functions Margaret has never experienced and a ball is one of them.'
She turned to her young pupil. ' You can learn how to host a ball from start to finish. We'll have a most enjoyable time'.

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

They needed to start small however. Lady Townley had got invitations for herself and Margaret to an ' At Home' with her friend Lady Harrington.

As they were preparing to leave for Lady Harrington's Elisabeth looked carefully over her young companion. 'Camilla Harrington is an old friend of mine and I love her dearly but she is inclined to be rather stuffy about etiquette. I confess that is why I wanted you to meet her first. If you can pass muster with Lady Harrington then there will be little for you to worry about'.
She looked over Margaret's dress checking her white gloves were pristine. ' Now remember Dear. We remove the right glove to shake hands and hold it in the left.'

Margaret smiled. 'And one never eats with one's gloves on'. She repeated her lesson and the 2 ladies chuckled happily'.

Lady Camilla Harrington reminded Margaret starkly of Hannah Thornton. ' Good Afternoon Lady Harrington. Thank you so much for inviting me'. She said quietly removing her glove and shaking hands with the older woman.
Also present was Lady Harrington's daughter Cecily. A sweet girl was very much after Margaret's own heart and who liked Lady Townley's young guest immensely.

Soon the girls were chatting happily. Cecily asking about Margaret's up coming marriage.
' Your fiancé sounds divine'. She said wistfully.
I do have suitors. But I can't say any of them make my pulse race'. Margaret put a hand on hers. ' You will find someone I'm sure. I am highly fortunate in my John I know'.
Cecily was a great help on fine etiquette points too.
' One holds the saucer on one's lap and lifts the cup with the right putting it down between sips'. She told Margaret quietly when the girl seemed unsure.
She also came to the rescue when Margaret took a scone and looked at it as though expecting it to bite her. ' I'm afraid of eating it wrongly'. She said to Cecily.
' Break of small pieces put them onto your plate and apply a little cream and jam' said her rescuer with a smile.


As they were preparing to leave Elisabeth told Margaret that it was customary to leave a calling card for one's hostess. ' Don't worry'. She told the anxious Margaret. ' Lady Harrington understands that there is little point in your having cards made in your maiden name. Best to wait and have some printed for 'Mr and Mrs John Thornton' after the wedding.'

Despite Margaret's worry her first outing had gone well. Lady Harrington had said she had a great deal of promise.
' High praise for a social debut'. Lady Townley told her encouragingly in the carriage home.

It was quite clear that Margaret's natural warmth and charm would serve her well in society.
All she needed now was practice.
Time for her first experience of being hostess for afternoon tea. ' No cause to worry My Dear'. Lady Townley told her. ' Just remember your success with the dinner party you gave'.

They sent out some simple invitation cards. Lady Harrington and Cecily received one and were delighted to accept plus the wife and daughter of a local Mill master. ' The sort of ladies you will encounter the most in Milton after all'. Elisabeth reasoned.


As the time for her guests to arrive approached Margaret felt the fluttering of nerves.
There seemed to be so much to consider.
She checked the curate stand. Scones with with their heat preserving dome on the top tier.
Delicate cucumber and tomato sandwiches on the middle and tender little sponge cakes on the bottom.
Napkins laid on the left side of the place setting. The closed edge to the left open edge to the right.
The drinking of tea was a potential mine field too. Never wash down food with tea and swallow tea before eating. Only stir tea by 'folding' the liquid gently 2 or 3 times before returning the spoon to the right side of the saucer.
And how grateful she'd been to Cecily who'd told her about behaviour with the saucer and cup. The latter being held between thumb and 2 fingers with the little finger raised for balance.

As ready as she would ever be, She sat and composed herself before Lady Elisabeth came in followed by Lady Harrington and Cecily.
' This all looks splendid'. Cecily said happily to her new friend. Then stepped back so that her Mother could greet their hostess too. ' Delighted to see you again Miss Hale'. Lady Harrington said regally taking the girl's hand. Trembling slightly from nerves.
The other guests. Mrs Braithwaite and her daughter Agatha of Braithwaite's Mill arrived and were introduced to Margaret. So now tea could begin.

Margaret poured tea. Wishing for a moment that she was in her own cosy parlour at home with John, Nicholas and Bess.
But she righted herself with the thought that she would be expected to do this sort of thing as Mrs John Thornton and might as well get used to it now.

' Lady Townley tells us you will be helping her to organise a ball Miss Hale'. Cecily said gently. Margaret smiled. ' Yes. Her Ladyship very kindly said we should have one whilst I'm here to give me some experience'.

They discussed the ball and of course Margaret's forthcoming nuptials. ' I did hear Miss Hale that you are to have your wedding gown made in Milton and from cotton'. Agatha Braithwaite said in a slightly simpering affected way that did not endear her her to Margaret
at all.
' That is correct Miss Braithwaite'. She replied and yet again explained her reason for her decision. Clearly it was not something that other Mill Master's wives and daughters were going to appreciate because both Braithwaite ladies curled up their noses in a manner reminiscent of Fanny Watson. Who she knew would not dream of wearing the fabric her husband's mill produced even if her life depended upon it.
' May I ask who told you this Miss Braithwaite ?' Margaret enquired. The answer did not surprise her. ' It was Mrs Watson a very old friend of mine and her friend Miss Latimer who is also to be married soon. To a Mr Henry Lennox from London.'

Margaret was not sure how she felt about the fact that she had not been told of her cousin's engagement and forthcoming wedding. There was no love loss between the 2 of them. In fact they had always despised one another.
Margaret being engaged to John Thornton had done nothing to improve this. Ann had always fancied herself as the future Mrs Thornton. So for John to first of all publicly announce that Margaret had been forced into servitude in her own relatives home and then go walking out with Margaret was a step too far.

The fact that John had refused to join Watson, most of the other Mill Masters and several other business men in the recent well starred speculation caused Ann much malicious glee.
She and Fanny Watson had gone into 'dog in the manger' mode. Both saying how glad they were to have been spared marriage to such a weak, pathetic man.
Neither had told the other that they both had cherished dreams of being Mistress of Marlborough Mill one day. In fact, Fanny still often wished that she was able to go to her bed at night beside a handsome man like Thornton rather than the florid faced Watson. Rather bloated from overconsumption of the good things of life.

Agatha cut into Margaret's reverie again. ' They said that you are now the owner of Marlborough Mill. You wanted Mr Thornton to continue to run it and have put in money to help him. Surely Miss Hale, you must know how the fact that you and he are to be married must appear. Fanny says Milton is buzzing with the gossip that it's only your money he's marrying you for.'

Lady Elisabeth had heard quite sufficient. ' Miss Braithwaite. Are you aware of the fact that as well as Miss Hale's fiancé, Mr Thornton is also my nephew'.
Agatha's blush told her that this was the first she'd heard of it.
' I can assure you' Elisabeth went on. The letter I had from my nephew regarding Miss Hale did not sound like the words of a man marrying for money'.
Margaret now spoke up too. ' I don't suppose Mrs Watson and Miss Latimer told you that Mr Thornton and I were walking out long before I became rich Miss Braithwaite.
And I might tell you he was offering me his hand before money was even mentioned'.

There was no chance that Miss Braithwaite would be receiving an invitation to the ball after this.

TBC