Milton Belle

Part 8

If tea time had been a social minefield then a ball was a full blown massacre. The invitations were elaborate and it took Margaret and Elisabeth a whole evening considering who should receive them then writing them out.
Many were sent to the local great and good including Mill Masters and their wives. The Braithwaites being a notable exception.
Lord and Lady Harrington and Cecily were top of the list and Margaret hoped that Cecily might meet a gentleman more to her liking than her present suitors.

Elisabeth also suggested that those that Margaret and John would meet socially in Milton should also be asked. ' You don't have to like them my dear'. She soothed as Margaret looked pained at the thought of spending an evening with the tiresome rich of Milton. Particularly Fanny Watson and Ann Latimer with their husband and husband to be in tow.
' Think of it as business. Helping to oil the wheels for John'. immediately Margaret brightened. ' Only 2 weeks and you'll see him again' Elisabeth told her. ' And he'll be proud of you'.

After the invitations there was food and wine to organise. A string quartet for the music,
floral decorations for the ballroom.............and...............

Elisabeth got Margaret into the carriage instructing her driver to take them to the railway station.
As they waited on the platform Elisabeth showed Margaret their ticket's. ' London ?' The girl asked. ' I went to the Great Exhibition a few months ago. It was when my Guardian found out he was dying'.
Elisabeth put a hand on her arm in sympathy. ' John tells me he was a wonderful man'. Margaret nodded. ' Yes. Yes he was. And he liked John too. He knew how things were developing between us.
I'm sure he could have given the Mill to someone else other than me. But he did want John to continue to run it and it's my belief he guessed that I would use my inheritance to make sure of it.'

' A wise man indeed'. Elisabeth smiled. ' Do you wish to know why we go to London ?' Margaret chuckled. ' Yes please'.

' We are going to see my dressmaker'. Came the reply. ' You have worked very hard darling and I am going to have a ball gown made for you'.
Margaret tried to protest but was silenced. ' I insist'. Said Elisabeth warmly. If you are to be the Belle of the Ball then you must look the part.
Now. I am very curious to hear all about this splendid idea of yours. I'm sure John is ecstatic that you think highly enough of his cotton to have a wedding dress made from it.'


The ball gown was delivered 4 days before the ball. It was the loveliest dress Margaret had ever seen never mind owned. It was of rose pink silk decorated with rosebuds and like the dress she had worn to her dinner party was daringly low cut.
She blushed at the thought of one day wearing it for John. She could see the admiration tinged with desire in his beautiful eyes. A tender smile lighting his face.
' Just a few days Margaret and you'll be with him again'. She told herself.

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

The day of the ball found Townley Hall a hive of bustling activity and Margaret was kept very busy supervising. The ball was to begin at 8 pm and Margaret would be accompanied by James Townley who would come to take her to the ballroom at quarter to.


Dottie, one of the maids had been sent to help Miss Hale to dress and arrange her hair. She and the other servants had taken a great liking to the young lady during her stay and had been determined to help the evening to be a success.
What had crowned this for them was the fact that unbeknown to anyone else Margaret had sent some money bellow stairs for the staff to have a party of their own the following evening.
With Northern stubborn pride they had tried to refuse until they were told of Miss Hale's own 11 year experience of bellow stairs life. ' Our secret though'. She had told them.

Now Margaret stood dressed and ready and Dottie had tears in her eyes.
'Sorry Miss but you look that lovely. Like a Princess.'. She told her. ' I'll go and tell Master James you're ready'.

The guests had begun to arrive. Lady Townley introduced Margaret to all who did not know her as their hostess this evening.
In a fit of mischief she had decided not to mention to any of the Milton guests that Miss Hale would be there much less as their hostess.

Fanny Watson's face was a picture when she saw Margaret there and looking so beautiful.
She consoled herself with a bitchy aside.
' I don't see Mr Thornton here Miss Hale. Has he called the wedding off perchance ?
That wedding dress idea of yours I expect'...........

Margaret was trying to think of a witty retort when the words were taken from her mouth.

The speaker was behind her and her stomach began to flutter. No one else had such a smooth rich voice that reminded her of honey, velvet and the finest wine. No one else could make such simple words sound so seductive or her name so sweet.

' Not at all Mrs Watson. The wedding is still very much on. Especially when I see Miss Hale looking so breathtakingly lovely.'
In a dream Margaret turned around and there he was. Her tongue no longer seemed to work
so she just stared at him. His expression of admiration and desire was even better than she'd dreamed of and she just bathed in it. ' John'. She finally managed to say.
' I'm dreaming this aren't I ? I'll wake in a moment and find you're not here'.

' Margaret'. Her name sounded like a caress on those wonderful lips and he took her hand.
' Does that feel real enough ?' Margaret smiled. ' It seems I have been given a surprise'.
She continued her voice now back. ' Thank you Lady Townley'.

John's Aunt beamed back at her. ' You've worked so hard this month my dear and I wondered what would be the best going home present to give you. And then I knew. So I sent a last minute invitation to your fiancé.'

Lord Townley ordered the music for the first dance. It was a waltz to come before the quadrilles that would be done for most of the evening.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrille

' May I have the honour of the first dance Miss Hale ?' John asked. And Margaret took his hand and happily slid into his arms on the dance floor.

' You really are the Belle of the Ball my little Milton Belle'. John's voice was quiet and at its most seductive. ' I think I must snatch what I can of your company. You are going to be in great demand this evening'.

Elisabeth watched her nephew and her new little friend with satisfaction. They were lost completely in each other's eyes.
That at least should scotch the rumours about John only marrying Margaret for her money.
He led her from the floor at the end of the dance looking as though he never wanted to let go of her hand ever again.

Lord Townley approached his nephew. ' John I wonder if you and James could take care of
any ladies without partners.
I'm sure your hostess will grant you another dance later on.' He added slyly. ' And you mustn't hog such a lovely creature'.

James claimed the honour of Margaret's company for the first quadrille. And John was torn between pride and jealousy at the stir she was causing.

'Come on John don't be a fool'. He told himself. ' You can hardly blame them when she looks so ravishing and in a few weeks she'll be yours'.
So he concentrated on pride and affection at Margaret's shy pleasure in being feted like this.

John was kept busy dancing with ladies who had no partner. No lady at a ball should be denied a man to lead her to the dance floor. He noticed Margaret hardly had time to sit down before yet another admirer asked her for her company.

She had just had a rather unpleasant dance with Mr. Watson. And as much as she disliked Fanny she had begun to feel sorry for her.

At the end of this dance Henry Lennox, Ann Latimer's fiancé sidled up.
' Do introduce us please Watson'. He smiled unctuously. ' I wouldn't like to commit the faux pas of asking a lady to dance un introduced. Especially the cousin of my wife to be'.

Margaret wished John were close enough for her to catch his eye. So Ann was willing to own her as a relative this evening.
Watson did the honours and with a grin Lennox asked for the honour of a dance.
Margaret didn't really want to dance with him. But it was impolite to refuse a dance without a good reason. She didn't think ' I find you slimy and repulsive no matter how good looking you are' would qualify.

She at least managed to steer herself and Henry in the quadrille set so that she could catch John's eye.
It worked. And John kept smiling at her over his partner's shoulder leaving her feeling very heated.


In fact. The evening was taking it's toll. A combination of the warmth of a summer evening, a corset and the fact that she had not had the chance to sit down for nearly 2 hours
made Margaret feel a little faint.

' Mr Lennox.' She said quietly. ' I feel a little faint but I'm sure a sit down in the fresh air is all I need. Could I trouble you to take me outside please ?'

It was not proper form for a lady to leave or cross the ballroom alone and she knew that it should have been another lady that came with her. But Margaret didn't want to alarm anyone for such a simple matter so she trusted to Mr Lennox being a gentleman.

'Can I get you anything Miss Hale ?' He asked as he sat her on a bench overlooking the gardens. ' I'd love a glass of that lovely lemonade please' She asked.

Henry grinned to himself as he handed the glass to her and watched her take a sip. ' Thank you Mr Lennox. I'm starting to feel much better now.'

She gave a gasp of surprise as he ran a finger across her hand. ' No wonder Ann and that ridiculous Fanny Watson as so jealous of you. You really are very beautiful Miss Hale'.
He was like a python hypnotising it's prey.
Margaret however was not going to be so easy. ' Thank you Mr Lennox. You're very kind I'm sure. But as your future wife and my future husband are in the ballroom I wouldn't call this appropriate behaviour would you ?'
She tried to rise but Lennox pulled her back down. ' Future wife and husband Miss Hale.
There's nothing to prevent us having a little fun now is there ?' And he tried to kiss her.

' There is everything to stop you Mr Lennox. I am in love with Mr Thornton and little as I like Cousin Ann I do not not wish to see her humiliated'. She was blazing with anger now
but this seemed to egg Lennox on further.
' Thornton ?...........Ha ! He's pathetic. Wouldn't even take part in a speculation I hear.
What sort of man does that ?'

'An honourable man Mr Lennox'. Margaret said haughtily. ' An honest, hard working man who looked at the risk and thought it too high. A man who would never take advantage of a lady's indisposition for his own ends.'
She looked at Lennox in disgust. ' I do not wish to spoil what has mostly been a highly enjoyable evening so I would rather not mention your indiscretion to Mr Thornton.
If you go inside now and are properly attentive to Miss Latimer for the rest of the evening then I shall say nothing.'

She stood up and Lennox smirked. ' You really are most entertaining Miss Hale. Well I concede this round to you. But the game isn't over yet'.

Margaret felt a chill of fear at this. However she would soon be Mrs John Thornton and Lennox would soon discover how unwise it was to cross the master of Marlborough Mill if he did try again.
The thought cheered her as she re-entered the ballroom. Hoping no one would see her slip in alone.

She felt a small hand on her arm. She turned and smiled happily. 'Cecily! Are you having a good evening ?'
Her friend looked a little coy. ' I've met a lovely man Margaret. He's a doctor from Milton.
Dr Thomas Boucher and he's the Mayor's son. Would you like to meet him ? He might be a good man for your John to know in Milton.'
Margaret agreed and the 2 ladies walked across the ballroom to an intelligent and pleasant looking young man.
' Thomas.' She said. ' This is my friend Miss Hale who is to marry Mr Thornton from Marlborough Mill.'
The young man gave a very attractive smile. 'Ahh yes. Sounds to me like a man with a good head on his shoulders.
The other Mill Masters wouldn't have been so critical of him had their gamble not paid off as well it might have done'.
Margaret happily clasped the hand he extended to her. ' It's good to know my husband will have an ally Dr Boucher. Would you like me to introduce you ?'
The doctor gave an arm each to both Margaret and Cecily. ' I'd like that Miss Hale thank you'.
So Margaret led them over to where her fiancé was deep in discussion with some of his colleagues.
Looking up and seeing his beautiful lady floating towards him he smiled tenderly.
He felt a great satisfaction at how the other Masters were positively drooling as they greeted their hostess.
' John' |She smiled. ' May I introduce my friend Miss Cecily Harrington and this is Dr Thomas Boucher from Milton. The Mayor's son'.
The 2 men shook hands and the ladies glanced at each other as they began to converse.


The end of the evening had come. The final dance was another waltz and John was ready to fight off all competition to partner his Margaret. Not that she had any intention of dancing with anyone else at this point.

' I'm so proud of you My Love'. He told her softly, pulling her as close as he could. Aunt Elisabeth has said you've been a roaring success.
I think the representatives of Milton Society have been pleasantly surprised tonight too'.

He held her soft hazel eyes with his own and she gave her sweet shy smile. ' I want to do my very best for you darling.....for us'.

TBC