“I do not presume to speak for my son, Mrs Hamilton. I am certain that he will do as he feels is right, as he has always done.”
“Well said. We shall bid you a very good day then, Mrs Thornton. My love?” Mrs Hamilton rose and was helped into her wrap at the door. When they had gone, Hannah returned to her settee and slid exhaustedly into it, her hand kneading her eyes.
Now she knew why Fanny’s calls had suddenly met with such a cold reception. The family was trying them, and it seemed that young Miss Hamilton was determined to have John for herself. She wondered briefly whether they had already attempted to test the hapless Miss Hale and been left dissatisfied with her response. She could be a rather contrary young woman. Mrs Thornton almost chuckled aloud imagining the fireworks from such a confrontation.
“Well, I declare!” shrilled Fanny. “I wish you had allowed me to speak more, Mother. I should have given them the right of it!”
“You do not even know what that is, Fanny,” Mrs Thornton muttered from behind her hand.
“Of course I do! Margaret Hale has had eyes for John since she first came to Milton, and she sees now that she has missed her chance to ensnare him. She has befriended Miss Hamilton to put herself in his way again, but I think it’s ridiculous!”
“Fanny,” her mother growled in annoyance, “your understanding of matters could not be further from the truth. Do not meddle where you have no knowledge.”
“Mother! You know what happened at the riots, how she flung herself at John! She is quite desperate for him to make her an offer. I shouldn’t wonder, as she is grown so poor, but-”
“Enough!” Mrs Thornton thundered. “If Miss Hale is not wed to your brother, it is by her own choice, not his.”
Fanny paled. “Impossible! No, he would never!”
“Many things are more impossible. As the matter does not concern you, I expect you to say nothing further about it- under any circumstances, am I quite understood?”
“Not concern me! I hope to call Genevieve my sister! You tell me now that that dreary Margaret Hale could take her place? Do you know what this might do to my chances with….” she gulped, cutting herself short.
“Aye, my girl, go on!” her mother challenged. When the young lady remained in blushing silence for a change, she continued. “Fanny, it is time you learnt some discretion in your own affairs. I will no longer see you running after this Rupert Hamilton as you have done. You will leave John to his business affairs with the Hamiltons, and keep your own counsel regarding his personal matters. If this young Mr Hamilton should pursue you on his own, we shall be glad to entertain him, but Fanny, you are set to bring disgrace upon yourself, and I will not have it!”
Fanny hung her head sulkily. “Yes, Mother,” she mumbled with the greatest reluctance.
Chapter Seventeen
Blissfully unaware of the call paid to his mother, Mr Thornton had buried himself in his office behind a solid wall of ledgers and orders. He dipped his pen again as he scanned down the latest sheet, making marks where needed.
It was a perfect task for this day, as his current state of seclusion allowed him time to bask in the sweet afterglow of his glorious evening with Margaret. Merciful also were the demands of his work, which kept his mind well enough occupied that he did not fully descend into a fantasy world of his own making. The fantasy, he promised himself, alluring as it was, would some day soon be far less appealing than the reality! If Margaret would have him… he tingled with impatience.
How long before he could go to her without the pretense of calling on her father? He daren’t frighten her, but certainly after last evening, his intentions must be obvious to her. If he courted her properly, as he ought to have before, would she accept his suit?
If she only would! Perhaps one day his lonely heart would know the pleasures and the communion of marriage. If they were truly blessed, he might even experience the joys of fatherhood! He vowed to himself that should he ever have that honour, his sons and daughters would grow up in a real family, the kind which were bound in love such as he had so often longed for. His heart swelled briefly in rapturous anticipation.
His pleasant visions dissolved with a quick rap at his office door. “Come,” he called over the towering stack on his desk.
Williams entered, craning his head about to meet the master’s eye through the mountain of ledgers. “Good morning, sir.”
Thornton nodded quickly in greeting. “Did Thompson get that last combing machine repaired?”
“Aye. I had that Higgins chap lend a hand. He’s a respectable mechanic, sir. I’ve been having him roving about the mill looking for maintenance issues before machines break, and it’s been a help. He’s a quick eye, and the hands don’t slack off when he’s around either.”
“I had noticed. Excellent idea, we have had fewer breakdowns this week. Higgins seems to know every machine better than we. Tell me, how is that new lad in the yard working out?”
“Sacks’ boy? Sharp enough, but he’s too small for most of the work. I don’t know if that was the best place to put him.”
“Placing him there was my idea,” Thornton squinted up at his overseer.
“Pardon me sir, I didn’t know. Well, I’m sure he’ll work out in the end.”
Thornton sighed. “No, you’re right. I saw him yesterday and realized I had made a mistake in assigning him there. I had thought he was a larger chap. You said he was rather clever, though?”
“Aye, sir. Ciphers the load sheets better than most, and I saw that Higgins fellow teaching him to read during the break. A great thick book they had.”
“Hmm. What if you were to have him shadow Higgins? It seems that timely maintenance is saving us a deal, and if the lad shows promise, I would train him up under another in whose judgement I am confident.”
Williams stretched his face into a thoughtful frown, pushing his cap back as he stroked his forehead. “He won’t be earning his pay, sir. It will be a long while before he’s any good.”
“But,” Thornton raised his pen at the overseer, “he will become invaluable soon enough, and has many promising years before him. Thompson is not the man I would choose to train another- he is a sour old curmudgeon. Higgins, however, is nearly as skilled, and might do the lad much good.”
Williams shook his head and shrugged. “As you say, sir, but why Sacks? Any number of lads could do, if that’s your purpose.”
Thornton crossed his arms and leaned back smugly in his chair. “You said yourself that he is good with figures, and he is learning to read at an age when many an uneducated youth has long since given up. Combine that with what I know of the boy’s past, and I believe he will prove an uncommonly motivated fellow. Aye, I would invest in a man like that.”
Williams caught the twinkle in the master’s eye and relented. It was rare, but always intriguing when Thornton took a particular interest in one of the hands. He was nearly always right. “Yes, sir. I’ll talk to them both.”
Another knock sounded on the door, and with a motion of his head, Thornton indicated for Williams to open it. He stood in surprise when he recognized his visitor. “Mr Hamilton, sir. Do come in.” He dismissed Williams and offered Hamilton a seat. Taking his own again, he cleared a path for conversation through the ledgers on his desk.
“Thornton, thank you for seeing me.” Hamilton eased himself into a chair and blew out a long breath. “Bleeding cold out today!”
Thornton smiled. “One of the advantages of the mill, sir. It is always warm in here, even when we would not wish it. What can I do for you?”
Hamilton pulled a sheaf of papers from a leather bag at his feet, and Thornton recognized his own writing. A thrill of hope shot through him.
“I’ve been over your forecasts- a number of times, you might imagine.”
“I would have expected no less. May I ask your impression?”
Hamilton leafed through the pages until he reached one of particular interest. “Intrigu
ing. You have much potential for growth, Thornton- more so than any of your competition by a fair shot.”
“I think so. We are still replacing some of our outdated equipment, but Marlborough Mills is easily the most modern cotton plant in the region.”
“Indeed. All of this modernization has, however, placed you under a significant financial burden.” He fingered the page which had caught his eye. “Three hundred eighty-five pounds still owed to the bank, and another two hundred from private monies.”
“Expenses which,” Thornton observed confidently, “will easily be recouped within a couple of years, thanks to our increased yield.”
“If you have the orders,” Hamilton pointed out. He shifted in his chair, crossing his knees. “I see there has been a shortage of late. If you were not still behind from the riots this summer, you would have scarcely enough work to keep all of your machines running.”
“All part of the normal ebb and flow of the market,” Thornton shrugged. “We have found over the past years that the cotton market is steadily growing stronger as a whole, and such periods are always short-lived.”
“They are not, however, short enough at present.” Hamilton’s face pinched cynically. “Let me be frank, Thornton. By my calculations, you will be bankrupt by next fall- or possibly sooner- without either an immediate turn in the market or a fresh supply of capital. With enough such capital, you could easily ride out this lean time and be poised as the premier cotton manufacturer in the entire region. Without it- well, it is not likely that the bank will extend your loan.”
Thornton pressed his lips and fixed his visitor with a firm expression. “You of all men must be familiar with the hazards involved with investments such as this. The risks to yourself are lower than in most circumstances, for in this case we are speaking of an established and historically profitable enterprise- it only wants growth and a little time at present.”
“How much time?” Hamilton questioned. “I’ve four other ventures of interest on my desk, all of which are also poised to return me a sizeable profit rather quickly if I should so choose.”
“I have heard, and I know what your options are. However, a man with only a very little patience would stand to gain far more by investing in Marlborough Mills.”
Hamilton laughed. “Or a man with less patience could quickly reap his profits and reinvest them, thus doubling his return in that same time.”
“With respect, sir, Marlborough Mills is no gamble. These other schemes… speculations,” he almost spat the word, “may yield high returns in a short time, but only if they pay out. You know as well as I do, sir, that many times they do not.”
Hamilton laughed again. “I know your opinions in that regard. You do not mince your words! I have won and I have lost in such strategies, but always I diversify enough that I come out ahead. Come, Thornton, let us understand one another. I like you, and I know your reputation. You have a sterling record with your creditors, thus I feel rather secure in that regard. I am simply not persuaded that I would do best by investing with you. I have a great interest in your enterprise, so perhaps if I were more personally invested- if, say, there were some hope of a greater share in your future profits- it would sweeten the pot for me.”
Thornton stared quizzically at his guest. “You are seeking a long-term partnership? That is rather more than I might bargain for.”
“Perhaps a partnership is too rigid of an arrangement. My son, Thornton, wants direction. He understands finance, but has little head for the grittier realities of business. I should like him to spend some time under a man such as yourself. In light of his and my daughter’s relations with your family, perhaps a more permanent arrangement could be found.”
Thornton felt his blood chill. He spoke in a low voice, choosing his words carefully. “I was not aware that such relations were on the verge of being formalized. Has your son made my sister an offer? They barely know one another.”
Hamilton pursed his lips and crossed his knees in the other direction. “I am not expecting that, no. I would not imagine that Rupert will be intending to settle anytime soon. You, however, are of the perfect age and stage of life for marriage.”
Thornton swallowed, his stomach lurching. “Forgive me, Mr Hamilton,” he murmured distantly. “I have given Miss Hamilton no cause for expectations. You cannot believe….” He took a deep breath and steadied himself. “Sir, I would prefer not to mingle whatever plans I might have for matrimony with our business dealings.”
Hamilton’s eyebrows lifted innocently. “Business matters often overlap with the personal, Thornton. My daughter is a lovely young woman; do you not agree?”
“Very,” his voice cracked. “However, what cause have you to think it would be a… a suitable arrangement for her? Surely Miss Hamilton might prefer a younger man, perhaps a London man- a man of the financial business, such as yourself. A manufacturer’s life is perhaps not what she would wish for.”
“My daughter appreciates a man of some maturity whom she can respect, I think.” Hamilton allowed himself a sly smile. “As a father, I should wish to see her settled well with a man she likes, but as a businessman, I am looking for a son-in-law with wisdom and experience, whose assets bring material consequence and the prospect of a growing fortune to my family. In you, I think perhaps I have found both men.”
“Mr Hamilton,” Thornton took another trembling breath and leaned forward on his desk, steepling his fingers. “I appreciate your candour. Few men would deal with me so forthrightly. I must say that marriage… to Miss Hamilton… has never been a factor in my aspirations toward a business relationship with you.”
Hamilton’s forehead creased. “Surely it is worth consideration, Thornton. As I have made clear, you are far from the only man soliciting my interest in his venture, but if certain matters settle in our favour, we might both look forward to a very long and profitable relationship. My daughter has exhibited a marked interest in you, and I believe you might do much for my son. He could use a steady brother, Thornton, one with a firm hand.” He frowned unhappily. “I am afraid my own influence upon him has reached its zenith.”
Thornton clenched his teeth. He would not give up Margaret at the pleasure of any man, not even one as wealthy as Hamilton! “I am very sorry, Mr Hamilton, but I cannot oblige you. Perhaps we could arrange for your son to work with me, if that is your wish, but I cannot commit to Miss Hamilton.”
The older man cocked his head. “You have not obligated yourself elsewhere, have you Thornton? I never heard any talk of the like.”
“I… I am not at liberty to discuss such matters at present, sir.”
Hamilton’s bushy brows jumped in a sharp gesture of resignation. “I see. Well, then I shall bid you a good day, sir.”
Thornton rose with his guest, his mouth now quite dry. “I do hope you can overlook this inconvenience to your plans, sir.”
Hamilton turned slightly. “Quite, Thornton. Do excuse me, I have taken more than enough of your time.” He took the offered hand in a perfunctory farewell, and saw himself out.
John Thornton sank back into his chair in a daze. He had just lost his most promising investor and all hope of future support from that quarter. He swiped a hand over his suddenly throbbing forehead. There simply had to be another way, and he would find it. He always did.
~
Margaret had once again found a few moments to spend on her embroidery. It was not her favourite activity, but it felt somehow familiar and proper to resume such a genteel, feminine pursuit. A small- very small- part of her wished that Mr Thornton might find some excuse to call unexpectedly this afternoon, as he had the prior week. She might feel justified if he were to interrupt her in the midst of this utterly sedate and ladylike activity, rather than the flurry of the day before.
Her heart tripped lightly when she heard Dixon answer to a caller, but neither of the voices which soon echoed in the hallway were his. She rose to receive her callers just as the door to t
he drawing room swung open to admit a tall blonde woman and her only slightly taller husband.
“Mr and Mrs Draper!” she smiled and came forward, her hand extended. “It is very good of you to call.”
“Miss Hale,” Emmeline Draper inclined her head. “We were in the neighborhood, and as we had been meaning to call upon you, I do hope we are not troubling you overmuch just now.”
“Of course not, I am very pleased you came.” She glanced at Dixon and, with eyes which implored rather than instructed, silently requested some refreshments for her guests. “Please, do be seated.”
Draper was glancing quietly about the room before his wife nudged his elbow gently. He came to himself. “Forgive me, Miss Hale, I am not normally so rude. I have bought and sold two houses on this block, you see, and it seems the builders used nearly the same style for all of them. Oh, my, that is a rather unique way to position the staircase.”
Emmeline Draper gave a small cough, and her husband snapped his attention back again. “Oh, dear. I must beg your forgiveness once more, Miss Hale.”
Margaret smiled hesitantly. “Think nothing of it, sir. I find it charming to learn what interests different people. You must have a fascination with architecture? You might enjoy speaking with my father.”
Draper shook his head. “Not architecture per se, Miss Hale. I like to see cities improved, beginning with the most modest dwellings. A house such as this, for example, while not precisely an eyesore, does little to enhance the attractiveness of our neighborhood. The floorplan also is terribly inefficient.”
Margaret stared for half a second, appalled that the man did not even seem to recognize his own rudeness. His wife seemed annoyed, glancing at him from the corner of her eye with a look of distaste. Margaret resolved to give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the man was merely blunt, and truly had no idea how his words might be perceived. She had known others who suffered from the same sort of social awkwardness.
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