He turned to go, replacing his hat at the door. Margaret had followed, despondent and trembling in disbelief. “Mr Mason,” she stopped him before his hand touched the latch, “are you quite sure? Truly, this is the only way?”
His mouth quirked into a sympathetic frown. “I am sorry, Miss Hale, but I see no clearer path before you. You are being offered a painless solution, legally. I might suggest that it is in both of your best interests to see the papers printing your innocence and restoring your reputation, and the sooner the better.”
He tipped his hat to the lady and closed the door behind himself. He stopped on the steps to the house, shaking a little himself, and feeling dirty, shoddy, and used. He was absolutely certain that the lady was correct in her assessment of Mr Hamilton, and his clear, honest devotion to his duty was now besmirched by another man’s ambitions- whatever they were.
Where it would all lead, he could not say, but he had given Miss Hale the best advice he had to offer. He earnestly did hope that suspicion would fall away from both her and Mr Thornton, for he truly esteemed the man. And that woman! His brows jumped in an appreciative sigh as he made his methodical way down the steps of the house.
Rarely had he been required to interrogate women- it was unseemly, not at all fitting. Still, never had one held herself so remarkably well as Margaret Hale. She was cool passion, controlled fire, and he had never before seen the like. The lady might have indeed possessed her secrets, but if Thornton was privy to them, he was a lucky man.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The following afternoon, John received a caller of his own. Hamilton was shown into John’s study, where he found the other reverently looking over his bookshelves, and dividing the items he wished to keep from those which could be sold. The once perfectly ordered study was littered with packing crates and stacks of waste papers to be burned.
“Well, Thornton, I must say, you are being rather hasty,” Hamilton chided as he entered.
John glanced up in surprise at the intrusion. “How did you get in here?” he snapped coldly.
“The lease passed into my name only this morning,” Hamilton informed him nonchalantly. “Your house maid learned a moment ago that I am her new employer.”
Thornton’s lip curled, but he made no response as he turned back to his task.
“I say, where will you go?” Hamilton pressed. “Not many options for a man of your station at a low rent.”
John remained silent, biting down on his own tongue for fear that he might disgrace himself by an ill-conceived retort.
“Oh, I see,” Hamilton jeered. “You think to take employment with Hamper? Leeds is a nice place, they say.”
“I think you know that is impossible,” Thornton returned with an edge to his voice.
Hamilton crossed his arms. “Oh, come, now Thornton! What will you do, move in down the row from your workers? Rent a room from Watson and your sister? That would surely be a harmonious arrangement!”
John’s tongue was bleeding by now. The truth was, he hadn’t the faintest idea where he would go! Even the imperfect notion of temporarily sheltering in the Hale’s household could not work, as he and Margaret had yet to share their vows. Margaret… how he had missed her these last days! Even a note would have been some comfort, but he had been denied even that.
Hamilton was growing impatient. “Thornton!” he thundered. “Turn round and speak with me like a man!”
Turning over the pair of books he held, John reluctantly dropped them into the nearest crate and faced the other.
“There, that’s better. Let there be no enmity between us, Thornton. I see no reason why we cannot work out some reasonable solution. You have a mother, and for yet a while longer a sister to care for. I see no reason why we cannot strike a compromise. I need your experience, and you need a living.”
“That is not the limit of your demands,” Thornton bit out. “What is it to be next?”
Hamilton rolled his eyes and exhausted a histrionic sigh. “I am not your enemy, Thornton! I wish to partner with you!”
“I have not the right temperament for your sort of partnership, Hamilton.”
Hamilton stalked closer, his face taking on a reddish hue. “This is still about that little tart of yours, isn’t it? I told you I don’t care what you do with her, so long as you do not marry her!”
“You would have me enter this disgraceful union with your daughter and shame the woman I love- a gentleman’s daughter, Hamilton! I would never be able to look her in the eye. I would be justly unworthy to even speak to her!”
“You self-righteous prig!” the businessman hissed ominously. “You would throw over the good of hundreds and- dare I venture so far- the future of this town’s economic growth! Marlborough Mills is a key, both now and in the decades to come!”
“Then why are you so determined to have me?” Thornton spat. “What other master could not run this mill for you just as effectively? You will forgive my lingering cynicism on this point, for I have yet the sense that you know something which I do not.”
“What if I do?” Hamilton folded his arms once more. “It will do you little good unless you choose to work with me.”
Thornton clenched his fists, his ire building to a head, but abruptly turned back to his books. “No, Hamilton,” he repeated firmly.
“That Hale woman,” Hamilton suggested to his back. “Quite a shame how the Drapers set her up to distract the inspectors. Rather unfair, do you not think?”
Thornton only flipped over another book to examine the title and dropped it in a crate. He was not even certain whether the book had landed with the items he wished to keep or had decided to sell.
“I was talking to that young inspector- Mason, I think his name was. Did you know he has had dealings with your Miss Hale before? Something about her being rather uncooperative with a previous investigation of his? Oh! That is right, you did know, for you were the magistrate involved.”
Thornton turned around, his eyes narrowed menacingly. Hamilton smiled, satisfied to have regained the other’s attention.
“You were a fool to interfere, Thornton,” Hamilton murmured quietly. “Now, you both look questionable.”
Thornton shot out an accusing finger, his face white. “I was under the impression, Hamilton, that the findings of ongoing investigations are confidential!”
“They are, and then again they are not. It all depends on how badly the inspectors need information, and, you see, Davenport and I go back a long way. They thought my testimony regarding Miss Hale’s acquaintance with the Drapers rather valuable, but upon hearing Mr Mason’s history with the lady, I became hesitant to swear to what I knew.”
“How dare-”
“I have just come from Davenport’s office,” Hamilton cut him off. “I was relieved to discover that the inspectors have been able to clarify some of their prior concerns. It made me quite comfortable enough to testify to her innocence. After all, she could not have known any secret details before meeting the Drapers, now could she?”
Thornton’s expression became deathly livid, his rage only scarcely contained. “You would threaten a woman, sir?” he stormed.
“Threaten!” Hamilton scoffed. “I helped her! Her name will be cleared by tomorrow, so long as she has the sense to act prudently.”
His eyes wide and staring in outrage, Thornton pushed past the older man and fairly ran for the door.
“I wouldn’t do that, Thornton!” Hamilton called after him. “I can always express second thoughts about my statement!”
Thornton turned, his entire body quivering with unspent rage.
Hamilton nodded. “Aye, Thornton, and I will do it too, if you go near her! The lady is most sensible, and I think must have some very good reason for not welcoming further investigation.”
“You- you despot!” Thornton bellowed. Name calling was beneath him, but the fire of his Teutonic ancestors roiled and simmered in his veins and his vision
glazed over in something very close to abject hatred. Had he his full strength, he would verily have thrashed the older man against the bookshelves and systematically fed him the pages of that cursed contract!
Hamilton’s boldness flagged as he began to recognize the very real physical danger he was in. He had meant only to pressure Thornton into compliance, not incite the hostility of a sleeping giant. The towering wrath of the imposing, powerful man who was closing in on him actually caused him to fall back a step, his hands held up in unconscious entreaty.
“Now, just a minute, Thornton!” Hamilton’s voice cracked slightly. “It was not I who persuaded Miss Hale to involve herself in that ridiculous campaign! The lady did quite enough on her own! Her reputation is safe for now, but you know as well as I that she cannot afford to lose what security she has found. Take my advice; leave her be!”
Thornton ceased his threatening advance, his fists clenched and his chest heaving. One thing Hamilton had said, which he could not have possibly known before, struck a bitter string of guilt in his heart. He had encouraged Margaret to investigate on her own, despite his misgivings, and his folly had cost her dearly!
Hamilton saw only a slight banking of the fire in Thornton’s eyes, but could not discern the cause. Sucking in a great draught of air, he recovered his composure. “I give you until tomorrow at noon, Thornton. Be at my door ready to sign the contract and speak to my daughter. If you do not do so, tomorrow evening’s papers will read quite differently about your Miss Hale.”
He self-consciously dusted off his shoulders, shrugging from his conscience the monstrous demands he had just made of the man, and swiftly left the house.
John’s tall figure crumpled. His ire was replaced quickly with insurmountable grief. What had Hamilton forced Margaret to do? What would be the outcome if he ran to her now to learn the truth? He covered his face in his hands and gave way to heaving, gasping sobs of fear.
If only he could gather her in his arms, to know that she was safe and to ask her what she would have of him! Even now, if he knew she were well protected, he could have boldly defied all that Hamilton would do. He would run with her to Scotland, marry her that very evening beneath the anvil, and settle in some quiet corner of the world- far from newspapers and business rivals and labour unions and cotton. To the devil with all of them!
“John?” His mother’s soothing voice soaked through his cares and roused him from his anguish. He slowly raised his eyes to hers, his face streaming with hot tears.
Hannah was pale, her dark eyes hollow in sympathetic misery. “Son John,” she urged, “tell me what is your trouble!”
His chest shuddered as he heaved for a refreshing breath. “Hamilton has threatened Margaret!” he rasped.
Hannah’s jaw set grimly. “She is strong, John. She would not have you waver in your determined course.”
“But what is that, Mother? I know not which path to choose. All before me seems equally out of the question! I cannot endanger her, and yet I cannot align myself with that miscreant! I see no other option!”
“John,” Hannah’s voice took on a sudden brittleness. “Where is my brave son, who made a way when there was none? There are always other options!”
Jarred from his self-pity by his mother’s sternness, he stared blankly at her for a moment. His head shook vaguely. “I know not what it might be.”
“You will find a way, John,” his mother faithfully maintained.
“Would that I could see her! I must know what she is thinking, what I can do!”
“You would not change whatever she has determined, John. If you dare not go to her now, then do as you can. Have faith in her, my son, and do not yield to dishonour, no matter the temptation.”
His breath was coming slower now, his thinking beginning to clear. His mother’s simple truths resonated in his heart and some of the belligerent tautness left his muscles. “Mother,” said he, very softly, “It seems that no matter my struggles, you have always possessed the knack for turning my mind back to the heart of the affair.”
“There are very few things which truly matter, John. Guide your steps by what is right and noble, and do not allow yourself to become distracted by other grievances.”
As she was speaking, an inspired light began to flicker in his eyes. “Hamilton expected me at his door tomorrow morning,” he mused, almost under his breath.
“Then,” she furnished him with a sage, if not devious smile, “you had best not disappoint him, John.”
~
“Margaret, do you still stare out of the window? Come to the nursery to see my boy!” Edith Lennox pleaded.
Margaret turned languorously, her energies sapped from her utter lack of rest. “I thought he was sleeping,” she answered indifferently.
“That was two hours ago! Do come now, for he is so charming when he first wakes. Not all babies are, Nurse tells us, but our dear little fellow is as sweet as can be! Oh, now Margaret, you must not let all of this worry overtake you. Come and have a little merriment with us, it is bound to cheer you!”
Margaret’s gaze found the window once more. “How is my aunt this afternoon?”
“Oh! You know Mama. She is tolerably well, but she does suffer so in shock. Do believe me Margaret, I am so glad that you determined at last to come to us yesterday! It was just like you, you know, to arrive without first sending word by the post.”
“I made up my mind rather spontaneously,” Margaret offered, her eyes following a carriage rattling past the window.
“Yes, well next time you must at least allow Mama to send Hodges to travel with you! Do you really go all about Milton by yourself, Margaret? It truly is perfectly shocking!”
“I have always been quite safe, Edith.” She closed her eyes. Perhaps she had not always walked the streets in safety, but she had always found a stalwart protector when she had needed him. A single tear leaked between her lashes.
Edith was not the most profound young woman, but she was not insensitive to her cousin’s moods. They had, after all, shared their girlhoods together in this house. Even well over a year of separation, marriage, and motherhood had not diminished the sisterly affection they shared. She stepped near, resting her hand lightly on Margaret’s shoulder.
“Darling, what is it? Do you still fear for that scandal? Why, there is nothing to worry about! Henry told the captain only this morning that he felt sure some great news was about to break. You will see, it will all be forgotten soon!”
Margaret shook her head mutely, and the movement caused little trails of moisture to tumble down both cheeks.
Edith pouted, discouraged, but did not give up. “Is it this Mr Thornton that you miss?”
Margaret made no response but a deepening of the sorrow inscribed across her features.
“Oh, darling!” Edith forcibly turned her cousin around and pulled her into a sisterly embrace. “I do know how you feel. Sometimes when the captain was out on exercises I would not see him for days on end. How glad I always was when he would come home!”
A little whimper broke free in Margaret’s throat. Edith’s attempt at empathy was thoughtful, but the inconveniences of a comfortably married young wife seemed nothing to the uncertainties darkening her own way. She might never know the joy of seeing John come home to her!
She did not doubt his constancy, but in his absence her old feelings of unworthiness had flourished, dwarfing all of the nascent assurances of his attachment. Why, even her own aunt had distanced herself when Margaret had entered this house- a home in which she thought to find refuge! What right had she to expect John to face public censure for her- a woman who had caused him so much trouble?
“Margaret,” Edith drew out her own lace handkerchief and dabbed her cousin’s face. “You must not cry so, for it does fearful things to your complexion!”
Margaret could not help the choking little laugh which came forth, but it was swiftly followed by more tears. Leave it to Edith to make so
me silly comment like that! She sniffled and ducked her head, making it impossible for Edith to continue her ministrations.
Edith bit her pretty pink lips in thought. Some swift inspiration- she knew not whence it came- lent her new direction. “Margaret,” she began hesitantly, “will you tell me about this Mr Thornton? Henry says he is a formidable-looking fellow, and a number of years older than you. Was he really a tradesman?”
“Manufacturer,” Margaret corrected, her eyes turning back to the window as she swiped at a final tear.
“Well! To be sure, I never saw much difference. Oh, Margaret, you must tell me all, for I am simply dying to know what caused you to engage yourself to such a man! I never could have imagined it!”
Margaret quieted herself. Haltingly, she began to describe her history with John- how at first she had tried to despise him, but found that he had earned her respect despite her best efforts to the contrary. She could not bring herself to relate any of the particulars of the riot or his first proposal- it was too fearful and yet too wonderful to put into words! She did force herself to share the incident involving Frederick, since her shame could no longer be hidden in that case. She laughed poignantly over that uncomfortable encounter in the graveyard, and every squabble, every improvement in their understanding since that day.
As she spoke, her downtrodden spirits found some relief in reflecting back on the tender man who had won her heart. Her anguish began to wither somewhat. Come what may, the John Thornton she knew would not relinquish her without a battle! She need only be patient. He would fight, his determination and ingenuity would carry him forward, and in time she could return to him.
When that might be, she could not say. The challenges set before them both were real, but grace was the master of every injustice. Somehow, she knew not how, there would eventually come restoration. It simply had to be!
“Oh, my, Margaret,” Edith was blushing as Margaret finished her narrative. “You quite make me jealous! I thought myself quite over head and ears for the captain, but I see that I am nothing next to you! I had supposed you might forget him now that you are in London, for poor Henry would like to marry you, you know, but I think you are hopelessly lost.” She sighed theatrically and her light fingers flicked about the disturbed lace at Margaret’s collar.
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