The Journey Home

Chapter 31 - A Manufacturer Comes to Tea for a Second Time

It was well past noon when Captain Lennox drew back the curtains in his wife's bedroom to reveal a bleak and rainy day in London. Edith's lovely head rested in a cloud of pillows and a halo of blond curls. In this state of repose, Captain Lennox thought that his wife looked to be no older than the beautiful eighteen year old he married ten years ago.

"Edith, my dear." he gently whispered as he stroked her cheek with his finger, "I am sorry, Pet, but it is time to get up." The party had lasted to nearly four o'clock in the morning so neither the Captain or his wife had as much sleep as they would have liked. Captain Lennox had managed to make it down to breakfast at ten o'clcok and had dined alone with Margaret. He found his cousin to be quiet, and thoughtful,  after stunning them all the night before with news of her unexpected engagement.

Captain Lennox was surprised by the news, but happy for Margaret none the less. Thornton was a little long in the tooth, but seemed to be a good, solid kind of man,  who would make conservative fiscal decisions and provide well for Margaret. Not that Margaret needed the financial support. A more skeptical kind of man might think that Thornton had proposed to her for her money, but Captain Lennox believed that the lonely old fellow truly loved Margaret, and seemed in need of her companionship.

Edith had not handled the news as calmly as her husband. Earlier in the evening, she had inquired about Mr. Thornton, and was told he was an old acquaintance of Henry's and Uncle Hale's. She never knew of a connection with Margaret, and why would she? Margaret shared everything with her and had never mentioned knowing the man, much less having an attachment to him. It would never do! Edith had other plans for Margaret, so when Margaret informed her of her plans to marry and leave for Milton in less than 48 hours, Edith lost her cheerful composure.Captain Lennox dearly loved his Edith, however, he was embarrassed by her tiny temper tantrums and was more than relieved when Margaret whisked Edith away to have a more private conversation. Her displeasure was evident as Margaret tried to reason with her spoiled cousin.   "Milton, But Margaret, you hate Milton! And what of Teddy? He's sure to propose if you would only give him time! Poor Teddy!"  Margaret calmly reminded Edith that she had never agreed to the match and that Edith's presumptions could bring speculation and scandal upon the whole family, should she continue in this manner.  Edith was knocked speechless by her cousin's response.  Margaret, for her part, was tired of not being heard in the Harley Street house.

Oddly, Henry had not been surprised by the news, even the bit about Margaret going off to Milton. "Thought I mentioned it," Henry said off-handedly to Edith and Captain Lennox. Teddy was quiet upon hearing the news and made it a point to seek out the bride groom and hake hands, wishing him every happiness. He left the party shortly thereafter claiming he had an early morning riding engagement with one of the officers from the barracks. Looking out at the steady stream of rain that morning, Captain Lennox was certain that Teddy slept late,  like the rest of the party, and missed riding.

Normally, Edith would have been allowed to sleep all day; however, she had committed to having Mr. Thornton to tea at two o'clock and needed some time to ready herself for the affair. Captain Lennox returned to the bedside and kissed his slumbering wife's cheek a little roughly. "Come now, Edith. No time to dawdle! The day is nearly half over, my dear. Don't forget, we have tea with Mr. Thornton." Edith purred and stretched beneath the great silk coverlet. As she lifted her head, a mop of blond ringlets fell over one eye. She smiled sweetly at her husband. "I'm so tired, Sholto. What ever was I thinking to invite that man to tea?" She pouted as she fell back on the pillow.

Captain Lennox knew that his wife's mood was a bit surly for lack of sleep, but that she would soon come round to her normal sweet self once she got out of bed. "Come, come my dear. Such an exciting time for Margaret! She'll be needing your help with her trousseau and all. Mother Shaw is down in the sitting room and is anxious to see you." He lightly tweaked her nose. Edith sighed and pulled herself out of bed. "Has Mother been told?" Edith asked sleepily. Captain Lennox shrugged. "Margaret has been up for hours. She's spoken with your mother in private, so I can only assume so."