The Journey Home

Chapter 37 A Lesson in Manners

Margaret Hale was invited to dinner at the Thorntons', although the invitation was delivered with some reluctance.

It came earlier in the day from none other than Mrs. Thornton. At the end of services, Margaret and Maria Louise waited patiently outside the church for the congregation to exit so that she might have a word with John and Mrs. Thornton. As John and his mother stepped into the sunlight, Margaret saw John's searching gaze, and enjoyed the broad smile that illuminated his face when he found her. Mrs. Thornton was on his arm; however, he seemed to lose sight that there was anyone other than Margaret in the church yard, and steered an unenthusiastic Mrs. Thornton in her direction. He touched the brim of his hat and took Margaret's hand that she offered in a handshake. "Miss Hale, so good it is to see you this morning. You appear well rested, so I trust you are comfortably settled?" John looked down at Maria Louise and doffed his hat. "Good morning to you, Miss." Overcome with the embarrassment of being singled out, Maria Louise turned into Margaret's skirts and buried her face.

Margaret felt the thrill of seeing John so strongly that she barely noticed his mother, standing tall and defiantly, by his side. Would it always be like this? She thought to herself. Will the sight of him coming home everyday continue to give me this feeling of exhilaration and desire? Margaret blushed deeply at her thoughts. "How are you feeling, Mr. Thornton? Better I hope?"

"Yes, Miss Hale. I find that an excess of lemon and honey, and a bit of brandy have helped relieve my symptoms."

Mrs. Thornton pursed her lips and stood impatiently waiting to be reintroduced to Miss Hale. Honestly, she could not fathom why John would allow himself to so overtly faun over this woman. She took the time to sizeup Margaret, noting the same haughty posture, less softness to her overall and a more chiseled appearance around the cheeks. Mrs. Thornton concluded that both she and the child were far too tanned in complextion, ressembling what she would expect of a native Spainard. As was her manner, Mrs. Thornton let her displeasure be known with a loud harrumph. "How do you do, Miss Hale. I understand that you have returned to Milton on a more permanent basis."

Margaret smiled and bowed politely as was her manner of showing deference to those who felt the need to establish superiority. "Mrs. Thornton, how good it is to see you again. After so many years..."

"Yes, yes." Mrs. Thornton interrupted. "It's amazing that I'm still alive." John gave a slight squeeze to his mother's arm, reminding her of her promise. Mrs. Thornton's icy demeanor thawed ever so slightly. "Welcome back to Milton, Miss Hale. It certainly has been a long time." Margaret nodded slightly, acknowledging what she knew to be a great effort on Mrs. Thornton's part.

"May I introduce my niece, Maria Louise. Maria Louise, this is Mrs. Thornton." At that, Maria Louise turned and made a deep curtsey to the fearsome woman dressed all in black. Meekly, she squeaked "How do you do?" to the Milton dowager. Mrs. Thornton gave a tight smile to the girl. Seen but not heard, she though to herself.

"Good Lord!" exclaimed a shrill voice from the crowd. "Could it be? Why it is! Margaret Hale! Watson, do come quickly." Fanny Watson moved a very full hoopskirt expertly though the Sunday morning churchgoers, dragging the stout and very gray Mr. Watson behind her. When she stopped at her mother's side, her skirts continued their momentum and swooshed into the face of the small girl standing in front of Margaret. Margaret instinctively drew herself and the child away from the excesses of silk and petticoats that greeted them, but extended her hand in greeting to Fanny. "Hello, Fanny. It is very good to see you again. Although, forgive me. It must be Mrs. Watson now."

Fanny clucked like a proud hen. "Yes, yes. Tis indeed, Miss Hale (with an emphasis on Miss). Married these eight years now. I have 2 children and Watson owns 2 mills now. A lot has happened here in Milton since you left." Fanny made a gesture in the general direction of her husband. "Miss Hale, may I introduce my husband, Watson?" In an attempt to rectify his wife's disingenuous introduction, Watson took a step forward and removed his hat. "Lovely to see you again, Miss Hale." Fanny purposefully stroked the front of her stylish pelisse, as she stared at Margaret's attire. She nearly laughed out loud at the indian shawl wrapped closely about Margaret's trim figure. La, Fanny thought to herself. That's the same shawl she wore ten years ago! The woman has absolutely no sense of fashion.

Watson was uneasy knowing his wife's habit of instant judgment upon meeting someone, and inquired as to what brought Margaret to Milton. "I understand you have considerable properties here in Milton, Miss Hale. Are you checking up on that clever agent of yours?" Watson asked with a nervous chuckle. John looked to Margaret as to how he should best explain her presence in Milton, but Margaret was quick to reply.

"A school, actually. I plan to help establish a school for the children of the workers. Illiteracy among the children in our mill towns continues to rise at an alarming rate." Margaret gently explained.

"What in the world is a mill worker going to do with that kind of education?" Fanny abruptly asked with a sarcastic laugh. "Perhaps you should be teaching them sewing and cooking? Something that will do them some good?"

"Come, now Fanny. There will be plenty of time to catch up with Miss Hale at dinner and hear about her charity." Fanny looked startled with the news of Margaret's invitation to dinner. "Yes, Fanny. Miss Hale is to join us for dinner. " Mrs. Thornton smiled through her clenched teeth. "Isn't that right, John?" John patted his mother's arm that was looped through his own.

"Aye, Mother. She is, indeed." His clear blue eyes twinkled beautifully in the early day sun.

"I would be delighted, Mrs. Thornton." Margaret said with a smile that revealed her mirthful dimples. "Thank you for the invitation."

John released his mother's arm and took a step towards Margaret, shielding her from his mother and sister. "Allow me to send our carriage for you. " John spoke beseechingly, hoping that the onslaught of veiled rudeness had not hurt her feelings too badly. "It will not do to have you call for a hansom." He smiled, knowing her preference for travel. "Or worse, walking."

"Yes, of course." Margaret gave a slight bow, "Thank you, for your kind attentions." Margaret smiled brightly at John, hoping that he understood that she had weathered his mother and sister bravely, with little harm to her feelings. "I look forward to seeing you this for dinner. " Observing the exchange, Mrs. Thornton looked towards the heavens in anoyance. She could not help her instinct to set Margaret in her place just one last time before leaving.

"Mind you, Miss Hale. We serve dinner at six o'clock sharp on Sundays. I don't know what you have grown accustomed to abroad. In Milton, there's no sitting about waiting on evening meals. Our men work long days and need their rest." Mrs. Thornton said proudly looking to her son.

"Of course, Mrs. Thornton. I remember this well from my time in Milton. Good day, Mrs. Thornton, Mr. Thornton, Mr. and Mrs. Watson." Taking Maria Louise by the hand, she turned to leave and find Lily for their walk home.

When she was out of hearing range, Fanny leaned into her mother and hissed "Margaret Hale? What ever is she doing here after all this time? She never married, and there's reason for that. She looks so old, and she's at least a year younger than me. Her skin! My word she and the girl are positively brown!"

John bristled as his sister spoke her cruel words about Margaret, and looked to Watson to correct his wife. Watson simply gave a helpless shrug of the shoulders and said to no one in particular. "It is a shame that no amount of fine clothes or money can assure a person's manners."