Missing Mr Thornton

CHAPTER 16 - Country Love

The next morning, Margaret awoke in the small double bed of her room in her country residence. The deep blue quilt lay askew at the base of the bed and there was only a thin duvet to cover the both of them. She blushed as she noticed their clothes littering the floor around the bed, in their hurry to be as close to each other as possible the night before, they had carelessly discarded their useless garments. She felt his strong arm still draped around her waist protectively and snuggled closer into his firm chest, a serene smile on her face. She turned her head to face him as he slowly opened his eyes. He smiled groggily down at her, she marvelled at how gorgeous he managed to look first thing in the morning and her smile broadened with his. "Morning my love," he stared happily down at her, then he pulled her even closer to him, his muscular arms wrapping around her petite waist and nuzzled his head into her shoulder. As Thornton rested his head on her shoulder he let the scent of her hair, a mix of chamomile and roses, filter through his foggy mind and muffle his senses in its intoxicating fragrance.

"I love you," Thornton murmured into her tumble of chocolate locks. Margaret turned around in his secure grip to face him. Her face was completely serious as her eyes bore into his own in a passionate look. He found himself once again sucked into her swirling green eyes. Holly leaves shining as the light hit them with a silvery glow. Her beauty never ceased to amaze him, and he knew right then that he would go to the ends of the earth just to see her eyes looking up at him, full of love. He couldn't bear the idea of her eyes holding anything close to the love they now held for him for another man.

Margaret found herself sinking into his soft, grey moonlike eyes as his ardent stare held her entranced. The feeling conveyed in that moment was much more than they could ever say to each other, but she reached up to his face, her eyes still locked on his, and stroked her small palm across his cheek. Mr Thornton leaned his head into her soft palm as she cupped his cheek and ran her thumb over the stubble on his chin. "I love you too John," she stated earnestly, then she brought her face up to his and boldly kissed him. His reaction was instant, the moment he felt her gentle, velvet lips on his he responded with as much love as he could muster. Margaret coiled her arms around his neck bringing their bodies closer to each other. Mr Thornton slowly lifted his hands from her waist and began to run them up and down her sides causing her to moan in response, as the feel of his hands on her body sent thousands of tingles rushing through her.

After their morning had been consumed by their activities in the bedroom they decided to head out for a picnic. Margaret busied herself in the kitchen with meats, cheeses, bread and vegetables to bring with them. They set out just after midday and had arrived at a beautiful spot for their picnic a few hours later. The sun was high in the sky, beating down its strong whip on the fields that lay open and vulnerable below. Margaret and Mr Thornton had managed to sit themselves in a small area of shade created by a large oak tree positioned conveniently in the middle of the rolling fields. The burnt ground was cracked and crumbly from the summer heat, the grass was a copper yellow due to the unrelenting sun as it bore into every inch of land it could. It had successfully managed to steal the green of spring and replace it with its own uglier shades of summer heat.

The couple finished their small basket of delicacies and picked themselves up, with a small dusting down of each other, before continuing on their way across the field. The happy pair laughed and talked together all the way along the path they were following, a glow of blissfulness mirrored on each face. "Tomorrow we should ride!" Margaret exclaimed in a gleeful, almost child-like manner. "If that is what you so desire than we shall indeed go riding." Mr Thornton smiled down at her with a look of pure adoration on his face. Margaret gave details of a lovely track they could ride along that went along the top of the hill and started planning the trip out-loud. After Margaret had disclosed all the necessary details of the outing the two fell into a comfortable silence. Mr Thornton, as if suddenly remembering they were alone, grabbed her hand in his. Margaret smiled at the gesture and squeezed his hand encasing hers. He smiled when he felt her tiny hand grip his. A fond and, now, familiar smile played upon his face at his fortune to be there with the woman he loved.

They arrived home in the late afternoon, their stomachs still full from the generous lunch they had both consumed earlier. They retired to the small but cosy sitting room, Margaret sat with her legs curled under her and Mr Thornton stretched out beside her, placing his head on her lap. They sat in silence for a few moments, Margaret running her fingers through his dark locks subconsciously, before she broke the silence with a question she'd been longing to ask him for a while now. "When did you first know you loved me?" She boldly questioned. Mr Thornton was at first slightly taken aback by the forwardness of her question but smiled and replied with, "The night of the mill owners dinner, I had been intrigued by you ever since you arrived in Milton, but that night I knew I loved you." He looked up into her eyes, and his lips tugged up into a natural grin as his cloudy grey eyes tunnelled into her sage green ones.

"When did you first know you loved me?" He returned the question, having been as eager as her to know the answer for himself. He watched as she pondered on the question for a bit as she had never really given much thought at all to it before. A slightly guilty smile stole onto her face, "I believe I began to fall in love with you after you left, having been so disrespectfully rejected by myself, but I only knew it once I realised I would have to leave Milton." She admitted, sighing at the thought of what could have been if she hadn't been so stupid as to reject him. Mr Thornton's face turned contemplative as he also imagined how differently things would have turned out if he had only made her aware of how he still felt before she left rather than suggesting that he held her in little regard. They could be married, maybe even having children by now! He quickly banished the thoughts of a happy married life with Margaret as soon as they entered his mind, they would never happen so there was nothing to be gained from impossible daydreams. He sighed, if only there was a way for them to live their lives happily, together, without the need for secrecy at every corner.

Hey Y'all,

hope you're all well and aren't getting too much work if you're back at school now ugh... Too much work!! Anyway, here is the latest chapter - hope you enjoy it :) Have a great day. Please continue to vote and comment it means loads to me! OH MY GOD GUYS I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE OVER 2500 READS ITS AMAAAAAZINGLY EXCITING!!! you're the best! :D 

Lots of Love

Milton Girl

xxx