The Journey Home

Chapter 55 A Call from the Authorities

Nicholas looked up from his work as Edward Boucher came running into the shop.  He was the youngest of the Boucher children, stalky and redheaded, he looked very unlike the rest of his thin siblings.  His breathing was heavy from running the distance from Marlborough Mills all the way to the machine shop.
"Soldiers, Nicholas. There's soldiers at the big house looking to speak to old Mrs Thornton."
"Easy now, boy.  You sure they was looking for Mrs Thornton?" Nicholas asked, bewildered as to why the old woman would draw the attention of the militia. 
"Aye, Sir. Went right into the house, they did. Word is the old Missus couldn't stop them." Old Missus at the house? She was suppose to be staying with Fanny, Nicholas thought to himself. The old girl must have ignored John's instructions and moved herself back to Marlborough Mills, Nicholas surmised. "Now I got Master to deal with on two fronts, soldiers and his stubborn mother."  He removed his leather apron, "Come on  boy, let's go see about these soldiers." 

It was then that Samuel Boucher, stealthily appeared at the door. "Not soldiers, Nicholas. Navy police and an officer.  They got blue uniforms and the officers got that silly hat. They spoke sharp like to Williams at the gate. Said they was looking for Miss Margaret." Nicholas stopped and put his hands on his hips.  "Williams said that? Are you sure he said it was Margaret? " Nicholas knew the answer to the question, but asked it anyway taking the time to make a plan.
"Aye, Sir. I heard it clear myself. "
"You was at the gate, then?" Nicholas asked. Samuel struggled to respond.   Nicholas concluded that the only reason the navy would be looking for Margaret would be with news of Fred.   It bothered him that she hadn't been gone a full day and trouble was looking for the lass. "A'int anyone at school today?" He growled at the boys.
"I was at school," Edward defended himself. "It was Tommy that sent me!"
"Who's in trouble now?" Michael Boucher asked, coming from another part of the shop, wiping grease off his hands.
"Sam." Both Nicholas and Edward said at once.
"What did I do?" Samuel asked defenseless.
"Cutting school, for one thing." Nicholas took his coat and cap from the peg. "Back to school for you both. Directly, no wandering about.  Keep an eye on things, Michael. Won't be long."

Nicholas marched with determination from the shop.  Navy Police were the worst. They were a bad element that  felt no sense of  loyalty to anyone and ran unchecked.  He was only half certain that Hannah Thornton could deal with the ruffians and put them in their place.   "Come along boys!" Nicholas barked as he strode along the street.  "Back to school with you both. " At the gates to Marlborough Mill, Nicholas spoke to Williams about the visitors, confirming that they were a rag tag group out of Liverpool, sent to speak with Margaret on official business. What the business was, Williams could not be sure.
Nicholas then went to the front door of the great stone home, there was no time to go by way of the servants' door, and knocked sharply. Mrs Thornton's long time maid, Jane, answered the door, surprised to see Nicholas in the doorway. Without a word, he walked around her and headed to parlor, confirming over his shoulder that this was the direction of Mrs Thornton and the sailors. 
"I wouldn't go in there if I were you. She's been on a terrific tear." Jane warned him. Ah!  The old girl was handling the situation with her typical pep and vinegar.  How could he ever have thought differently?  Nicholas simply smiled, removed his hat stuffed it in his pocket and let himself in the room after a quick knock on the door.
The men were an assemblage of tattered sailors.  Between them they did not have enough of a uniform to fully dress one man.  Hannah Thornton was on her feet, arms crossed and with her head held high.  "How dare you question the integrity of my son and his wife! Have you not realized that John Thornton is a magistrate?  If he hears tell  that you stay  in Milton long enough to have a pint, he will have you arrested!"

She barely missed a beat.  "And who invited you in, Higgins? You can turn yourself around and take these fools with you!"

*****

Pru came to sit by Nicholas in her small parlor.  She had finished her cleaning in the kitchen, and stoked the fire in the oven to provide additional warmth on the cold evening.  Nicholas reached to draw her nearer, placing a quick kiss on the top of her head.  His day had been full, taking on both the supervision of the Mill and the shop.  He would be glad to have John back in Milton, but was in no rush to see him and Margaret sooner than necessary. 

After escorting the Navy authorities to the gate, assisted by Nathaniel Green (Sam had defied Nicholas once again and found the Mill's heavy weight, rather than returning to school), he spoke with Hannah Thornton at the front door about the reason for the call.  She had standards to uphold; Hannah Thornton was grateful for Nicholas' assistance but she would not allow him in her parlor unless John was present. 
"She's never going to change, Nicholas. 20 years ago she was a few shillings away from living in Princeton and now she's carrying heirs like she was born into her son's money." Pru leaned back against Nicholas' brawny chest with a heavy sigh. She would never understand Nicholas and his game to win over the surly Mrs Thornton.
"Well at lest she and I agreed that there was nothing to be done that required Thornton to cut his trip short and come home." Nicholas reached his arms around Pru's waist and rested his chin on her head.
"Poor Lass. She's got a brother that will cause her trouble all his days. It surprises me the Navy is still look in' for him and interested enough to trace Margaret to Milton to question her." Pru tisked her disapproval. "You think they'll be back?"
"Hard to say, Lassy. They seemed to be actin' on their own, likely on a tip. There seemed to be no authority behind 'em." He squeezed Pru a little tighter, lightly caressing one of her breasts. But you never know."
Pru sighed again. She was bone tired, but it was impossible to resist Nicholas' advances. "You're a devil." she said as moved to sit in his lap facing him. "You better plan on staying tonight, cuz I only have about a half hour in me." He began to undo the buttons of her blouse while he kissed her, moving his mouth down to the base of her neck and, taking her breasts in both hands, kissed the fullness of them, eager for Pru to release them from the restriction of her corset. God, she was amazing! Nicholas thought to himself. He never thought he would enjoy the company of a woman again, a good woman, not the tarts that hung about the mill yard doors late at night. She was as eager for him as he was for her. What's this about being tired? He knew that Pru had the energy of a girl half her age. After a long day that began before the sun came up, Nicholas' whole being ached with exhaustion, but Pru revived his manly desires in one look of her eye, promising to bring him to complete satisfaction. "Woman, you know as well as I that you're not the one who'll be falling asleep."

She stood for a moment, removed her blouse and allowed Nicholas to untie the stays to her corset. Nicholas began to fumble with the buttons on his trousers when she delicately stroked her finger tips on his hand. "Here, now, don't take all the enjoyment out of it,"she scolded him. Nicholas sat back in his chair as Pru knelt before  him and began to slowly unbutton his trousers. His member was hard as its length was released from the restriction of fabric. Pru's chemise had fallen off one shoulder so that a full and supple breast was exposed. She quickly removed her skirts and sat down astride Nicholas. He began kissing her, burying his face in the warmth of her breasts, while Pru ran her hands through his rough salt and pepper hair. What they lacked in youthful stamina they made up for with uninhibited exploration of their sexual desires.