There was a knock at the door. Since Dixon was busy, I got it. I was shocked when I saw John Thornton.
"Mr. Thornton?" I breathed. "What are doing here?"
He tipped his hat. "I've come to drop off a book for your father and some fresh fruit for you."
I smile, taking the book and basket. "Please, come in. I will call upon father."
We went to the drawing-room, I brought tea handing it out. First to father and then Johns. His finger gently rubbing my finger. I blushed as he smiled back up at me. He and father talked of work and learning that father thought.
Margaret was to marry her old friend Henry Lennox. He was a doctor, our cousin's brother-in-law. She went back to London to visit Edith and learned that she was in love. Thornton told me that another day that we need not worry about Margaret and now he surely do not.
"It is just father and me, now, so your company greatly wonderous, Mr. Thornton," I happily said, taking a sip of my own tea.
"I am glad to be of company, Miss Dell."
When Thornton left, father was opening letters. One was from his old friend, Mr. Bell. He was invited to a reunion back in London. I was so pleased that father was going, that he was getting out of the house. But when weeks went by and the only man that showed at the house when father was supposed to be home. Mr. Bell dropped his head in regret to tell me that father passed in his sleep.
I lost my husband, my mother, my brother, and now my father. No one should go through any of the pain that I have been. I had to leave Milton because I had no one else. Thornton was busy with his mill and I did not want to go to him. I went and stayed with Mr. Bell. Dixon had gone with Margaret and Henry.
Mr. Bell's home was lovely, out on the countryside. I regretted leaving John behind, but I needed to leave.
"Are you alright, Helen?" Mr. Bell asked, handing me tea.
I nodded. "Of course. I just regret leaving someone behind in Milton."
Mr. Bell sighed. "You know. Before your father -- you know, he asked me to look after you. And I had this idea. That I would look after you and you could look after me. But I am afraid that I do not have time. Helen, I have sighed over all my money and property over to you. I am going back to South America where I will live out my days. And I will be happy knowing that you are well."
I shook my head. "No, I cannot, I will not."
"My dear, I am not asking you to take it. I am giving it to you. I was to look after you and I am afraid I can't."
Mr. Bell left the next day to South America. I stayed with my aunt a few days after. Henry, Margaret's husband, helped me sort out the money. And when I learned that I had gotten rich overnight, I needed to go back to Milton, back to Thornton.
