Chapter 12 A Blow And Its Consequences.

The evening meal served at Marlborough mill was a lively affair, Bessie had come out of her self and chatted away about Australia and her life there. Mrs Thornton warmed to the young girl , who it had to be said was a ray of sunshine. She was completely without guile often saying things and then blushing at her own frankness.

She could not help but notice how her son's gaze often rested on Miss Hale's, his eyes glowed and his lips formed a half smile when ever she spoke. Had he formed an attachment to her, was that love in his eyes. As his mother she doubted this girl were her son's equal, but for all that she seemed such a proud lady and her just the daughter of a parson.

Follow their meal the three young people headed out to sample Milton hospitality at a local pub. Mrs Thornton stood looking down at them from the dining room window as they crossed the deserted mill yard and went out into the evening air of Milton.

The Pub was an old coaching inn. Its solid oak beams blacken with age but as strong as when they had been built two hundred years previously. A huge fireplace dominate one wall with polished horse brasses glowing in the subdued light. The bar ran along one wall its mahogany surface gleaming. Their footsteps rang on the flag stoned floor. The girls took a seat at a small oak table, scarred and stained with age.

"Just imagine Miss Hale my ancestors may have used this very pub."

"Yes Bessie they could. Look away from the base call me Margaret, I feel ancient when you call me Miss Hale." Margaret smiled at the younger girl.

"Margaret they don't seem very friendly in here, if looks could kill John would have dropped dead by now." Bessie observed.

John made his way from the bar and put the drinks down on the table.

"Thank you Squadron Leader Thornton, you have been so kind." Bessie smiled at him.

"You're welcome Miss Higgins." he replied and raised his glass "Cheers Ladies."

They sat talking quietly for several minutes during which time more customers arrived, it was when John stood to get some more drinks that Margaret sensed trouble. Several soldiers were in the bar all having had several drinks.

"Hey lads its pansy t'pilot too scared to fight at Dunkirk. You'll not get served another drink here we don't hold with cowards." the man's words were slightly slurred.

"Look I don't want any trouble," John tried to move away.

"Where were you at Dunkirk?I waded through hundreds of bodies to get on a boat home where the bloody hell where the RAF? I'll tell you safely at home." The man made a grab for John moved out of the way.

The man's friends were get restless now as well and John moved towards the bar. Soon he was surrounded by a large group of angry men all jostling and shoving. Margaret watched in horror as one picked up a glass.

She moved quickly pushing men out of the way to get to John. Throwing her arms around him acting as a shield.

"Go away Margaret." he spoke his mouth at her ear his voice deep "This is no place for you."

"It is you did not see what I saw. They will not attack a woman." she replied turning slightly.

"Go home all of you this man has done nothing to you. I know Dunkirk was bad but he is not the enemy. Go home before the police come." she pleaded with them.

The glass flew through the air, aimed at John Thornton but at the last minute Margaret moved and it caught her a glancing blow on the side of the head. She slumped in John's arms unconscious her head against his chest blood trickling from a cut to her forehead.

" You come at one man all of you twenty and when a woman tries to make you see sense you injure her." John was more angry than he had ever been in his life.

"The bottle t'were aimed at you." somebody shouted. "But you sheltered behind a woman."

Margaret moan slightly and John placed her in a chair.

"Can you rest there?" he did not wait for her to answer before he turned back to the crowd.

"Now kill me if you will there is no woman sheltering me now." he spoke harshly.

"Before you do though. You should know who you are killing." The voice spoke from behind them. Squadron Leader Thornton wears a medal ribbon on his uniform it is the DFC. It was awarded at Dunkirk, this man shot down a bomber and a fighter plane over the beach, his spitfire was then hit and thanks to his skill as pilot he avoided a destroyer full of troops and crashed in the sea. All this after flying 30 sorties in 5 days." Bessie was furious her friend had been hurt and this kind decent man threatened. "Bugger of before the police come."

The men backed away out of the pub and disappeared into the night.

Bessie went into the ladies to wet a cloth to clean the wound on Margaret's head.

John knelt at Margaret's side she looked so pale.

"Oh Margaret! My Margaret! No one knows what you mean to me. You are the only woman I have loved!" he murmured these word against her hair.

Once Bessie had cleaned the wound the landlord of the pub took them back home . Mrs Thornton was horrified to learn of the incident. John carried Margaret to her room.

"I'll watch her Sir all night never fear" Bessie said as he left.

John enter the parlour and poured himself a scotch, his hands shaking slightly, she could have died and because of him.

"You love her don't you John." his mother spoke from the door way.

He turned and sighed.

"Yes mother I do, she makes me feel like no other woman ever has. I know that she does not care for me...." his mother interrupted him.

"Did she not rush in front of you, cling to you? I think she has feelings for you." his mother looked at him.

"I wish I could believe you but I suspect she was beyond thinking rationally at that point and just stepped in front of me. However I must tell her how I feel. In another age I would lay myself at her feet or carry out any task the Gods asked me in her name. I am not worthy of her love she is an Oxford educated lady. What would she see in me a Northern manufacturer? " he moved to leave the room.

Hannah caught her son's wrist and reached up to touch his cheek.

"I am glad that you must wait for tomorrow to voice your love to Miss Hale, for I remain for one more night first in your affections. From tomorrow it will be she who claims that honour. Do not be afraid to speak of your feelings. If she has sense, as far as love goes, she should see she is worthy of you." She kissed him on the cheek and walked majestically up the staircase. It was only once she was in her own room that she wept as mothers do when another woman replaces them in their son's affections.

The house was quiet the next morning when Margaret went downstairs. A slight headache remained and she was a little pale but she felt better for the goodnights sleep. She entered the morning room and was surprised to see only John there. He was stood at the window a deep frown creasing his brow.

"Good Morning I expect your mother and Bessie to be in here." She said.

John turned at her words, his brilliant blue eyes drinking in the sight of her.

"They have gone to the market. They thought you would not mind." he waited as she sat down.

"Margaret I fear I was ungrateful yesterday." he moved to her side.

"Please John you have no need to feel ungrateful I would have done the same for any man." Margaret's words wounded as deep as any knife.

"Any man that cannot be so," he spoke so quietly.

"Yes any man I would aid any man from a baying mob." she looked puzzled that he would think otherwise.

"Margaret I must be allowed to speaking of my feelings for you. My feelings are oh it is difficult I have never used the words before."

"Then do not a waste them on me, please this is not the way of a gentleman." Margaret sort to stop his words.

John stepped away as if he had been struck.

"I am well aware in your eyes at least, I am no gentleman but I think I have the right to know why you would find a proposal from me so offensive?"

"I saved you from danger and you think this means that you have to offer me marriage that you are bound in so honour to save my reputation. You speak as if I were some possession."

"I had no thought for your reputation, I do not wish to possess you, I wish to marry you because I love you!" his voice broke with emotion and his heart hammered in his chest.

"Well you shouldn't for I do not love you and I am certain I never will. I have not learned how to turned down proposals." She had to make him understand

"There have been others" He remembered Henry Lennox and the stranger at the station.

"John please you have to understand......" He cut her words off

"I understand, I understand you completely" he turned and stormed out of the room a moment later she heard the front door slam.

Margaret stood alone had she the gleam of unshed tears in his eyes as he left? It pained her a little to have hurt him but how could she marry somebody she did not love.