Hello to all my readers. I have finally some spare time to commence this story. I note the overwhelming feedback from Is It Ever Too Late, and how many of you were not satisfied with the ending. I left many questions unanswered in the final chapter as I wanted to cover them in this story. I hope you enjoy. This is a short chapter to get you started.

Is Patience A Virtue?

Two months had passed since John and Margaret's engagement. By all accounts the sudden engagement was considered reckless at best and scandalous at worst given no formal courting had taken place. However the combined money and prestige that John and Margaret independently held seemed to negate the majority of the social etiquette vultures who sat on their perches waiting to feast on the weak, the socially impaired and any scrap carcass of gossip and scandal.

It was still very early in the morning and Margaret lay in bed next to her lover and soon to be husband. Margaret let out a content sigh and started reminiscing about everything that had transpired that fateful day at the train station two months ago.

FLASHBACK

Margaret was sitting at the train station deep in turbulent thought when something caught her attention in her peripheral vision. It was John running in an undignified manner towards her. Once Margaret realised it was John who was approaching, it was like the world stopped spinning and everything was happening in slow motion.

Her brow was furrowed as he approached, starting to slow down the closer he got to her. Finally he reached a standstill standing in front of her, slightly crouched over with his hands on his thighs, catching his breath.

"What are you doing here?" She said with surprise. She tried to wear a mask of indifference but the shakiness of her voice gave her heightened emotions away.

John was breathless.

"Margaret, I know this is not a place… for intimate gestures but I refuse… I refuse to allow you to just walk out of my life again…".

Margaret just stared up at him in complete silence unable to comprehend anything that had just come out of his mouth. He looked at her with a vulnerability that she had never seen before. No pretence, no pride, no armour, just a man looking desperate.

"I have made many mistakes in my life, but have only ever had one regret". He took another step closer before continuing "I regret the day I let you walk out of my life all those years ago. I do not intend on letting you go a second time".

Margaret could feel the tears well up in her eyes and her bottom lip started to tremble.

"I know that a train station is not the appropriate place for this… And Margaret you deserve so much more… but if you will have me, gentleman or not, I am yours forever".

With that he put his right hand in his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet box. Popping it open showed a beautifully crafted diamond ring.

Margaret gasped and her hands went to cover her mouth as a reflex. Now overcome with emotion tears were streaming down her face.

With a shaky voice she responded.

"I don't want a gentleman John… I just want you".

Margaret gave John her unsteady left hand and allowed him to put the ring on her finger which fortunately was a perfect fit. John gave Margaret a smile that could out-shine every star in the sky.

Margaret was pulled her up from the seat and engulfed into John's arms and under his heavy cloak protectively. She nestled her head against his chest feeling complete, her quivering body against his. She smiled to herself as she could feel that John was also shaking from emotion. She closed her eyes enjoying this moment against his chest, listening to the rapid beating of his heart. A single tear of happiness rolled down her cheek as she knew in that moment that this was exactly where she belonged.

Being lost in the moment, Margaret almost forgot where they were. However a noise to the side coming from her daughter was an unfortunate reminder that they were in fact, in a very public place and causing quite the spectacle.

Maria coughed clearly intent on stopping this public display of affection between her mother and John.

Margaret carefully stepped back from John and turned to face Maria, her hand still entwined with John's. Maria's eyes were piercing. For a moment Margaret felt like a young girl about to be scolded for stealing a cookie from the cookie jar, however she soon regained her poise.

She smiled cautiously at Maria, willing her to understand. However she knew that this was a huge development, completely unprecedented and unexpected. She truly had no idea how her daughter would react. Especially taking into consideration the fact that Maria was currently lovesick, and in Maria's eyes the only obstacle to that relationship was the two people standing before her, willing for her acceptance and understanding of their relationship. Margaret couldn't help but smile at the irony.

"Maria, I hope that you can be happy for us"

Margaret could see that Maria had no idea how to react as her expression seemed to morph from shocked to angry to disgusted and then back right to shocked.

Maria pursed her lips and responded tightly, schooling her features so her expression was as blank as her reeling mind would allow.

"Mother, I can only hope that now you seem to have found happiness, you will allow for mine".

With that, Maria turned on her heel and took a seat slightly removed from where Margaret and John were standing. She absentmindedly started playing with the cherished silver locket that hung around her neck, closing her eyes as if she wished she could disappear back to Robert.

John looked down at Margaret "Should you go talk to her? Make sure she is okay?" he questioned.

Margaret responded quietly "No, this is quite a life changing for her, I think I shall let her have some space to reconcile what she has just witnessed".

John nodded in understanding.

Margaret and John proceeded to sit down and talk logistics. They decided that right now Margaret and Maria should return to Cadiz and John should return to Milton. John would make arrangements that would allow him to join Margaret in Cadiz, where they would be wed in two months time. Meanwhile two months would allow Maria time to adjust and would allow Margaret time to make all necessary arrangements to move back to Milton following the wedding.

Both parties were surprised with how quickly they had come to an agreement on how things would proceed from here.

Unfortunately time was not on their side, and Margaret's train arrived far too quickly for either of their liking. Maria entered the carriage quickly, seating herself as far away from the window as possible. Margaret knew that Maria was attempting to shield herself from witnessing any further displays of affection.

Margaret found herself once again enwrapped in John's strong arms under his cloak.

"I shall miss you John" Margaret whispered against John's chest not wanting to leave his warmth or break contact.

"Not half as much as I shall miss you, my lady" John murmured in a sultry tone against her ear. His hand teased at a loose curl of hair that sat hear her temple. His hot breath sent shivers down her spine, causing her far too much excitement for such a public place.

They reluctantly broke apart and Margaret got on the train, despite, to the core of her being wanting to stay in the arms of her beloved.

END FLASHBACK

Margaret felt like she was floating on a cloud. She felt so light and blissful. Today was the day that John Thornton, long time bachelor, would be officially off the market and her own forever. 'Yes' she thought to herself, 'today shall be a great day'. She rolled over and nuzzled up behind the man who would soon be her husband.