The newlyweds changed trains in London and were soon in Southampton. Despite John's protest, Margaret rearranged her hair the best she could and laughed when John murmured that it was no use since he would destroy it soon. On the train to Southampton she was thinking of what would happen when they arrived to the hotel. She felt silly. What sensible happy bride worried about her wedding night? Her husband had made several remarks about the subject and she had sensed it when he had kissed her, the feeling that could only be called desire. She felt ashamed of thinking such thoughts, then displeased at the idea of being ashamed of it since they were feelings connected with John, and how could desire be so dangerous if love was part of it?

Margaret was not aware that every virgin bride, however in love with the lucky one, always has anxiety about the wedding night, to enter a new stage in the relationship, a deeper connection between souls and better understanding of each other? Margaret did not know that her husband worried as well. He was anxious to make his love happy and satisfied. In consequence of these thoughts and worries, the couple sat in silence, not uncomfortable though, holding hands calmed them both and made them talk about the landscape, unknown to Margaret.

They arrived at the hotel in the evening and were served dinner almost immediately. They ate a hearty dinner and went up, a little dread on both side, but dispatched by love and desire. Passion is seldom refrained by anything and they loved each other passionately, which gave sensuality to the scene that ensued.

John turned to Margaret and began to take her away her hairpins, throwing them carelessly to the floor.

"Hey! I might still need those!" Margaret laughed and listened with amusement to the sound of pins hitting the wooden floor.

"We will buy new ones. I still insist on thinking you can do without them. I want to always be able to bury my hands in your mane."

"Mane? Then you are a bushy head!" She caressed his black short hair, rolled the hair on his forehead around her finger and the hair in his neck with gentle fingers. John took her in his arms and carried her to the bed, where he laid her gently down. He took off his jacket and started to unbutton his shirt but she stood up and put her hands on his chest.

"Sit down love and let me." She had longed wanted to feel the vibrant skin under her fingers, to caress the muscles of his arms and listen to his heartbeat with her kisses. She unbuttoned it and threw the piece of clothing on the floor.

"Hey! I might need that," he laughed in a mocking imitation of her voice. She smiled and blushed but stopped when she saw his chest. His muscles were impressive, bigger in the candlelight than what she had guessed them to be, his skin deprived of any hair.

"I am in agony here! Not even my mother has looked at me with such admiration!"

Margaret looked up and blushed again because of the intense love in her husband's eyes. How could she have hated him so? How had she behaved so prejudiced and cruel toward a man who her heart was lost to? Tears came to her eyes.

"What is the matter?" John sat forward and brushed away her tears with his thumbs. Had he said something wrong?

"Nothing is wrong John." She caressed the stubble on his neck. "Past thoughts came back to me and I remembered how horrible I was to you. How could you bear it? How could you possible love me after all dreadful talk from my side?"

She looked so distressed that he took her in his arms. "There was no boundary for my love, my heart never broke, but shortly died before I found out about your brother. My love had been kept alive by my jealousy, because I was jealous of your brother, whom I believed to be your betrothed. You had done nothing but protect your brother, which made me love you more than ever. Think only of the past as its remembrance give you pleasure."

Margaret laughed. "You stole the line from Elizabeth Bennet. I have no idea that you knew Jane Austen."

"She had given me many lessons. On love mostly. However, she does not know what happens to a man and woman after the wedding day. Come my love."

"John?" He perceived the anxiety in her voice and put his lips on her. Slowly, he made her lay down on the pillows and laid himself next to her.

"Have no fear. I will help you and you will help me. We are wife and husband and only together can we find the stars."

Margaret smiled and leant forward to kiss her husband. There was no end of her love to him.

Mr and Mrs Thornton were on an adventure, behind closed doors and away from the world, which was now on its way to give way to a magnificent gift.

Okay, reviewers, your time to work now. Do you want to know what happens in Cadiz? I have some idea but I need encouragement from you because I am unsure if there is a need to add it or not. tell me in the comments!