Second Chance (a North and South tale)

Chapter 35: The Confrontation

Margaret

"Miss Hale." His tone was so cold, cold as ice. I could not understand his facial expression. In fact, he wore none. It looked like he hid his emotions behind a mask of nonchalance. What was wrong with him? Something terrible must have happened. As soon as he entered the house he turned away from me and went towards the staircase without uttering another word. 

"What is it?" I softly asked, while I started reaching out for him with my left hand. As soon as I touched his arm he stiffened and stepped away from me as if I was a deadly disease. His actions hurt me more than I could have ever imagined.

Did Mrs. Thornton convince him not to marry me? What did she tell him? Or did he hear some of the ridiculous chatter of the ladies of Milton? They have to much time and to little to occupy their brains for their own good.

But it was John. He never listened to gossip and he would keep to his words. Even Mrs. Thornton would not counsil him to do otherwise then he had pledged. What could have happened to make him behave towards me so?

"Please tell me what happened?" I pleaded.

"I came to visit your father. We have a lesson planned today. Please dont .make me let him wait any longer. I dont like being late." He stated formal while trying with everything in his might to avoid my gaze, which must have been burning into him now.

I didn't understand. I couldn't understand what was happening in this moment. For weeks I have only thought of him alone, always longing for his embrace, his smile, his reassuring words and his kisses. And now, there he is in front of me refusing to meet my eyes. I could not keep it within me anymore.

"Look at me! I demand to know what made you behave this way!" I hissed at him. I was frustrated, but I would not yell at him. If this will turn up to be a great problem between us, father should not get to know any of it. He turned and finally looked into my eyes. At first he seemed to be caught off guard. He didn't expect me to hold on, to go further after he dismissed me. He probably thought I would let him vanish without having an explanation of any sort.

But the surprise in his eyes was quickly replaced by his emotionless mask again. "Nothing happened that you should care about. And there are no such circumstances present that would lead you to believe you had the right to demand anything from me. Not an explanation nor anything else. "

I couldn't believe this man. What has brought this change in him to come around? I knew it had been to good to be true. All those lovely weeds I must have let my fantasy unravel itself and it made up dreams of John being the perrfect match for me. Maybe I just started to see what I wanted to see in him after Freds suggestion.

No. That is not true and I refuse to believe it. He is the man I came to know after all these months. He is the man that has the power to increase my heartbeat within seconds, with him only being near me. I refuse to believe anything else. I love him, and he loves me.

"John, please. What is the matter? You changed." I started speaking more softly to him, so I might get him to talk after all. But he cut my monolog short.

"What makes you think that I changed and in what way, if I may ask? You really dont know me quite well enough, and still you already feel free to judge my character?"

"Of course I know you, John! I know you very well. Or at least thats what I thought. Although I am starting to doubt you."

Suddenly, I noticed that something flashed in his eyes like a blazing fire and his nostrils flared, as if he had to deal with a most infuriating child.

"What makes you think you can adress me so informally, Miss Hale?"

By now all I wanted was to cry really hard. What happened to my loving fiancé? I reached into the pockets of my dress and took out the ring he gave me weeks ago, when he asked me to marry him. I thrust it out in front of me for him to see and answered his question.