“Cranford” Return to Cranford: Part Two – October 1844
Everyone is overjoyed at the news that William Buxton and Peggy Bell are to be married – except it all comes as news to the elder Mr. Buxton who thinks his son is marrying beneath himself. With few choices left to him, William decides he will have to make his own fortune and begins working on the railroad with Mr. Brown. The ladies of the village are somewhat taken aback when Mrs. Jamieson announces that her sister-in-law, Lady Glenmire, will be visiting but then fails to invite anyone to meet her. It becomes known that Mrs. Jamieson thinks they are all beneath her Ladyship. Mr. Buxton has agreed to sell the railroad a small parcel of land they require in order to build the railroad to Cranford and puts the sale in the hands of Edward Bell. He thinks highly of the young man but he is to be deceived when not only does Edward cheat Mr. Buxton on the purchase price, he uses the deeds to the land to cover his own debts. Peggy soon faces the prospect of accompanying her brother to Canada where he hopes to start a new life. A series of unforeseen circumstances, including a cataclysmic accident, will bring all plans to a grinding halt.
