"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", by Gratiana Lovelace (2013-2014) (Done)

Ch. 10 (PG-13, S): Recovery and Romance

"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons",  Ch. 10 (PG-13, S):  Recovery and Romance, December 22, 2013 Gratiana Lovelace 

(An original fan fiction copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace;   All rights reserved;

Based on the Elizabeth Gaskell novel, North & South and its
2004 BBC adaptation; No copyright infringement intended)

 

[I will illustrate my story using my dream cast from the 2004 BBC production of “North & South”: 

Richard Armitage for John Thornton,  Daniela Denby-Ashe for Margaret Hale, Lesley Manville for Mrs. Maria Hale,  Tim Piggott-Smith for Mr. Richard Hale, Sinead Cusack for Mrs. Hannah Thornton, Jo Joyner for Fanny Thornton, Brendan Coyle for Nicholas Higgins, and Graham McTavish as Dr. Cameron Ogilvy, etc] [(1) story logo image] 

Author’s Mature Content Note:  “N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons” is a story with mature themes of love and relationships set within a period drama of the 1850’s and beyond.  As such there will be heartfelt moments of love and sensuality (S)--as well as other dramatic emotions, including some violence (V)--and I will rate those chapters accordingly.  If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read that chapter.  This is my disclaimer.

Author’s Recap of the Previous Chapter:  John and Margaret--and Mrs. Thornton and Fanny--had a harrowing ordeal with reired millworker Stevens kidnapping Mrs. Thornton Fanny and trying to burn the mill down. But the fortuitous arrival of the strikers intending to do violence and Margaret and John’s quick thinking--not to mention John’s aim with a pistol in wounding Stevens--averted a tragedy.    But Fanny has lapsed into a catatonic withdrawal of sorts--a waking faint as Mrs. Thornton put it.  And the doctor is summoned--with John and Margaret embracing each other caringly as they wait.

"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons",  Ch. 10 (PG-13, S):  Recovery and Romance

Mrs. Thornton sits with her back to the parlor door as she clasps her still daughter Fanny’s hand.  But she does not get any response from Fanny--who only blinks now and again, and stares silently beyond her mother.  In a quarter hour, the doctor arrives--him having heard of the trouble at the mill and hastened to their aid, being intercepted by the Thornton’s maid Sarah who related to the doctor the injuries he could expect as they made their way to Marlborough Mills.  The doctor sees the great wooden gates of Marlborough Mills lying flat on the ground, with only Williams standing guard against further mischief makers.  The good doctor notices the charred wooden dock torn away from a building to the right of Thornton Manor--and the black soot covering the carding building and on Thornton Manor, that but needs a gentle rain to wash away the remnants of a disaster averted. 

The doctor hurries up the steps and into Thornton Manor and its parlor without worrying about the ceremony of knocking nor being announced.  The doctor instantly goes to Mrs. Thornton and her daughter Fanny lying on the sette first, ignoring the affianced couple who are still embracing each other--John sitting with his arms around Margaret’s waist, his head nestled in her neck and her chin lying on the top of his head, they are oblivious to the doctor’s presence anyway. 

The Scottish born Dr. Cameron Ogilvy has a crooked nose that matches his first name--and he is one who stubbornly wears traditional Scottish suits and tam hats rather than English suits or top hats, though he does wear trousers rather than kilts [(2) right]. A man in his late fifties, tall and muscular, with a balding head but a full gray beard and dancing eyes, he is a widower with a grown son and daughter.  He now lives alone but for his dog Rufus, his housekeeper, and her husband who serves as his butler and valet. Dr. Ogilvy lives for his patients.  And the Thornton family is dear to his heart in more ways than one.