"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", Ch. 15 (PG-13): After Christmas Visit to London Part 2 (John & Margaret), January 03, 2014 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 Pigott-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]
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: After marveling at the almost walking baby Sholto and receiving a tour of Margaret’s Aunt Shaw’s large and elegant home in London--with Fanny oohing and aahing at all of its lovely features--the newly arrived from Milton weary travelers need to refresh themselves and change for dinner. But first, they need to find out which bed chambers they are to occupy. And determining where they sleep--and with whom--will be disconcerting for John and Margaret.
Ch. 15 (PG-13)-- After Christmas Visit to London Part 2 (John & Margaret),
Aunt Shaw proudly leads her guests to their bed chambers in the late afternoon after finishing their tour of her home, so that they may all get settled in and change into formal wear for tonight’s extended family dinner.
Aunt Shaw: “My Dears, since our guest numbers are so great..." Aunt Shaw means with the unexpected but welcome addition of Fanny Thornton, and her not having time to have another guest bed chamber prepared properly."...I fear that the one of the married couples will have to share this large bed chamber.” She gestures to the guest suite’s door.
John smiles warmly at Margaret--anticipating having some lovely alone time with her soon--and she bows her head to hide her blushing face. She is embarrassed about being a wife and staying in someone else’s home--especially staying in her very proper Aunt Shaw’s home. Margaret is being very skittish with John, not even taking his arm. And John realizes--to his growing chagrin--that Margaret is a bit circumspect about their being married and sleeping together under her Aunt’s roof, as in Margaret being reticent about their expressing their love with each other during their intended two week stay.
John: “Well …” John is about to speak, but is thwarted by Margaret’s father.
Mr. Hale: “That is not a problem for an old married couple such as Maria and I.”
Aunt Shaw: “Excellent!”
Aunt Shaw is glad to have the bed chambers settled quickly. However, John’s face mirrors his disappointment.
Mr. Hale: “We don’t mind being crammed in together. Do we my dear?” He smiles broadly--thinking that he has neatly solved the guest bedroom arrangement dilemma.
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"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", by Gratiana Lovelace (2013-2014) (Done)
FanfictionJohn Thornton has an eager mind, starved for intellectual stimulation. But what John could not have foreseen was that just as his mind needs nourishment, so does his heart. Mr. Hale's proud, beautiful, kind, stubborn, and compassionate daughter Mi...
