“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 57 (PG-13): You are So Beautiful, to Me! May 17, 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” and other actors for additional characters: 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 Ogilvy, Jo Joyner for Fiona/Fanny Thornton Ogilvy, Brendan Coyle for Nicholas Higgins, Graham McTavish as Dr. Cameron Ogilvy, Holliday Grainger for Angharad Ogilvy MacIntosh, Simon Woods for Baird Ogilvy, and Emma Ashton as Mrs. Dillard, John Light as Henry Lennox, Tim Faraday as Watson, Gillian Anderson at Carlotta Quint Watson, and Jeremy Northam as Dr. Miles Houghton, etc] [(1) story logo, top right]
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 from the previous chapter: When Hannah and Cameron travelled home to Angus, Scotland the week after Fiona and Baird wed, Lissa Dillard traveled with them--having a joyous reunion with little Lady Blythe Ogilvy. After an extended family picnic with some lawn games--including a strange game called golf--Cameron whisked Hannah to a private retreat in the woods on his estate. There they loved each other tenderly--and Hannah revealed to her awestruck husband Cameron that she is pregnant with their child.
“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 57 (PG-13): You Are So Beautiful, to Me
It has now been three weeks since Fiona and Baird wed April 26th and then traveled to London--living a week or so with Baird’s sister Angharad and her family while their townhouse was being refurbished, and so Fiona could learn some of the finer points of home management from Angharad. Fiona and Baird had to delay a formal wedding trip since his firm’s legal case to free their unjustly convicted client is in the appeals phase. So Fiona spends her days developing a routine in her new home that will keep her occupied until her husband comes home each night and they make love--sometimes even before dinner.
John’s and Margaret’s lives have also settled into a quiet domesticity with the now seven months pregnant Margaret continuing to sew or knit baby clothes and receive calls--since she does not go out much in public herself during her confinement, unless it is to visit her mother and father. And this Friday, May 16th, Margaret hosts her also pregnant friend Carlotta Watson and her toddler daughter Clementina, and Fiona’s former friend--and Margaret’s previous competition for her husband John’s attention--Ann Lattimer.
The two pregnant ladies are sitting side by side on the sette, with Ann sitting in a nearby chair. They are rubbing Carlotta’s home made lotion upon their hands--marveling at its soothing properties. Margaret dips her index finger into the jar and claims a dollop of the milky creamy substance [(2) right].
Margaret: “I am quite taken with your skin ointment, Carlotta!” Margaret smiles cheerfully for the first time in a long while as she slowly rubs the cream in circles on the back of her hand. “It is so soothing, and the delicate fragrance is most pleasing.”Then Margaret pointedly turns to Ann, waiting for her to compliment Carlotta.
YOU ARE READING
"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...
