“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 60 (PG-13, D): Preparations, May 27, 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, Jeremy Northam as Dr. Miles Houghton, and Gerard Butler as Lord Jamie Ogilvy, etc] [(1) story logo, right top]
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. As such there will be heartfelt moments of love and sensuality (S)--as well as other dramatic emotions (D), 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: With all of the new baby news revealed--Baird and Fiona’s baby is due in January 1852, and Cameron and Hannah’s baby is due in November 1851--the extended Thornton and Ogilvy family is at a happy place. Only Margaret is not entirely happy with her feeling cumbersome at being seven months pregnant--when she is actually almost nine months pregnant. Well, Margaret does not feel comfortable. All that remains are for phase one of the new Ogilvy-Thornton Scottish Mills weaving looms to be installed, preparing for the season opener of the Angus, Scotland Highland Games to be enjoyed, and thence to travel homeward for John and Margaret Thornton’s baby’s birth. Or something like that.
“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 60 (PG-13, D): Preparations
[Author’s Note of Caution: This chapter contains the sadness of a child’s death toward the end of the chapter. However sensitively I hope that I have written this loss in this passage, it may be too difficult for some of you to read--as it was difficult for me to write, my literally crying the whole time as I wrote it. As is my custom, I will recap the events in this chapter at the beginning of the next chapter--should you feel the need to refrain from reading the end of this chapter.]
The weekend of June 14-15, 1851 passes quickly as the extended Ogilvy and Thornton families and friends enjoy picnicking on the Airlie Estate grounds in Angus, Scotland--with John receiving a crash course in archery Sunday afternoon. His several days growth of beard is due to the Highland Games tradition in Angus, Scotland of only men with beards being able to participate. No matter how scratchy Margaret deems her husband’s beard to be for kissing and cuddling, he will not be able to shave if off until next Sunday--after the Highland Games have concluded. Baird Ogilvy must also eschew his razor for the duration--though Fiona quite likes his stubble. And Hannah has long since accustomed herself to kissing and cuddling with her bearded husband Cameron--perhaps because his beard hairs are long and fine, and therefore softer.
And for John’s archery practice this bright and sunny afternoon, the beard stubbled, hair disshelveled, loose weave cotton comfortable archery practice shirt wearing John Thornton [(2) right] is the picture of concentration as John takes his bead on the target thirty feet before him. Baird and Cameron have been steadily increasing the distance of the target away from him that he must hit by ten feet each round as his aim improves. They must put forward three names for Team SCOT (Scottish Clan Ogilvy Team) in the archery competition--so their archery entrants will be Angharad’s husband Alistair MacIntosh (whose recently grown moustache will suffice), Baird Ogilvy, and John Thornton.
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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...
