"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", Ch. 68 (PG-13): Joy in the Morning, June 28, 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, Gerard Butler as Lord Jamie Ogilvy, and Juliette Lewis as Lady Thistle 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. 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: After traveling back home to Milton, Margaret and John spend a precious few weeks making extra visits to her parents, the Hales. Then a few days before Audrey Grace's one month birthday, the Hales pass away on July 18th within an hour of each other. The shock and grief that Margaret and John feel with the loss of Margaret's parents devastates them.
"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", Ch. 68 (PG-13): Joy in the Morning [(2)]
The days and weeks after Margaret Hale Thornton's parents' passing and funeral have not been easy ones for her. As a young woman of twenty three, Margaret feels little more than a child herself at times. John also feels bereft of Mr. Hale's guiding presence and wishes that he could heal his wife Margaret's broken heart. But just as time heals real wounds, so it is with the wounds of grief. The scar will remain--a reminder of the injury--however, life will resume its journey.
And John's and Margaret's one joy during their weeks of mourning is their baby daughter Audrey Grace. For she is a little baby who depends upon her Mama and her Papa for everything she needs--food, cuddling, wrapper changing, the soothing sounds of her parents voices even if she doesn't know what they are saying, etc. The baby is a continual and welcome source of distraction for John and Margaret as exampled one lazy Saturday morning in late August when Audrey insists on her parents full attention.
Baby Audrey Grace: "Waaaaa! Waaaaaa! Waaaaa!" Audrey Grace cries loudly and wakes up her parents. She feels uncomfortable with a wet wrapper. Baby Audrey Grace wants attention and she has learned how to get it--by yelling her little lungs out, drooling, and waving her arms about.
As if springloaded, Margaret instantly sits up from her slumbering position on her back when she hears her baby cry. Margaret jumps out of bed to Baby Audrey Grace's bassinette not two feet away from her.
Margaret: "I'm here, Audrey Grace!" Margaret coos. "Shall we change your wrapper and then feed you?" Margaret converses with Baby Audrey Grace as if the baby understands her. "Yes we shall." And Margaret deftly takes the baby to their en suite bathing chamber, cleans her up, and puts the baby into a fresh wrapper, before walking back into her bed chamber with a pacified Baby Audrey Grace in her arms as Margaret kisses her little tears away.
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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...
