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

Ch. 2: Navigating an Invitation

"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons",  Ch. 2:  Navigating an Invitation, October 21, 2013 Gratiana Lovelace 

(An original fan fiction 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 and Tim Piggot-Smith for Mr. Richard Hale, 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 sensuality (S)--as well as other dramatic emotions (D)--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 Thornton was late to his Saturday Afternoon classics lesson with Mr. Hale at his residence in Crampton.  Since they are of such a new acquaintance--a little over a month--John was particularly distressed to be late.  However, Mr. Hale was not there and John was greeted by Mr. Hale’s daughter, Miss Margaret Hale.  That distress was compounded because after she invited him into the Hale home, they both realized that they were alone and unchaperoned--but for the ladies maid and cook Dixon below stairs. However, Margaret offered John tea and as their fingers touched when she have him his cup and saucer, a feeling of mutual attraction was made aware to each of them in their own private thoughts.  However, John acted upon his feelings and kissed her hand, then he invited Miss Hale to go for a carriage ride with him after church the next day.  She agreed to accompany him on the carriage ride without giving it much thought. Then her parents arrived home and they all took tea together. The logistics of the invitation extended to Margaret from John yet need to be worked out for propriety’s sake.

"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", Ch. 2:  Navigating an Invitation

After the Hale’s Saturday Afternoon tea with Mr. Thornton concludes, John and Mr. Hale walk upstairs to Mr. Hale’s study to chat about the classics for an hour.  And Margaret begins to collect the now forgotten tea cups and saucers spread throughout their small parlor.  As yet, no mention of Mr. Thornton’s invitation for a carriage ride has been hinted at by either he or Margaret to her parents.  And she feels uneasy about that.  Margaret presumes that her parents will approve--her father certainly likes Mr. Thornton well enough judging by the eager way he looks forward to their chats.  And afterall, Mr. Thornton is their landlord--a man of property and a manufacturer of cotton fabric.  So though he works for a living--something Margaret admits that her father does, even though he is a gentleman--she believes that Mr. Thornton has gentlemanly manners. 

But there are practicalities to be addressed with regard to the invitation of a carriage ride.  Particularly, who will chaperone them?  Will Margaret’s chaperone on this carriage ride be Mr. Thornton’s sister Fanny, or should Margaret arrange for her own chaperone?  This weighs on Margaret’s mind [(2) right] as she distractedly moves about the room collecting the abandoned tea cups.

Sitting in a wing chair with a pillow behind her and a blanket over her legs for her comfort, Mrs. Hale notes her daughter Margaret’s faraway look and pursed mouth and asks.

Mrs. Hale:  “Margaret dear, is something the matter?”

Margaret smiles as she lifts up Mr. Thornton’s cup and saucer from the side table near where he sat--remembering that his large hands grasped the tea cup edges rather than the tiny handle [(3) right].   It was not the way a gentleman would sip his tea, but still Margaret smiles at remembering Mr. Thornton’s boyish tea manners.   Margaret then masks her thoughts and turns to her mother with a benign expression upon her face.