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

Ch. 33 (PG): Ankles and Feet, Heads and Hearts

John:  "Oh!  I beg your pardon, ladies!" 

John blanches for seeing the hosieryed feet and ankles of Mrs. Carlotta Watson and his sister Fanny in addition to his own wife's ankles.  And he tries to back out of the room.  The only reason he came in unannounced was due to the cat he followed in here.  He hopes the cat will not be staying--were John to have a pet preference, it would be canine. 

And John has never seen such a sight as the ladies present to him now, when his mother was in residence.  But then the ladies before him are much younger in years and in outlook.  The three ladies blush crimson and put their feet down on the carpet and lower their skirts.

Fanny: "John!"  Fanny  [(4)right]   jumps up and runs to her brother as Margaret and Carlotta exchange amused and knowing looks.  "Is Baird here?  Did you fetch him from the station?" 

John:  "Not yet.  Baird sent a note that he will hire a carriage from the station, since I had mill business to conduct this morning."

John frowns because none of the three ladies are yet putting on their shoes.  And though their feet do have hose over them, John has only ever seen his wife Margaret's hosiery clad feet.  And he feels a tad uncomfortable.  He would have thought that at least Margaret would don her shoes--to set the good example for Fanny.

Margaret:  "You're early, John."  Margaret [(5) right]  smiles embarrassedly to her husband as she covers one foot with the other.  John crosses the room and leans down and kisses her temple

John:  He decides to make a joke of the awkward situation.   "Or late, judging from the wanton display of hosiery clad feet in the parlor--not to mention a wayward cat.  Ha ha ha!" 

The three ladies giggle: "Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Clementina:  "My kitty."  She thrusts the animal toward him and John backs away with a polite smile.

Margaret:  "Oh John!  Carlotta and I were simply bemoaning the state of our ankles." Margaret lifts her leg and presents her foot and ankle to him.

John thinks that thankfully, Mrs. Watson does not do the same.  Mrs. Watson sits next to Margaret with a small smile as she lifts her daughter Clementina onto her lap.  The kitty trots off toward John's mother's favorite velvet wing chair and promptly hops up on it and curls up with its tail swishing back and forth.  John doesn't plan on informing his mother about the cat--and he hopes that Margaret won't either.

Fanny: Cutting through her brother's cat distraction, Fanny waves her hand in front of his eyes.  "Johnny!  Who do you think is also with child!"  John's head jerks back and he looks at Fanny, stricken with her choice of phrasing.  "Oh Johnny!"  Fanny sighs and rolls her eyes at him. 

Margaret and Carlotta:  Both ladies giggle.  "Ha ha ha ha ha!" Their pregnancies seem to have given them more girlish demeanors than usual.

Fanny:  "Johnny."  Fanny whines.   "I mean, in addition to Margaret being with child--someone in the room who is also married." Fanny hints broadly.

Carlotta: "Yes, Mr. Thornton, I was explaining to Margaret that my ankles became as swollen as sausages when I was with child with Clementina."  She interjects helpfully. 

Clementina:  Clementina claps her hands together.  "Sauges!"  Little Clementina mimics gleefully.

Margaret smiles at little Clementina and gently squeezes her hand.  Clementina smiles, then she crawls to the space on the sette next to her mother, where Fanny had been sitting earlier--patting her lap, wanting her kitty to come to her.  But kitty likes its velvet chair and does not budge.

Then the three ladies turn to Look at John and wait patiently for John's understanding to bubble to the surface.  John Looks at his wife Margaret's loose fitting uncorsetted dress, and then he looks at Mrs. Carlotta Watson's loose fitting uncorsetted dress.