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

Ch. 5: Propriety Be Damned

"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons",  Ch. 5: Propriety Be Damned, November 11, 2013 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”: 

Richard Armitage for John Thornton,  Daniela Denby-Ashe for Margaret Hale, Lesley Manville for Mrs. Maria Hale,  Tim Piggott-Smith for Mr. Richard Hale, Sinead Cusack for Mrs. Hannah Thornton, Jo Joyner for Fanny Thornton, and Brendan Coyle for Nicholas Higgins, 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 and sensuality--as well as other dramatic emotions--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 and Margaret returned from their lovely picnic.  While Margaret went upstairs to see if her mother wanted to join them for tea, Mr. Hale spoke with John in the parlor.  Mr. Hale was able to ascertain that John wishes to court his daughter Margaret, but learned no more about their picnic outing today.  The same cannot be said for Mrs. Hale--who not only recognized her daughter Margaret’s changed and more positive attitude toward Mr. Thornton, she was able to elicit from Margaret a tacit, though silent, admission that Mr. Thornton had kissed her.  Mrs. Hale is livid that such liberties were taken with her daughter by Mr. Thornton and she intends to make her displeasure known--tea party niceties or not.

"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", Ch. 5: Propriety Be Damned

Having walked up the stairs to see what is keeping his wife and daughter, Mr. Hale knocks softly on the closed door of his wife’s bed chamber.

Mr. Hale:  “Maria, Dear?  May I enter?” Mr. Hale asks cheerfully as he peeks in the room [(2) right].   For upon learning that his good friend and Milton manufacturer, John Thornton, wishes to court his daughter Margaret has put Mr. Hale in a happy mood.

Both Mrs. Hale and Margaret turn to the door.  Mrs. Hale’s revelation that Margaret let herself be kissed troubles her mind.

Mrs. Hale: “Please come in, Richard.”  She intones firmly. 

Margaret fidgets nervously, her head still down--waiting for his censure, too.

Mr. Hale:  Upon opening the door, he sees his wife and daughter in strangely opposite attitudes--angry and embarrassed, respectively. “Is something the matter?”  He asks, quickly stepping into the room and closing the door.

Mrs. Hale: “Well Margaret?  Will you tell him?  Or shall I?”

Margaret: “Mother please.  You’re making what was beautiful and wondrous seem ugly and crass.”  Margaret pleads [(3) right] woefully looking up her Mother.

Mrs. Hale:  “That is how society views it, Margaret.  A lady must never let herself be compromised--as you have done.”  Mrs. Hale finishes with an indignant flourish that wounds Margaret greatly. For all of Mrs. Hale’s delicate fragility, she is tempered steel when it comes to protecting her daughter’s reputation and her good name.

Mr. Hale:   In total confusion upon seeing his wife’s anger, he asks. “What is wrong?”

Mrs.  Hale:  Since Margaret is  not forthcoming with her father, Mrs. Hale reveals the matter. “ Margaret let Mr. Thornton kiss her.”