"N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons", Ch. 9 (PG-13, V): Trouble at Marlborough Mills, December 16, 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]
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 (S)--as well as other dramatic emotions, 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 of the Previous Chapter: John Thornton and Margaret Hale have weathered together trying to complete the current Thompson order at Marlborough Mills during the strike. . And John and Williams the overseer, shipped off three quarters of the previously completed Thompson order last night, Friday night. They have one week to feverishly complete the remaining quarter of the job in order to meet next Friday’s deadline with their only eight cobbled together workers--including Margaret. Surprisingly--but maybe not so much--John and Maragret have even found time for some stolen moments of loving tenderness whilst Margaret lives at Thornton Manor during the week--even going so far as to scandalously breech the temporarily blocked connecting door between their two bed chambers. Finding himself so in love with Margaret and their original wedding date still three weeks away, John resolves to procure a special marriage license and have them marry this week if possible. But events will once again transpire to thwart our young lovebirds, John and Margaret. Marlborough Mills’ success in completing the Thompson order is not assured, because the strikers know what Thornton is doing by trying to complete the order himself with his few helpers. And the strikers are gathering--to do something about it.
“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 9 (PG-13, V): Trouble at Marlborough Mills
The next day, a Saturday, John escorts Margaret in his carriage to her home at Crampton--for her to see her parents, especially her mother, whom Margaret has not seen in the week she has worked at Marlborough Mills, helping John through the strike--and for Margaret to spend the night with her parents. John and Margaret both notice the derisive looks they received from working people as they made their way to the Hale home, and John is uneasy about Margaret’s safety while she is away from him. But John will see Margaret again the next day on Sunday at church and then bring her back to Marlborough Mills and his home, Thornton Manor, for their final week of working together to complete the Thompson order. The Hales are overjoyed to see their daughter returned to them. But John cannot tarry for long with the Hales, and he swiftly returns to Marlborough Mills after purchasing a week’s food supplies for Thornton Manor since the grocer’s were too scared to deliver them.
Taking his daughter Margaret aside after lunch when Mrs. Hale is napping, Mr. Hale cautions Margaret about the unstable strike worker situation in Milton.
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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...
