“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 44 (PG): Sometimes Love Means Letting Go, April 05, 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, Jo Joyner for Fanny Thornton, 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, and Jeremy Northam as Dr. Miles Houghton, 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 from the previous chapter: Baird makes another attempt to reconcile with Fiona. But it back fires as his inept lack of a personal apology crushingly devastates Fanny/Fiona to the point of her having a breath attack. And now, Baird must find a way to show his sincerity to Fanny if they are to try to find their way back to each other.
“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 44 (PG): Sometimes Love Means Letting Go
John arrives home that night on Wednesday evening, April 2nd, at 6 o’clock to find that not only were his sister Fanny and Baird Ogilvy not reconciled, but that Fanny had experienced a breathing collapse due to her distress over Baird’s lack of apology. John is nearly apoplectic about the continuing presence of Baird Ogilvy in their lives and in their home.
Racing up the stairs two at a time to reach the family bed chambers hallway, John finds his mother Hannah and wife Margaret sitting quietly with a dozing Fanny lying in bed, propped up on her pillows. Fanny looks quite pale and very fragile, ethereal--not like John’s spirited and feisty baby sister at all. Hannah puts her finger to her lips to encourage John to be quiet. He nods.
John first goes to his wife Margaret and hugs and kisses her--since she has not been all that well either in her fifth month of pregnancy. Margaret caresses her husband John’s face and smiles up at him encouragingly. Their gaze says much between them of love and constancy and hope--though no words are spoken. Then after settling Margaret into her chair again, John turns to his Mother Hannah and kisses her cheek.
John: In a hushed low whisper, John asks. “Mother, how is Fanny?”
Mother: Hannah whispers back. “Fanny is resting comfortably now. But she gave us quite a fright.” Hannah’s worry is etched in the rippled lines of skin around her furrowed brow.
Fanny: Fanny speaks breathily and weakly, without opening her eyes. “I’ve been a bother today. I’m sorry, Johnny.” A single tear trails down her cheek. Speaking just now felt like such a strain to Fanny. She cannot think why these breathing attacks come upon her so suddenly and devastatingly.
YOU ARE READING
"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...
