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

Ch. 45 (PG): Chopin Nocturnes Interlude

“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 45 (PG):  Chopin Nocturnes Interlude,   April 07, 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:  As Fanny is still resting from her breathing attack on Wednesay, April 2, Baird is allowed to see her briefly before he leaves for the night.  Fanny is very weak, but she tells Baird calmly and resolutely that she is uncertain of her feelings for him--even though he unequivocally expresses his love for her.  She informs him that she wishes to get to know Dr. Miles Houghton who will take her to a musical concert of Chopin’s Nocturne’s Friday evening--with Fanny determined to be well enough to go.  Baird is disheartened, thinking that he is losing Fanny, but she invites him to Sunday Brunch--which raises his spirits.  Baird vows to respect his Fiona’s wishes, even though his own heart is breaking.

“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 45 (PG):  Chopin Nocturnes Interlude

Baird had taken rooms at the Milton Mayfair Hotel Wednesday evening--and he did, indeed, feel lonely without his family about him.  Somehow in his rooms in London--with its familiar bustle and exterior road noises--he had not felt this lonely. But then, in London, he had the hope and expectation of seeing and loving his beloved Fiona when he had made amends to her--despite his cloddish behavior to her at the Charity Ball.  But now, knowing that the distress he had caused Fiona not only caused her emotional pain, but that it physically caused her to have a breathing attack that could have killed her due to the strain she is under, Baird chastises himself for his selfishness.  He has only been thinking of himself--his wants, his wishes, his desires.  And he resolves to be a calm and comforting presence in his Fiona’s life from now on--even if her heart is lost to him irrevocably.

So very early on Thursday morning, Baird rises early, bathes and shaves, downs a quick breakfast of toast and eggs in  his room, stops by a flower shop just receiving their six o’clock delivery of flowers from the overnight train, then he walks to Marlborough Mills and Thornton Manor.  Upon having the front door opened by a startled maid unaccustomed to well bred gentleman calling upon the manor at half past six o’clock in the morning.  Baird thrusts his offering for his Fiona into the girl’s hands and bids her to give  it to her mistress, Fanny.  The maid curtsies, then Baird leaves.