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

Ch. 48 (PG-13): A House Warming and Wedding Planning

“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 48 (PG-13):  A House Warming and Wedding Planning, April 18, 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:  After Baird and Fanny reconciled to the point of becoming officially engaged, they then had to suffer being separated the next day as Baird returned to London for his criminal court case. He hopes to win his case or set an appeal in motion in the next two weeks so that he may return to Milton and marry Fanny on her twenty-first birthday, April 19th.

“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 48:  A House Warming and Wedding Planning

Unlike his father Dr. Cameron Ogilvy--the current Earl of Airlie--Baird’s court case in London does not allow him the time to be away for a Scottish Highland wedding with all of the trimmings as Cameron and Hannah had enjoyed.  And Margaret’s six months pregnant condition makes her uncomfortable with traveling at the moment.  So Baird and Fanny have initially settled on a smaller Milton Wedding in two weeks time to coincide with Fanny’s twenty-first birthday on April 19th.  And Baird and John had secured that date with the vicar on Baird’s way to the train station Sunday night, April 6th. A man’s life hangs in the balance, so Fanny understood that Baird had to return to London.  But they still regretted their parting so soon after becoming officially engaged. 

The first week of wedding planning begins with Fanny’s Mother Hannah’s and Stepfather Cameron’s  tea party house warming turning into a wedding strategy session the following Tuesday April 8th after Baird returned to London for his firm’s criminal court case.   When Fanny, John, and Margaret arrive at Hannah’s and Cameron’s home for tea, they are greeted by their hosts.

Cameron: “Welcome to our home!” 

Cameron beams a joyous smile [(2) right] at their guests as he welcomes them to his and Hannah’s renovated apartment home above his medical practice offices--with one arm securely around his wife Hannah’s waist.  Hannah does not mind her husband’s familiarity.  In nearly six weeks of marriage, Hannah has come to enjoy his pampering and his solicitous consideration--in addition to his loving attentions.

The housewarming gathering is a little awkward at first because Dr. Miles Houghton--Cameron’s medical partner--has also been invited. However, taking the bull by the horns, Hannah dispenses with the tension in her usual straightforward way.