“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 86 (PG-13): Five Years Later: The Trials of Fathering Daughters Begin, October 04, 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 Ogilvy, Jo Joyner for Fiona/Fanny Thornton Ogilvy, Brendan Coyle for Nicholas Higgins, Graham McTavish as Dr. Cameron Ogilvy, Holliday Grainger for Angharad Ogilvy MacIntosh, Simon Woods for Baird Ogilvy, Emma Ashton as Mrs. Dillard, John Light as Henry Lennox, Tim Faraday as Watson, Gillian Anderson at Carlotta Quint Watson, Jeremy Northam as Dr. Miles Houghton, Gerard Butler as Lord Jamie Ogilvy, Juliette Lewis as Lady Thistle Ogilvy, Helena Bonham Carter as Brigid Gordon, and Steven Waddington as Major Reginald Monckton, etc.] [(1) story logo, top right]
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. As such there will be heartfelt moments of love and sensuality (S)--as well as other dramatic emotions (D), 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: With the Northern England Militia coming to Milton in September 1855, the military major father of Brigid’s child seeking to find her forces Brigid to reveal her shame and her troubles to Margaret--and reluctantly to her betrothed Nicholas. However, Nicholas surprises Brigid with his acceptance of her having been swept off her feet once--which begat her son Arthur--and they marry sooner than they planned and honeymoon in Scotland. Thus escaping further notice by the errant Major, Nicholas and Brigid shyly and sweetly begin their lives as husband and wife and parents to baby Arthur. The Thorntons interceded when Brigid and Nicholas needed them to. But in the future, John Thornton will come to know even better the trials and tribulations of family and fatherhood.
“N&S: John Thornton, Love Lessons”, Ch. 86 (PG-13): Five years later: The Trials of Fathering Daughters Begin
Five years later, they have all gathered for a Thornton-Ogilvy-MacIntosh family Christmas in Scotland, in December 1860. With the MacIntoshes and Thorntons staying at Airlie Castle with Hannah Lady Airlie, Cameron Lord Airlie and their son, the now ten year old Laird Gavin Ogilvy. Of course, children love castles--so many places to explore, histories to be revealed, and secrets to be guarded.
This Saturday, December 20th, 1860--the day after they arrived--John and Margaret Thornton are still sleeping in their guest stateroom at Airlie Castle. John especially tries to remain asleep--just a little longer as he burrows himself into his pillow [(2) right]. However, their children will have other ideas. One by one during the night, the Thornton children crept from their shared adjoining bed chamber nursery and into their parents’ large bed. John and Margaret had fallen asleep cuddling in each others’ loving arms. And now nine year old Audrey Grace and seven year old Catriona are snuggled up under the blanket behind their Mama Margaret.
However, it is the intrepid five year old Douglas--some might say he possesses his father John’s stubborn streak--who not only snuggles up to his warm Papa’s back, but in the early morning hours of Saturday he throws his arm around John’s neck and latches his little hand onto his Papa’s ear ridge, ear lobe, and poking his finger into the ear canal.
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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...
