Archive of Our Own ^beta

Recent works

• Fabric of Love by DarkshireLass for Aaliko

  Fandoms: North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell | UK TV, North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South (UK TV)  

  • Teen And Up Audiences
  • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
  • F/M
  • Complete Work

  20 Dec 2025

  Tags

  • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
  • Margaret Hale/John Thornton
  • Margaret Hale
  • John Thornton (North and South)
  • non-canon characters
  • Post-Canon
  • Visit To France
  • Paris in the Spring
  • cotton - Freeform
  • Lace
  • Velvet - Freeform
  • crinoline
  • Wool
  • frivolous fluff
  • minimal plot
  • very slightly spicy
  • anachronistic chat between women
  • married sexual relationship
  • Being away from home

  Summary

  Margaret and John Thornton have been married for a few months. They are still exploring their new relationship - but it is difficult to find time alone together. Thornton has an idea and they make a short trip.

  Language:

  English

  Words:

  7,666

  Chapters:

  11/11

  Collections:

  1

  Comments:

  116

  Kudos:

  86

  Bookmarks:

  6

  Hits:

  2,897

• Troublesome Ornament by DarkshireLass

  Fandoms: North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell | UK TV, North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South - Ambiguous Fandom  

  • General Audiences
  • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
  • F/M
  • Complete Work

  25 Nov 2025

  Tags

  • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
  • Margaret Hale/John Thornton
  • Margaret Hale
  • John Thornton (North and South)
  • Mary Higgins
  • Mr Hale
  • Bracelet - Character
  • A/U saving months of separation
  • Fluffy
  • Earlier Reveal
  • HEA

  Summary

  imagining a different path where the 'troublesome ornament' helps reveal the basis of misunderstandings and leads to an earlier HEA. Something light to lessen the gloom of plunging towards the darkest time of the year. (I mean - it really is getting dark here in Darkshire!)

  Language:

  English

  Words:

  4,463

  Chapters:

  1/1

  Comments:

  31

  Kudos:

  98

  Bookmarks:

  4

  Hits:

  868

• A Milton Match: as seen by the Captain's wife by DarkshireLass

  Fandoms: North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell | UK TV, North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South (UK TV)  

  • General Audiences
  • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
  • F/M
  • Complete Work

  11 Nov 2025

  Tags

  • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
  • Edith Lennox/Cosmo Lennox
  • Margaret Thornton/John Thornton
  • Edith Lennox & Margaret Thornton
  • Edith Lennox
  • Margaret Thornton
  • Cosmo Lennox
  • John Thornton (North and South)
  • Fanny Watson
  • Robert Watson
  • Mrs Thornton
  • WARNING- discussion of late pregnancy loss
  • relationship with cousin
  • Early Married Life
  • attitude to trade/business

  Summary

  Margaret is married to John Thornton and her cousin Edith is making a visit to Milton. We get some glimpses of the Thornton couple through Edith’s eyes. Edith is also preoccupied with her own affairs. She has recently suffered a loss and is struggling to make sense of it. At the same time, her husband has his own ideas about the future. How will their visit to Milton affect them?

  Series

  • Part 5 of A Milton Match

  Language:

  English

  Words:

  15,752

  Chapters:

  7/7

  Comments:

  85

  Kudos:

  84

  Bookmarks:

  3

  Hits:

  2,245

• A Milton Match: as seen from below stairs by DarkshireLass

  Fandoms: North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell | UK TV, North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South - Ambiguous Fandom  

  • General Audiences
  • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
  • F/M
  • Complete Work

  03 Aug 2025

  Tags

  • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
  • Dixon & Margaret Hale
  • Margaret Hale/John Thornton
  • Dixon
  • Margaret Hale
  • John Thornton (North and South)
  • Aunt Shaw
  • ladies' maid
  • Victorian courtship
  • after the end of the novel
  • wondering about what it feels like
  • making the best of where life takes you
  • viewing one's young mistress

  Summary

  Margaret Hale and John Thornton are engaged after a long separation. Dixon, Miss Hale's ladies' maid and family servant of long standing, gives her point of view. Her thoughts and observations from the time of the engagement to the early days of their marriage are shared in this story.

  Series

  • Part 4 of A Milton Match

  Language:

  English

  Words:

  6,911

  Chapters:

  3/3

  Comments:

  44

  Kudos:

  68

  Bookmarks:

  1

  Hits:

  1,078

• A Milton Match - as seen from Standish House by DarkshireLass

  Fandoms: North and South - Ambiguous Fandom, North and South (UK TV), North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell | UK TV, North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell  

  • Teen And Up Audiences
  • No Archive Warnings Apply
  • F/M
  • Complete Work

  12 Jul 2025

  Tags

  • No Archive Warnings Apply
  • Fanny Thornton/Watson
  • Margaret Hale/John Thornton
  • Fanny Watson & Margaret Hale
  • Fanny Thornton & John Thornton
  • Fanny Thornton
  • Watson
  • John Thornton (North and South)
  • Margaret Hale
  • Mrs Thornton
  • Edith Lennox
  • Fanny observes her brother and Margaret
  • Backstory on a marriage
  • Trying to give advice
  • victorian marriage
  • Fanny Watson's POV

  Summary

  Margaret Hale and John Thornton have become engaged. Fanny Watson wished to find out more about their relationship and to impart advice on marriage. She is reminded of her own early married days with Robert Watson, as she watches her brother and his fiancee.

  Series

  • Part 3 of A Milton Match

  Language:

  English

  Words:

  17,225

  Chapters:

  7/7

  Comments:

  105

  Kudos:

  74

  Bookmarks:

  3

  Hits:

  2,152