Seems like the poor man is sexually frustrated.
I must say though that I do not like this turn. Eight months of the silent treatment is really mental abuse and perhaps too much for any relationship to recover from. I agree that the pair of them have communication issues that causes unnecessary angst but I just feel that they could at least be talking to each other. They could still maintain the no sex yet without the mental cruelty or total dysfunction. Perhaps, Margaret could have done a bit more than intertwine their fingers as well. Just slightly more... perhaps next time...

Eight months is a long time. I can't stand my DH to be mad at me for 2 days! Margaret is a strong person - to put up with John's behavior. I am happy there is a method to John's madness. But, I can honestly say that I don't know what it is. I would believe that having some heart to heart talks could solve their problems. I can't wait to understand more! L.

This doesn't make any sense to me, and probably I'm quite alone here but I think you're gone far off character with Mr. Thornton at this point. Why on earth would he be afraid of his own wife? Did he regressed to age 12 when we weren't looking, or is this an unexpected side effect of lack of sleep? Why does he behave in such unmanly fashion? Why Mr Thornton of all people, a man who brought himself out of destitution by sheer force of will and hard work, who has to deal daily with his overbearing mum and successfully puts her in her place during the novel, who commands the respect of his peers easily as to have been chosen as magistrate, would be afraid to consummate marriage with the woman who has consented to be his wife, and married before God and people?

I understand fear might make us go insane, but I don't understand why he doesn't man up instead of holing up like a rat. I understand he might be afraid of losing Margaret (most men, regardless of how successful and brilliant and whatever, do experience insecurity regarding lovely younger wives), but then he'd be tempted to lock her up or would snap at men he'd consider as giving her too much attention. He might overreact at her perceived snubs, he might cover her with gifts and attentions. But turning a cold shoulder on her and shirking from intimate contact, even when he has positive evidence that she's willing, doesn't make any sense to me. Be it John Thornton of Milton or anybody else.

I want to see them get together, it's actually painful for me to read about two characters I've grown to love being so very deeply unhappy. I hope we find out why John is going nuts sooner rather than later. Your writing is, as always, incredibly attention-grabbing and certainly keeps me interested, but it's incredibly downcasting to read at present.

I actually really liked this chapter. I'm usually not into angst, and when this story started turning that way, I got kind of nervous, but I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. It was still all angsty, but it gave me hope at the same time in a way. John is going crazy and their marriage is way downhill, but they both DO want it to work. If events fell into place the right way, it would get better for both of them. There would still be troubles and distance, but they would both be so much happier, and they would both know that the other was only trying to help their connection, so that even if one got hurt because of something the other said, he/she would know that the other wasn't doing it on purpose to hurt him/her.

I also agree that you shouldn't end the story soon! It's a hard road to travel, but it's so worth it! I love it! Keep it up!

reviewing again the last chap ;) - just pls don't send JT to Bedlam...

oh, it's nerve-wracking! I love it!
But nevertheless I desperately hope that you are going for a happy ending... ;)

I think he should go see his mum and tell her everything and she gives him the insight into how to fix his marriage by telling him maybe something that helped her in her marriage and Therefore he fixes both his relationship with his mum and Margaret as well :) but it's only a suggestion, I'm sure what ever you write will be great! :)

Omg this last chapter killed me :'( trust me I understand how necessarily for the story to be believable and the plot to be realistically get where it has to be but OMG, YOU KILLED ME :0 in a good way... Let me specify lol just please I beg you, update as soon as you can, or ima lose my sanity along with John Thornton lol nah but all seriousness, amazing work you're doing here :) keep it coming!

Hmmm...interesting premise that John goes mad...or at least has some sort of issue/break. Hope you free him from it. The only thing I can think of would be a link to his father? Or maybe his hope in a normal marriage is so intense that the fear of losing it paralyzes him? That he would have no other reason to live...that it would kill him if he did not have her heart...so better to have her physical presence then lose the hope of her heart? When those lies and fears get in us, they start a mental storm that stops sleep and normal function. The answer is always God of course...since He is our true love and constant source Who will never leave us and gives us our true meaning...and it's His courage that helps us face our fears. Maybe John needs to see the parson.

Looking forward to the next chappy. It's a dark fic with this plot bunny...but am hoping you make it a hopeful one...can see glimpses of it:) Will Mr. Bell die? Margaret's father is still alive. Maybe Hannah Thornton needs to come in and shake things up. Either way, John needs help...and I know you'll find someone to do so:)

Favorite part? Him gazing at her at night of course:) God bless

Not to sound cruel here, but Mr. Bell needs to die so that Margaret can get the inheritance and use it to get the mill back up in running.

Or this could take a different road and Bell could invest the money himself or something

Whoop! Another amazing chapter. (But then, there have only been, hm, twenty chapters that have been amazing, so far).
I have to admit, that though I didn't openly predict anything before, I did strongly suspect that John would soon end up going berzerk somehow.
I think things are starting to make sense to me with John...he's terrified. Terrified of losing Margaret, yet terrified of having her (which I think has something to do with the wedding clothes...that they're like a strong reminder, a symbol that she DID marry him, and she IS his wife, and that's about all the only hope he has, and he can't get rid of that reminder. Just my theory). I also think he's terrified of what she does to him, especially emotion-wise, and how she makes him lose control of himself, and that he doesn't know what to expect from himself, any more than Margaret knows what to expect from him.
But I'm certain that she's the key to helping him out of all this. She's the one person that can, and is willing, if she can hold onto hope and love. And more importantly, if he can allow her to.
(And yikes, eight months. Poor Margaret, poor John.) And then the mill situation...
Agh, the suspense!

I hope you don't drag out John's insanity too long because it is getting very confusing and weird. Looking forward to how you are going to work this out.

I loved this chapter, i hope for the next please

This was extremely depressing! But oh so good. Such a painful chapter to read. Update soon? Please and thank you!