I liked the fact you didn't have Ann buy the whole ice slip story and saw right thru it and confronted him later about it. I think Ann is the typical lady of her time and in her mind she is trying to do right by her son and his affections for this girl but she is right that Elizabeth will have to work on fitting into their society , even if her means of going about ding it are wrong. Great chapter.

Author's Response: Anne is a very intelligent woman, and she knows when to pick her moments and her arguments. You're right. She was just trying to help them, but because she is the product of a patriarchal society, she thinks things will be fixed by William "taking Buffy in hand" so to speak. Of course, we know better. ;) Thanks for continuing to review. I appreciate the feedback. :)

yay! you updated! everytime I get to read a new chapter, my day is made. you rock!

Author's Response: Why thank you, demonica. How nice of you to say. I appreciate the feedback. :)

LOve it, More please

Wonder what he will do now. Was he dreaming at the end or was she really there and left already.



Author's Response: He was fantasizing about her. ;) I'm glad that you liked the chapter. Thank you so much for continuing to review.

After your difficult week you have written a chapter of intensity: William's suffering/pain/euphoria - and therefore guilt - is tangible in your narrative. You have so painstakingly captured the propriety of the time, its unspoken adherence and the confines followed to a fault. Our Buffy just serves to highlight the restrictive rules of proper behaviour, then and how it served to make William the unsure, retiring, yet yearning young man that he is. It also goes a long way to explaining the liberation of vampirism, when it came.

From this chapter you have wrought the basic and the heartfelt desires from William. He masturbates, he is ashamed of himself; he wants Buffy to be the perfect, pure woman, yet her earthy sensuality is both beguiling and becoming of her. She tortures him, ironically, by not torturing him.

A compelling read. Thank you.

Author's Response: Thank you, sue, for taking the time to write such a wonderful, insightful review. :) You were completely right when you said vampirism was a liberation for William/Spike. On AtS, Drusilla even referred to William being starved sexually, to which he responded "I've got you to feast on, now." Without a conscience, he was free to indulge his passionate nature, which probably explains why he was so grateful and loyal to Dru. It wasn't only about the power for him; it was the freedom. The William in my story is right now stuck at a crossroads. He's tempted by Buffy, but still cannot fathom that persuing that temptation will lead to any good. He *does* have a conscience, and it is telling him to fight those natural desires. Whether he can continue to or not remains to be seen.

Poor William...the lust is going to consume him!!!
I know that Anne is meaning well, but I am sure William doesn't really want to change her... and I am also sure that it will not go down well with Buffy.. although I hope she understands he is only doing it for her sake.
You got me fooled with the fantasy... I hope next time it happens for real!

Author's Response: I was hoping the fantasy would be a surprise. ;) Anne *does* mean well, but her helpful advice won't be too helpful, I'm afraid, if William decides to put it into action. Thanks so much for you review! :)

Loved reading the chapter and reading about the way Victorian society was unforgiving of what it considered moral and proper. I loved reading the tender moments between William and Elizabeth and how Anne in her own way was trying to force William to insist that Elizabeth be protected from herself. Thanks for the update!

Author's Response: A lot of people seemed shocked by Anne's statements, but honestly she's just trying to protect Buffy (and William). You're right, the moral contraints of the day were very harsh and unforgiving, which I think will continue to cause problems for everyone involved. Thanks so much for your review. :)

And the truth is beginning to come out. And a bit of the lust. And despite Anne's awareness, I doubt that William would ever do anything to change his Elizabeth. But this whole speed of Victorian relationships may just kill them both. Love that special kind of torture. And with each of them feeling such little bits of forboding regarding each other, I can only guess at that significance. Truly loving this story and looking forward to more.

Author's Response: You're right, BuffyRat. Although, he sees some sense in his mother's words (Buffy would have less trouble if she fit in with London society) he loves her the way she is. Unfortunately, I think his conflicting emotions will end up costing him in the future. Thanks for continuing to read and review. :)

Oh gosh! I'm not sure a strong hand would work on Buffy but it does seem like she is trying .

In this part----------------------------

“Whatever it was that went wrong between us. Whatever it was that left me thinking you were somehow in danger.” She looked him in the eye, her words growing stronger. “I did lie to your mother, William. I wasn’t just walking up and down in front of the house. I was halfway to Mayfair, on foot. I had walked all night. I was looking for…something.”

His eyes never left hers; she had him spellbound.

“Looking for what?” he whispered.
-------------------------------------------------------

Why do I feel he's hiding something else???

Humm...........................................


Author's Response: I think it's more of a matter that he is putting two-and-two together, and that he now realizes that the night he felt she was in danger, was the night she actually *was* in danger. Thanks for your feedback. I really appreciate it. :)

Wow with Anne I did not see that coming but I suppose she is a lady of her time and that was just expected if a woman did not behave.

Author's Response: Anne meant no harm by those statements, you're right. She's just a lady of her times. Fortunately for Buffy, William is less of a man of his times; I don't think he could ever even consider striking Buffy no matter how angry he became.

Whoa I hate to see William pished to the point he would strik Elizabeth for it would be the one thing she would leave the house for and never look back on and just return to slaying.
So worth waiting for!

Author's Response: Don't worry, Bel Canto. He could never actually strike her, no matter how angry he became. Despite the fact he knows it is an exceptable thing to do, (in Victorian society's standards) he could never actually bring himself to do it. Thanks so much for your feedback. :)

So glasd muse showed up today. Great chapter. Really, Really looking forward to more Spuffy! Keep up the good work.

Author's Response: The muse really just came out of nowhere, but I'm not complaining. lol. I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for the feedback. :)

I love the story! Please keep writing!

Author's Response: Don't worry. I will. :) Thanks for reading!

ooooh great update!!! i really hope they get married, they're so perfect together. I'm kind of confused though - was her kissing his chest and stuff just his fantasy? it didn't really happen? hope to see more soon of this fabulous story!!

Author's Response: lol. Yes, unfortunately for Buffy, all of that just happened in William's naughty little mind. I purposefully didn't put the scene in italics because I didn't want you guys to know until the end that it wasn't real. I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for reviewing. :)