I just started reading this fic here (read it on another site first.

I really like it and I hope things go better for you.

spuf

Author's Response: Thank you so much for the support, spufette, I really appreciate it. :)

heres hoping your muse just keeps musing thanks for the latest chapie and please please keep them coming i was chuffed to death when i logged on and found this latest chapter was'nt expecting it yet but now cant wait for the naxt one

Author's Response: I'm glad you feel that way, thank you. :) So far, the muse is behaving quite well. Hopefully, the next chapter will be up before long, so just keep checking back.

I found the table scene very well played out between Anne seeing more was going on and all that was not being said as well. I found it the most interesting William felt the need to jump to Elizabeth's defense with his Mom at the table. I'm not sure if he's trying to convince others or himself of Elizabeth being lady like or not at this point. It's not that she intentionally blunders she is just curious and asks normally harmless questions. But I think the sleeve pulling and almost flirty smile Buffy had with William probably had Anne mixed with the past few days seeking out William to discuss matters with him. I believe Anne's intentions are good given William is her only child and she want's to parent him in making the best choices. I mean she accepted Elizabeth into her home as a daughter in many ways for her son's feelings towards this girl. But she is right if Elizabeth is going to fit into their world and have a place in William's life as his wife she will have to conform to fit into the society they live in. Now I say that with a grain of salt because of the ways Anne went about saying it and the means she tells William to go about showing his dominance in his household and showing her a firm hand and his struggle with even the idea of being pushed to that. For Buffy is not like other girls and I fear if he pushes her she will run. I think Anne trying to direct William in a means of speaking with Elizabeth first and guiding her in a better way then using force or punishments buy shocking him with the alternative. Now as to how he can show her a firm hand and teach her things while fighting off his own feelings / fantasy's for her should be something worth seeing lol.

I was so excited to see the new update today!!! Great job even under stress this shines!

Author's Response: You are completely right about the significance of the table scene. In truth, William is having his own doubts about Buffy's behavior, but because he loves her, he is conflicted. That's why he is so apt to fly off the handle when someone else insults her; hearing it just brings his own fears to the surface. Victorian society was completely patriarchal; women could not even inherit property back then, let alone vote. By law, a wife was the possession of her husband, just as their children were. Anne lives in this society and because her life has been a happy one, she believes in it. William, due to his gentle nature, finds it hard to believe that forcibly dominating a woman will commandeer her love and respect. I think this will lead him to be even more conflicted in future chapters. Thank you so much for your wonderful review. You have so much insight into the characters and the story that your feedback is always a pleasure to read. :)

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.