Oh, wow! You are back, and just as great as ever! I am so glad Sophie's father is alive; it will be great to see his reaction to how his child has been treated!

I'm also wondering at Peter's change of heart toward his wife; he wants, her; he's mad at her. I missed them in this chapter.

Peter's mother is wicked, wicked!

Again, I enjoyed all the great period details; you have a great eye for this time period.

Good job, and don't make us wait so long! :)

You're back! And with one beautiful chapter!
So Sophie's father is still alive. I wonder what he is going to do to his brother once he finds out what happened.
Peter doesn't hate Sophie as much as he did? I wonder if that is going to change her feelings towards him...
And you threw in another bad guy. I already hate Lord St Albans. He's not a man who admits defeat this easily, right?
Lady Darnley. She's going to make trouble for Peter, I'm sure of it. At this point I put my money she's going to be St Albans' partner in crime.
I'm looking forward to more! Hope you update soon.

The Most Honourable, Marchioness of Rutherford and The Right Honourable, Viscountess Barrington," -more likely simply 'Lady Rutherford. Lady Barrington.'

'...with the arrival of my aunt, Lady Grosvenor, from her trip to Egypt with her husband, my numbers have grown and I am in dire need of another lady to even out the table.' -how does that work? Is it Lady Grosvenor or her husband who throws out Lady R's table? -'...the arrival of my aunt and uncle...'

Even today, men are presented to women: "Hart, allow me to introduce my betrothed, Miss Fulham," he said." -should be something on the order of: "Miss Fulham, the Earl of Hartleigh. Hart, my betrothed." -and how is M going to convince his friends and society his marriage is a love match if he doesn't call her Sophie?

It's either Lady Darnley or Lady Elizabeth; Lady Darnley if she is married to a Knight or Baronet or to Lord Darnley; Lady Elizabeth Darnley if she is an Earl's, Marquis's or Duke's daughter. It is never alternately Lady Darnley and Lady Elizabeth.

Great story! I really love the characters! :) When I started reading I thought it was a completed story, so when I got to the end of Ch. 10 I was sorely disappointed to see that it still has more to go. I see it's been a long while since you updated but I do hope you finish it at some point. It's too good to leave hanging. It's a lot like one of your other stories I've recently read, that's how I found this one, and so far I really like the style of your writing. It's very unique, and I love the strong female main character. She's had a tough life but is getting through it and she loves horses!

Keep up the great work!

~Pepper

I love your story and I have been reading it since December. I have been checking every week since to see if you have updated, but you have not updated since October. Please update, and if you cannot for whatever reason, please ignore my impatient pleas. It is just that there are so few historical fictions and even fewer really good ones, that I could not resist wanting you to update. Thank you.

Yay, Sophie stood up to that old stick! And I'm glad the sisters are at least kind to Sophie. I'm curious why the men have not appeared, but this was a good chapter about all the women.

I like your period details, as usual.

"You shall pour," she demanded. Perfectly said; it shows the woman's imperiousness.

We really get to see inside Sophie more, which gives her more facets, as well as the other characters.

One thing I ask. Wouldn't a lady's maid have been provided for Sophie, to help her dress and do her hair before dinner? I don't think women could dress themselves alone in those days, what with the petticoats/crinolines, buttons in back, etc. They might give her an inept maid, but I think she would have gotten one.

Also, did they have hangers back then? I really don't know...

Lovely chapter, and I wait for more!

I am really enjoying this story and it seems that you are on a roll with it these last couple of weeks. Congratulations! I am feeling the suspence. What is going to happen with Sopie's uncle? I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter!

As usual, you have the most beautiful descriptions, and turns of rooms, the drapes, even the chaise, all are vividly illustrated.

I have to agree with one of the other reviewers; Peter's sudden lust is waaay too soon in the story. He's still pissed about being forced into marriage; unless he's like Sophie's uncle and means to make her "pay", I don't think Peter would attack her.

It would probably be more believable if he stared into her eyes, perhaps raised a hand, then dropped it to his side, watched her lips tremble, her tongue lick her lips...and then he pulls away, fighting his attraction. A few scenes of that type of push and pull and then...voila! They succumb to mutual desire!

The descriptions of their actions and feelings were spot on-you did a great job in that regard; just too soon, I think.

I do want to see where this all goes, and see her mother-in-law's treatment of Sophie, as well as the mistress. I hope Sophie can put them all in their places!

I'm very excited to have found your stories! Historical romances are my favorite.

I really empathize with Sophie; her thoughts of men must be terrible considering the way that her uncle treats her. Hopefully Peter can gain her trust soon! I can't wait for more. Please keep writing.

Poor Sophie! Her uncle threatens her, her husband's mistress shows up, and her mother-in-law hates her guts! No wonder she needs some quiet time! Another great chapter, and much better flow between conversation and exposition. A few typos, but other than those, really solid read. I hope all those women don't end up in one room together!

This review is for both chapters 6 and 7. Once again, beautiful descriptions of clothing, tables, carriages-you've done your homework well! I just wish we could get inside Sophie and Peter's heads more; even that evil uncle. I still feel like I'm outside looking in. I want to feel Sophie's misery; feel Peter's anger at being maneuvered into this marriage. And perhaps a bit more of their thoughts about each other. Hope this is all constructive, because I do enjoy reading your story!

Fun, fun, fun!I'm looking forward to reading the rest this week! The tension between Markham and Sophie is heating up. I did think their altercation was a little quick. Perhaps a bit more build up between them, or needling. It seemed like it was just a couple lines and then, "We have to talk." Maybe a little more internal thoughts from each of the characters. You have such great exterior descriptions/exposition; maybe start working on characters' thoughts. Overall, I can hardly wait to read more!

Ooooh gosh! update soon okay? this is getting really exciting!

How could she not? Considering she had lived in close proximity with the explosive temper that her uncle possessed for as long as she had. ~~'Considering she had lived in close proximity with the explosive temper that her uncle possessed for as long as she had' is a sentence fragment.

I don't find the sudden attack of lust convincing. If the precipitating incident is supposed to be S's 'raging torrent' of emotion, where is it? Does she throw things? Stamp her feet? She says one sentence, a sentence no more surprising, abrupt or bad tempered than others she has said to Markham. I think the reader needs to be a little more into Markham's head ~~he's tired, stressed from the social pressures of the day, annoyed with life, etc. The reader needs to see WHY M suddenly acts as he does, because as it stands it's not real enough.

She knew she would receive limited help from the countess, the earl seemed genuine enough, but Sophie suspected that to be born from guilt rather than anything else. ~~jumbled.

former partner, a Mr Weston, ~~too many Westons in this chapter. Unless Weston the solicitor needs to be Weston, try another name or another tailor (Shultz?)

I found a copy of Sir Charles Fulham's last will and testament ~~Yes, Sir Charles died at sea, but where was his will kept? If not at Somerset House, where was it probated? Why is there any difficulty at all about locating a copy?

The amount of witnesses ~~Witnesses are counted one by one: the number of witnesses; the amount of corroboration/evidence/verification or whatever.