I literally pumped my fist on the train when I saw this was updated. Another excellent chapter that is never long enough (but I'm greedy and admit that). I really love this deep connection and love they have for one another. It's very romantic in a time when love was not really love and marriage more arranged and women not really having physical pleasure. I can see the arrival in Philly being bumpy, especially since Jim married for love and his brothers did not, which could be an issue among them. But mostly, I really love the dialogue between them about this connection they have and not sure how to describe it. Plus, I love love love the fan art you put up with this story. Totally on point. So good, honestly I can't wait for more as always. Hitting reload waiting already.

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Awwww! I’m so glad you updated. I love this story so much! So romantic and fluffy. I can’t wait to read what happens when Pam meets Jim’s family.
Lovely chapter

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This is so good! I love the details of the clothes and the bits of history. And the growing relationship between the two of them is so steamy. I liked that Pam asked if this is typical between husband and wife.

Thank you for continuing to write!

What a lovely chapter. There is so much to adore about their relationship that I can't pick anything specific as it's all perfect!

Question though, do you have any book recommendations that would be similar to this story/era? I'm always looking for new books and this story has brought me back to enjoying historical fiction.

I'm looking forward to your next update!

So as always the gallantry of Col. James here is one of my favorite parts of this story. Staring down the shop owner was great. However Pam was also not backing down there too. Loved that just as much. She's got some grit to her.

Also loved all the referrences to canon. "Can I ask you a question," the house with a terrace, painting, and it all fits seemlessly. There's nothing forced and it's wonderful to read.

Their bond was strong to start out with and it's only growing with time. Great writing to bring that out.

And before I forget, the opening scene of them waking up in each others arms, just lovely. This feels kind of like a filler chapter. Just keeping things moving till we get to the madness that awaits them in Philly, but it's a a gormet meal of a filler chapter.

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I cannot wait to see where you go with this next.

Author's Response: Thank you! 

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“I’m sorry, I did.” He attempted, very valiantly, to appear serious. “I do not mean to cast aspersions against your mother, but that is terrible advice.”

I mean, that did something to me.

Just the way they talked and how Jim is so immediately protective but that Pam still speaks up, his desire to get revenge on Roy (🎵Ro-oy started tha fiyah🎵) but how thats overridden by his desire to give Pam everything she wishes, and then the transition into THAT girl you know what you did!!! So beautifully written! So tender and sweet but also hot! Wow I love this story, I can’t wait to read more!

Author's Response:

So now I have that song in my head. 😂

Thank you BT! I’m so glad the progression through the conversation worked. There were a lot of little places I wanted to cover and I’m glad it didn’t feel jumpy. And well, the ending? Let’s just say I have been encouraged and inspired by all of the brilliant writing here and it pushed me to take it farther. Thank you so much for your review!

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Really really loving the little office touches here, Pam standing before him is secondhand blue silk saying “I can’t” (casino night), Jim tapping on the door frame after making dinner plans (the job), and of course Jim destined to be a paper man in Pennsylvania. And now we have the big Cocktails/Negotiation confrontation from Roy. Amazing work so far!

Author's Response: I love that you picked up on all those. Even though this is completely pre-show AU, I love fitting those in where they work. Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to review! 

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This would be a time I wish I'd had the review screen up at the same time as I was reading it.

I absolutely adore this story. The conversations between the two of them are so sweet and you can tell they really care about one another. That last line about her mother being wrong made me laugh. I'm looking forward to see how Jim's family and maybe Katy react to Pam once they meet her.

The parts about Roy and her...he makes me so mad, but I love that Jim just cared about her and wasn't a hypocrite.

Amazing amazing!

Author's Response:

Haha I know! I think I'm going to try that strategy in the future. 

Thank you so much, Beth. Philadelphia will be very interesting for many reasons. ;) Thanks for your review! 

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Robert Vance, Vance ice boxes.
Fantastic chapter! And I might be feeling as giddy as James.

Author's Response: Haha thanks! 

I know I say this all the time, but I absolutely adore the way you write. Seriously. From the first line, we’re just back into it. The way you feed us a vivid story from the past to give incredible depth to that opening line.
It’s so, SO good.

“not bothering to tie her bed clothes around her in modesty and the small act of intimacy caused warmth to travel down his spine.” Yes. Warmth traveling down my spine is exactly how I’d like to describe my reaction to this whole waking up scene. Jim is so soft and so very smitten.

Okay. Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this as a Roy wanting to set a date scene. It’s a great twist on canon. A haunting description of the turn of events though. Oh Pam.
“Stop, I don’t care about that. He forced himself on you?”
“Well, I did not stop him. I was not sure what the etiquette was seeing how I was to be his wife.” These lines say so very much about both of their characters - it aligns so nicely with canon. Pam, willing to go along with all of Roy’s crap thanks to promises long made, and Jim, willing to put her first no matter the circumstances.

“He wanted to confess that the thought of spending even a day apart from her scared him to death and from the moment he laid eyes on her he wanted to know every secret she held.”
Bored. Bored. BORED. Holy god. How do you make the words tell the story as masterfully as this?!

“She was burned into his soul and he would never be the same.” YES. This is IT.

“her body drawing him in and retreating like the tide” It’s fine. I’m fine. This imagery isn’t making me weep with it’s beauty or anything.

Each and every word you write is a gift to us and this chapter was that and then more.

Author's Response:

Thank you for your thoughtful review, Jenna! Yes, James is terribly smitten and I love it! I'm glad you picked up on all those nuances about Roy and her reaction to him. I was hoping that would give a little insight into their characters. 

Thank you SO MUCH for your kind words! They are wonderfully encouraging. :) 

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Oh, hey, I found some similarities between James and me! I also can barely form coherent sentences after your chapter.
But I'll try.
First of all, war is terrible, and I doubt what its scars would leave James, but I really hope that Pam's presence soothes them a little.
Second, Roy's the worst. Literally, the worst. He doesn't even deserve the bullet; he has to meet with secateurs first. Usually, I'm not violent, but this is an exceptional case.
But forget about Roy. The conversation! Oh boy, I love it that they're so honest with each other, even when they were talking about embarrassing stuff. And I do hope Jim'll say his thanks to a candle master...
And Pam. I don't know how you do it, but I adore how you portray her, shy, and bold, and insecure and resolute at the same time. And all that happened after her suggestion to go to bed... okay, I literally paused a few times to make a couple of circles around my room to tame my... whatever it was. Excitement, probably. I'm dying from all the tenderness you created, and it's beautiful.
And feel sorry, really sorry for Mrs. Beesly and other women of the Victorian era (and even for the Queen herself, though it's doubtful) who were taught about intimacy that horrible way, and whose spouses weren't as caring as James was with Pam.
Can't wait to see how nice their morning will be!
And thank you for mine :)

Author's Response:

I'm so glad I made you make circles around your room! :) Yes, Pam is indeed quite a lucky lady (sigh) but she will heal James just as much. 

Thank you Dernhelm as always!