oh my, what action-packed chapters. I can't believe that Neston is really dead. I am aggrieved that Henry's no-good brother is still on the loose and that Caroline may get away with her part in this. i hope someone finds the handkerchief and the "evidence" and confronts the witchy woman, maybe she's even pregnant, who knows, except you DA!

I'm near in tears, that's was the best decision Elizabeth could made for Julia. Georgina it is really lovely accepting Julia as her chapter. I hope Caroline gets what she deserves.

Oh poor Elizabeth. Now it is very clear why the plural “Crimes’ was used, it wasn’t simply one ‘legal’ of bigamy and one ‘moral’ of not staying ‘true’ to her love and never marrying again; it was bigamy and, in our terms today, justifiable homicide. I just pray she doesn’t wind up in another dangerous situation.

That being said, Elizabeth gets singled out but the real villains are guilty of far more crimes —real crimes as Elizabeth did not choose to commit bigamy and was forced to shoot in self defense. But we know that the others were guilty of arson, theft, burglary, rape, murder, attempted murder (of a brother, no less), fornication, adultery, etc.

I hope Henry recovers quickly —and fully—but I’m worried about the Earl. He is in grave danger from his oldest son —if Ashbourne was able to stab his brother, he certainly won’t hesitate to kill his father, either, and to attempt to forge a will, or to if necessary continue trying to kill Henry and/or Darcy and/or anybody in his way.

Neston and Wickham may be gone but ugh, now what for Caroline? If she is pregnant, she’ll need a husband ASAP. Compromise Henry? (I’m sure Ashbourne would be delighted knowing how miserable that would make everybody, plus Caro could then kill off Henry, and marry Ashbourne —blackmail of course- thus making herself a Countess. . ). Or will Caro chase Ashbourne and blackmail HIM right from the start? Probably not as she wouldn’t be able to ‘spy’ so easily. But could Kitty stop her from compromising Henry because Kitty is so watchful and hopefully keep Caro from having the chance to do her dirty deeds? It was lucky Kitty found Henry right away too.

At least they know there’s a third villain. Now is the time to check around, because it is very possible that somebody saw Neston and Ashbourne and Wickham together recently.

This story rules!

OMG - Now we have Cain and Abel! What an amazing tale.

such a great story and Ashbourne! Get him

Wow! What a heart stopping story!

Lord! More excitement!

What a gift this story is. I love it, can't get enough. I'm happy to see all going well. (not addressing Cb, ugh!) Kitty and Henry are perfect together, gg and her hubby will be overjoyed next chapter, and odc are sublime of course. The only fly in the ointment is the ex, and his treachery.
Loving this, it makes my day. Cheers.

Good update!

trop bien magnifique un grand merci a très vite

Absolutely brilliant tale!

What an exciting story!

I can see that this would be for the best for Julia and Georgie, but would the maternal pull make Elizabeth regret this? Maybe not, because people do it now days and are fine with it.
Congratulations to Georgie's new family.
Thank you for the update.

I am glad they discovered the sabotage to the equipage.
That lends even more suspicion to the fire's origins.

And little Julia -
conceived in violence
given away in love.

Just keep the villains away from her!

I googled South Sea Bubble - I love how your stories always have historical accuracy.

No dust on the 1720 records - does that mean Neston succeeded in finding the right ledger?