Canuk

I am surprised there wasn't universal education, especially for boys in Denmark pre war. For Karl being able to read/ write in your second language but not your first would be unusual!

I think you misunderestimate @Carlos Hazday 's level of cunning, subtlety and ability to misdirect readers, lulling us into levels of certainty only to find them built on quicksand. I would not underestimate the hard-abbed Russian...particularly when his shirt comes off.....

Calum and Linc are great additions. But the suspense level is growing.... BTW Perfect martinis!

Helps a lot! Thanks. Really keen on the upcoming naked Russians! 😆

Great beginning to a new instalment in their lives. I look forward to seeing more of our Russian friend ideally with less clothing! Couple of issues; "bypassing the State department's relocation service"; presumably a plot device as it is both stupid and probably not allowed for security reasons. While I have no experience of theUS state dept,two other countries I have worked for would make this bloody difficult if not impossible. Second, again probably a plot device, but for a spouse (particularly a high profile spouse) not to get at least a basic security briefing seems unusual. Again my experience is not with US State. Looking forward to the next instantalment!

If that is"picking up" in this day and age, it's changed a lot since my day! For the better, I might add. JJ is certainly finding his groove.

What a truly poignant departure and how different in comparison to their arrival! How equally wonderful for the sacred band of followers of my Lord Grainger; Another poised chapter with small hints of what is to come, while extolling the delights of the past. Grainger will not be able to keep his dalliance with Countess Lieven from his wife once the Countess arrives in London as the wife of the Russian Ambassador to the Court of St James. I just hope he has spoken to Caroline before Countess Lieven arrives and becomes one of London society's lionesses! Splendid read as ever. Thank you.

When you consider what we've enabled with social media, what will happen with AI/machine learning is 1uite terrifying. I 7nderstand the "if they have it we need it" argument and I am a long way from being a Luddite, but with AI, I think if we assume the worst possible outcome we may be able to pleasantly surprise ourselves. Glad JJ got his night out. Iam surprised at coach for six hours. Most places I have worked for have a policy of J for 4hours plus.

Darren is a weird one.... but then I am the definition of vanilla, actually, my husband is more vanilla than me. So I am vanilla-with-a-dash, a very long way from Darren.... Travel.... yes, definitely miss it. Hopefully back soon. I'd correct "Sidney" is on the centre of the East Coast of Vancouver Island. Sydney is where that Opera house is. That all said I agree on the Melbourne/Sydney thing: Sydney has the harbour, the Opera house and..... where as Melbourne seems to have a more complete and varied soul. Now, about this story. I am getting just a little worried about jj and his backstory. It's getting a bit widely known and it concerns me that it's going to get used in some way by someone who doesn't like him..... he is just a little niaeve like that. Great read. Thanks

While the news about the man he, JJ, killed was good, it doesn't take away from the fact that as evil as JJs father was he was was still the man JJ thought of as his biological father and finding that not to be so is something an observer can rationalise, but as the person themselves, it would take a lot to get over. His new found wealth may help him on that journey. I sincerely hope so.

Grief will do many irrational things to people. Shaun loses his father and a lover. He didn't need to lose the lover......

Don't tell me; JJ's actually a boy.....????🤫🤫🤫🤫

Jeez that certainly blew the mood! Looking forward to what comes next!

oh! Mr Arbour what have I done / said to get my first ever "angry" response? I promise I will change my path from that which displeases you, if only you provide me with the guidance back to the way of correctness and truth..... I am happy to accept any punishment if only to find my way back to your good graces..... in all humility🥰 C

very interesting and instructive. I write its for my own amusement, but reviewing my writing with your suggestions is very helpful. thanks. nb as far as "free will" I am often amazed at how my characters can surprise me.... Not too sure what this says about me.....

"Wonder how history would have changed" yes! Dramatically different and undoubtedly better! "Davenport being the love of Graingers life" intellectual love yes, but Grainger will always have his physical lists (as you suggest, he is a slut) "Chartley's concerns ..... weak tea." I have to disagree. It's not Chartley's physical relationship with Batu that is the concern (if it was, Grainger and half the Brit aristocracy he's slept with would be banished from London) but that he has this strange-for-the-times desire to almost publicly live in a domestic marriage-like relationship with Batu. That is what would be what would get him completely excluded from society. Men being a slut with other men was fine (just don't frighten the horses), living in domestic monogamous bliss with another man.....definitely no no.

Brilliant plan. He's thought this through and hopefully everyone will come out on top (so to speak). Patrick's reaction could be interesting..... Another great chapter with characters developing as the story progresses.

hmm, yes, the sandwiches, that's what we'll go for...... 😇

wholeheartedly agree. Just started this story and for a first chapter with so many characters/locations/friends/families/back story after 6k words I realised I wasn't reading I was skimming. And while its not all about me (well, not all the time) it annoys me when a story I want to follow makes it difficult! Hopefully I'll calm down and enjoy the rest!

Families and their attitudes to nudity.... I recall as an 11 year old staying with a friends family at their beach house. all the men were naked and the women wore small micro bikini bottoms. My family weren't prudes, but for an 11 year old me it was an eye opener! As for our hero; good sex, great job, boyfriends family accepting, being able to talk techno-babble as if it means something! what a life! I know he has rationalised the workplace relationships situation, the problem there is if someone decides to cause trouble the spin they can put on such things makes it very bloody difficult for those concerned..... he needs to be careful. thanks for the chapter!

Amazing journey, well written, with amazing understanding of characters going through significant trauma and change. And the end, yes there will always be calls for successful series to go on and on and in US authored series it often happens, but sadly this leads some (but by no means all) series simply dying of ennui. This series ended on a great note, not everything tidied up, but a level of resolution. Very enjoyable. Thanks.

So Jerry's helped 5he family sort out Don, then Jerry's gone home and told his son to stop being a dick.... All we need now is for Jerry to sort the Corbin/Leah issue and he can move on to World Peace! Seriously, Corbin needs to come clean with Leah, if only about his confusion...the only problem there is the deleted text and what Leah saw.... it goes to show that procrastination may be right 80% of the time, but losing control of the timeline and conversation that other 20% of the time can make things really difficult.... Coming out is generally not easy; doing it Corbins way is especially hard.

"Not bad looking, nice body nice arse"; that's not being forward is it!!!!

Yes, very satisfying: while t,he"conversation" with Don was inevitable, the clearing of the air with Troy, and the clarity around his relationship with Leah has improved Corbin's mental health immeasurably. Great chapter.

If Don is the father from hell, then Jerry is the complete opposite. And I am not sure Zoe is as naïve and fragile as her mother would have..... not that a break up of her parents won't affect her; I suspect she will spend more time with Diamond.... I wonder if we find out more about Corbin's biological parent? Billy Saunders - sounds like a nasty back story there.... Great writing. Thanks