Mark Arbour

I think that Paul would have led the Russian Empire to ruin much more quickly than eventually happened. While he acknowledged the need for reforms, those he introduced were ineffective and, in the case of the army and the nobility, a big backward step. I interpret most of his initial actions as being directed at doing the opposite of what his mother had done, and in a petulant way that is perhaps a predecessor of how Trump tries to rip down all that Obama accomplished, simply because it was he who did it. It is almost comical, though, how the relationship between the Tsar and the Tsarevitch in this era were no more harmonious than that between King George III and the Prince of Wales.

I don't disagree with you, necessarily, I just thought it was an interesting philosophical question. I think that if it was me, I wouldn't be willing to rely on those other people to keep my grandkids safe. I can see Elizabeth justifying herself on this by deciding that the Duke, Nana, etc. are all too inept to deal with a threat at this level, and I think this has a little truth to it. It's almost like the foe is so unethical, unscrupulous, and clever, she'd think the others would never be able to divine a strategy to deal with them. As I've read through my past stories and as I've evolved Elizabeth's character, it's ended up that the only one who's able to outplay her is Wade (and maybe Mary Ellen). I'm with you on this, but I don't think Elizabeth is quite there yet. I could be wrong on that, though. 🙂 .

Question: is it awful to kidnap someone to save the life of your own grandson?

I think you'll find that at this time they were quite fractured, and that the Czar was quite mad.

September 19, 2003 Georgetown Washington, DC Wade I stood in the foyer of my suite at the Four Seasons, waiting for Alex and my mother to arrive. I had opted to stay here instead of at my mother’s compound. I had a bunch of polite reasons for that decision, but they were all rationalizations. In reality, I detested that place that had been all but a jail for me when I was younger, and I didn’t want to be in my mother’s domain, and thus under her control. The

Sadly, it will be a bit. The next chapter is only half-written, but I caved to pressure (smile) and published this one now (I usually like to wait until I have the next chapter written before I publish the prior chapter).

October 29, 1800 HMS Valiant The Gulf of Finland “It would appear that we have arrived here just in time,” Daventry said, as he looked at the ice that had already begun to form on the Gulf of Finland. “I fear we have faced nothing but foul winds on this entire voyage,” Granger grumbled. “Perhaps all of this poor luck will ultimately be repaid with fair winds at some later date,” Daventry mused. “Perhaps,” Granger said skeptically. Three days b

He posted a comment on one of the recent chapters. Will usually inspires his ire, but this time he dutifully chimed in to defend JJ. 😀

Look at you, going way back for a blast from the past...more than even I did!

September 19, 2003 Palo Alto, CA Will I followed Stef up the steps to his flying palace, followed by Julian and Stef’s bodyguard. The flight attendant, a nice young woman named Celeste, was there to greet us pleasantly. “I will need a car to take me to the Waldorf when we land,” Stef told Julian. “We can drop you off on the way.” That last line was directed to me. “That’s okay,” I said to him, then looked at Julian. “I’ll need a car to take me to SoHo,

You’re the first person who mentioned that! I wondered if anyone would notice.

I heard that song a few years back, and this scene has been stuck in my mind. It's hard to imagine Claire and Jack reacting positively to the tattoos. 😀

Will has decided to do his undergrad years at Harvard. I think that JJ and Will are like brothers who are still in their bitchy fighting mode (like they were 12), and it hasn't evolved into a more mature relationship yet.

We’ll presume he had more time with Tony. 😀. I think that at this point in his life, Will is much better off with ‘friends that fuck’ relationships.

September 19, 2003 Escorial Palo Alto, CA Will I collapsed on top of Tony, smashing my cum between us, panting as I gripped on to him, even as I felt his cock slide out of my ass. “Nice way to start my day,” I said. “Thanks for getting up for me.” It was pretty early in the morning for him, because I had school while he didn’t have shit to do. “I’ll always get up for you,” he said, and gave me a nice kiss. “What was with that, anyway?” “What was

And you were always monogamous?😃

Well said, and with Tony, he seems to be at the same place Will is at.

You have no idea. Chapter 69.

September 18, 2003 Boston, MA Wade I was only into the second week of my second year at Harvard Law School, and this term was looking to be a ball-buster. I sat in my study, working on my latest project, even as my mind reeled off the things I still had to do today. I was fortunate in that this year, I had no classes on Fridays, but that was small comfort based on the amount of work it looked like I’d have to do. My phone rang, jarring me out of my study coma

I don't think John would be that worried about it. And Private Tim could be bribed. 🙂

I so missed your dry wit and commentary! I think Cody and Marcel must be thinking exactly that, and laughing, and Lou is probably scheming to avoid Thanksgiving at Escorial. Ace isn't married to any of those subsequent ladies...he's just got girlfriends. And Stef is safe for now.

He's a fascinating character, in that he seems to have this subconscious desire to do just that: to be alone. I'm not talking necessarily about his romantic relationships, I'm thinking of him in general. Kind of a lone wolf. I think your perception of Carullo is interesting, but I think he's actually quite typical. Someone from his background, raised in the world of football, would probably just assume that this was how grieving was. He'd probably assume that you just hurt for a long time, and eventually it was over, and you'd be fine. I don't think he grasps that this is something he should address and 'solve'.

Every once in a while I write a piece of dialog that cracks me up. This chapter has one of those: I imagine John does a pretty good impression of Claire, and after her comments at dinner the night before, he must have been totally cracking up.

September 17, 2003 Escorial Palo Alto, CA Will “So you going to have a massive party with all your brothers in Malibu?” I asked Darius as I walked him out of the house and to the waiting car. “Could have done that before,” he said. “Don’t want to do it now and fuck up my own house.” I laughed. “If you change your mind, let me know when it is.” He opened the door and was about to get in the car when he paused. “You going to call JJ?” he as

I think it's significant that when JJ went into Carullo's bedroom a few chapters ago and woke him up, Carullo's first word was "Joey?" Clearly this still weighs very heavily on his mind.