GB #1 - Miss Temple! What were you thinking?

8 days after her arrival in the city to marry Roger Bascombe, the note from him arrived "severing their engagement, closing with the politely expressed desire that she take pains to never contact nor see him in any way for the complete remainder ofher days."

So of course she does just the opposite and sets out to follow him.

What would you have done if you were Miss Temple?

That's a hard question. I think I probably would have done just what she did. I think of lot of us will say the same. To get such a vague, unexplained rejection would make me burn with curiosity and outrage.
The draw of needing to know why is very powerful. Had she only known it involved a dangerous plot of power and intrigue, she might have thought better of it.

She just wanted to know why, and I think I would too.
A healthy sense of curiosity is part of a healthy intellect.

Although I'm not close to finishing the book, I can answer this. And, I have to agree with Arnelle. I would never rest easy without knowing why, or for whom, he left. No reason why would lead me to believe it was another woman. My curiosity would get the better of me.

I don't think I would have Miss Temple's courage! Especially when she arrives at Harschmort for the first time..I found those scenes where she was left in the room on her own truly chilling!

I'd have been desperate to know why he had severed the engagement, but I think I'd had a Victorian attack of "the vapours" and pursued it no further!

I'm with amp and Ellen. Too many Nancy Drew books in me. I would have been outtathere fast after seeing Cardinal Chang on the train. enough of Bascomb.

You've got a point there, Heidi. I think I would have put my curiosity aside in favor of my safety at that point. I'm not so brave or foolish. Also, I'm not so young or affluent.

I would have wanted to know "why" the engagement was broken and why couldnt he have told me to my face... I would have deserved that much!!! I probably would have started to follow him too if I could not get a face to face with him. But like some of you others, when it got to creepy I would have definitely stopped and found some other course of action like hiring someone to follow him and find out what they could. I would have written him definitely a powerful letter and had it delivered directly to him!!!

~ Mary Kay

I'm right there with y'all, I'd be fine until things got scary. BUT that's what I like about Miss Temple, she's got guts and for a woman in that time period? That really says a lot. That's almost another discussion point.

Let me add that I'm so happy to see so many joining in and welcome Artemisa! We are happy to have you discussing this with us!

MerryK! Blast him.

Yaay--we're starting the discussion. I'll add my thoughts before reading everyone else's above me.

I think the author had her take the opposite action to begin showing her true character. To me she wasn't the typical Victorian woman, and her independence shows in this decision. I think at some point in the booik, there are comments that she was "older" and still not married, so she apparently was not willing to give up her own independence for a man---until she met Roger(the jerk!) Plus, if she didn't take the opposite action, we wouldn't have been able to follow her on her adventure, which really was the discovery of her true self, too.

-Donna

I agree with those that said they would maybe have begun like MT did, but once I got to that house and saw some of the creepy stuff, I would have been out of there and thankful that I didn't end up marryiing the guy.

-Donna

Good one Donna, and yes there are comments about her being older and he makes it clear that she's pretty much on her own....just that aunt. That way, I think it allowed her to be gone and not have people to answer to.

I confess on am on page 100 and have been struggling to finish this book- it does not hold my interest but aftering reading the responses-maybe I will give it one more attempt. The responses have been very interesting. Anne R

I hope you can get into it this time Anne.