u/Putrid-Owl-3362

Jack loves sweets. Calls Emma sweets. Sends her home with boxes of sweets. Orders copious sweets at tea where he treats Emma.
Hawks loves sweets. “Chocolate drizzled on everything.” Candy in his pockets. Frequently gives candy to Emma.

Vol 2. May 1. Hawkes to Emma. “Your sins are simply marvellous.”
Vol 6. Feb 2. Jack and Emma. “I know the incorruptible ones when I see them. Best to leave them alone altogether.” “What does that say about me?” “Marvellous things.”

Same volume. Jack. “Do you really wish to know?” (Concerning being late for something to Emma)
Vol 7 Mar 21st. Hawkes “Do you sincerely wish me to answer you?” (Concerning if the letter writer is “lovely.”)

Hawkes is a vicar.
Jack dresses like a priest.

Jack pretends to be a gentleman who looks like he “spent a little too much time in the library at Cambridge.”
Hawkes spent way too much time in the library at Cambridge.

Jack “was all backward ease, fully leaning against his chair, his chin raised, arms lifted behind his head watching the proceedings with a half-smile and sharp eye.”
Hawkes “placed in ankle over his opposite knee, crossing his arms, slouching a bit more against the worn bench. He lifted a half magician’s smile as he looked up.”

Jack rescues Emma from Aunt Eugenia when she sends him an SOS message by sending Agnes Dowd.
Hawkes rescues Emma from Aunt Eugenia when she sends Toff with an SOS message by bringing guardianship letter.

I got it started … keep the list going ….

It occurred to Unfortunately Named Putrid Owl (UNPO) that the Urn equals Hawkes’ curse—and the poker breaking the Urn equals Emma breaking the curse.

I support my theory with the poker-to-Urn symbolism:

Poker = weapon

Urn = Hawkes

Ash = curse released (as demonstrated by the movie visual)

THE PHOENIX RISES!!!!

So, we could really speed up the storyline if someone could just figure out how to slip Emma a wand with a phoenix feather in its core.

Then she could Avada Kedavra that piece of curse right off Hawkes’ soul, and we could move this thing along a little faster.

Problem solved.

Now, I am not suggesting that this would be HEA for Emma and Hawkes.

He could still run off and throw himself at the Moon Goddess.

So it wouldn’t necessarily end the Hawksian intrigue with the storyline.

It would simply eliminate, oh, I don’t know… 2–3 books of this 25-book wait.

Apparently, this is what UNPO’s brain decided to awaken her at 3 a.m. to contemplate.
🫩

Islington: Emmas says Islington writes her sentimental lines and poetry. He doesn’t deny.
The boys: Begin fidgeting and stop reading.

Islington: Starts unraveling the corridor disaster including remarks about being in each others arms, marriage being the only alternative, etc.
The boys: Stop reading, raise eyebrows and Hawkes begins tapping his finger against the side of his leg.

Islington: Takes Emma in his arms and waltzes her across dance floors:
The boys: Not even there to have a chance to cut in.

Islington: Invites her to his exclusive Stonecrop and places her in a tower like a princess.
The boys: Get an invite. Pierce is placed on ground floor. Hawkes away in the old tower. Both away from the princess. And don’t own Stonecrop.

Islington: We should get Emma a gift.
The boys: Go find the gift like personal assistants.

The boys: Walk off to deal with Pierce’s breakdown in Nettles.
Islington: Covers Emma’s red hand from being squeezed too harshly by Pierce with his own and walks her back.

The boys: Put on gloves and box.
Islington: Sits upon his viewing stand with princess Emma beside him to watch the knights battle.

Islington: Falls ill, falls directly into Emma’s await arms and is nursed back to health at Emma’s house.
The boys: Pierce admits he’s jealous.

Islington: Sends carriages to pick her up and “squires” her home after balls.
The boys: No carriages with which to squire.

Islington: Becomes Emma’s guardian in the eyes of London Society and begins slaying the dragons (Eugenia, unintended intendeds).
The boys: Zero power to do the above.

Islington: Plays moving, atmospheric music on the cello
The boys: Hawkes may or may not have a penny whistle.
(u/TybaltsCurtain)

Islington: Come over to my luxurious house on Thursday evenings and dine served by my servants, visit my exclusive art collection
The boys: Live in rented rooms, no servants, grab meals with Gibbs or Agnes. Pierce has some hideous backdrops and war photos; Hawkes has one (1) painting in his office and a couple of newspaper clippings in his rooms
(u/TybaltsCurtain

Islington: usually at leisure for walks in the park
The boys: Pierce taking photos at all hours; Hawkes completely absent/reading poetry to the sick birds of widows.
u/TybaltsCurtain

What did I miss?

If you think Hawkes is magic, you must believe that Emma is magic as well.

Unfortunately Named Putrid Owl (UNPO) states it’s a logical conclusion based on scientific evidence.

Well, if you read her assertion that Hawkes is not magic, but written that way…

And disagree with UNPO’s argument,

By default, you must grant her a nod that Emma is believed to be magic as well.

So, without further ado,

Here is UNPO’s sleep disordered deep dive into Witchy Woman Emma.

Exhibit a: Emma was apparently fey from birth.

Emma’s own father spoke spells over her from the womb and told people she was fey.

From the Gazette

Declan - “We are raising a fey creature. She requires a measure of freedom if we want her to stay on this side of the green hedge, as it were.”

And from his letter to Hawkes -

“My Emma has the spark of the gods in her blood, for good and ill, as well as I strength I envy.”

There are more references from Declan pushing the notion that from pregnancy through childhood,

He regarded Emma as something gifted with extraordinary abilities that came from…well…somewhere magical.

Most fathers who adore their daughters label them “princess.”

Declan apparently went with “spawn of a deity” and “fairy girl.”

He planted that seed before he ever laid eyes on her.

Speaking of eyes…

Exhibit B: Emma looks suspiciously unlike everybody else.

Emma’s appearance is repeatedly described as striking, unusual, singular — not quite the ordinary appearance of an English woman.

Pierce goes as far to say she’s strange, in a good way.

Let’s begin with Emma’s own assessment:

“Uncanny sea green eyes,” wide-set and wholly disapproved of by Cousin Matilde.

Her eyes are mentioned by several characters throughout the journal as unmistakable and unique.

Emma’s hair is dark and unruly — almost untamable.

And then there is the “constellation” of freckles across her nose, which Declan says is a bit of magic she would lose if they were to disappear.

Maxwell calls her “Emma the wild girl” and tells her, “Anything written by you is a constellation.”

He also notes that she quotes Shakespeare.

Which sounds A LOT like another character in this series whom I have argued isn’t magic.

But where that character seems to bring calm into a scene…

Emma tends to bring something else entirely.

Chaos, perhaps.

Mischief.

Occasionally a coronation.

Exhibit C: The people outside the norm seem to recognize something in her.

Let’s start with The Reprobates 10.

Emma is placed SOLO (???) at their table at Lady Trewartha’s party.

After spending a short amount of time with her, the group:

Worships her at the dinner table like a goddess.

Redubs her E of A.

Leaves “offerings” on her doorstep.

Holds a midnight coronation complete with crown and sceptre.

Calls her their “lucky penny.”

And begins pulling her into their adventures, including the Midnight Summer Dream Ball where she shockingly takes the crown from Oberon, causing the crowd to gasp.

Yes, the Reprobates are rambunctious young men who are out to have a good time.

But the way they treat Emma is as if they believe her to be…unique.

Say…

Magical.

And a jolly good sport.

And I haven’t seen the moon goddess pear scented lady getting an invite from the Reprobates to duels.

Speaking of sports…

What about the group at the Cleopatra, where Emma gets a song and drink composed in her honor?

Again, UNPO is not saying these people literally worship her.

But they certainly seemed…

Charmed?

UNPO is simply presenting the evidence.

Exhibit D: Everyone keeps noticing that Emma is…something.

On August 23, Pierce asks:

“What witchery are you up on a night such as this?” when he sees her outside LLH in her shimmery gown.

(I have to pause to take a break everytime I read that scene.)

Hawkes tells her:

“You slip through time.”

And “…she blew into St. Crispian’s like a four leaf clover.”

And Islington, poor thing, gets caught up in a degree of mischief and chaos his life has probably never previously experienced to the point he writes on her birthday note

“I know it’s useless to ask you not to do anything shocking in the coming twelve month,”

Also on Aug 31st, “I wonder if your mischief rules even fate.”

Emma is repeatedly recognized by characters who themselves operate outside the normal social structure as being different.

Hawkes asks Saffronia is she (Saffronia) is a witch or barbarian for lighting bonfires on her terrace for Emma’s birthday.

Saffronia admit she’s been called both and …

“I’m certain Emma has (been called a witch), behind her back if nothing else.”

The Romani fortune teller keys in on her during the May Day Fair and gives her a fortune specific to her.

Jack, the scoundrel and predator pulls her into his schemes because he seems to sense her abilities

But also takes a protective stance over her interrogating Islington in his opera box.

And then there are the townspeople.

They apparently believe Emma has the ability to summon Hawkes.

They begin knocking on her door wanting her to use her powers to materialize the other “magic” member of their community when they need him.

Which, if you think about it, is a perfectly reasonable magical system.

If you need a magic person, find another magic person to make them appear.

Exhibit E: Emma seems to have an uncanny ability to find Hawkes.

If you believe Hawkes is magic, Emma seems remarkably good at finding him.

She repeatedly wanders into areas where Hawkes is sitting alone — often on a bench, with no one else around.

The Graveyard.

The Cleopatra.

Jacob’s Well.

The Fountain.

The enchanted forest at Stonecrop.

So which is it?

Is Hawkes somehow pulling Emma toward him?

Or is Emma’s own magic sensing where he is and leading her there leading him to make the statement

“You slip through time.”

UNPO has to admit that the best evidence for the second theory may be Jacob’s Well.

Because she highly doubts that if Hawkes summoned Emma and sensing her approach,

He deliberately held onto his pear-scented letter…

…only to allow it to blow out of his hand…

…so Emma could chase it.

That would be a little weird for any male species, even magical.

And Emma never seems particularly eager to chat during these bench/forest encounters.

There are generally long stretches of prolonged silence.

Or Emma falling asleep on his shoulder (for hours).

Or Hawkes sleeping in her presence in the forest.

The two simply sit together and absorb the air, scents, sounds and visuals of the world around them.

Which brings UNPO to the truly disturbing conclusion:

Perhaps the magical phenomenon isn’t that Hawkes can somehow manipulate Emma.

Perhaps the interesting thing is that Emma and Hawkes seem to” unknowingly” sense something in one another.

Two people who are repeatedly described as unusual.

Two people who exist somewhat outside the ordinary social structure around them.

Two people who seem to find one another without trying very hard.

A being of wisdom, calm, serenity.

A being of passion, joy and mischief.

Two beings of hidden strength that rises when needed.

Maybe that’s why Islington, King of Stonecrop, places each in a tower while the mortals reside ground level.

That’s where they belong, the otherworldly beings surveying the very elements that surround them.

Speaking of calm …

My dearest Islings and Piercettes….

Don’t become alarmed.

Unfortunately Named Putrid Owl is not saying …

The magical people are destined to BE together.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDGAME ARGUMENT!

It is feasible King of Stonecrop marries the princess in his tower

And the Ancient Being in the ancient tower marries the ethereal moon goddess sending him pear scented letters.

Or Pierce raises out of the ashes of his past as a Phoenix …

Renewed sparkling white Avenging Angel to our Emma.

UNPO is simply saying if Hawkes and Emma are magic, they would instinctively find each other.

So…

If Hawkes is magic because the story repeatedly writes him that way…

I regret to inform everyone that the scientific evidence for Witchy Woman Emma is looking rather compelling.

One last remark, which is probably a complete discussion on its own.

If Emma possess magical influence, is she unknowingly using it to manipulate the people around her?

At which point we revisit the drawing room scene when Emma was on fire from reading Whitman.

If Hawkes or Islington had walked in on her in an obviously impassioned state

Would they have ALSO been unable to resist the spell she was casting around the room?

Would they have been the one that kissed Emma instead of Pierce ….

Hmmmmm

UNPO was reading the post Stonecrop ball scene.

Emma returns from Stonecrop healthy and tanned (which means her constellation is in full force across the bridge of her nose) rather than the sickly pale person Eugenia had been used to (Post-Maxwell).

Eugenia had a violent red gown prepared for Emma thinking she would look horrible.

Instead, healthy, vibrant Emma all magic (freckles, eyes, hair, etc.) is in full force and dressed in a violent red ballgown. Emma describes her appearance as “rough hewn” but I imagine Maxwell’s wild woman had returned.

Eloise walks in and is introduced to Emma.

Can you imagine the visual she took in?

Fire in the flesh.

Tanned, dark wild hair, blue green wide set eyes, constellation freckles dressed in violent red.

Emma writes that she retained Eloise’s scrutiny.

That Eloise glanced about only once, pausing when she found (Emma), still standing by Eugenia.

“There was a nearly indecipherable resignation in her eyes, the slightest ghost of a doe being hunted.”

I can only imagine what was going through Eloise’s mind.

Especially if she is indeed in love with Hawkes who hasn’t stepped up to commit to the most beautiful woman in England …

And have been hearing from someone (Hawkes, The Boy, other person) about this Emma person that is in a tight friendship group in St. Crispians that includes Hawkes.

Pierce: Lion drinks port with me.
Hawkes: I’ve seen Miss Lion put down The Cleopatra in one swallow.”

Pierce: “She looks like she needs ten square meals”
Hawkes: “No, Emma needs the sea. The appetite will follow.” (Emma gets better)

Pierce: Challenges Hawkes “playing darts” on Sunday by remarking “So don’t you have an invalid to visit?”
Hawkes: Throws dart from clear across the room and hits dead center.

Pierce: Gives Emma custom bound “Song of Myself” for Christmas.
Hawkes: Give Emma an old beaten copy of “Ireland: Myth, Legend and History” with her father’s notes he found in a secondhand shop. Emma is so overwhelmed she leaves the room for a half hour to cry.

Pierce: Get Emma a pistol for her birthday.
Hawkes: Drags Pierce around for 3 days until he finds a one of a kind antique lion pendant and chain.

Pierce: Makes an unknown bet during boys night out.
Hawkes: Wins bet. Pierce has to attend church.

Hawkes: Emma reads Ireland and gets the warm fuzzies.
Pierce: Emma reads Song of Myself gets the “hot bothers” and ends up in his arms in a lip lock.

Pierce: Goes to meet Hawkes for a drink at The Cleopatra after Hawkes “senses something” afoot.
Hawkes: Drinks his pint and never says a word. Either looks at something else or simply stares him down.

Hawkes: Gives Emma “the eyebrow” when he senses something going on between her and Pierce at May Day Fair.
Pierce: Emma dismisses Hawkes to “fetch her hat.”

Hawkes: Spends one on one time with Emma at Stonecrop including reading, lunch and rock skipping.
Pierce: Shows up unexpectedly and Emma forgets Hawkes exists as she runs to the house leaving Hawkes to “fetch her hat.”

Pierce: (Post Nettles) Laces up to “fight” with Hawkes and clocks Hawkes in the face drawing blood.
Hawkes: Dances back, wipes and blood and grins. Then runs at Pierce … it becomes clear Pierce is no Hawkes.

What have I missed? I know there’s more.

1. Sweet Pea Funeral - inadvertently becomes affianced to Lord West.

2. The Alamo.

3. Getting the wrong clue and ending up at The Cleopatra shooting a Cleopatra.

4. Dragging Islington down the hall into a corridor instead a library or suitable spot.

5. Hawkes telling her she “slips through time” while he’s half asleep and thinking “that’s sweet.”

6. Standing in the wrong spot and ending up on stage at The Drunken Duck

7. Forgetting Ms. Penury is in the drawing room and proceeding into a full fledge rant with Islington.

Feel free add and we’ll start lining these babies up and enjoy.

This has to be clueless moments either craziness, romantic, financial ….

not she did something intentionally and it and it ended badly.

Is Hawkes really magic?

Does he have special abilities provided by a “force” the allow him insight and information not available to the average human?

Unfortunately, Name Putrid Owl (UNPO) has been quite disturbed by comments I’ve read accusing Hawkes of using his magical intel to influence Emma.

In some cases, we have even reached the horrible assertion that, as her spiritual guide, any “feelings” he has for her would be…

Immoral!

UNPO shakes her head at this.

As much fun as it is to imagine a magical fairy Vicar running around St. Crispians, UNPO think Hawkes’s mysteriousness has less to do with him actually being “magic” and much more to do with St. Crispians—and the readers—wanting to believe in magic.

So, she takes a breath and prepares to be called a heathen by stating:

Hawkes is not magic. He’s just written that way.

If UNPO has ruined your life, she apologizes profusely.

And, she’s if proven wrong,

UNPO shall shoot a Cleopatra on an empty stomach.

Let’s begin with an indisputable fact.

The only viewpoint we are allowed is that of one Emma M. Lion. And that viewpoint has been shown to be not completely accurate.

Let’s revisit the May Day Fair scene in Cousin Archibald’s booth.

“Hawkes tilted his head slightly and finally towards me, his eyes not quite meeting mine. ‘I see, Miss Lion,’ he said, ‘you have a new pocket.’ > > I blinked. ‘How could you tell? I thought the folds hid it quite well.’ You have a confidence that only comes with such an acquisition.’ Hawkes, finally looking me directly in the eye, gave a soft smile…”

Ah.

Romantic.

Mysterious.

Almost magical.

Except…

“Stuff and nonsense,’ Cousin Archibald sneered in interruption. ‘He could see you were walking with your hand in your pocket.’”

Who knew Cousin Archibald could actually be useful?

Archibald is doing something rather important here.

He is puncturing Emma’s romantic interpretation of the scene.

Emma experiences Hawkes as possessing some almost supernatural perception.

Archibald points out that Hawkes had simply looked at her.

Hawkes did not need magical powers.

He had eyeballs.

And apparently, they worked.

This is a pattern worth paying attention to because Emma repeatedly interprets Hawkes’s knowledge as something extraordinary when there are perfectly ordinary explanations for how he might have acquired it.

Uncle Archibald frequently confesses her “sins” (marvelous) to Hawkes.

Hawkes is close friends with Saffronia.

He is the Vicar of St. Crispians, which means an astonishing amount of information is going to pass through his orbit simply because people talk to him.

And if Jack’s intel was enough to produce a note asking Emma what she was doing in the East End and who she was with,

imagine the amount of information Hawkes, as Vicar, is going to receive from the citizens of St. Crispians.

He doesn’t need magical intelligence. He has the congregation.

Is Jack magical?

No.

He’s a scoundrel that has a network of scoundrels that feed him intel.

There is another rather inconvenient problem with the Magical Hawkes Theory.

For all the times Hawkes magically appears at the right moment, there are times he does not.

A primary example is Islington’s illness in Volume 8.

Islington and Emma attend a ball together.

Islington becomes ill, resulting in the fantastic corridor catastrophe.

The following morning, Emma is summoned to Hawkes’s study at the church prior to service. Hawkes asks:

“Did Islington take ill at Laura Lazuli House?”

Hmmmmmm.

That sounds considerably more like a human being asking a question because he needs information than a magical being announcing something he should already know.

In fact, Hawkes tells us exactly where his information came from.

He had heard “rumors.”

Rumors.

Not visions.

There was no movement in the ForcesTM (credit u/TybaltsCurtain for the term).

He has heard something and is now asking Emma to confirm it.

Then Emma gives us an even more interesting piece of information:

“He asked after you last night, but Parian couldn’t find you.”

Oh. Well.

That’s awkward.

If Hawkes possesses some kind of supernatural awareness of the people closest to him, wouldn’t this be an excellent opportunity for it to manifest?

His best friend has taken ill.

His best friend has asked after him.

And Hawkes is no where to be found.

Isn’t he supposed to be the magical, omniscient fairy Vicar who just KNOWS you need him and shows up?

Well, UNPO does admit she’d rather ignore this misstep by our magic man and continue to believe in all the wonderful fairy-tale things.

But missing the moment when he could have shown up at the door, within moments of his best friend’s collapse, tarnishes my ability to say:

“I do believe in fairies.”

One last point before UNPO submits herself to stoning for heresy by the members of the Church of Hawkes.

Hawkes’ distant personality, high intelligence, and observational powers feed into the perception of magic.

He is gifted in knowledge, able to absorb information at what seems an inhuman rate.

He processes said information beyond normal capacity.

That alone allows him to operate on a different plane.

Is that magic?

Perhaps, in a way.

Hawkes is also a master of staying silent until the very air in the room forgets he’s there -

and instead wraps itself around the person needing a message, allowing their internal spirit to provide it.

In Emma’s confession, he stays quiet, allowing her to let her words flow until she has no more.

“It feels almost mad to write it out, but there was such clarity. As we sat there in silence something nudged my heart into the attitude of looking forward. Perhaps it was the trick of the mind. But it didn’t feel like one. It felt real as a prophecy. I don’t know how much time had passed when Hawkes stood, removed the confession curtain from his desk and put it back on the floor.”

Hawkes created quiet which settled Emma’s mind, and allowed her spirit to deliver its own message.

He didn’t create a vision for her.

He created a space that allow her internal spirit to provide the vision.

It was her clarity.

Self-provided.

No magic involved.

Now.

Unfortunately Named Putrid Owl is done.

Well…

Maybe she’ll reserve the right to still believe in a couple of magical, dreamy Hawkes moments.

Who doesn’t want to dream they can slip through time?

Isn’t that why we read the books?

UNPO now submits herself for judgment and penance.

If you could use cotton balls instead of stone, it would be appreciated.

Especially when I make the counter argument in part 2 - for Emma.

Hmmmmmm.

March 18th (Vol. 1): We are introduced to Vicar Young Hawkes and treated to a description of his arrival, introduction, and initial sermon at St. Crispians, which was met with “such a clap in a church” that Emma doubts she’s ever heard—or will hear—again.
That is followed by this:

“Father May, observing it all, let the trespass of a slow smile cross his face, and the next morning he simply disappeared. The police were not informed as several witnesses saw Father May leaving the neighbourhood, cases packed, on his w ay to the docks where he would catch a boat to America.

Young Hawkes received a letter from the diocese that a more experienced man in the priesthood would be sent to replace Father May in due course. Seven years later, Young Hawkes is still our vicar, and still goes by that name, and three Sundays of every month he gives a sermon.”

So, Lionesses…

Unfortunately Names Putrid Owl (UNPO) has many questions for discussion.

Why did Father May simply leave without saying goodbye to his parish? (Was he fleeing under cover of night?)

And why did the good Father May travel (escape?) to America instead of returning to his (previous) home in England, Ireland, or Scotland, since one would assume he would have grown up somewhere in those areas?

Did Father May hand off more than just a job at the parish as vicar to Young Hawkes like leader of an underground operation?

And, if so, could it have something to do with the articles posted on Young Hawkes’ wall in his room (Ireland)?

I know this is not nearly as exciting as discussing the men, but I feel information handed out so deliberately must have some significance to at least one of the mysteries in St. Crispians.

And since we all must find something to entertain ourselves, this is as good a thing to throw on the table like a hand of cards and see if we manage to get it right in some undetermined future book release.

To: TC, Salty G, Mama, Lizbot, and Ecstastic M:

I am quite sure you are all Reprobates or Pirates walking around disguised as normal people to the world around you.

I do have another long ”musing” I wrote yesterday I’m sure will result in angst among one of the teams.

I will post it when I feel my ship is anchored and can withstand the waves.

There have been a LOT of arguments for Teams Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes. Unfortunately Named Putrid Owl does indeed have a favorite.

But my “hmmmm” of the day is this:

Each man has been given the roadmap to the path that leads to Happily Ever After with Emma. It is up to each of them to choose whether they take that path.
So, if your man fails, it was his choice.

“Why should I blame my man if he fails, Unfortunately Named Putrid Owl?” you ask.

Because they have all been given the information necessary to make the journey—and the choices that need to be made.
All three were present when Emma gave them her version of “Happily Ever After” at the bonfire:

“A life like the one I was given. A child or two. Books. Candles in the evening.”
And she would choose sea over land.

In my opinion, none of those are particularly difficult things to provide if Emma is the woman of your dreams.

Pierce

Pierce immediately dismisses two of the four things Emma identifies as part of her ideal life in that very conversation: no children and no sea.

Does that sound like a man determined to have the woman of his dreams, even though he has already journeyed partway down the road?

I know the Piercettes are going to be enraged by my throwing shade at their man, but… truth is truth.

Pierce’s advantage over the other two men is proximity.

He is the one who begins participating in the daily ebb and flow of Emma’s life, even if doing so is inappropriate and could ruin her reputation if discovered. He fits himself into the parts of her day that work with his life while dismissing the things he finds senseless—St Crispain's quirks, religion, difficult people, and anything else that doesn’t suit him.

Pierce loves Emma.

But does he love her enough to tame his alcoholism? His rage? His disdain for the more spiritual aspects of her life that would be important in a good marriage?

Maybe he will. Maybe he won’t.

But he has a choice.

He not only has the roadmap, he’s the only one of the three whom Emma has actually granted permission to make the trip.

Pierce is in the advantageous position.

It’s his race to win, and from this point forward, it’s all about his choices.

So, my dearest Piercettes, if your man loses, he has no one to blame but himself.

Islington

Islington hasn’t even started the journey—and he has made it pretty clear that he doesn’t consider it an appealing trip.

I snaughed (snort and laugh mixed) when I read his remark during the corridor catastrophe that he was her guardian until she marries, “Whenever that blessed disaster takes place.”

He also refers to a potential marriage with Emma as spending “the next fifty years raging at each other…”

Now, truly, he doeth protest too much.

Because he does seem a little pushy about getting Emma to participate in some of his favorite things at Stonecrop: the hounds, horseback riding, shooting…

Islington, like Pierce, has an advantage over the others.

He’s wealthy, and he inhabits the social sphere of Emma’s life almost exclusively.

He takes her in his arms and dances with her at balls.

He strolls parks with her arm in arm.

He has MULTIPLE LIBRARIES.

Yes, Islington can give her all the books and candles she desires.

She can place candles in the tower windows at his estate.

And Islington, as a Duke, is expected to have children, so he can’t exactly dismiss that part of Emma’s Happily Ever After.

Materially speaking, Islington has almost everything necessary to send Emma down the express lane to Happily Ever After.

Except he hasn’t actually started the romantic journey.

So, dear Islings, he has been presented with the information needed to win Emma’s heart. He has almost everything necessary to give her the life she says she wants.

And he’s currently choosing NOT to participate in the game.

Therefore, if Islington is not the last man standing, I’m not feeling particularly regretful on his behalf.

Hawkes

Hawkes has not only heard Emma’s version of Happily Ever After, he’s also the only one of the three who knows about her vision:

“The fire, cool from the window, the table was piled with books, and I was writing something… And there were footsteps on the stairs.”

Hawkes is curious enough to ask: “Whose?”

But Emma doesn’t know.

Let’s be real for a second.

There isn’t a single thing in either the bonfire discussion or Emma’s vision that Hawkes is incapable of providing.

Emma doesn’t need material things, so the life of a Vicar’s wife would not be unacceptable to her. In fact, she cares deeply about St. Crispians and its people—to the point that she threw herself into an ice-cold fountain to save a poor maid.

Hawkes is a walking book “you can’t put down.” (Thank you, TSwift, for that lyric.)

He loves candles in the window and gives them to her.

He loves the sea.

And yet…

He’s not dropping down on one knee.

“Hawkes has his reasons.”

Yes. So we’ve heard.

Tortured souls do tend to continue torturing themselves.

Emma is a prize.

Hawkes knows it.

He says she’s pretty.

He says she slips through time.

Hawkes is very aware of what—and who—Emma is.

And yet, for whatever reason, Hawkes isn’t on the road either.

He has a choice.

If he loses the prize that is Emma, it’s his fault, you Hawkians.

Yes, grieve for him.

But, as The Boy says about Oberon:
“When Titania comes, maybe will take his fighting chance.”

The important words are:

TAKE HIS FIGHTING CHANCE.

At some point, Hawkes will have to make the choice to fight (not be goaded into it by the Reprobates) —to travel the path his heart desires rather than continuing down the path he feels has been set for him—if he wants to be with Emma.

So where does that leave us?

The fortune teller nailed it.

Choices are being made.

Your man isn’t a victim.

He has been given the roadmap. He has been given the key.

If he doesn’t end with Emma, it was his choice.

“My question is,” said Sargent, “to us ally to be sent to The Reprobates Table?”

“Is that what it is officially called?” I asked. “The Reprobates Table?”

“Yes.”
“Certainly.”
“What else would it be called?”

“By you all or our hostess?” I further enquired.

“Both,” Striker said.

Hawkes cleared his throat and started steeling with the edge of his napkin. “It is indeed, know as The Reprobates Table.”

Well.

A public labelling of my person. Cousin Archibald’s dream come true.

“So why is our mystery woman sent here to be among us?” The Boy asked Hawkes.

Hawkes looked like an explanation was inevitable. “Because her exploits make you gentlemen Iook like schoolboy.”

…
My question. Who was responsible for Emma getting the invitation to Lady Trewartha’s party? Islington mentioned it earlier in the day so he was aware she was invited. Islington and Pierce met for the first time at the party, so Pierce would not have been an accomplice. Hawkes did not seem surprised to see her OR see her seated at The Reprobates Table. So… did Islington, Hawkes, both or Lady Trewartha conspire to get her to the party?

And … who decided that seating her at the table with The Reprobates would happen? They seemed surprised to see her.

Finally, what was the purpose of putting her there?

I was reading through the fight sequence for the whateverth time and Putrid Owl, an unfortunate name assigned by Reddit, had her “hmmmm” thought of the day. Hawkes’ books are like his personal talisman against whatever. He carries them everywhere. The few times you see him without it, his fingers tap and fidgets. His physical behavior is like a warrior who has left his sword at home and feels exposed.

At the fight, you would think he would leave it on top of his carefully folded clothes or hand it to a Reprobate or Islington for safe keeping. Instead he grasps it with both hands and looked at Emma who took it carefully with her right hand while placing her left reverently on the cover. Only then did the tightened around his eyes relax. He trusts her with an object he carries as a form of protection … shortly after we discover her name on the key to his room. A key is also something we carry that protects by keeping our inner sanctum locked from others?

Once again, he has a collection of Reprobates and long term friend in Islington, but Emma is chosen.

Thoughts?

Going off the Lapis Lazuli house “auditioning” the men theme I posted last night concerning Hawkes leaning against one side of the door and Emma on the other watching Archibald leave at Christmas … who do you think the people in Emma’s life would choose at this point:

Agnes - Islington for sure. Emma is Cinderella and Islington Prince Charming. Agnes dreams of living in the Duke’s residences and the Duke’s staff would love her to join.

Parian - Islington (if he gets to be staff) or Pierce who does all the heavy lifting around LLH.

Archibald - Hawkes for sure. The only human in St. Crispians who will listen to him patiently and appreciate his morning robe collection.

Aunt Eugenia - Charles Goddard. Because she’s a hateful human that wants everyone in their correct spot on her chessboard.

Arabella - Marry the Duke. Have the Vicar do the vows. Have the photographer take the photos.

Roland - Islington. Admires him as a pillar of society and great at cards.

Mary - Hmmmm …. A little consumed with her own heart right now. But, I think she would probably go with a rehabilitated Pierce.

Jack - Scoundrel. Whichever one would allow her to continue schemes with him. Which rules out all three.

Saffronia - Not sure but I don’t think it would be Pierce. I would think she would find him too mature and worldly at this point for Emma. Once again, he needs some major rehab before she would be okay with considering him.

Ms. Penury - Once again, until Pierce is rehab, he would be off the list. At this point, I think she would lean more toward Islington especially with him charming her so and sending her flowers when he interrupted her tea.

The Reprobates - Hmmm. They adore Islington. But, the Mighty Nigel Hawkes is their leader. I think either would be fine.

Mirabel - Mostly likely Islington. Despite marrying Declan, she still seemed to want her daughter to adhere to some social standards.

Declan - This was the most thought. Pierce (at this point) would be a no go but would he be okay if he were rehabbed with his artistic profession and his protective instinct concerning Emma. Islington is someone he mentored who respected him and used his wish for Emma to guide his life. But, he didn’t want Emma subjected to the Societal rules that would be hinder her following her fey heart. Hawkes. No doubt, Declan trusted him with his daughter’s life. But he also knew there was something tying him down. We don’t know what that could be and if Declan would have issues with it.

So far, Islington is in the lead on my list though he wouldn’t be my choice.

What say you guys?

Anyone notice that Islington usually ends up involved in the more absurd Emma situations like Drunken Duck and corridor embrace. You could
Probably count the accidental proposal at the sweet pea funeral he had to repair though Hawkes was also
Present

Pierce usually in the ones where something(one) needs To be addressed with physicality such as threaten like Charles Goddard at the door or punching Maxwell's brother.

Hawkes in rescue scenarios like drowning or Aunt Emma's threat to declare her mental unsound to keep control? He also showed up during the last couple of Jack schemes.

I was laughing through some of the Islington stuff today.

Coincidence? Total people surrounding Hawkes directly:

Striker
Capper
Mastiff
Quality Jones
The Boy (Possible Judas)
Odysseus. (Possible Judas)
Sargent
Charlie Cross
Nightwatchman
Hawkes. (Victim of betrayal)
Islington
Emma
Pierce

Hawkes - Leadership/Servant 1 +
Alchemy + Reprobates Discipleship 12 ( apostle garden reference made me have the brain click)
leads to
Betrayal (Ceasar/Brutus scene in Julius Caesar about to be replayed with Emma cast, maybe actual betrayal by a Reprobate (The Boy who seems to live at the edge of their “rules) for something. Reference in duel that a scapegoat must be selected. Hawkes = scapegoat)
Sacrifice - Hawkes sacrificing close friendship/love and fascination with martyrs (painting, Glory story, Leonidas story)
Salvation (poker to urn - Emma breaking and ash flying. Maybe she breaks the curse for Hawkes or all three? Hawkes couldn’t break Islington’s curse of past by himself.)
Redemption - (Pierce, Jack, Archibald?)

Emma has a collection of four things that are NOT books so far (three kept in her room). There’s no doubt there’s meaning. 1. Nest (from first Jack adventure). 2. Crown and Sceptre (Reprobates coronation EofA). 3. Bell (Reprobates duel). 4. Ornamental Comb. (Second Jack adventure). She mentions them end of March 7th entry. Hit me with your best shot (haha) of what the significance could be.

Any read on Emma’s June 14th “tremendous sense of homesickness?” It occurs 10 days into the trip. I have my suspicions but I want to throw it out there and see if anybody has a read and if it’s the same or different than what I’m thinking.