I just happenstance discovered that women were allowed to sit the entrance exam to Oxford starting in April of 1885. Based on how other historical events show up in the story, I wonder if Emma’s dream of higher education/ love of Oxford might be soon realized. A girl can hope. I need more Emma in Oxford. :)
Also Emma with the Fletcher sisters!!!!
Okay so I’ve read this series A LOT of times. And my first few read through me I was so firmly Team Islington. I thought yall were raving mad for thinking Hawkes was anything other than brotherly (and I was sure he was related to her). I even thought Hawkes was firmly team Islington and would end up being his wingman/ helping them along. Like telling Islington that she is very pretty… (Still like this theory)
But on subsequent read throughs I intentionally tried to see him as a romantic option and the Oberon of it all definitely shifted my thoughts as well as some other things. He is pretty swoony with her sometimes.
So I’m very open to either and whatever Beth does. HOWEVER. If it’s Islington end game, I can so easily see other romantic options or singleness for Hawkes and I feel very content with that (I think he has a lot of callings on his life that my bend towards not marrying) but also hope he ends up with someone lovely.
On the contrary, the idea of Islington ending up with another or single makes me either so irritated with the hypothetical woman or so sad. Any other options other than Emma feel outright wrong! Like Arabella? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Saffronia? How dare she. Any other woman we haven’t met yet? Back off!! Maybe I’m not as unbiased as I think. But I just don’t know how Islingtons story would resolve if not Emma, whereas Hawkes feels like there are so many good options for endings (Ireland! Pear girl! Return to medicine!) Also I’m not convinced Becca will ever be an option again. It just seems like that ship has sailed and they aren’t going to get back together after all they’ve been through since even if she “reappears” without a husband?