The Unknown Ajax Group Read May 2017 Spoilers thread

[Rosina]

Hugo (or Vincent?) does say that someone will have to annoy the old man, to bring him out of his current subdued state. I think they'll cope well with him from now on - Anthea and Hugo will marry and set up their own home, where Anthea's mother will be welcome to visit, when she is tired of being berated.

And to be honest, it's not likely to be for long ...

[QNPoohBear]

I didn't like Vincent for most of the book but then his personality changes. He likes Richmond's admiration and he comes through for Hugo in the scheme to save Richmond.

In saving Richmond they were saving the FAMILY name. I would have let Richmond face the music. Ottershaw didn't have actual proof that Richmond was smuggling. Though that whole lengthy scene was funny, like many of you I felt a little conflicted about their protection of Richmond.

Claud was a champ. He turned out to be my favorite character. I don't think he's gay or asexual-Lord Darracott hints at his sons and grandsons getting up to mischief that I assume means women. I think Claud loves himself the most but if a lady truly admired his appalling fashion sense and thought he was the beau ideal, he would probably find himself proposing to her.

Vincent will marry for money. He loves himself best of all too but he loves himself well enough to need money and I predict he marries a "weaver's brat" or a cit's daughter. New money.

I was fascinated by the textile history lesson. I work at a textile history museum (former cotton mill) but we also demonstrate hand carding and spinning wool. Learning about the power looms was interesting since our American ones were invented and first used at our site many years after Hugo's gaffer became the mill owner.

The romance seemed a little more obvious this read. They share a sense of humor and Anthea was smart enough to see through his hoax almost right away-once she got off her high horse. I think Hugo will drive her crazy but she'll roll with the punches and tell him off when he goes too far.

[Karlyne]

Good summation, Qnpoohbear! I loved Claud and actually found Vincent a bit fun, too, by the end. And Hugo & Anthea's children will have a wonderful childhood, too: they'll be great parents.

[Critterbee❇]

This is like Penhallow, but before Anthea turned sour, and with the saving outside force of Hugo. I wonder how Hugo would have dealt with Penhallow...

[QNPoohBear]

I am astounded that Hugo's grandfather used power looms. The first power looms in America were used in 1817! I read something today at work about the woolen mills here in America and the technology they used there. I thought of Hugo. I was shocked at how much his grandfather was worth. American mill owners weren't worth that much in the 19th century! The Ol' Gaffer must have been VERY cheap.

I'm going to post some info in another thread for those who might be interested. I wasn't until I started working at a textile mill museum and people started asking questions I couldn't answer. I spent a slow summer last year reading up on textile history.

[Karlyne]

How interesting, Qnpoohbear! I hadn't thought about tech dates being different in different countries.