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I don't know if you did some research into how the Victorians treated women with psychiatric problems (having such problems is understandable in a patriarchal society like that - contrary to what a certain Dr Freud would've thought), although I would imagine you did, because the idea of a doctor like Swinson drugging a clearly distressed woman then passing it off as 'hysteria' etc. and recommending the asylum seems very realistic and historically accurate to me. I think a lot of the time it was done at the instigation of a greedy sociopathic husband though (what we would now call coercive control) who was married to a woman wealthier than him (or whose family were), and so packing her off to an asylum means he's gets the goods (then probably runs off with his mistress etc.). Obviously in this case you said it's actually the husband who has all the money, but previously you've given a few hints about a possible coercive control going on, unless this is just Frances' distressed imagination. I guess we'll find the answer to that one in due course.

It's really well done though. I'm very much enjoying this and it's lovely to read it as a serialisation in the classic Victorian style, like being serialised by a magazine I mean. Works very well.

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Victorians and mentally ill (but not really ill) women were my speciality in university. I had a book once. I think it was called 'idiots, criminals and women' or something and it was just a collection of essays about the unfair treatment and diagnosis of 'hysteria'. Hysteria was the word for everything! Thanks Evelyn. Glad you're still intrigued.

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OMG (I feel like ALL of my comments start with this!) the doctor is creeping me out so much! He's keeping her drugged up to make her look mad...? This is my current theory. But I'm also wondering if John has told Swinson to keep her drugged up?? But why would John do that? He seems lovely and adoring and like a really great husband... But it is now set in my mind: Swinson is evil!

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Evil, eh? Maybe he is! Your theories are fantastic. I enjoy all of them.

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