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Mar '11

Protected: The Transfigured Lady draft: Chapter 12

This entry is part 12 of 32 in the series The Transfigured Lady draft

The Transfigured Lady draft

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  • http://www.juliarios.com Julia Rios

    A quiet chapter, moving the plot along gently. Pleasant, which I suppose is odd to say about a chapter in which a young lady dies, but it was. I think it’s the lack of tension, and the building companionship between Cora and Walker. They’re starting to trust each other, which is nice, because they’re both nice. We need breaks every now and then. I also enjoyed the details of how the powders feel and what they contain.

    You have Truly instead of Idalene in that first scene.

    I am looking forward to seeing what transpires in Atlanta. I also wonder where Atkin is, and if he’s behind that letter. Surely we haven’t seen the last of him, or of Mr. Hussey (but it can’t be Mr. Hussey, because Mr. Hussey knows Cora’s real name and doesn’t necessarily know she’s passing in the first place). Oh, but then I wonder, too, why Cora would think it was okay to go visit Mrs. Sandow as Claire in the first place. Because wouldn’t that be dangerous on multiple levels considering how little safe powder she has, and that Mrs. Sandow and others of her acquaintance should expect her to be Cora?

  • Peter Ellis

    A powerful chapter.

    The geek in me loves to read Walker thinking about ingredients. The comparison of the different tactile sensations was interesting.

    You hit all the right notes on what happened to Miss Kittie.

    I am a little surprised that Cora & Walker are not frustrated to find that Professor Ledeaux has left town. I thought they would be built up for a confrontation. I’m also not sure why the two of them didn’t use the service entrance to go directly to room 215.

    The last paragraph is beautiful.

  • http://ibmiller.livejournal.com Ian Miller

    Nicely done. The prose describing Walker’s reactions to the death are nicely worked.

    I was a bit jerked out of the story by the reiteration of Kittie’s health problems when it was only the end of last chapter that the same information was presented.

    The complex way Walker thinks about race is particularly fascinating – I’d be curious to hear more of Cora’s thoughts, especially as she’s now “back” among her “own” people after a very long time of passing (perhaps her occasional contact through the boarding house would prevent that being a substantial change?).

    Also…the plot thickens! I like the tension with the medecine show plot.

  • Rebekah

    Sigh…well done, and sad.

    Somehow, I want more conversation around the Cora Parker & Pulverster act they are forming as a ruse for going to Atlanta. The light acquiescence seemed out of character.

    You may want to typo search her name as “Parked”.

  • Laura C

    Mrs. Eames kept fanning.
    >>Oh, my heart just broke. :(

    I can’t picture the Incline contraption…not because I haven’t seen things like this but because I’ve seen or heard of too many different types of machines that do this same thing, so I’m confused about what it actually does or how it does it.

    After reading more–I’m assuming it’s only a train? hrm.

    Walker’s thoughtlessness is rather amusing, tempered by Cora’s experience and patience with him. It’s always interesting to see the two sides of the coin. You do that really well, I think: always aware of the many different possible takes on the same view or the same turn of phrase. It’s fascinating to watch.

    And now…they have a mission! They’ve come a long ways in the last few chapters. A lot has happened. I wonder if they’ve adjusted to the shock of it yet, or if that will catch up to them later?

  • http://www.onecobble.com/ Sandra Tayler

    I love the scene where Walker is turning his powdered hands over Brown. Pink. Brown. Pink. It is such a human thing to be fascinated with differences. On the few occasions I’ve worn stage make-up I kept staring at myself in the mirror, seeing all the differences and familiarity.

    At the very end of the chapter: “Cora found that the last week had changed her feelings…” Just prior to the Chatanooga trip, she was still reluctant to include Walker. So this difference is only a couple of days old. It makes sense that she feels it though. They’ve had an intense couple of days tending to Kittie. It is an inherently bonding experience. This would be a great moment to see Cora’s feelings about his devotion.

    The pair of them should start questioning what their relationship means soon. I feel like they both should start wondering why Walker is doing all of this. You already have lots of tensions in this romance, but I don’t think you can have too many. Or at least this would not be too many.

  • E. Catherine Tobler

    Why had she kept using the powder after she knew it wasn’t safe? For a job at a department store. It wasn’t even something glamorous or ambitious or anything, just a girl wanting to wear pretty clothes and thinking she couldn’t die from a little powder.

    Is this really what he thinks–why she did it? Knowing Walker’s humble background, does he see the family as well off? I presumed she did it because they needed the income–her father is a pastor? Can’t be too much income there, can there?

    Sadness on Kittie. :(

    I would have thought Cora and Walker would be surprised and/or frustrated that the professor isn’t there. Do they have the money to keep traveling around as they are? Cora took her income from the theater, yes? Did Walker also get his final pay before he left?

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