Poor Lady, childless and widowed at 26 surrounded by people who love her, who see the grief but do not understand her dispair, and have not the wit to save her.  Why did she not just leave and save herself?  She was nobody's ward, she was a woman of private means, not so?  Why didn't she just retire somewhere and heal? 

Every single alarm bell in my head is going off right now.  Who is this guy?  I don't trust him any farther than I could throw him.  He's just too,... too... too... slick.  Hmph!On with the romance ^_^

Lancaster--Howard--Boleyn (Tudor?) 

Powerful names that rise out of the mist of the distant past into the present.  The six basic questions (Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?) are jostling for position in my brain.   Your spell is well woven and I'm caught.  Please continue. 

What a fascinating place to stay. So rich with history. I would love to be there. At least you're giving me the opportunity to go along for the ride.  =)  Nicolas Lancaster is an extremely appealing character. I look forward to see what happens with him.

You have a lovely way of depicting a scene with such elegance. =)I think you may have a typo at the end. "Qui, mademoiselle…" looks like it should be "Oui, mademoiselle…"Anyway, this story just draws me right in. I feel like I'm part of the mystery, and the intrigue holds me there until it is unravelled.

Oh, this is very interesting. Is the details of this story drawn from fact? For example, did Count Phillipe actually die of pneumonia? I can't wait to find out who G.H. turns out to be.

OH, and now there's a secret journal to read, too, not to mention an interesting historical artifact. It will be interesting to see how the connection between Anne Boleyn and Lady de Chagny develops. I like the pacing of this story -- it has a leisurely feel to it, but fresh events and complications continually turn up to prevent it from going slack.

You build up the details very effectively in your descriptions  of that lovely country hotel. That's an interesting mix of luxury and unease you've got going there. It really hints at some sort of affinity (maybe even possession) involving the heroine and some  ghost of the past, but it isn't heavyhanded. M. Lancaster is another intriguing development -- lucky girl, having him as a balcony neighbor!

I can't shake the feeling, almost deja vu.  This reminds me the most of the first time I read the original "Dracula."  All of this calm, simple yet exotic beauty is quite frankly giving me the creeps.  Looking forward to more. 

Oh, I am very excited to read your story. I happened to have just finished reading Gaston Leroux's book. When I saw this on the newly added page, I was immediately intrigued. The prologue is certainly interesting so far. I enjoy your use of French in the story as well.

most intriguing... does that mean that Erik and Raoul are cousins?

This is a good start, leaving me wondering just what it's all about.  I thought it could use a little more on setting/time description, but I'm guessing it's modern time?  I'm intrigued on what the gifts might be. :-)

Far be it from me to argue, but isn't a piece based on the Phantom of the Opera, still considered fanfiction?

The entrance of Anne Boleyn into the tale is very intriguing, you're giving this history junkie a nice surprise. Once again, I love the tone, which really captures the sense  of a big, fat Victorian novel -- flowing and richly detailed at the same time.

Very strange, and why is our dear Mlle. Leroux the very person to solve this mystery? BTW, I didn't say it in my first review, but the title of this story is irresistibly elegant.

I hope you enjoy my little foray away from the world of fanfiction, just for a little while.

It's lovely, and even before I read your note I was thinking how reminiscent of a 19th-century novella it was -- the mysterious agent of change, the secrets to be sought out. (I'm remembering college readings of Kleist, as I studied German, not French.)