I can finally pay your wonderful comment the attention it deserves. Thank you so much for all your kind words! I was thrilled to bits that you enjoyed the story, and especially that you were able to appreciate the care that went into thinking up not just one main case but a mini-one too, as well as the moment of intimacy between the two Victorian gentlemen. You know I was very careful when I crafted that scene and ultimately quite pleased with the result, so it was lovely to be able to share it with you at last after talking to you about it—and that you found it worthy of praise.

Thank you also for having so many good and truthful words for the artwork. It was indeed beautiful and very subtly apt.