Along the gaslit streets of Victorian London, the chances of finding love—or death—swirl within the fog and shadows.Recently relocated to London following his father's death, trained artist William Westcott struggles to support himself as a scrivener. Desperate for income, he takes any work that comes his way, including a portrait commission of a wealthy client's two young daughters.Elizabeth Harris, a sensitive, intelligent young governess, oversees the sittings. As the portraits take shape, an irresistible connection develops between her and William, leading to secret meetings and whispered promises.  But though William is deeply in love, his pride and insecure finances keep him from offering Elizabeth a promise of a future together. A solution appears when an enigmatic gentleman enters William's shop and offers him an unusual proposal—a high-paying job designing invitations to his many elaborate balls.Suddenly, the future William has hoped for is within his reach. But as he grasps it, the dream turns into a nightmare when he uncovers the true nature of his generous benefactor. Refusing to admit the truth, William continues working until he is given an assignment that could end everything between him and Elizabeth forever.   "e;The Stroke of a Pen"e; originally appeared in Not As It Seems: A Gothic Anthology, published by And You Press, an imprint of Nicole Frail Books, LLC, in 2025. This version has been significantly expanded and developed to allow the reader more time with William and Elizabeth.