Content Warning: The section discusses alcohol and substance use disorders, pregnancy loss, abuse, and involuntary hospitalization. In addition, the source text uses outdated language to refer to mental health conditions and psychiatric hospitals, replicated only in quotes in this guide.

“He was caught up in the moment, an impulsive American like many others she’d encountered at the Langham. Too loud, too close, no sense of propriety.”

This description of Theodore establishes his character’s appearance and Sara’s perception of herself to highlight cultural differences. His impulsiveness and lack of propriety frame him as a representation of a broader stereotype of Americans. This contrasts with Sara’s refined expectations of behavior. Theodore’s characterization as guileless and helpless conveys the confidence Sara has in her discernment and in her inability to be duplicitous. This perception of Theodore establishes thematic tension and The Fragile Nature of Trust and Betrayal.

“Why you’d want to take after your mother when I gave you every chance of bettering yourself is beyond me.”

Sara’s mother’s resentment due to the earl’s behavior reflects her experiences with betrayal and exploitation. This bitterness shapes her emotional detachment from Sara, highlighting the societal forces that limit women’s options and influence generations. Her inability to nurture amplifies Sara’s feelings of displacement, leaving her feeling as though she belongs with and to no one. The emotional void in Sara’s upbringing mirrors her eventual exploitation by men, revealing the cyclical nature of exploitation that condemns women to endure and survive male dominance.

“Yet, what she’d read about America in the papers intrigued her. No worrying about using the proper titles. Everyone was called a Mrs., Mr., or Miss. The American guests she’d met, like Mr. Camden, tended to be far less demanding than the English ones.”

Sara’s expectations of American egalitarianism, influenced by favorable media portrayals, become a lens through which Theodore Camden can manipulate her trust. This misjudgment, driven by her idealized view of America and evidenced by a lack of proper titles, reveals the danger of assumptions in forming interpersonal relationships.