That used to be society back then. And right now it is still something that is alive in some countries and it's accepted.
I feel despair when I see her alone, and the only thing she can do is run away from there. Society back then didnt look good at women who where different.
Well if we are being realistic, since my mom's hobby is genealogy, I know my options wouldn't have been so great back then because we were serfs. Either I would have been lucky enough to work in the house or I would have been in the fields with everyone else. So unless a man of higher standing had taken in interest in me, my marriage would have been local and early. But the plus is that no one would take too much notice if a potential abusive husband suddenly perished or disappeared, if you know what I mean.
The spots in Europe where my family came from surprisingly have very little English ancestry but they have been a part of many different countries over the last three hundred years. As much as I like that style of dress, I would be in a dirndl based on almost 2/3rds of my DNA.
But as an educated woman, I just feel for her lack of independence. Like, she had a plan since he told her she was going to be out on her own as soon as his mother passed and now, he thinks he's doing her a favor. Plus, he's told everyone else around her that she's already accepted, pretty much, and they just need a formal setting to make it official. Either Dalton has to come in first or he will get that duel he wanted.
Excuse me for my ignorance but, what is "serfs"?
Also, what you have explained is what pretty much happened in all countries history. Women were the public of men victories, though some educated and strong women appear here and there in history.
I feel bad because in the end she has to rely on some men to get her out of there. But that's how it is, that's how the environment of the story works, and that's how the plot is going to develop.
"I won't give you a dime so no one wants to marry you."
"I call you useless every time we meet."
"Now that you're a spinster and I have a lucrative business deal, rejoice! I finally have a use for your worthless life."
F- off with that noise. You built her to never expect anything coming her way so she was prepared to be a very successful governess so she wasn't on the streets where you expected her to be. Now, accepting Dalton's feelings will be more about escaping your plan than her actual feelings.
This is the type of man who doesn't want to see a woman succeed. He'll let any blueblood woman better her family name aka the man she's attached to but anyone else is just an NPC. If my dad ever said any crap like this when I was growing up or even up until now, he would be buried in the backyard (unlikely, since I was the first granddaughter on his side so he liked to brag to his brothers that it took a real man to "make indoor plumbing." Yay, girl dads.)