Responses
I agree especially how Ian has not even cleared the misunderstanding (not that he knows what he has been doing) but I can't hate her either.
Yes she is just naive and has been swept up by those around her in forming the idea that Ian is interested in her. I feel pity and am scared of how her ‘delusion’ is going to end.
Miss Lance is like a plant in a greenhouse typa lady. she grew up with the mentality of the people of that time and the thrived in it. the has loving parents and friends by her side who would always take her side. unlike the FL who has to fight the social norms, she thinks thats normal and I cant blame her for it.
like, imagine things from her side. A dashing bachelor comes to London where she is the flower of high society, people say they match each other. He talks with her, has walks, arranges picnics and even gifts her a painting.
These are definitely signs of courtships right? maybe Ian wasnt that mindful of high society rules to think about it and as reader with omnipotent vision we know it was all because of Laura he even gone to any high society things. But Miss Lance or other people dont know that, and as we all know about Laura's background they didnt even thought they were a match to connect the dots.
so how can I hate on a naive Young lady who thinks the ML loves her and wants to marry her? and her friends constantly assures her that is the case. like even a lie starts to seem like a truth when it's been reapeted multiple times. I just feel sorry for her now cause wheather she has a genuine crush on the ML or not her delusions would shatter and would probably hurt her a lot.
Like imagine thinking you were the center of attention and everyone said so but you turn around and all of it was a lie. still I hope she learns something from it and gets charecter development she deserves.