10. Backing off from blackmailing Lord John Grey
I hated the fact that Brianna tried to blackmail Lord John Grey. However, I did love that he called her bluff on it. Rather than continue to threaten and blackmail him, she backed down. This was the start of a beautiful friendship between the two.
Brianna found someone she could open up to. She shared the truth about her story and why she wanted Grey to be the man to “marry” her. It would never actually lead to marriage. He would also be the one to help her face against Bonnet and remain hopeful that Roger would return. It was all possible because she was willing to back down and then apologize for her words.
9. Standing up for what she wanted in the 1970s
In the 1970s, Brianna and Roger prove they’re not entirely compatible. They’re from different cultures and have different expectations in life. Roger wants to do things the old fashioned way—and still the way in 1970s Scotland. Yet, Brianna wants to do things the 1970s American way.
She’s a woman of her time and is willing to stand up for what she wants. While I don’t think Roger was wrong for standing up for what he wanted, I do accept that Brianna wasn’t wrong for standing up for what she wanted. In fact, I love that she knew her mind and was willing to ask for that.
And it wasn’t that she knew her mind. She wanted a life and wanted to explore. After seeing what a marriage of duty could be like, she didn’t want that for herself. However, that didn’t mean she wanted to remain a pious virgin for the rest of her life.