While critics initially supported this element of Desmond, the radicalism of the French Revolution and the "conservative mood among her audience" prompted Smith to "tone down" the political references in her novels.

He starts by relaying when he foolishly almost spent all of his spending money by partying and gambling (which he was able to recover most but not all) and then told Desmond about when he married a poor woman whose vanity consumed her.

Newminster, being an arrogant idiot, came to the Farifax's house where they all adore him; once he was there, he put his dirty boots on the couch and started to talk to and feed the dog chocolate and bread (despite the fact he was acting rudely and vapidly, the ladies all swooned over him because he was an aristocrat).

At that moment a man named the General came bringing the news that France abolished nobility; all characters were upset except Desmond.

In this letter Desmond also admires Madame de Boisbelle (who he clearly likes) and talks about Montefleuri's other younger sister Julie who always has a sense of sadness to her since she was so young when she was prepared for the nunnery.

Desmond ends the letter saying he must go because Josephine (aka Madame de Boisbelle) called him away (which indicates their romantic relationship).

Due to this, Mr. Verney is trying to gather more money, but it has placed Gerdaline in a bad situation, Mr. Bethel ends his letter by responding to Desmond's politics.

Bethel is hesitant to agree with the supporters of the French Revolution on the basis that he likes the principle but wonders if it is a reality.

When they visit the uncle's property, Desmond takes note of all of the depressed and unhappy peasants working on a depleted land.

Bethel, in the letter, compliments Fanny (remarking on her strong character) and suggests Desmond marry her and not pursue Geraldine.

Geradline's mother, who also was in this conversation, refuses to acknowledge the help Desmond has given her family, and instead feeds into the Uncle's story.

Fanny comments on how she is very annoyed with her mother.. Letter 8 Geraldine to Fanny: Geraldine is frustrated with Mr. Verney since he won't allow her to call a doctor for her baby, he won't let her join him where he is living, and he made them leave their house (and her family) in Kent.

She also expresses her guilt about Desmond, and tells Fanny not to fight with his Uncle Danby but instead listen so she can gather more information to pass on.

He also reports to Desmond that Geraldine is in Richmond alone and without much money and that everyone in Bath is waiting on Waverly to return home (his mother is very anxious).

Bethel then included a second letter which claims Mr. Verney has officially sold everything, leaving his family practically destitute.

Geraldine then mentions how she just received a letter from her claiming he wants her to come to Paris with his friend the ‘Duke’ and leave their children behind.

Geraldine believes nothing bad will happen (she says this half-heartedly), but Desmond tries to explain how dire the situation is especially because she has no manservant or any protection.

Also, Miss Elford's fiance ditched her because he inherited a lot of money so he no longer needed her to advance his career.

Mr. Verney sent a letter to Geraldine saying he is a few days behind but asks her to wait in Paris at Duc de Romagnecourt's house (instead of his hotel).

Fanny knows this is not true, but she is worried with the Fairfaxes coming to visit this weekend that this rumor will spread like wildfire.

What made the French Revolution so radical (and a strong discussion point among many scholars and authors) was because the idea of abolishing a monarchy and rebuilding an already established country was completely foreign.

Many British authors and scholars engaged in this conversation as well, and identified themselves as Jacobins and Anti-Jacobins which led to a mixed representation regarding the French Revolution in literature at the time.

Anti-Jacobin advocates included Thomas Burke, Elizabeth Hamilton, Robert Bisset, Henry James Pye, Charles Lloyd, Jane West, and Edward Dubois.

[5] Jacobins wanted to create a completely new system and abolish the monarchies since the past government was riddled with inequality it would be pointless to work with what was already known.

In the 19th century, America and the United Kingdom based their ‘ideal woman’ on a set of guidelines called the  “Cult of True Womanhood” or “Cult of Domesticity.” This set of codes defined what ‘womanliness’ meant and what ‘womanly behavior’ consisted of; ultimately these codes determined that women were expected to become a wife and mother and to cultivate piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity in all their relations.

The Cult of True Womanhood was primarily meant for middle-class families where the wife could stay home and fulfill her obligations of housekeeping, raising good children, and making her family's home a haven of health, happiness, and virtue, while the husband participated in the realms of politics, commerce, or public service and provided security and protection.

Desmond is single but Geraldine is married, so their relationship must stay strictly platonic (and follow all rules of propriety).

Another prime example of this is when Montefleuri's uncle, out of rage and bitterness to the French Revolution, ordered for all the birds on his property to be killed so peasants would not be able to eat them (it was a cruel form of punishment).

Due to marriage customs at the time, she was not allowed to divorce him despite the fact he was abusive and not fulfilling his role of providing for his family.

Geraldine, despite the fact she embodies the ideal woman, is stuck in a marriage that ultimately is emotionally and physically abusive (her husband wants to make her a prostitute for money and is willing to abandon his children).