Cruelty to animals for instance is looked upon rather differently. Sentimentality is not allowable so much now either. Game of Kings is set in aspic, but the JJs are surrealistically in their periods. Readers have to be aware when the various books were written to understand how attitudes and fashions have changed. Because of the unusual nature of the two series with the later-written Niccolos preceding the time of Lymond, Richenda, who doesn't know what the ending is to be, has the flow going forward whereas Dorothy has it going backwards.
Consistency is very difficult.
Regarding who does what, Dorothy assumes she will have to check history since she does so much original research which often hasn't been tackled by historians. She always tries to visit the scene to check the terrain. Dorothy mentioned some racy French that was wrong but US editor picked it up. US editors don't have the same mores of the Europeans so there is a difference in how their editors and readers approach some passages. Dorothy was given advice early on in her career that you must make your villain as strong as possible or the hero won't be believable.