It offers readers a good example of the problem an author faces when she has to redeem two characters who are pretty obnoxious to start with. It almost worked for me here. Jane Ambergate, a lovely widow, has been invited to a two-week summer party at the home of her good friend, Lady Somercote. Jane is ecstatic.
Hope is on the horizon.
After all, Jane wants a home and children. So, she decides to seduce Freddy in order to nudge him in the right direction. She, of course, believes it's Freddy. Thorpe shows his true colors by making a wager with his ex-mistress declaring that Jane will be his new mistress within a fortnight. The switch comes to light the next morning, as Thorpe meets Jane in the maze and delights in confessing all.