History VisualNovel / DesireAndDecorum

** Subverted with Viscount Westonly, who pursued Annabelle because he didn’t want to become a lonely old man and stops pursuing her once he realizes that [[AllLoveIsUnrequited she doesn’t love him back]].

* UnwittingPawn: A premium option in Book 2 Chapter 12 reveals that the co-conspirators are using Duke Richards as a figurehead so they could control him from behind the throne should he become king.

* DeathByChildbirth: Ernest’s late wife Roselyn [[spoiler:died giving birth to Duke Richards’s child]].

-->'''Duke Richards (to a non-white!Clara):''' A woman of your status and... complexion ought to be thanking whatever god she prays to that a man like me wishes to wed her.

* GayOption: Annabelle Parsons

* OohMeAccentsSlipping: Starting in Book 3 Chapter 12, [[spoiler:Gideon Payne]] drops his fake French accent when threatening [[spoiler:Viscount Harry]] into overthrowing the monarchy.

* BastardAngst: Clara spends much of the first book trying to prove herself worthy of Edgewater despite being an illegitimate child. A HopeSpot appears when she realizes her parents were married, but their marriage was annulled before she was born.

* HateSink:
** Henrietta shows no sliver of redeeming qualities at all throughout her appearance. Aside from being a WickedStepmother, she acts [[MyBelovedSmother domineering towards her son Edmund Marlcaster]], attempts to break his engagement with Theresa Sutton because the latter has no social standing, never shows any love for Earl Vincent, keeps Annabelle Parsons in her sewing circle just for being Harry’s fiancée, and [[BadBoss treats servants like dirt]].
** Duke Richards earned the fandom's ire as soon as he was introduced thanks to his arrogance and ego. He gets worse and worse when he continues making unwanted advances toward Clara and refusing to take no for an answer.

* GoodParents: Vincent immediately shows his love for Clara upon meeting him. Likewise, Mary raised Clara with love and care.

* MultipleChoicePast: Clara’s mother Mary’s origins depend on her ethnicity. If white, she was found singing in a meadow on the continent (Mainland Europe) when employees of Opera St. James noticed her singing and hired her. If Chinese, she had been performing in her native China since three and was taken to England by a captain. If Indian, a captain discovered her singing for coins and took her to England. If black, she was shipped to England from the Caribbean when a first mate heard her singing.

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: It's highly implied that Duke Richards is racist towards anyone who isn't white, as evidenced by his disparaging remarks towards Prince Hamid and a non-white!Clara.

* DirtyOldMan: Played for drama with Duke Tristan Richards, who made numerous unwanted advances towards Clara, culminating in him [[spoiler:attacking her as she was on the way to Edgewater]].

* HiddenHeartOfGold: Ernest secretly delivers food and supplies to “fallen women” at night.

* KnightOfCerebus: Duke Richards. Unlike most examples, the darker tone he establishes in the series is a gradual buildup since he is first introduced as an arrogant prick who has eyes on Clara, followed by unwelcome gestures towards her and culminated with [[spoiler:an attack on her]].

* WhyWasteAWedding: After the wedding with Duke Richards is stopped, the bishop is disappointed that he does not get to unite anyone. This leads to the diamond option of [[spoiler:getting Briar to marry one of her suitors]].
* WickedStepmother: Countess Henrietta constantly makes insulting remarks towards Clara and [[spoiler:tries to have Vincent’s will changed so Clara won’t inherit Edgewater]].

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: At the climax of Book 3, after EVERYTHING, [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Countess Henritta]] [[{{Determinator}} is still deadset on claiming Edgewater]]. [[spoiler: Not even a high-manners Clara [[TheLastStraw is going to tolerate]] her WickedStepmother's scheming forever, and [[PersonaNonGrata personally banishes the countess]]. They'll only have a [[VideoGameCaringPotential chance to reconcile during First Winter]], and even then, it's not enough to lift the band, and the countess will be forced to find a new home with the help of her sons.]]

* AlliterativeName: David Danforth.

** Duke Richards for Clara.
** Viscount Westonly for Annabelle Parsons.

* CartwrightCurse: Viscount Westonly was married four times, and all of his wives are dead.

* TheLostLenore: Subverted with Ernest’s late wife Roselyn. [[spoiler:She [[GoldDigger married him for his wealth]] and [[YourCheatingHeart cheated on him for Duke Richards]].]]

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Queen Charlotte, also known as Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, appears in Books 2 and 3.

* BiTheWay: Like most Choices stories, Clara has both male and female love interests.

* MarriageOfConvenience: If Clara pursues Annabelle Parsons or Luke Harper, Mr. Chambers offers to marry her to fulfill the conditions of her will. [[spoiler:This no longer applies for Luke, who becomes a SuddenlySuitableSuitor after his status was elevated for saving the queen from Duke Richards.]]

* HistorialDomainCharacter: Queen Charlotte, also known as Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, appears in Books 2 and 3.

* BirdsOfAFeather: Viscount Westonly and Lady Lavinia bond over their tendency to mishear things

* MultipleChoicePast: Clara’s mother Mary’s origins depend on her ethnicity. If white, she was found singing in a meadow when employees of Opera St. James noticed her singing and hired her. If Chinese, she had been performing in her native China since three and was taken to England by a captain. If Indian, a captain discovered her singing for coins and took her to England. If black, she was shipped to England from the Caribbean when a first mate heard her singing.

* MarriageOfConvenience: If Clara pursues Annabelle Parsons or Luke Harper, Mr. Chambers offers to marry her to fulfill the conditions of her will.