It's a historical romance? So... not a series romance and not a book with romance elements, but definitely in the romance genre. Which is probably another reason why there were betrayed marriage vows and etc. without the tragic ending, since romance generally doesn't have tragic endings. Also... Gaffney was pretty much doing all she could to make it ok, from having the husband be a jerk and Sara being misunderstood to having the husband be the one committing most of the affairs anyway.

It really isn't a romantic triangle in terms of affection, but I absolutely hate the stacking of the decks, particularly when I feel the author is using it just to get a dramatic, socially forbidden romance. Actually, as a whole, I hate romances that have been forbidden at a societal level; it's this weird squick of mine and it just makes me nidgy and really uncomfortable.