Her Wanton Wager

The tension between the characters really drives the story, but I'm curious if the trope was a deliberate nod to classic romances or something the author wanted to explore more deeply.

It seemed like the wager forced the characters into situations where their true feelings could surface. How did others interpret the balance between game and genuine emotion?

The social expectations and class differences felt very authentic. I'm wondering if the author drew from personal research or previous experiences to craft this aspect.