Desire & Decorum Theory Page

Welcome to the Desire & Decorum Theory Page. Here we can discuss current, unconfirmed, and debunked theories regarding the Desire & Decorum series.

Current & Unconfirmed Theories

 * Vincent's illness: When Vincent is revealed to be sick at the end of Chapter 9, many fans suspect Henrietta of poisoning him in order to inherit his wealth.
 * Ledford Park: Fans believe that Gideon Payne burned down Ledford Park in revenge against the MC and her friends.
 * Harry: Fans believe that Harry returned to England because he's coming after Gideon.
 * Relationship with Harry: As a result of dialogue options that improve MC's relationship with Harry, it's believed that a high enough relationship with him will prevent him from trying to claim Edgewater Estate. This is expanded on in Book 3, Chapter 2, when he reveals that the reason for avoiding you is that he learnt you are manipulative and therefore doesn't want you to get Edgewater.
 * Gideon's possible return: There's a theory that Gideon will return during the MC's wedding to target the MC, Harry, or someone else, most likely armed with Ernest's gun.

Confirmed Theories

 * Edmund's relationship with MC: Fans speculate that because a high-enough relationship with Theresa Sutton results in her becoming MC's ally, it's possible for Edmund to defend his stepsister's claim to Edgewater Estate if his relationship with her is high enough. This is confirmed in Book 1, Chapter 14, when Edmund with a high relationship with the MC says he thinks it doesn't feel right for him to inherit what rightfully belongs to his stepbrother Harry and wishes the MC luck on defending her claim.
 * MC and Duke Richards: There's a theory that Duke Richards will ask Dowager Countess Dominique for MC's hand in marriage, and she will accept because of her son dying, her granddaughter not inheriting the estate, and her high opinion of the duke. This is confirmed in the end of Book 1, Chapter 16, when Dominique had MC engaged to Duke Richards.
 * Foul play at the duel: Fans theorized that Gideon Payne was involved in foul play when he gave the MC's chosen love interest the pistol needed for the duel by either sabotaging the gun or trading it with an inferior one. This is confirmed in Chapter 10, when the MC realizes that the gun her LI wielded lacks the engraved initials of Walter Fitzwilliam Sinclaire and didn't fire, allowing her and Ernest to deduce that Gideon switched the guns around.
 * Pamphlet: It is widely believed that the pamphlet calling for the Prince Regent's overthrow was written by Duke Richards, who wanted to seize the throne for himself because of his ties to King Richard III. This is confirmed in Book 2, Chapter 12, when Annabelle and the MC were listening to the conversation between Duke Richards and some noblemen from the other side the room discussing the next phase to their plan to dispose the monarchy.
 * Gideon Payne and Duke Richards: There is a theory that Gideon Payne is pretending to be loyal to Duke Richards so he could have the duke killed off and frame the MC's chosen LI of foul play. For instance, he agitates the duke during the hunting trip before the duel. If true, this means the gun will be part of the Cabinet of Secrets to prove the LI's innocence.
 * It was confirmed that Gideon was pretending to be loyal to Duke Richards in Book 2, Chapter 12, when he and the fellow conspirators were discussing together at a tavern about using Richards as a pawn in their plot to control the government. However, the gun is not part of the Cabinet of Secrets.
 * Shadowy figure: Many fans theorized that the shadowy figure Henrietta believed to be dead is the MC's half-brother Harry or Henrietta's first husband (and Edmund's father). If the former is true, it may be possible that Harry will plot to seize Edgewater Estate from his half-sister. This is confirmed in Book 3, Chapter 1, when the figure is revealed to be Harry himself, though whether or not he's plotting to seize Edgewater is still unknown.

Debunked Theories

 * Duke Richards' relationship: Some fans have theorized that because you can gain a relationship point with Duke Richards should you dance with him, it's possible to make an ally of him despite his unwanted advances towards the MC, especially against other enemies like Countess Henrietta and Felicity Holloway. This is disproven during the ball at Duke Richards' estate, when he couldn't be gained as an ally. Instead, MC ends up engaged to him against her will.
 * Henrietta is a killer: Fans have theorized that Henrietta killed her first husband Mr. Marlcaster and then her second son Harry. The motive for the former is believed to be her desire to inherit his wealth, and the motive for the latter is believed to be her desire to make sure her first son Edmund inherits Edgewater despite having no blood relation to Vincent. This is debunked by Book 3, Chapter 1. Henrietta's first husband died after a meeting with Tristan Richards, which makes Richards more suspect than her. Moreover, Harry was revealed to have faked his death during a hunting accident, when he was injured by a boar.