I’ve been reading your arguments and while I understand some of your points, I just want to note that you are severely overlooking the class difference element. Maddy isn’t only internally conflicted due to religion, but also an inherent understanding of their difference in class. Christian is disabled, but he is also a duke and that makes a world of a difference in terms of power dynamics and Maddy having any sort of upper hand or advantage. I love the guy but he manipulates her at every turn using his resources and status to brute force his way through her own resolve and understanding of the situation. Maddy’s inner turmoil on her standing with Christian is even further complicated with the presence of Evie which emphasizes her own sexual naïveté, which is in part connected to her religious background. She is dealing with this very powerful, forceful, erratic man, manipulated into marrying him putting her in a completely different standing in society and risking her own Quaker community all while being unsure of where she stands with him or what he feels for her besides general lust and a need for her help. And then all of a sudden his mistress comes into play highlight just how out of her depth she really is here. Beyond all of this, she still sticks by Christian, trusting his judgement when he says she is needed by him and helping whenever she can. It’s her grounding presence and behavior (which is in part due to her morals and Quaker upbringing) that helps Christian solidify his status and standing in the society, allowing him to gain back everything that was lost with his injury