It does. And it's a bit more surprising here than it is in most of her other books -- even if it requires a rather sudden, eye-roll-worthy volte-face on the part of one half of the pair (usually the woman), in most of the other books you can at least see where she's going with the romance. Not so here (with both couples, IMHO.)

I think that Vicky and whateverhisnamewas had a kind of (very mild) Dom/Sub roleplay vibe. He ordered her around a lot and she let him and he was the only one who understood what she was doing and wasn't horrified by it or dismissive of it. The way he sent her away from the pond sent a failrly clear message - at least for the times this was written in.

Yes, that struck me as well. Though Vicky is brighter than he is. Give her just a year or two (max), and she'll manipulate him to her heart's content. (And he'll let her do it in turn.)

The perfect switch couple :-)

True!