Emily’s frequent fainting may suggest physical weakness. But it doesn’t change the fact that Emily can be mentally tough, able to consider difficult truths like the possibility that Valancourt has been unfaithful to her, rather than trying to ignore these truths. The third volume ends on one of the biggest cliffhangers so far, with Emily’s blissful future with Valancourt suddenly in jeopardy as she fears he’s no longer the man she thought she knew from before.