I mean, Jack and Diana make sense ... he gets all ahoo over a woman, to the point of ruin, then rolls back upright. I did think Sophie was a little bland for him, but she'll do.
But what is it with Stephen and that greedy woman??? Jack and Stephen keep talking about her bravery, and her courage --- but she contributed to the death of a good man in India and keeps kicking Stephen around like a football.
Do the men find her so attractive because she's heedless?
It's been long enough since I read them that I kind of forgot exactly the details, to tell you the truth, except I kind of remember liking Villiers. Wasn't she kind of cute, or something?
But I do remember that she and Maturin were not exactly who you'd expect as a couple.
How do you think Pippin did as Barrett Bonden?
I think you have pegged it though : Stephen and Jack call her courageous, but she really is heedless and lacking a certain consciousness about her actions, which makes more sensible people go "DUH!" when she finally does stop to wonder why people treat her so bad. Why Stephen falls in love with her I'll never understand...which is probably why I lean heavily towards Jack in my favoritism, despite the goofy and raking things HE does. At least you know where he is coming from.
all ahoo
That's another phrase I would have loved to have heard!