Michael's love for Francesca
It is a situational irony that Michael Stirling is deeply in love with Francesca Bridgerton who was the wife of his first causing John, Earl of Kilmartin. Whenever Michael saw John and Francesca together, he would lust after her and get jealous of their relationship.
John's death
The death of John Stirling was very sudden. It was not expected. The Earl of Kilmartin had a headache, lay down, and died. He left behind a young pregnant widow. John was the heir of the Kilmartin estate and had very good prospects in society. His sudden death was a situational irony that is against the expectations of the readers.
Aristocratic culture
The aristocratic culture in England did not treat people equally. It is a situational irony that Michael and John Stirling who are first cousins because their fathers are twins, had very different outcomes in life. Michael who was the child of the sibling that was born second received no inheritance or title whereas John who was the child of the twin that was born first received all the inheritance and the title of Earl of Kilmartin.
Michael's indifference towards Francesca
It is a situational irony when Michael distanced himself from Francesca after John died. They had been good friends before John died and visited places and spent a lot of time together. After John died, Michael stayed in his room and later went off to India for four years to avoid her.
Francesca and Michael's denial of their mutual attraction
After the death of John Stirling and Francesca's miscarriage, Michael became the heir of Kilmartin. Francesca and Michel developed an attraction for each other. Instead of acting on the attraction and dating or getting married, they avoided each other and had an indifferent relationship. They should have come together and had a romantic relationship because they were deep in love.
