I do think that Vera's emotional development was stunted by her going to nurse in the war and the, for women, rather repressive atmosphere she grew up in. She didn't have the time at first and later not the inclination (suffering from after effects from the war) to date and get to experiment with the boys. Also the fact that her character is not that I would call lovable didn't help.
As for her husband George; she could get away with her attitude and that says something about the man as well...ahem....
