However, when Joshua invites David and Anne to a house party held by the Duke of Bewcastle, Anne cannot refuse a chance for David to socialize with other boys his own age, even though she cringes at the thought of inflicting her Poor Unworthy Tainted Self upon the rarified Bedwyn company. Anne accepts Joshua's friendship, but his familial overtures make her extremely uncomfortable - she does not want to dwell on her rape or accept any sort of connection from it. The hero of Scandalous (Joshua Moore) continues to correspond with Anne and dote on David, partly because, as the cousin of Anne's rapist, he feels responsible for David and considers him family. Thanks to the protagonists of Slightly Scandalous, she and her son David were saved from destitution and she eventually obtained employment with Miss Martin's School for Girls.

Both Anne and Sydnam experienced terrible traumas as young adults that seemingly destroyed their bright futures.Īs a young governess, Anne was raped by the son of her employer, and was subsequently fired when she discovered she was pregnant. Sydnam: Guess we better get married and solve all our internal problems before the book's over! Hey, look, I can paint just as awesomely with my left hand! Who knew?Īnne's Family: And even though we still kind of blame you for getting raped because it's the 19th century, we're sorry for dumping you and want you back!īut this isn't actually the Bedwyn Reunion Novel - no, this story ostensibly revolves around Anne Jewell (a secondary character from Slightly Scandalous) and Sydnam Butler (the younger brother of the hero from A Summer to Remember). Syndam: Well that's at least one problem solved. Sydnam: If only I wasn't horribly scarred and ugly!Īnne: If only I wasn't a Dirty Unwed Mother who's scared of sex! Joshua Moore: Hey guys, let me introduce my Super Awesome and Dear Friend Sydnam Whose Face Will Only Bother You If You're a Terrible, Terrible Person.Īnne: Awkward. Oh hey, look, a cliff upon which I can Angst! So long as I'm treated like a servant because of my Dirty, Dirty Unwed Mother status.

Joshua Moore from Slightly Scandalous: Come to my house party!Īnne: Um, okay, I guess. The Rub: Was horribly tortured and maimed in the war, and believes he's too ugly (inside and out) for any sort of romantic love.ĭream Casting: Rob James-Collier with an eye-patch.

The capable and dedicated steward of the Duke of Bewcastle's estate in Wales, and also a childhood friend of the Bedwyn family. The Rub: She bore a child out of a wedlock after her employer raped her, so she knows that not only will most of society reject her, but she's also terrified of intimacy. A teacher at Miss Martin's School for Girls and mother of a young son, she enjoys her independence, even if she is a bit lonely.

Simply love by mary balogh