Vintage's Reviews > Indiscreet

A re-read

Just re-read and overall my rating and comments stay the same except to add that the hero does change his behavior and way of thinking not just about the heroine but the damage women took in this era. It takes him a while, but eventually he realizes the damage he caused as well as what could have been fatal damage to heroine because of her circumstances. So kudos to a changed man.

Caution:

Long winded review.

Another book that makes me thankful for being born in this era. When Mary Balogh wants to push the harshness and reality of Regency she does an effective job. Oh, we get our happy ever after, but the social dynamics that set it up are wretched and depressing.

The heroine is a widow in the small village and is respectable enough to teach the lady of the manor’s children (without pay) and to occasionally even out dinner parties with the dreaded odd numbers. Mrs. Adams, the lady in question, is spiteful, manipulative, too aware of her own status and power and is not a caricature which makes her all the more awful. For modern reference, she is a Regina George.

The hero, oh yuck, the hero. In our first scene or so with him he ponders the kinds of women he is willing to bed. Widows are great as he can have an enjoyable ONS. No virgins or debutantes. Even mistresses are too much work. As he approaches his twin brother’s estate he and his friends wonder who they can bag or if possibly find a barmaid or something. So when his eyes alight the beautiful widow it’s a big hurrah. He knows the hussy wants him because she gave him a big smile. Let me remind you…twin. On the basis of the smile and the high neck gowns she must wear to be provocative, he sneaks out to make her a dirty offer. Like Queen Victoria, she is not amused. We’re getting into rape apology and Harvey Weinstein area here as he puts the blame on his attraction to the heroine on the heroine’s come-hither-ness. The heroine is quite clear she wants nothing to do with him and her smile was for what she thought was his brother who she likes and admires.

It doesn’t help that Mrs. Adams is on a ripping tear as well, slut shaming the shameless heroine for her basic existence. She wants the H to marry her sister and has no qualms in wrecking vengeance when she doesn’t get her way. She enlists the straight-from-Jane-Austen Mr. Collins type obsequious vicar to help her.
(view spoiler)[

The shoe drops as the hero is seen leaving the heroine’s cottage despite nothing happening. The evil Mrs. Adams swoops in to annihilate a woman she despises for no more reason than being attractive, and hell descends on the heroine. For 20th century and 21st century women, it’s hard to comprehend being in a position with no options, no where to move, no real way to make money to be independent. The h is shunned by the villagers she has read to and supported for the past five years, spurned as a Jezebel by the vicar. Sad times.

The hero’s brother and sister, about the only two sane and nice characters, go into damage control and yank him back for a MOC to save the heroine. Literally save her.
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So MOC is engaged much to the heroine’s dismay, but as far as the H is concerned he finally gets to bed her. Their attraction grows to affection and the truth comes out.

(view spoiler)[She was a debutante who flirted with a notorious cad, was raped, kicked out by her family for not marrying him. She had a child that died shortly after and bargained with her family to come to the small village. At every turn, she was the one at fault: for getting raped, for NOT marrying her rapist, and for having a child. Despite her love for her son, even she felt grateful that her son died sparing him the shame of being a bastard.

This is the real Regency.

Turns out the cad/rapist was a serial rapist, and he gets his just desserts by the hand of the hero. (hide spoiler)]

I really over-thought this! So on one level you can read this as an angsty Regency romance that ends in a HEA, or it’s a cautionary tale and probably a better representation of the Regency era than more frivolous and more enjoyable books. Have we really come that far with William Kennedy Smith, the Stanford rapist etc.


Three stars for authenticity and angst, but a one star for enjoyment.
Sorry to be a BUMMER.