Simply Love / Mary Balogh 560 p.

Mary Balogh continues the series set around Miss Martin's School for Girls by telling the story of Miss Anne Jewell, a teacher, and her young 9-year old son.  Anne and David join the entire Bedwyn family at the Duke of Bewcastle's Wales home where Sydnam Butler has reinvented his life as the Steward after experiencing horrific war injuries from his service in the Penisular Wars.   Balogh interweaves her romances with characters that have such scars both physical and mental that neither feel love is in the cards for them.  They do come to be friends and admit to each other their deep loneliness.  Even after they marry, it is difficult for them to open up to each other and to become whole again.  Balogh continues her style of tackles the difficult topics here rape, maimed and badly disfigured veteran, class differences, and unwed mother in this sensuous romance.