That Scandalous Evening Book

There is a very amusing premise on why eleven years after That Scandalous Evening, Miss Jane Higgenbothem still does not understand why her nude sculpture of Ransom Quincy, Marquees of Blackburn, garnered such laughter from the ton. Jane experienced Blackburn's utter rage and ruin at his hands, while Blackburn experienced humiliation. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Absolutely, a nude was very far from a proper a subject for a young lady of the ton to sculpt, absolutely it was not meant to be seen. It truly was That Scandalous Evening
Jane unfortunately is a very talented but extremely naïve painter and sculptress,
But still? Why oh why did Jane have to turn tail, leave London, and become a drudge for her brother in law? However, while in purgatory Jane did have the joy of raising her late sister's stunning, sweet, but dim daughter, Adorna.
It's true that eleven years ago Jane was a bit dim herself, unable to see past her star-filled eyes that Blackburn was an arrogant, condescending, selfish man. It is also true that a young lady from good family should not have artistic talents or aspirations beyond light sketching. She especially should not have a painting hanging at Napoleon's Fontainebleau.
Eleven years later Jane is back in London during Adorna's first season as Adorna's cap wearing chaperone. Sadly, memories are long.
Blackburn still resembles a certain equine animal, but he has lost a lot of his arrogance after receiving injuries fighting in the battle of Talvera; and because young men from his estate died in that battle. It was a battle that showed an obvious betrayal of English plans. Blackburn's lust for revenge against spies now outweighs all considerations.
It is inevitable for Jane and Blackburn to meet; Blackburn conceives the plan that being seen courting Jane would give him cover while he searched for a Foreign Office spy. My advice to the FO, don't use amateurs for a professional's job, because Blackburn's performance and conclusions are abysmal for the most part.
The FO's reasoning is that it took a member of the ton to catch a member of the ton. Wastrels were sometimes ripe for French pickings. I mean when even your tailor turns you away… you might be tempted by some extra blunt. Or you might turn traitor if you were about to be put out on the street.
I rarely have read or listened to a book where I have enjoyed the secondary characters as much as the hero and heroine. Ransome's sister Lady Goodrich, who might have been a model for Downtown Abbey's Lady Violet, the sometimes oddly astute Adorna, Lord and Lady Tarlin and the half-Irish charmer Gerald Fitzgerald all added so much to the book.
Lady Goodrich has kept Jane's sculpture of her brother at her country estate, handy for when he needs reminding of his arrogance.. He should probably see it daily. Jane's naiveté about the statue never stops being amusing.
I rarely listen to audio books. I need to change this. I thought the single person narrator; Karen Cass was almost perfect with every character and every emotion. Cass is outstanding during the scene when Jane realizes why Ransom married her. Every word Cass utters is filled with sarcasm, rage, disgust and humiliation; with an undertone of heartbreak leaking from every word. All this without over-the-top histrionics.
She is equally as good during Ransom's groveling scene. My biggest complaint with most HR's is that the hero's groveling is pro forma. In That Scandalous Evening Ransom's scene is epic, romantic, and might make up for ten years of disgrace for Jane.
The book is funny, sweet, and hot; an absolute joy to listen to.