“She shone from the inside, and it made him uncomfortably and acutely aware of the cold, damp, dark foxhole that was his life.” (pg 26)ĭespite her lovely and demure exterior, Daphne has a heart of steel underneath. But despite his gruff cynicism, he is honest with Daphne and is slowly captivated by Daphne’s shimmering, brilliant beauty, and the light to which she brought his world. In part due to this, he is unwilling to open up to others, preferring solitude as his manner often scares people away. His leg injury from the war is severe to the point of constant discomfort, yet he refuses to have it amputated.

Ben is moody and in pain, emotionally and physically. This story is reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, yet it also breaks the mold. But could the earl come to want Daphne herself, and could the beauty heal the beast? When Ben offers to find the second portrait for Daphne in exchange for her staying away from Hugh, a relationship was formed. Despite the cantankerous earl’s warnings, kind Daphne can’t forget Ben’s mesmerizing blue eyes, or ignore the pain in his legs and heart. Now, as a debutante, she fears more for the scandal that will befall her family were this secret known, than for her own reputation. In desperate need of funds for her mother’s medicine, Daphne had posed for two scandalous paintings, believing they would never back to haunt her. Miss Honeycote won’t do, and he can threaten her with his painting to get her away from Hugh and him…or so he thinks. Ben vowed to his dead friend Robert to care for his younger brother – which equates to arranging a happy marriage for Hugh. After all, he has a scantily clad picture of her in his study.

He wants Daphne to leave Hugh alone as he believes her to be a fortune-hunting beauty. Hugh is a kind friend, but only his guardian, Benjamin Elliot, the Earl of Foxburn, infuses her with desire.īen knows he is a cold, cynical man and relishes his reputation.

Yet Daphne longs for more than security and comfort. Daphne’s loving sister is pushing her towards Hugh, Lord Biltmore, believing the young lord to be her match in temperament and disposition. This is a stunning, heartwarming, and unbelievably sweet romance from star author Anne Barton!įollowing her sister Annabelle’s marriage to the Duke of Huntford (When She Was Wicked, Honeycote #1), Daphne has become a Cinderella figure, no longer needing to worry about mere survival. Originally posted on Buried Under Romance

Once She Was Tempted by Anne Barton