The Lost Letter: A Victorian Romance

In the three years since they spent time at a ball stealing kisses in the garden, life has changed dramatically for Sylvia Stafford and Sebastian Conrad. Then, she was the daughter of a baron, but after his suicide, she is now a governess in Cheapside. Sebastian was a second son and military officer, but he has returned from India, unexpectedly the Earl, and in self-exile owing to facial injuries he endured during the Sepoy Rebellion. Sebastian's sister Julia conspires to get the two back together, but there are deeper betrayals. Sylvia never received a reply to all the letters she sent him and is painfully aware of her reduced circumstances. Sebastian knows an earldom cancels out his new appearance, but Sylvia's rejection three years ago still stings. In this sweet romance, their preconceived notions of each other's past actions and current motivations create most of the conflict. With both characters frequently looking backward, Matthews keeps the plot moving quickly enough to prevent their chronic, almost willful misunderstandings from growing tedious.Verdict A fast and emotionally satisfying read, with two characters finding the happily-ever-after on which they had understandably given up. A promising debut.—Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington P.L., VA