worryingly jolly batman

I can't speak for jennielf, and it's been awhile since I read the early Daine books, but off the top of my head Daine experienced violent abuse and geneal unpleasantness from her village, especially the headsman, after the death of her mother - it's not, IMO, beyond the realms of belief that this abuse was also sexual. Although Daine's virginal attitude in some of the later books might be said to preclude this.