First published 2024
Master Elias Bennet faces mounting pressure to secure his future through marriage to a wealthy woman in 1813 England. He refuses to consider matrimony without genuine affection. Money alone cannot persuade him to wed. His convictions are tested when Mistress Charlareine Bingley arrives in the countryside with her even wealthier companion, Mistress Filwillemina Darcy. Bingley and Elias's brother James quickly develop mutual attraction. Meanwhile, Elias and Darcy regard each other with immediate distaste. Their first encounters spark conflict rather than romance. The social dynamics of their small community shift as these newcomers upset established patterns. Elias must navigate his principles against practical necessities while confronting his growing feelings for someone he initially despised. The story explores whether love can overcome first impressions and social expectations.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adult-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: England, Countryside
Period: 1813
532 pages · Kindle Edition · Garden Strawberry