The House Between Seasons

Eliza Blackwood returns to Briarcliffe Manor, the brooding Gothic estate she once called home, after her stepfather's death. To her shock, the will stipulates a joint inheritance with Nathaniel Briarcliffe—her estranged former stepbrother, exiled a decade earlier after a forbidden kiss between them sparked scandal. The catch: They must cohabitate for one full season (three months) without impropriety, or lose everything to the parish.

As they navigate the manor's haunted halls and shared memories, old tensions ignite into undeniable passion. Nathaniel, hardened by years at sea, confesses his enduring love; Eliza, a reserved governess shaped by societal constraints, grapples with her desires. Defying rumors and watchful eyes (including parish inspectors), they secretly marry, transforming their "sin" into a bold union.

But their story doesn't end with vows. Eliza repurposes the manor into a sanctuary for women's education—teaching reading, writing, and self-worth to village girls and beyond. As visitors arrive (from skeptical aristocrats to eager learners), Briarcliffe evolves from a symbol of repression into a beacon of empowerment. Amid societal backlash and personal growth, Eliza and Nathaniel build a family, including their daughter Lark, proving that love can rewrite legacies.

A lush, atmospheric historical romance about forbidden desire, inheritance intrigue, and female resilience in Victorian-era England.

Stepsiblings to lovers → second chance → marriage of convenience → found family.

$1.00