title: Duty and Desire
author: De Sallier, Elise
description: Grace Daniels, the village of Hartley's resident midwife and herbalist, would like nothing more than to ease the suffering of Jonathan Loring's young son, Peter. But the Blackthorn estate manager, a proud if fallen gentleman, is as prejudiced against her illegitimacy as he is her "witchy" profession . . . or so she believes. When Peter's physicians say they can do no more for the boy, Jonathan finds himself in the unenviable position of having to turn to the woman whose skills he has scorned. Calling an uneasy truce, the couple work together to save Peter's life, forming an unlikely friendship in the process. After being rejected by the society in which she was raised, Grace has no intention of submitting to the bonds of matrimony. She has found a degree of independence unheard of for a lady and fears a husband will seek to control her while expecting her to give up her healing profession. Having lost his inheritance and now forced to work for a living, the widowed Jonathan cannot afford another wife. Nor does he want one, as his first experience with the institution left him seriously doubting its benefits. While drawn together out of duty, Jonathan and Grace's relationship soon becomes characterised by a not-so-hidden desire. With marriage out of the question, their only option is both shocking and dangerous . . . to become lovers.