Romancing the Runaway — Wendy Soliman

England, 1816
Miranda Cantrell is desperate to escape the confines of her overbearing guardian and return home to Cornwall. She's certainly not going to marry his ridiculous son. What she doesn't anticipate is finding herself stranded, wedged between several bales of hay in a stable, nearly freezing to death.

Relieved to have escaped the madness of London, Lord Gabriel Forster comes home for some much-needed tranquility. Inexplicably fascinated by the lovely young woman he finds on his estate, Gabe rightly assumes there's more to the story -- why is her guardian so intent on seeing her married to his son? He'll take her to Cornwall himself to find out.

When they discover her childhood home has been stripped of all its valuables, Gabe uncovers more to the old house than either of them had imagined. And with Gabe's safety hanging in the balance, Miranda is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice…

74,000 words