Those Autumn Nights — Theresa Romain

Previously published in the anthology A Gentleman For All Seasons

All's Fair in War…

Raised in wealth and privilege, Eliza Greenleaf was a dutiful daughter -- until she met Bertram Gage. The dashing young cavalryman swept her into a passionate affair, winning her body and soul. But low-born Bertie wasn't good enough for the Greenleaf family, who thwarted the headstrong couple's plans to elope. Chastened, Eliza threw herself into the whirl of polite society, while Bertie returned to battle on the Continent until a bullet ended his career and almost took his life.

…And Love

Ten years after first meeting Eliza, Bertie is hunting for a sense of peacetime purpose -- and a subtle revenge on the Greenleaf family that once shunned him. Their fortunes now fallen, the ever-proud family must let their ancestral home, and Bertie takes the lease that shoves them from their doorstep. When Eliza crosses his path again after years apart, their passion is as strong as ever. But the wounds of the past still have power, and family honor and secrets might ruin their second chance at love.