Beneath the graceful boughs of an ancient willow, Eliza Whitmore finds a world apart from the rigid expectations of her aristocratic life. But when she encounters Thomas Hewitt—the estate’s under-gardener with a scholar’s mind and a passion for growth—she discovers a love as deep and untamed as the roots of the tree that shelters them.
Thomas is everything Eliza has been taught to avoid—humble in station but rich in intellect and spirit. Drawn together by whispered conversations and stolen moments in his hidden nursery, their love defies class, convention, and the looming shadow of her arranged future.
Yet secrets buried in the soil of Whitmore Manor threaten to unravel everything Eliza has ever known. A forbidden romance. A legacy of lost love. And a truth that could change everything.
Rachelle Ayala is a USA Today Bestselling author, spanning genres from contemporary romance to historical, romantic suspense, Jane Austen fan fiction, and romantic comedy. She writes emotionally compelling stories featuring endearing characters who are relatable and have fun while tackling their issues and falling in love. She also writes horror as "Bella Vex" and humor/nonfiction as "Clare Chu"View all by Rachelle Ayala
