A scandalous and emotional novel about married woman of high social standing in eighteenth century England tries to hide from the judging eyes of her elite circle when her extramarital affair with a younger man is exposed In the late eighteenth century, a time when the English elite navigate a world of ease and moral flexibility, Harriet Bessborough finds herself in the throes of an affair that defies the societal conventions of her age. Born into one of the grandest families in Britain and wed to a man she doesn't love, Harriet seeks excitement with a younger, irresistibly attractive lover named Lord Holland whose proposal to marry her niece sets the stage for scandal. As their affair becomes public, Harriet's life is scrutinized by the unforgiving eyes of her peers, bringing to the forefront the double standards and the precarious position of women in Georgian England. Despite the love and passion that define her relationship with Lord Holland, Harriet is starkly reminded of the power imbalances and the perilous nature of her liaison. Driven by love and a desire to secure her children's futures, Harriet faces the heart-wrenching decision whether to let her lover marry her niece, embracing the excruciating sacrifice with a mixture of courage and resignation. Rules of the Heart intricately weaves a tale of a woman's heart-wrenching journey, caught in the tumultuous crossfire between the forbidden allure of true love and the stark, unyielding chains of societal expectations. Will the raw, passionate call of her heart sing louder than the oppressive weight of her affluent duties?
A beautifully evocative historical novel about the perils of all-consuming love, inspired by a real-life 18th-century love affair, from the bestselling author of The Other Bennet Sister, Janice Hadlow.

I could never understand a medium in love, I must love with my whole heart and soul, my whole existence, know no happiness or misery but from the object of my passion . . . England, 1794. Now in her thirties, Lady Harriet Bessborough is no stranger to the affections of a younger man. For married women of the Ton, a young lover is encouraged, provided you know how to play the game: don't embarrass your husband, maintain complete discretion at all times and, most importantly, never fall in love. So when Harriet meets Lord Granville - brilliantly handsome, rich, twelve years younger than her - he appears the perfect candidate for an affair. Until she falls uncontrollably under<