Irish Autumn

Margaret Evans Porter

It has been the talk of the country. Irish society has been scandalized at the news of lovely Berengaria Ivory’s betrothal. It wasn’t the fact that she was only sixteen when her father promised her to th grandson of his old friend and neighbor, the Earl of Lindal, nor the fact that the couple had never met. It was the fact that young Torin, her intended bridegroom eloped only days later—with a chambermaid! Garia’s heart was broken, for in her romantic dreams she had imagined Torin the most handsome and charming of men, but she weathered the gossip and the new scandal when her father’s second wife ran away to India leaving behind her three young sons from a previous marriage. Indeed, Garia loved the boys dearly as if they were her own brothers, and after her father died, she devoted all her efforts to ensuring that their mother could never claim them for the sake of their inheritance. To this end, she refused every offer of marriage, concentrating only on managing the estate which supported them all. When Garia learned that Torin had returned after ten years abroad to claim his grandfather’s lands and title, she felt secure enough to greet her erstwhile betrothed with equanimity. But he was everything she ever fancied—handsome with deep green eyes and a knowing smile. She found it hard to believe that the thoughtful gentleman before her could ever have treated a lady so ungallantly, for he offered friendship and extended every kindness to her and her stepbrothers. His attentions were unwavering, and Garia soon found that she wanted more from him: she wanted his once-promised love.