Books like Duelling Fire by Anne Mather

After her father’s death, 19‑year‑old Sara Shelley takes a position as a companion in her youthful Aunt Harriet’s rural estate, hoping the tranquility of the English countryside will offer her solace. The quiet life quickly unravels when Sara learns that the household’s rugged, brooding presence, Jude, is the man Harriet has hired but whose dark, seductive nature warns her of hidden motives. The revelation that Jude is Harriet’s lover upends Sara’s expectations, and as she comes to understand the depth of Jude’s connection to her aunt, she discovers a powerful, unexpected attraction to the very man that threatens to dismantle her world. The novel combines contemporary settings and intricate romantic dynamics, exploring themes of secret love, personal transformation, and the complicated bonds formed in an intimate household.

First publish date: 1981