Books like Minx by Julia Quinn

Henrietta Barrett, a bright and feisty controller of her elderly guardian’s estate, refuses to conform to London society’s expectations—choosing breeches over gowns and living life on her own terms. When her guardian dies, her beloved home falls into the hands of a distant cousin, and Henrietta’s independent spirit rallies against the new order. Enter William Dunford, London’s most elusive bachelor, who finds himself inheriting a title and property alongside Henrietta. Scott, his new chart’s ward, is determined to keep running her home solo, even when the handsome new lord thinks he can change her hands. Their clash spirals into romance as Hijain proves she is a darling of the ton and a magnetic lure for the man who thought he could never be tempted. Together, they confront society’s strict rules, male and female expectations, and the weight of inheritance, forging a partnership that’s more than just a dance of duty and desire.

First publish date: 1996