The Rector and The Vicar's Daughter

A Short Regency Era Romance

Clarissa, the dutiful daughter of a rigid and pious vicar, has spent her life in quiet servitude, believing that love is a dangerous temptation and marriage a snare. But when her father’s death leaves her penniless and alone, she has no choice but to seek employment—until an unexpected inheritance changes everything.

Thrust into a world of wealth and possibility, Clarissa begins to shed the drab existence of her past, awakening to the joy and freedom she never dared to imagine. Yet society's glittering ballrooms hold more than just admiration—they also draw the attention of powerful men who see her fortune as an irresistible prize. Among them is the charming but reckless Gregory Rogers, the man who once stole a kiss—and her heart—years ago.

But as old feelings reignite and new dangers emerge, Clarissa finds herself entangled in the schemes of the calculating and corrupt Rector Josiah Blackwood, a man whose holy robes hide dark ambitions. In a world where virtue is currency and deception is deadly, she must navigate a treacherous path between desire and duty, passion and propriety.

Can she escape the fate society has planned for her? Or will she surrender to the greatest risk of all—trusting her own heart?