A Country Wooing — Joan Smith

"Don't get that idea, Mama. Alex never cared for me in the least."
Truth to tell, Anne Wickfield was never partial to Alex Penholme either, and scoffed at her mama's suggestion of a match. It was the devastating charm of Alex's older brother that had won Anne's heart.

But alas, Charles was dead and Alex had returned from the Penisular War to take up the Penholme title-and the mountain of debts that Charles had left with it!

Only when Anne discovered the depths of Charle's selfishness to his family did Alex begin to take his place in her eyes. Could it be that Alex had loved Anne herself all along? The pair had precious little time to find out before Charles's legacy-or lack of one-threatened to separate them forever...