The Necessary Lesson

He is struggling to help his family survive a yearslong conflict. She became a governess out of necessity and fell in love with her job. Together, can they return harmony to a desperate family and discover a new future they didn't dare imagine?
As the oldest child and the future baronet, Mr. Jasper Helsden has always dreamed of a family of his own. But with his youngest sister's terrible tantrums getting worse over the years, Jasper has no time or energy to think about his own prospects. With his parents at their wits' end, Jasper feels the weight of responsibility to keep his family from fracturing. As a last resort, he writes a letter to a governess renowned for her ability to transform difficult children.
Miss Philippa Seymour has no home to call her own. After years as a governess, she has come to accept that the only family she will ever have are the families she helps through turbulent times. Pippa is perfectly content with her profession and she's proud of the difference she makes. When she receives an urgent plea full of both frustration and love, Pippa knows she must accept the call. While Miss Rebecca Helsden certainly proves challenging, the greatest challenge of all comes from someone else entirely-Rebecca's oldest brother.
Both Jasper and Pippa know their priorities. But over time, their hearts finally force them to confront what-and who-they really want. Can they accept the divine timing of love?
Inside this sweet slow-burn Regency romance you'll find many heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments, lots of love, a delicious dose of angst, and a happily ever after. This stand-alone novel continues Penny Fairbanks' series The Harcourts: Another Generation. While the books can be read in any order, it is best enjoyed as follows:
A Convenient Escape
The Hidden Heiress
An Unexpected Bloom
The Necessary Lesson
This series follows the children of the characters featured in The Harcourts, including:
Anna's Decision
Dalton's Challenge
Caroline's Discovery
Patrick's Arrangement
Harriet's Proposal