Bound by Honor and Devoted to the Women They Love by Ruth A. Casie

This holiday season, step into the world of Barrington’s Brigade, a brotherhood of retired army officers who once fought side by side and now find themselves bound by duty, loyalty, and unexpected love. Dukes, earls, viscounts, each carries scars of battle, secrets of the heart, and the courage to face both.

Four of their romances are already waiting for you — stories of passion, honor, and second chances. Yet danger stirs again. An ancient order lurks in the shadows, threatening not only the Brigade’s hard-won peace but the women they cherish.

A Reckoning for the Earl arrives in January 2026, and one final vow is still to be revealed. From duty to devotion to King, Country, and the women they love. The Brigade’s story continues. Here is an exclusive first glimpse.

Excerpt From: A Reckoning for the Earl

Lady Georgina Ravenstock promised herself that this would be her last visit.

One year and one day ago, she buried her husband, and still the silence lingered. Not grief, precisely, but the burden of things unfinished, unsaid, unmourned.

She waited as her coachman climbed back onto the box after opening the iron gate. The autumn breeze sent leaves scurrying down the path, whipping them in circles against the stones. The coach wheels had scarcely come to a halt before she stepped down, already certain of her path.

The last time she stood here, she had scattered earth upon her husband’s grave and vowed it would be the final farewell. Now, after a deep breath, she made her way down the path, passing the final resting places of familiar names. Her late husband, Rowland, Baron Ravenstock, had been ten years her senior, a serious man, consumed by the responsibilities of his title and the coal mine that sustained it.

He had spent much of his time in Sommer-by-the-Sea, working alongside his men underground, while she remained in their London townhouse, managing the rest of their world. It was not distance born of disregard but of duty, carved out by expectation and necessity. A year ago, an urgent summons called her back to Sommer-by-the-Sea. There had been a terrible collapse in the mine, one that had taken Rowland’s life.

Now, she approached his grave and stood solemnly, gazing at the fine inscription. Try as she may, his features were fading from her memory. Rowland had always been a man of quiet strength, marked more by soot-stained hands than by society’s polish. She smiled, remembering the dust smudged at the corner of his brow, more than the fine lines around his face.

She had done all that was expected. The silks, the silence, the seclusion. But expectation made poor company. And with the mourning veil still clinging to her like a shadow, she was no longer certain who she was meant to be.

Georgina drew a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. “Sleep well, my lord,” she whispered, her gloved hand brushing the top of the headstone.

Tomorrow, she had an appointment with her solicitor and planned to settle all the accounts. This would be her final goodbye. Beyond that, she did not yet know where her path would lead, only that her path would be of her own choosing.

She lifted her chin, her gaze settling on the great oak at the edge of the cemetery. The wind stirred its amber leaves, revealing the figure of another mourner beneath its branches. She stilled. Although at this distance, his features were hidden, the gentleman was tall with a familiar bearing. There was no mistaking the broad set of his shoulders, or the way he stood with a soldier’s stillness, braced against the wind, weathering the next military charge. For the briefest moment, their eyes might have met, or perhaps it was only her imagination.

She drew her shawl closer about her shoulders and turned away, casting her thoughts back to the matter at hand. She had returned for Rowland. To mark the year gone by and to close this chapter properly.

She turned and made her way back along the path toward the gates. The breeze shifted once more. She glanced up, and there was the shadow from beneath the branches. Closer now, he was unmistakably Alexander Weld.

Time had carved new lines at the corners of his eyes. There was a gravity to him now of a man who had seen too much and carried it quietly. But it was him, unmistakably him.

His gaze caught hers, sharp with recognition, and held. No words passed between them, but a flicker of something, surprise, perhaps, or memory, sparked in his eyes.

Her heart did not quicken. Absolutely not. It merely… remembered. A warmth, a shape, the ease of being seen without explanation. Nothing more. Of course, it was him. Broad-shouldered stubbornness wrapped in a greatcoat. Only Alexander Weld could turn grief into a posture.

And yet… something tugged at the edges of her composure. Surprise, perhaps, or an echo of the ease they’d once shared. There had been comfort in his presence, laughter once so effortless it had stitched itself into her memory. She had expected familiarity.
She had not expected a flicker of warmth. Not after all these years. Not after Rowland.

With a practiced nod, she acknowledged him and continued on her way, leaving the autumn wind to scatter the leaves in her wake.

Barrington’s Brigade
Book 1 – A Marriage for the Marquess – A marriage of convenience, a game of hearts.

Book 2 – A Dilemma for the Duke – In a game of loyalty and lies, surrendering to love is the boldest move of all.

Book 3 – A Redemption for the Baron – A tale of love and sacrifice, where the path to justice leads straight through the heart.

Book 4 – A Vow for the Viscount – Two hearts. One reckoning. A vow that changes everything.

Book 5 – A Reckoning for the Earl – When trust cuts deep and love even deeper, reckoning isn’t optional.

 January 2026

Book 6 – A Masquerade for the Baron – Stolen kisses. Ruthless enemies. A love unmasked. April 2026

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3GkiJoc

Where you can find Ruth:
Website: https://ruthacasie.com/
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/RuthACasie

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crimes and Crevices of the Heart by Beth Ford
previous arrow
next arrow
Share This