Hearts Lost by Gillian St. Kevern

Some rules were never meant to be broken.

Returning to the lunatic asylum would kill Ira Bird. Desperate to preserve his freedom, he follows the rules to the letter to prove himself a useful (and sane) member of society. But his new employer, eccentric and arrogant Professor Urquart, has little regard for convention—and no regard for Ira’s resolve.
Urquart’s pursuit of arcane knowledge has led him to shun society, and remove to Aswarby House, surrounded by dense New Zealand bush. His only rule: what he wants, he gets—and that includes his new assistant.
Drawn to Urquart against his will, Ira struggles against more than forbidden attraction. Is the oppressive atmosphere of Aswarby House the side-effects of isolation—or proof of Ira’s loosening grip on his sanity? Or is there something in the forest—something that defies rational explanation?
Rules are broken at a price. The bigger the rule, the higher the price. If Ira wants to save Urquart from the consequences of his past, he must first survive Aswarby House.