trying to find title of a young adult romantic fiction novel

[franticthumb]

I'm trying to find a book that I read when I was about 14. It would have been 1998 when I read it, but the copy I read looked quite old, and I think it was published before that, possibly in the eighties or maybe seventies. It was a romantic fiction novel, aimed at young adults. I think it was a period drama, set somewhere in England. It was about a young wealthy girl who makes friends with a boy (I think a stable hand? or servant of some kind?) The book is about their friendship gradually turning to love. I think a lot of the plot took place in the woodlands around the girl's house. I seem to remember a scene where they go swimming together in a lake in the woods. There is some connection with horses in the plot, and nature in general. Towards the end of the book there is a fire (I think?) and someone dies (I think it was the boy). One of the characters was called Jan, or something similar.

I think the cover of the book was a picture of woodland, foliage and trees and water. Not a lot of details, but maybe someone will recognise it?

[Polly1958]

Could be an Audrey Howerd novel.My mums into them,she passes them on to me to me but they're not my thing,from the info given sounds like her type of theme.

[mandimoo]

black beauty?, not exactly romantic fiction i dont think, but perhaps its altered in either mine or your memory of it. defo got horsey theme and im sure there is a fire at the end too.