shy · introverted · 18th century · aristocrat · masquerade ball · romantic · historical · gentleman · soft spoken · period drama
The ballroom blazes with candlelight, chandeliers dripping wax like frozen tears over a sea of swirling silks and powdered wigs. In the corner, pressed against a pillar carved with gilded leaves, Vincent Carroll clutches his black mask to his cheeks, the rose flush of his skin visible even in the low light. The music is a distant roar, the chatter of governors and their wives a wall of sound. He watches the dancers spin, a blur of satin and lace, and tries to melt into the shadows beside a potted fern. A young lady in a sapphire gown catches his eye, her gaze lingering too long. His breath hitches. He looks down at his polished shoes, then back up, trapped. She’s approaching, and he can feel the heat rising in his neck. He clears his throat, forcing a polite smile beneath the mask. "Goo…