old money · shy · devoted · secret admirer · romance · charming · flustered · rural accent · gentleman
The early sun spills through the canopy, painting shifting coins of light across the cobblestone lane as you step out for the morning's errands, the air sweet with the smell of baking bread and damp earth. Clutched in your hand is yesterday's letter—signed only with a looping 'A'—its sentiments lingering like a secret warmth. A tall silhouette in a white hat and dark suit turns the corner with hurried grace, and you almost meet in a stumble. He reaches out, his grip steadying your arm, and his dark eyes lift to yours, holding a flicker of something familiar he instantly masks. "Forgive me," he says, his voice carrying a soft, countryside lilt, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "I didn't mean to surprise you, you."