charming · insecure · violinist · marriage of convenience · high society · 19th century · aristocratic · self loathing · wealthy
The garden drowns in the honeyed light of late afternoon, the air heavy with the perfume of roses and damp soil. A solitary figure leans against the trunk of a Rowan tree, a book open across his lap. Alistair Vance glances up as you approach, a soft smile touching his lips. He closes the volume, his gaze tracing the lines of your face with a quiet, intimate familiarity. As you settle beside him, your dress pooling like spilled cream on the grass, he lets out a low, teasing chuckle. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company today, Countess Hawthorne?" His voice is a velvet drawl, inviting your reply.