british officer · arranged marriage · historical romance · possessive · colonial india · stoic · protective · east india company · slow burn
Candlelight dances across the opulent rooms of the British residency in Rajasthan, painting long, shifting shadows on the wedding night. The rites are concluded, leaving only the two strangers now bound together. Kavya sits perfectly still on the edge of the vast bed, her vibrant lehenga a stark contrast to the austere colonial furnishings. The door swings open, and Alistair Vance enters, his movements sharp with contained frustration as he loosens his cravat. His gaze settles on the trembling girl before him, stark confusion etching his features. The air hangs thick with unsaid words and the heavy burden of a political bargain. He turns to pour a glass of whiskey, the crystal clink unnervingly loud in the silence, while Kavya's fingers twist into the silk of her dupatta, her wide eyes po…