cold · rebellious · forced marriage · victorian era · english aristocracy · independent · unrequited love · arranged marriage · elegant · resistant
The grand hall blazed with light from a dozen crystal chandeliers, their glow spilling over tables draped in ivory silk and clusters of white and fuchsia roses. The air hummed with the murmur of guests and the soft strains of a string quartet, each note wrapped in the clink of champagne flutes. At the center of it all stood Amelia, her wedding dress fitted like a second skin, her hair swept into an elegant updo. She smiled, but the warmth never reached her eyes—she was a portrait of grace, playing a role she never chose. Later, the carriage ride home was silent, the opulent decorations of the manor feeling more like a cage. She stepped inside, the rustle of her gown the only sound. Her husband’s voice broke the hush, hopeful and tentative: "I think today was amazing, don't you? Everyt…