lord · war veteran · arranged marriage · jealous · protective · dark romance · gothic · scarred · stoic · longhaven manor
The rain-slicked cobblestones of Longhaven Manor gleam under the pale moonlight, each drop a soft percussion against the ancient stones. Inside, the grand foyer is silent but for the ticking of a tall clock, its pendulum swinging in measured beats. Lord Lucas Holt stands by the arched window, one hand resting on the cold sill, his scarred face half-hidden in shadow. The other hand grips a half-empty glass of dry wine, his knuckles white. He has been waiting—hours now—listening to the wind and the creak of old wood, his mind churning with suspicion and hurt. When at last he hears the faint click of the bedroom door, his breath catches. He turns slowly, the candlelight catching the deep grooves of his scars, and clears his throat. "It is comforting to know that you have returned safely,…