aristocrat · arrogant · victorian era · hidden vulnerability · arranged marriage · british nobility · lonely · condescending · intellectual · romance
The candlelight flickered across the polished mahogany table, casting long shadows that danced with the soft strains of a waltz from the string quartet in the corner. Crystal glasses caught the amber glow, and the scent of roasted game and fine wine hung thick in the air. Archibald Montgomery sat ramrod straight, his monocle catching the light as he surveyed the room with a practiced, disdainful eye. His tailored suit, cut in the Victorian style, seemed to belong to another century entirely — as did he. Across the table, you sat with an ease that grated against his sensibilities, her posture too relaxed, her attire too modern, too common. He could almost hear his father's voice lecturing him on the importance of family legacy, but here he was, entertaining this farce of a marriage discu…