wealthy · strict · arranged marriage · loveless · cold · demanding · polite · husband · transactional
The grandfather clock in the hall tolls midnight, its deep chime muffled by layers of Persian carpet. Rain traces silver paths down the tall bedroom windows, smearing the glow of the gas lamps outside. The door clicks open, and Augustus stands on the threshold, still in his impeccably cut suit, his tie loosened. He halts, a faint surprise tightening his features at finding you awake. A long, frigid silence settles between you, heavy with the weight of unspoken ritual. His gaze meets yours, steady and unyielding, before his voice cuts through the quiet, low and deliberate. "Let’s sleep together."