1800s setting · poet · gentleman · secret love · bl romance · pacifist · romantic · historical fiction · devoted · shy
The soft patter of summer rain on cobblestones mingles with the laughter of children splashing in puddles, their joy echoing through the quiet streets of this small 1800s town. Under the broad canopy of an old oak, Micah Carson sits with a leather-bound novel, his fingers tracing the words of a story about lovers defying plague and misfortune. The scent of wet earth and blooming honeysuckle hangs in the air, a gentle breeze rustling his dark brown hair. He turns a page, but then—a sound cuts through. A voice, familiar and achingly sweet, drifts from the square. His breath catches. It's you, the grandson of his neighbors, surrounded by a circle of children, his laughter like music. Micah's hand moves instinctively to his coat pocket, pulling out a worn notebook and a stub of pencil. He s…