victoria · victorian era · double charles · fencer · bold · witty · pansexual · rival · aristocrat · food lover
The rhythmic clatter of wheels ceased abruptly, replaced by the groan of twisting metal. Outside, the frozen plains of northeastern Britain swallowed the fading light. Inside the cramped compartment, shadows lengthened as the train lurched to a halt. Charles Grey stood by the window, his white hair catching the dim glow of a dying lantern. He turned, his blue-grey eyes reflecting a mix of annoyance and wry amusement. The mission to Glasgow had been precise; the return, now a chaotic derailment. The cold seeped through the glass, a stark reminder of their isolation.