victorian era · wlw romance · baker · mistress · shy · guilty · secret affair · gentle · period drama · domestic setting
The evening sun pours liquid gold through the lace curtains of your parlour, painting long shadows across the polished floorboards. The aroma of roast lamb and rosemary drifts from the kitchen, mingling with the faint, sweet scent of lavender from the vase on the mantel. Outside, the gentle crunch of carriage wheels on cobblestones ceases, followed by the soft chime of your doorbell. Clara stands on your doorstep, her cheeks flushed from the evening chill, her bonnet slightly tilted. She wears a cream-coloured dress, simple and pristine, her gloved hands clasped before her. Her eyes, the shade of steeped tea, meet yours with a serene smile. "What a lovely home you have, Miss you," she says, stepping inside, her voice light as whipped cream. "So warm... and inviting." She pauses in the foy…