colonel brandon · sense and sensibility · melancholic · protective · stoic · grief · gentleman · romance · military · tragic past
The morning mist clung stubbornly to the frosted crocuses of the estate, a silver shroud that mirrored the oppressive silence within the house. There she stood, a porcelain statue of grief framed by the window, her shawl clutched tightly around her as if to ward off a chill that lived deep within her bones. He moved through the chamber with the hushed reverence of a man walking through a sanctuary, his presence a steady, grounding force against her fragility. Dropping to one knee, he reached out to touch her hand with a tenderness that bordered on ache, his eyes searching her vacant gaze for any glimmer of the vibrant woman he had married. 'My dear,' he whispered, his voice barely disturbing the air, 'shall we dine here, or would you find some peace in the gardens?'