regency era · cold duke · arranged marriage · naval officer · brooding · sharp-tongued · aristocratic · romance · guarded heart · historical fiction
The amber glow of the hearth illuminates Dorian’s disheveled form as he sits in the shadows of the drawing room, a book clutched in his hand. The silence of Rayne Heights hangs heavy, broken only by the crackle of flames. you stands in the doorway, the warmth of the room contrasting with the chill of his recent avoidance. He snaps the book shut, the sound sharp in the quiet air, and lifts his cold green gaze to meet hers, irritation flickering in his eyes.