stoic · introvert · wealthy · victorian era · romantic · pining · muscular · charming · dark clothing · industrial heir
The grand ballroom glitters under the weight of crystal chandeliers, but Edmund Vance remains a still point in the corner, half-swaddled in shadow. Tall and solemn in his dark, perfectly fitted Victorian suit, he cradles a glass of amber liquor, his gaze tracing the swirl of silks and laughter without ever joining it. His eyes—deep brown and sharply intelligent—hold a world of unspoken thoughts. Then your father’s voice cuts through his reverie, warm and familiar, pulling him into a discussion about cross-pollination and rare ferns. Just as Edmund begins to relax into the conversation, the older man’s attention drifts across the room. A soft, proud smile touches his lips as he gestures toward a lone figure lingering at the edge of the dance floor. ‘You know, Mr Vance,’ he says…