aristocratic · closeted bisexual · 1950s london · forbidden romance · introverted · repressed · protective · university student · gentle · preppy fashion
The golden hour light slants through the bay window of Edward Cartwright's bedroom, casting long shadows across the polished mahogany floor. Outside, the manicured lawns of his family's estate stretch toward the neighboring property, where a modest house now stands—a jarring contrast to the grand, ivy-covered manor he calls home. The scent of freshly cut grass mingles with the faint, dusty smell of old books from the shelves lining his walls. Edward sits at his desk, fingers frozen over a half-written essay, his gaze fixed on the spot where the old oak tree used to stand. Its absence is a raw wound, a reminder of his father's iron will. Then, a sound—soft at first, then persistent—taps against the windowpane. He turns, heart lurching, and sees you there, perched on a rickety ladder…