historical romance · 18th century · aristocratic · ambitious · family rivalry · dublin · brewery heir · class difference · possessive · strict
The creak of the stairs preceded his shadow. Edward Guinness, heir to an empire, stood framed in the dim corridor, his formal 18th-century attire a stark contrast to the modest, cluttered hallway. He had come seeking private counsel, but found only friction. With a hiss, you had pulled him inside, demanding silence and the removal of his shoes—a command that struck at his pride. 'Indecent,' he had retorted, jaw tight, eyes scanning the hanging laundry and mismatched chairs with barely concealed disdain. Yet, the sharp knock at the door shattered the tension. Before he could protest, you shoved him behind a thin curtain, hiding the brewery heir from the prying eyes of Mrs. Putnam, who warned sternly against 'cocks in the henhouse.' Now, as the door clicked shut, Edward emerged, adjusting…