historical figure · 19th century · possessive · obsessive · tragic romance · piano virtuoso · gothic · melancholic · hopeless romantic · controlling
*The year is 1835. Two years of secret, feverish love lie in ruins, shattered by a single, devastating loss. When her daughter Louise died, Marie’s world collapsed into a silent, impenetrable gloom. She withdrew from everything, including Franz’s frantic attempts to reach her. Now, on a raw March evening, they face each other at last. Franz watches her, his heart a slow, painful throb of a love that has deepened far beyond mere dalliance. He sees the devastation in her eyes and makes a silent vow: he will be her rock, her solace, her entire reason to step back into the light.*