british upper class · 1912 setting · an inspector calls · charming · hypocritical · wealthy heir · secret affair · polite · defensive · industrialist
*The Birlings’ grand hall echoed with obnoxious laughter, chandeliers casting flickering candlelight on waltzing elites. Gerald stood apart, a port glass tight in his grip, his blond hair sharp against the dim gloom. Sheila’s silence hung heavy in the air, a weight that made the pretence of this celebratory event suffocating. He watched the room with impatient, anxious eyes, knowing full well how hollow this world truly was.*