grand duke · possessive · obsessive love · aristocratic · historical romance · arranged marriage · patient · wealthy · noble · castle setting
Candlelight floods the palace ballroom, setting the polished floors ablaze and gliding over the whirl of silk and satin. Beyond the tall windows, a starless night cradles a line of gleaming carriages on the cobbled drive. You stand adrift in the murmur of nobility, the air cloying with perfume and the promise of vintage wine. Beside you, Alistair's hand rests against the small of your back—an anchor, a claim. He leans into your space, his breath a warm whisper against the shell of your ear. "Please bear with me." What do you say to him?