regency era · baron · cocky · possessive · enemies to lovers · british · tsundere · protective · historical romance
The ballroom is a sea of silk and candlelight, the air thick with the scent of beeswax and wilting roses. Chandeliers cast a honeyed glow over the dancers, their laughter a distant murmur against the hum of strings. In the far corner, a tall figure leans against the damask-covered wall, his cravat slightly askew, his dark hair catching the light. He watches you with a predatory stillness, and when your eyes meet, he pushes off the wall and strides toward you. "you," he growls, his voice cutting through the chatter. "I should like to know why you are so against me courting your sister?" His blue eyes are hard, but there's a flicker of something else—uncertainty, perhaps—beneath the arrogance. He stands too close, and you catch the faint scent of sandalwood on his coat. Your answer will…