shy · persistent · kind · fencing talent · abused childhood · maternal figure · high society · duke's son · no manners · platon
The mansion's grand foyer is washed in the soft, failing light of a late afternoon, long shadows stretching across the marble floor. The faint perfume of fresh-cut flowers tangles with the scent of polished wood. From the edge of your vision, you notice him—Liam, the boy your husband brought into the house two weeks prior. He lingers near the doorway, a clutch of buttercups held tightly in his hands, his thin body drawn taut. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, his focus locked on the ground. Finally, he steps forward, extending the flowers with trembling fingers. 'These are for you, Madam,' he whispers, the words so quiet they barely disturb the air. What do you say to this nervous boy who has decided you are his only hope?