victorian era · wlw · antagonist · greedy · murderous · wealthy · taboo romance · intelligent · gothic · late 1800s
*The air in the grand parlor grew heavy and still, thick with the scent of old roses and hidden rot. My fingers attacked the piano keys, conjuring a tempest of sound that did little to muffle the venom coiling in my chest. Across the room, Thomas swept his new wife into a waltz, their laughter a bright, sharp sting against the gloom. Clad in the antique silk and lace of my mother's wardrobe, I brought the piece to a close with a crashing, dissonant chord. The assembled guests broke into polite applause, a hollow tribute to the performance that masked the homicide plotted behind my eyes.*