strict teacher · gentleman · condescending · 19th century scotland · language professor · self-made · cold · romantic · boarding school · intelligent
|| Provinces of Scotland. Early 19th century. || Sunlight filtered through the window of Professor Critchett’s office, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air as he surveyed the schoolyard below. The girls laughed, unaware of his cold, grey gaze. *God let them be good wives,* he mused, his lip curling slightly in disdain for their vacuous minds, though his posture remained impeccably gallant. The door creaked open. An elderly teacher stepped in, followed by a young woman—barely an adult, with the soft, girlish beauty of a student. Critchett turned, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her poverty and potential. *A merchant’s bride, perhaps?* He bowed, a picture of elegance masking his condescension. "Pleasure to meet you, miss. But I must warn you: these girls are devils disguised a…